Anon and Sugarcoat share some alcohol.

>You set the glass of alcohol down on the stall and let out a deep sigh
>"Sheesh, you feeling alright Anon?" asks the bartender
"not really..."
>"What's bothering you?" he says while cleaning a glass
"i'm just tryna flex on these hoes... b-but i can't..."
>"You trying what?"
"Forget it, i just came in here tonight in hope of some pussy, y'know?"
>"Oh i see, but you can't get none?"
"Exactly... i got this stupid fuckboi haircut... and i wasted all my allowance in these stupid clothes... all for nothing."
>"Well have you tried talking to somebody?"
"...no...?"
>"You're gotta be kidding, kiddo."
"I would talk! it's just i don't have any interesting anecdotes to talk about... and i'm not really good when it comes to hitting on girls. I'd never be able to maintain a serious relationship."
>"What does it matter? aren't like 90% of all teen relationships based off lies and hormones?"
"Excuse me?"
>"Yeah, there's no need to be yourself. Just wear a sort of facade, go hit on them girls, get a one night stand and never see eachother again."
"Uuuh, that's oddly specific?"
>"Hey, i know it don't seem like it, but back in my teen years i used to have a couple girls around, if you know what i mean."
"Won't you look at that? good 'ol Jeremy used to be a cool kid?"
>"You bet'cha, but that was then. And i've changed since then."
"Yeah i can see that."
>"Say, do what i told you. It's flawless, and be glad you ain't some sort of neckbeard..."
"Yet."
>"... just act cool, be confident, and you'll be leaving this place with a chick tonight."
"Ptfff, you're putting a lot of trust in me, man..."
>"I'm doing so for a reason."
"And that reason is...?"
>"Not now tiger, seems like you won't even have to go hunt for chicks."
"What?"
>"Hey listen, just because you're one of our oldest customers, next rounds are on me. Use them wisely."
>He then walks off with glass in hand
>The fuck was he talking about?
>Didn't he just give you plenty to think about
>Faking it...
>Hmmmm you never thought of that
>Yeah! just don't be yourself, that'll work!"
>Out the corner of your eye, though, you see who the bartender was refeering to
>A girl wearing glasses accompanied by some cute pigtails sits on the stall besides you
>"Bartender, bring me something to drink!"
>"Comin' right up! what do ya' want?"
>"I don't know, bring me anything."
>Okay Anon, this is your chance
>DON'T. FUCK IT. UP.
"Hey sweetie, may i recommend a Daiquiri perhaps? i'm sure you'd like them."
>Fucking smooth
>Must be like the Niagara falls on those panties right now!
>"Excuse you?"
>Okay, don't panic
>Just lean on the counter
>Yeah, girls dig that shit
"Uh, a daiquiri? it's a drink... it's pretty sweet too, everybody likes them! say, i'll invite the first couple rounds!"
>"You're trying to hard to act cool."
"W-whaaaaaat? ha ha, you're funny!"
>Code red, she knows!
>ABORT, FUCKING... ABORT
>"Oh wow, you're sweating."
"Ptffff that's just 'cause... uh... the heat! yeah the heat!"
>You pull the collar of your shirt back and forth
"Oh! is it me or is it getting hot in here? ha ha!"
>"It's you."
>gulp
"Uhhh... uh i... i mean it's because... you see..."
>"Can you stop talking to me, honestly you're making me feel sorry for youself."
"I... eh, forget it. I was trying too hard anyways."
>The bartender, whom you didn't realize was right in front of you speaks
>"Are... the daiquiris still up?"
"Hm? oh yeah, sure. Bring her one too while you're at it."
>"You don't have to, sorry buddy but i'm not interested."
"Neither am i. Daiquiris are just geniuenly good, you should try them."
>She seems reluctant
>The bartender sets a couple glasses down, and you chug yours right up
>She shrugs and follows your cue, but unlike your alcoholic ass she takes her time to finish the first cup
"So, what do you think?"
>"Are you sure this has alcohol in it?"
"Yep, though it's camouflaged by the fruits, the alcohol is there."
>"Perfect beverage to get an underaged girl drunk then."
"Yea-- wait, what?"
>"What is it."
"You're underaged?"
>"Yes. What about it? are you gonna snitch?"
"Nah, i'm barely even legal so i understand. Also, if you don't mind, what's your name?"
>"I already said i ain't interested, buddy."
"I'm just tryna small talk. Plus..."
>You look around to the empty stalls sorrounding you
"...the fact that you decided to sit on the stall right besides me, makes me think: One, you're tryna look for some horny teens for free drinks."
>The girl squints her eyes
"Or you're looking for some one to talk to."
>She let's her guard down for a second there, seems like you hit the nail on the head
>"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Hey it's okay, first time i came into this bar i was in a crisis. I thought that maybe i'd find some friends to hang around with here, and they were lots of people believe me, but i didn't have the guts to talk."
>"O...kay?"
"If that's why you're here then i'm sorry i tried hitting on you, and i'm also sorry for being so awkward, it's kinda like my trait!"
>Well, not much response from her
>She still has that indeferent look in her eyes
"I'm Anon, and i'll ask again, what's your name?"
>You ask, stretching a hand towards her
>She looks at it, then back at you, then back at it and so fourth
>"...i'm Sugarcoat."
>She replies with a firm shake
"Nice to meet you, Sugarcoat."
>The bartender sets the next round on the table
>You pick one of the glasses, take some sips, and ask
"So Sugarcoat, what is it that brought you here to talk?"





>"...and i just feel like all my friends are moving up in life, and i'm just stuck here."
>You lost track of time while talking
>It's nice talking to people, strangers specially
>Something about it just clicked with you
>The bartender sets the next round on the table
>Which round is it now? 6th?
"What makes you think that?"
>"I don't know really, i just sit back and watch as they make something of their lifes. They already have goals, they know what they're going to study once they graduate. I just feel lost."
"Are you scared they'll leave you behind?"
>"...i am."
"Damn, i don't really know the felling. I got like three friends after all, and i'm not even sure if two of those three even see me as a friend."
>"How do you cope with it?"
"I don't, most of the time. Why do you think i come to this bar so much?"
>"Oh, i see."
>Picking the fragile glass, you lift it to your lips and down it in one chug
>"It's annoying too. They're all just so pretty and... they have a personality, unlike me."
"So the boys at school pay more attention to them that they do to you?"
>"The guys at my school don't pay me any attention, period."
"Well, i don't think you lack a personality."
>"We just met."
"That's just it. We've been talking for, like, an hour now. And you don't seem to be lacking any sort of personality."
>"C'mon, you're going to tell me you don't think i'm a little bit weird?"
"Yeah i guess. But i don't believe that has nothing to do with your persona."
>"Are you implying something?"
"Kinda. You seem smart, you seem nice, and you're definetly not ugly. I think there's something more to it."
>"..."
"Something that perhaps you're not telling me?"
>"Who do you think you are? some sort of therapist?"
"No. But if you want my honest opinion, i think you're lost because you have no interest in being found to begin with, y'know?"
>"I... am afraid i don't follow."
"So these friends of yours, you've known them since you were a toddler, right?"
>"Yes."
"Then it seems weird to me they would just leave you behind without looking back."
>"What does that even mean."
"They know you're not doing okay, they tried to help, but you didn't accept their help did you?"
>"You're wrong."
"But am i, though? you also seem pretty stubborn by the way. So what i'm saying is; they *did* try to help, maybe they introduced some boys to you, but you weren't interested and eventually they gave up on trying."
>"Ptff, so are you saying it's my fault? you literally just said they gave up on me."
"No, i said they gave up on trying. Sugarcoat you gotta understand that when some people try to help others, if they see the other party isn't interested in getting help, they're just going to give up on trying to help."
>"So you are saying it's my fault."
"I never said or implied that. I don't know much about your personal life, so i can't tell if you're depressed or not. So tell me, are you?"
>"None of your bussines."
>You sigh
>Seems you were right, she *is* stubborn
"Listen, this is why you think your friends are leaving you behind. I'm just trying to talk here, we'll probably never see eachother again. So why do you refuse to tell me?"
>"Because why does it matter to you?"
"Not much really, is that you wanted to hear?"
>"I already knew that."
"Well let me tell you something you don't know; i'm an asshole, people have approached me all my life trying to make friends and i always refused. Now look at me, age 18 drinking and looking back at all my mistakes like i'm in my mid-life crisis already."
>"Oh wow, you're depressed too. Good for you buddy, did you say that expecting me to relate more to you? because it's not working."
"Why are you always trying to be a smartass? i never said i was depressed, sure i'm lonely and i might regret some things i did and didn't do in the past. But i'm not depressed, you wanna know what i am?"
>"...what are you?"
"I'm self aware. Alot of people mix that up with depression."
>"..."
"Tell me Sugarcoat, why are you like this?"
>"Like what."
"Like this, always so cynical, it's like you don't enjoy the company of anyone. Are you the lone wolf type? do you like being alone?"
>"No."
"Then? can you atleast acknowledge you're the type of person that pushes the people around them, the people that they care about, away?"
>"Of course i can..."
"So do you want to change?"
>"Yes."
"Well... can you change?"
>"...i don't think i can."
"And i think you're wrong, you can always be who you want to be. Sure it's not easy but it's not impossible, but if you keep convincing yourself that you can't change then it's just gonna be harder."
>Sugarcoat doesn't respond, she just stares blanky your way
>You pick the last glass of daiquiri and sip down
>It seems like everything that had to be said was said
"Hey it was nice talking to you Sugarcoat, but i'll be on my way if you don't mind."
>She stares down into the ground
>Then she starts shaking a little bit, that's when you hear sobbing
>She sits on the stall with her arms crossed crying
>You should do something
>You'd probably wouldn't have done something, but good thing your old friend liquor has your back
>You stand from your own stall, you approach Sugarcoat and give her a hug
>Sugarcoat just lays still, but after a while she hesitantly returns the embrace
>"Thank you for listening to my stupid bullshit"
"It wasn't stupid, you're not stupid."
>"Why are you acting so nice to me? we barely know eachother."
"I guess it's the alcohol, and also, i have empathy. You're not having a good time, but hopefully you'll cheer up after this."
>she sniffs loudly and carefully wipes her nose on the cuff of her shirt
>"Hey kids, we're closing in 5"
"Got it."
>"Hey Anon?"
"Yeah?"
>"Would you mind walking me home?"
"Sure, got nothing better to do."
>"Great... maybe you could come in too, if you'd want to"
"Oh i don't know, i wouldn't wanna make it awkward for your parents."
>"My dad doesn't live with me, and my mother is probably passed out in the living room sofa because of her wine."
"I... see... sure then, i can spend the night."
>"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
>Sugarcoat takes your hand, the daiquiris didn't seem to have affected her too much so that's good
>You walk hand by hand out of the bar, and she guides you through the calm and dark streets to her home
>Slowly, the further you walk the closer she sticks to you
>Your phone vibrates half way through the walk, your reach in your front pocket for it
>As you try to take it out, you tap the screen by accident causing the music player to play a random song
"Oh damn, sorry my bad."
>"No it's okay... leave it on... it's kinda nice."
"...sure, i like this song too..."
>And so you walk for what seems like hours, until there's no space separating your body
>It feels great
>You feel happy
>Does this mean... are you two friends now?
>What was that about not being capable of substaining a relationship?
>That's going to change
>It's going to change with Sugarcoat here
>And so you walk side by side
>The song playing on the speakers of your phone filling the silence of the late night streets
>This is perfect.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzS3WG6__G4