Interlinked

Three.

Camilla made it into work just before the building was about to be engulfed into flames, (she keeps everyone in order). There's a difference between friends, and work friends. Friends, you can laugh and talk about your latest failure with the dating world. Work friends, you seem to only be able to talk about your jobs and gossip about what's happening about James who works in trading (it's never that interesting). However her half work friend, half real friend Fleur- who's the type of friend who you can't really say no to because you aren't close enough to, but you're close enough to be able to endure an evening with- which would be spent talking about other people from the investment or M&A sector, who are most likely gorgeous but are so self absorbed. Obsessed with their own figure and live in the gym when they aren't working, so realistically, you could never be in a long lasting relationship with these animals. Camilla's mother also seems to be fond of questioning her daughter about her dating life- clearly keen to have grandchildren soon, and likes reminding Camilla that she's 28- almost thirty- which is when Camilla scoffs at the thought of. The few times she has tried to date a man for longer than six months has always never worked. He get's mad she works too much, she works too much, he will get bored and leave. The cycle repeats. She ponders that, maybe, she's never liked...desired a man enough to possibly take a break from work from during the evenings. Anyone that knows her well enough has categorically described her as a workaholic. But she is proud of it. Most of her old friends from university got great jobs, fell in love and had children, and eventually stopped working. Camilla could never imagine not working- what purpose would she serve? It doesn't interest her, she also hates children. She can barely tolerate her friends' children the few times she has been to see them in the past year. 

As she walked into the office, she saw Fleur as she went passed and smiled. Fleur beckoned her over. 

'Do you want to go out for drinks tonight?' She blurted. This was very unlike Fleur. She never went out for drinks, on a Friday night especially when Londons streets were packed and thriving. Camilla hesitated- scanning her colleague's face for any evidence. She looked flushed, nervous almost. She was a pretty woman, slightly younger than Camilla. But the complete opposite, dark features. A slender figure with sharp green eyes that caught most people's attention. Like a dog waiting for approval, she waited for Camilla's response with wide eyes in anticipation. Camilla's face softened, she was curious as to why she wanted to go out in the first place. 

'I'll meet you when we leave the office tonight.' She replied, with a hint of regret. Fleur made a small squeal of a noise, which made their other colleague- who they had nicknamed crab- he was grumpy all the time. Crab scowled at them from across the room and made a puff noise out of frustration. He was definitely never getting invited out for drinks. Camilla turned her heel and headed for her office, politely smiling at her P.A as she walked past. She slumped into her chair and sighed looking at her diary for today. Busy. As always. She peered into her mirror to the side of her desk, she traced her fingers over the scar on her cheek that she covered up with makeup everyday and stared. She exhaled, and logged into her first meeting. 

~ the evening 

Camilla was mindlessly following Fleur to a bar that apparently was meant to be good, still curious as to how she even knew these facts. Camilla got invited out for drinks with old colleagues or friends almost every week, to which every time she declined politely. She had to work. Trying to navigate their way through the city full of zombies staring into their phones or looked insane as if they were talking to themselves whilst walking to the station, but they were on a call with earphones in. Camilla always thought it was so strange and frankly a bit rude. They made it to the bar and even though they had just finished work it was already bursting with people. They finally got a drink after what felt like years to wait for one. Fleur scanned the room constantly. Camilla finally figured it out- she was meeting someone. She was the confident friend for emotional support. 

'Who is he?' She asked, which made Fleur look guilty, as if she'd just been told off for doing something naughty as a child, like eating all of the ice cream in the freezer. 

'He, well, he...' She pondered, 'A friend? I'm not sure. He asked me to meet him here tonight. I gathered. Well...'

'Fleur, it's perfectly fine you're meeting a man and didn't tell me. Quite honestly, I needed to get out regardless of what your plan was.' Fleur stared at Camilla in disbelief- then smiled warmly. 

'Thank you.' Then her eyes fell looking past Camilla's shoulder. She guessed that her mystery date was here. She hoped, for her friend's sake- that he wasn't a hyena. Curious to see what he looked like she turned around. Her eyes fell to not the mystery date. But the mystery's accomplice. Lucas Roberts was walking towards them. His eyes narrowed, looking down at his phone. She stood in shock- oblivious to mystery date introducing himself. 

'I hope you don't mind me bringing my friend Fleur, I figured he needed someone since you said you were bringing your friend.' Said mystery date. He looked at Lucas, clearly waiting for him to introduce himself to Camilla. He finally looked up from his device, he looked dumbfounded, staring at Camilla like a child who had seen Father Christmas for the first time. Mystery date chuckled nervously, as his friend just stared in silence.

'You'll have to excuse my friend, he doesn't get outside of work much, I fear he has lost social interaction skills.' Laughed mystery date, clearly uncomfortable, he went off towards the bar to get drinks and Fleur followed. Traitor. Camilla laughed nervously. It was still silent. 

'Of course you're the friend.' He said, still staring. It almost came across rude, in a way, which took Camilla by surprise slightly. 'Sorry.' He said. 'Stressful day...that's not an excuse. Sorry.' He apologised again, looking a bit flustered. The tips of his ears went pink from embarrassment. 

'Unfortunately, or fortunately, I'm not quite sure which one it is- but yes, I was dragged here by Fleur.' 

'Since I'm meant to be introducing myself, I'm Lucas, I work with Matt who forced me to come tonight without much explanation. We work in finance, not far from here- as I'm sure you've gathered from seeing me get off the tube.' He smirked a little when he introduced himself. Pretending they didn't tell each other that they loved one another a decade ago. 

She smiled back, 'I'm Camilla, I work in law- as you know- and I also don't get out much. Even though I live in the capital city of the country.' They shook hands, finding each other hilarious as they played this game. 

He leaned in, trying to ignore the extremely loud chatter and shouting from the rest of the people in the bar and said in her ear quietly, but loud enough for only her to hear, 'forgive me for saying, but you look great.' He said it with a gleam in his eye, almost daringly- like he shouldn't be saying that. She smiled back, accepting the challenge. Fleur arrived back, stumbling through the abundance of people, with her not so mystery date, having his hand on the small of her back. 

~

Three hours later, the bar still buzzing and full of atmosphere- it was a Friday so there was no surprise- the group were laughing and joking with one another. All intoxicated with too many glasses of overpriced wine and cocktails. Camilla, flushed from the alcohol and giggling. She hadn't been tipsy or even drunk for that matter in a while. She felt free, but slowly spiralling out of control. Soon enough, Fleur and Matt had disappeared. Lucas had more of a dangerous gleam in his eye than earlier, clearly a feature that lured most women in. Unaware of how they'd got there in the first place, they were sat in a booth towards the back of the bar. She felt confident, for a moment their knees touched under the table, she pulled away almost instantly. She could feel him smiling at her whilst she searched the table for any sort of sense. She was unsuccessful. Their knees touched again. The bar was still very much alive, the noise would make anyone's ears ring. The music was booming ontop of this, making it slightly unbearable. They stared at each other for a short moment. She hated this feeling that was conjuring up within her. It disgusted her. She felt overstimulated and ill from the noise. She stood up quickly, it made her head spin a great deal. She went to turn around, before she could she felt a pair of hands on her waist and the hyena whining for his prey to come back to him. She felt weak and helpless, succumbing to the jaws of the hyena she fell backwards into him, landing on his lap. She felt Lucas move her hair away from his shoulders as he kissed them softly, making her shiver. Her legs snapped upwards. Within seconds, she had rushed out of the bar and into the street, ignoring the animal chasing after her.