Apprentice Playbook

3

The B&G was considerably bigger than a normal hole in the wall establishment in the bar strip that stretched for the length of three blocks in the market district. It was a trendy restaurant with laidback ambiance that was favored by the overworked employees from Maeda; a place for them to let loose after a grueling day in the office.

When they arrived at the place, the restaurant was already packed with interns from the building since it was closest to their workplace, and it being a Friday night. The three of them were joined by Cain and Seely.

"Cheers!" The interns said in unison as their glasses came together above the table.

"To Lowe," Reigen said, "for surviving her first week."

"To Lowe!" Phyllis chimed in loudly, already drunk and having the time of her life. As the night wore on, and five glasses of beer later her usually modest personality did a 180.

"I think you've had enough to drink, Phyllis," Lowe joked, seeing the other girl start to sway while trying to stand up from the table.
She herself had four glasses of beer at this point, which resulted in her vision becoming a bit hazy.

"We need more chicken, I'm going to put an order."

"Stay here, let me," Reigen murmured, rising up.  He quickly walked to the counter, beating Phyllis to it.

Phyllis sat back down, fawning over Reigen. "What a guy. Any girl would be lucky to date him."

Lowe followed her line of sight and observed Reigen in an outsider's perspective, finding no fault in Phyllis' logic. He really was a standup guy.

"Give it a break, Phyllis," Seely said with a snicker while Cain only shook his head.

Phyllis stuck a tongue out at Seely. "You're just jealous, Seely."

Seely tutted. "So childish."

"Do we bother you, Seely?" Lowe asked him through squinted eyes, trying to figure out this guy. In her brief time at the firm, including her shorter interactions with the intern, it was not hard to pick up on his rather unpleasant chauvinistic behavior in the workplace. It kind of sucks that she'll be stuck with someone like him for the next six months.

Seely finished off his drink and set the glass on the table, then brought his face closer to hers so that she could feel his alcohol-ridden breathe.

"Let me tell you something, newbie. I'm not-"

"The name's Lowe," she said slowly, fighting the urge to barf on his face.

Seely chuckled lowly. "Yeah, whatever. You see the three of us?" He gestured to himself, Cain and then Reigen who's currently at the counter. "Now, I'm sure you're aware that me and the boys are about to graduate from this place, and that we need to focus on giving the finest performance of our lives."

Lowe only managed to squint harder at him, not getting why he was telling her those. He took offense to her non-reaction.

"I think it's best if you try to not get on our nerves, can you do that?"

Lowe was already on her fifth drink, totally not feeling like her normal self. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was getting on your nerves. Truly, should I get out of your face right now?"

His red rimmed eyes narrowed, though there was a faint amusement lurking in there. "Are you mocking me, huh newbie?"

"This is me," she said pointing to her chest, "and I'm very serious right now, okay. I don't know why you think I'm mocking you." She shook her head, grabbing another bottle of soju.

"Hey, take it easy on the new girl, Seely," Cain butted in, pulling on his friend's shoulder, "that's not how you treat a new member of the team."

"What, I'm just trying to lay the foundation here, though it seems this girl right here thinks she's too good to listen to my advice."

"Come on, the girl's only been here for a week. Give her a break. Here, drink up some more," Cain said, pouring his friend a drink.

"Just ignore him, Lowe," Phyllis told her.

Lowe proceeded to down her drink in one go, taking Phyllis' advice and shutting her mouth. Speaking of nerves, the guy's overbearing attitude really was starting to get on hers. At least his friend Cain was more sensible.

Reigen set down the chicken on the table and sat down with a sigh. He looked around the table and quickly noted the soured expression of the group.
"Everything alright here?"

"Yeah, can't wait to go the club after this," Seely replied, sniffing.

"You're going to the club?" Lowe asked Reigen.

He glanced at her, saw the telltale pink on her cheeks and her squinty eyes. Reigen shook his head.

"Can I come, Reigen?"

Seely perked up. "Hey, absolutely not," he protested, "it's for the guys only."

"But I want to come to the club with you guys," Lowe insisted, placing both elbows on the table and rubbing her forehead.

"You don't look too good to me, Lowe. How many drinks have you had again?" Reigen asked her.

"She's had six," Cain supplied.

"Yeah, Lowe tells me it's been a while since she'd had a drink. But I think she's just a lightweight," Phyllis said, laughing hysterically.

"Hey, you're the one who's a lightweight," Lowe shot back at her.

"Would you like me to take you guys home?" He asked both of the girls, and already Lowe was shaking her head.

"Yeah, why not-"

"No, we're fine," Lowe stated, cutting off Phyllis, "we'll just take a taxi outside, we're not gonna get in the way of your plans after this."

"You sure? It's no bother for me, really," he insisted, steadying her while she tried to stand up. In response she only patted him on the shoulder, that's when her gaze fell on her wristwatch.

"Is that the time I think it is?"

The corner of Reigen's lips turned up in his amusement. "Why? It's only 11 pm."

"We need to go, Phyllis. It's already late." Lowe had a busy day waiting for her tomorrow, and she needed sleep. She glared at the half-drunk girl still anchored to her seat.

Outside in the cold air, the two girls stood on the sidewalk under the street lights, texting a cab that was on his way to pick them up. There were plenty of people still out and about the bar strip despite the late hour.
Phyllis massaged her neck, grunting and complaining of having too much to drink and everything in between.

"Why didn't you let him take us home, Lowe. Could've saved us from having to pay for a taxi."

"Don't worry, it won't hurt if we split the fare. Besides, I don't think he brought a car," she said airily, looking out impatiently for the white and green cab.
It was nice of Reigen to offer them a ride but she figured it was too early to let her workmates take her home on her first week.

"Oh, you're right. I wonder why I don't see his car- I think that's our service, he's here!" Phyllis shrieked, pointed at a cab that just stopped under a red light up ahead.

When the lights turned to green they both ran over to the intersection and flagged the car down, afraid he'll miss them. The driver did notice them right away, and it wasn't that difficult for him to spot two drunk girls running up the road like zombies.