FRIENDS NIGHT OUT

              "Welcome to the lovers club!" Nora said and raised her cocktail glass. 

       Charlie came back with two more cocktails glasses and handed one to Faith. 

        "Thank you," Faith said with a smile and took the glass. 

      It was the evening of the day Ethan left for San Francisco, Faith had asked her friends for a night's out and they had gone to their favourite bar.  Charlie took a seat beside Nora and faced Faith. 

       Faith looked alarmed.  "Why do I feel you two are planning to slay me with questions?" 

          "Of course, we are, ain't we Charlie? We are so mad at you," Nora said emphasizing 'so' 

       "What have I done this time?" Faith asked. 

        "You fell in love and forgot about us." 

        "No way, you are unserious," Faith said and sipped her drink. 

         "So how is he?" Charlie asked. 

       Faith appeared dreamy.  "The best thing that has ever happened to me for a long time." 

       Nora took a long sip from her cocktail.  "Girlfriend, let's wed together." 

       "You must be kidding me. Ethan and I just started dating and are just getting to know each other." 

        "No time is enough to know someone." 

       "I just hope you are joking because Ethan doesn't even look like he is ready to get married anytime soon. I don't want him to feel pressured, you know." 

     Charlie and Nora exchanged glances.  "Love is really beautiful. You once said you can't choose Ethan over Noah because of this same reason. Thought you were in a hurry to marry though, " Nora said. 

       "Yeah, whatever. I was just not looking...wait, why am I even trying to explain to you?" 

        "Don't mind her. Speaking of Noah, have you heard from him since then?" Charlie asked. 

         "I haven't." 

       "Guess he had learnt his lessons," Nora said and stood to get herself another glass of cocktail. 

      Charlie stared at Faith. Faith looked at him and raised her brows in question. 

         "What?" she asked. 

        "Is there something going on between you and Douglas?" 

        "Something like what?" 

         "There is a rumour in his office." 

           "What rumour?" 

             "They said his girlfriend came the other day. You know, they have never seen any woman visit him like that aside from business partners. They don't know he is gay." 

          "So, they think I am his girlfriend? Wait? What...are you kidding me? Josh is my brother!" 

         "I know that." 

          "No, I don't think you do, you just asked me if anything was going on between us." 

          "Jeez! That was not what I meant. Shit! I meant if something happened between you two. Doug won't talk about it but he has been quiet after your visit and he has done nothing to debunk those rumours in his office." 

         "Well, I just gave him a piece of my mind and I asked him to tell me what he knows about our mom." 

         "Who did you give a piece of your mind?" Nora asked resuming her seat. 

          "Douglas Foster," Faith replied. 

          "You mean Charlie Foster's partner?" 

            "My name's not Foster. Stick to Anderson until we are married," Charlie said. 

       Nora laughed it off and faced Faith.  "So, tell me what you said to him, baby girl?" 

             "I said to him. Hey, you need to stop seeking gossip!" 

     Nora scowled and clicked her tongue.  "Whatever," she said and sipped her cocktail. 

        "You would get drunk sooner or later," Faith said to her. 

        Nora didn't look at her.  "Kettle calling pot black." 

    Charlie smiled and hung his arm on Nora's shoulders.  "Our Nora is not feeling good. We left her out of our discussion.  We were talking about Faith and Doug." 

         "I don't want to hear it anymore." 

         "Oh, my God, are you really sad?" Faith asked. 

         "You two had to wait for me to leave before you started talking about it and when I came and inquired about it, you said I should stop hunting for gossip. I'm not mad because I too have loads of things I wanted to share with you guys, but now my lips are sealed."

      "I am sorry, girlfriend, I was only kidding."

        "Well, so was I!" Nora screamed and started to laugh. 

       Faith and Charlie joined in the laughter. A few people glanced their way but they didn't mind. They laughed hard for a while. 

       "Is a good thing that we are all happy," Nora said after their laughter subsided. 

        "Nora, I have been meaning to ask. How about Danny's business is he still having a downtime?" 

         Nora shook her head frantically before she answered.  "God sent an angel to help us." 

        "That's great news," Faith said and sipped her drink.  "I miss him so much. I never knew I could miss him this much." 

        "Fresh love is always like that," Charlie said and sipped his drink.  "So, is he planning to start anything yet? What's his degree? What is he planning for?" 

         "Honestly, I don't know. He said he was laid off from work. The story was not believable, I felt he was hiding something from me, I had to go look him up online, but he has no criminal records and there was nothing remote about him, but he gets money and he said it's from his saving. It's all suspicious, right?" 

       Nora didn't say anything, she kept sipping her drink. 

       "He is a suspicious man though," Charlie said. 

         "I wonder how much he saved up from his last job, it's just something I don't want to start thinking about," Faith said and looked at Nora who has been quiet since she started talking about her suspicions about Ethan.  "Hey, Nora." 

      Nora jerked a little and looked at her, still sipping her drink.  "Mmh?" 

        "You are not saying anything about what I am saying." 

        "I don't know. If he is hiding something, maybe it's best... I mean he might have a good reason, right? Men always hide certain things from their women if they don't want to hurt them. Danny had to hide his financial challenges from me so I won't get hurt." 

      "Nora, you have always loved Ethan right from the first day you saw him. Why won't you be on his side? Especially now that he had acquired you as his bestie. Even if he kills a man, you will find an excuse to justify him." 

         "Well, my instincts never fail me, I have always known he was a good person." 

         "Of course, he is. I just wish I could just find out what he is hiding. It can't kill right?" 

          "I don't think it would," Nora said.  "Did you say you didn't find anything about him online?" 

        "Yes, I didn't." 

  Her phone started to ring and she picked it up and looked at it. It was Ethan, she smiled and excused herself. 

         "Hey, lover boy," she said once she put the phone to her ear. 

          "My heartbeat, how's it going there?" 

          "Other than missing you like crazy, everything is fine. How is she? Is she any better now?" 

          "She is still alive. Everyone is asking why I didn't bring you home though." 

         "I told you I wanted to come. Here I am yearning for you." 

         "I will be back soon my love. I can hear some background music, where are you?" 

           "I went out with Nora and Charlie. We are on a friend's night out." 

          "Say hello to my bestie! Be careful around that dude." 

        Faith chuckled and glanced towards the table where Nora and Charlie were chattering.  "That dude is gay, he won't even look my way a second time." 

        "Still be careful. I hope you are not having any problems? Have you seen that Noah dude since today?" 

        "Noah?" Faith looked around.  "I don't think he would dare come my way again after all I said to him that night. Why are you suddenly asking about Noah? What are you thinking." 

         "I just have a sudden uneasy feeling. I should have taken you with me. I don't like that you are alone in the house." 

         Faith chuckled.  "You are just worried about nothing. I will be fine. You are making it look like he is a serial killer." 

        "I'm sorry, but I want you to always lock the doors when you are in the house alone, okay?" 

       Faith who was so scared of ghosts suddenly started to imagine them. She had a sudden image of Noah as a ghost. She shook her head.  "No," she blurted out. 

        "What? You don't want us to talk on FaceTime?" 

        "No, that's not it. I...of course, I would love to see your face. 

         "Are you alright? Did something happen?" 

         "You got me all scared." 

         "I am so sorry. It's just a feeling babe. I'm sorry I made you scared." 

         "It's fine.  I will be safe and I will lock the doors as you said." 

         "I am sending you lots of love, hugs and kisses." 

          "I love you and miss you so much. Send my regards to mom." 

            "She would hear. I will be back for you soon." 

             "I would be here waiting fo r you." 

             "Stay safe, bye." 

   Faith hung up and looked around carefully to know if Noah was anywhere. She started back to her friends.