RP with livesonlipgloss | AA

[paramedically]

It wasn't a struggle for Andrew to go to this week's AA meeting like it had been with the couple he had been to in the previous weeks. The first two he had gone with accompanied by Ali had been at the old location near his old apartment. It was inconvenient and he had been wavering in his committment to them. The battle was far from over with him.

Comments

[livesonlipgloss]

"Don't you just love these things?" Rachel asked the new face. Unlike him, she'd actually gotten up and spoken this time. It was pretty superficial given the rest of the people who had spoken, but her reason for wanting a drink hadn't lessened the urge.

She'd been a teenage drinker for years, and it had lasted into her early twenties. She'd started purely because of her lifestyle, and no reason like her parents had been alcoholic, or she'd suffered some horrible event.

Rachel hated the fact that seeing her ex at lunch with another woman had triggered her need for a drink, but she'd still had to admit. Same as when she'd fallen off the wagon after he'd left. She'd been six months clean since, and she wasn't giving up just because he was back. And just because he'd apparently found his next three-month fling.

"Always thought the cookies were the interesting part, but then they took those away in case we turned into fucking Diabetics Anonymous, or some crap. We're addicts. We need something. Just better it's cookies, and not alcohol."

[paramedically]

Andrew laughed softly and glanced at her. "I didn't even notice they were absent. The other group went that extra mile and offered Krispy Kreme donuts. The Upper East Side must be more health conscious than Manhattan. Admittedly, I don't usually stick around after for the refreshments. McDonalds apple pies on the way home were always a much better option," he added with a smirk.

He remembered what she had spoken about when she braved standing up earlier. Military guy shipped out and split with her after a quick romance. He felt sorry for her, thoughts immediately turning to Leila as he wouldn't help but wonder if Lei's soldier would be so harsh. He didn't think so. In fact, it was almost a mirror image to Rachel's story. Rob had proposed to Leila to promise her he would come back her. The other guy just never gave this girl the option. Andrew knew it never needed much to take to picking up a bottle again. He took his other hand from his pocket and held it out to her. "I'm Andrew."

[livesonlipgloss]

Rachel's smile morphed as her eyes filled with amusement. "Well, I'm still waiting for them to install a juice bar, or tofu stand. The Upper East side is insane for the healthy stuff. Personally, I do like the occasional giant cup of juice that lasts me the whole day, but after talking about alcohol all night I need something with more of a sugar kick. I like the idea of Krispy Kreme, and a McDonald's apple pie. I think you've just planted a craving."

She took his hand. "Rachel, but I guess you already knew that. Assuming I didn't send you to sleep, or the guy with the bad white man's afro."

[paramedically]

"Well, this time you tapped into my polite awareness. Kinda needed to keep focused for this one, but I'm sure you more than understand that. I haven't been to this one before, but it's a little closer to home and more convenient in general."

Andrew sipped his coffee, licking his lips as he swallowed. "Sorry to hear about your tough times. I guess I can sympathise on some very distance level. My cousin just married military, and he got shipped oversease right after. In seeing how she is some days, though, waiting wouldn't be easy on anyone. Not to make any attempt to make light of your pain. Not in any way. It's the aftermath of it that I probably understand better than the causes of it."

[livesonlipgloss]

"I can see the appeal in making an honest guy blush," Rachel admitted with a soft laugh. "My ex guy wasn't so much shy, though. Just... I don't know. Texan, tall, serious-ish, hot. Definitely hot. I guess maybe it's why things fell apart. It was more physical than that initial getting to know you thing. I didn't know what made him blush... Now I've spent eight months wanting to know, and I guess it's just a regret now. But anyway, you're getting married! We should totally talk more about the wedding. Has your wife got make-up sorted? I'd be happy to throw in a freebie session for my sponsor's wife-to-be." She gave a shake of her head as she frowned harder. "Nope, that's not it. I'm sorry he got shot. Oh, wait! I remember that competition. It was awesome. Especially that couple who won. That was him and your cousin's wife? Wow, that's so cool. Aiden told me about it. He's such a publicity slut. Hey, you know Aiden Lewis, too? Seriously fucking small world. I'm amazed we haven't crossed paths before. So that would make your cousin...

[paramedically]

Andrew laughed. "She's just so honest and blunt, I'm not even sure she realises it. She keeps telling me she should have been born a bloke, and her brother born a girl. He's gay, an actor in a soap opera out in LA. She's gorgeous, though. She likes her fashion. You'd probably get along really well with her." His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You know Aiden? Wow. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised at the small world thing. There is a lot of interesting connections in our family. I've known Aiden since Luke introduced me when he conceived The Bondi. Another link there, Luke is married to Tab who is the twin sister of Riley. Riley and Pat, Aiden's husband, are the deviant Scot's best mates. Apparently everything slotted into place when Riley came home from Scotland. I was still on London at the time. I only realised all the links after I met Ali. Ali's best friends with James', who is Harriet Ryan's ex and father of her baby. As you can see, things have recently gotten complicated on that front. Some days, I have idea how my brain keeps