Months and months ago Val and Logan had talked about the latter applying to a few different graduate-level Archaeology programs abroad, from field schools to summer programs. And Val had supported Logan, because Archaeology was important to her and amassing the most knowledge and experience was important for a graduate student.
When Logan heard nothing back for months, they thought it might come to nothing. As it turned out, it was only a matter of doing everything at once (probably poor planning/financing problems/both, in Val’s opinion). There had barely been two weeks between Logan receiving the letters and emails from both her school and the host university in Tanzania, and her leaving for the very same place. A semester abroad studying Swahili, learning about the origins of humanity and conducting field investigations? Even Val would’ve signed up if she could. But only Logan had applied, and then confirmed her application with another application, secured financing, packed a bag and done the online check-in.
And now she was gone to the farthest place on Earth that Val could think of. It hadn’t been easy to show nothing but support, but Val wasn’t the kind of girlfriend to put up emotionally manipulative barriers to the happiness and growth of someone she loved. They had said their tearful goodbyes and vowed to see each other again in December, and off went Logan. Hours later here was Valerie, sitting in her car listening to Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time while failing not to cry. Minutes after that, Val was driving to an unlikely person, but the most qualified one to ease the sadness. Kendall Anders. Who also worked at a pub. Perfect.
Val dragged her feet into Ollie’s and took a seat at the bar, right in front of where Kendall was currently standing. With a sad sigh, she looked up. “Ken Doll. Beer me.”
Kendall wasn’t oblivious to the fact that something was definitely Up with Val when she sat down and asked for a beer without so much as a hi, how are you, but she was the type to pour first and ask questions later, so that’s what she did. Soon, there was a large glass of beer sitting between them and Kendall studied her friend for a moment before jumping into the questioning.
“You wanna tell me why you look like you just lost your favorite puppy?” she asked. Talking was kinda optional, but if Val wanted to talk, she was here to listen and if she didn’t, well, she’d find a way to cheer her up anyway.
Valerie held up her head with one hand and reached for the beer with another, pulling it slowly towards her face with no real clear intentions of drinking it. Or rather, she intended to, just didn’t feel motivated to move. She eyed Kendall with a miserable expression. “Because I did. Logan left for Tanzania like, two hours ago.”
After finally letting that out, Val sipped on the beer audibly, catching nothing but foam which got caught on her upper lip. She grimaced and tugged at a paper napkin from the dispenser to clean the foam off her face, then took a healthy gulp. “Ahh, okay.” She paused. “That’s not better.”
Kendall resisted the urge to make a joke about Logan being a puppy, considering the situation. I think that might call for something stronger than beer,” she offered as she reached for a good bottle of bourbon and another class. This time she poured two as she decided it was slow enough she could take a short break. She didn’t think the boss would mind much.
“How long is she gone for?” She didn’t know if this was a long term thing or a short trip, but she figured it probably was if Valerie was wearing that expression.
Usually, Val didn’t really go for anything stronger than beer, but this might be the exception. She nodded slowly, wordlessly accepting that Kendall was right, and reached for the glass without clanking it against hers.
“‘Til December. It’s a whole semester. You know that thing about how the people who go are always better off than those who stay? I think it applies, ‘cause here I am, miserable, and she’s going to be studying in a new place, having safaris and learning Swahili and researching the origins of humanity. Everything sounds too cool.”
“Ouch, December is a long ass time.” Kendall offered her a sympathetic look. She hadn’t had any real serious relationships - even her marriage was more of a joke than anything else - but she could appreciate that it sucked when the person you loved ditched you to go off somewhere else, no matter what the reason was.
“Safaris and Swahili are definitely not cooler than you,” she offered. It maybe wasn’t the right thing to say in this situation, but she was a lot better at fun distractions than pep talks.
“Yep.” Valerie replied simply, shoulders slumped. Of course Kendall knew the way to a smile was a compliment for Val, so a smile she got, even if half-assed. “Y’know after her sister got engaged I kind of got to thinking about it. But I don’t know. We’ll see how it is after. Anyway-”
Valerie downed a shot. “How’s your… y’know. Life?”
Kendall shrugged. “Oh, you know, pretty much the same as always. No one gets why Luke and I don’t get divorced, living the dream as a bartender in Breck. I’m great.” She shrugged again. “Baby sister will be 21 in a couple of months, so of course Locklyn and I are throwing an epic party.”
At this point Val wasn’t sure whether Kendall was contented, forlorn or a bit of both. She shrugged. “Could be worse, right? Why don’t you, though? Is it a money thing? You know, when he inevitably gets arrested for something wild being married to him will be a damn mess.” She chuckled. The birthday bash talk did make her smile. “Hell yeah. I hope I’m invited. Not only but also because I wanna see Tiny Blondie become a fully grown woman while I’m three drinks in and hopefully covered in something fun like foam or silly string.”
“Eh, too much work,” Sara said, waving off the idea. Getting divorced was a ridiculous amount of paperwork and even an annulment would have been more effort than either of them wanted to put in, so they’d simply let it be. It was a situation that was working out fine for the both of them.
“‘Course you’re invited she assured Val with a grin. “Like I’d ever throw a party and not invite you.”
Val shrugged. She wouldn’t know, having never gotten a divorce nor looked into it. She grinned at Kendall’s confirmation that she would be invited to her sister’s party. “There’s that to look forward to. For now, I drink.”