Marc smiled again, then cleared his throat and said a bit louder than before, "So that's why it was so important that I come out tonight? To meet a friend of yours? I hope that's all you're planning." Then he thought of all the times that Gale had planned and evening for him.
"You know what, scratch that, it never is...".
He looked out of the window at the lights of the city. Bright. Glaring actually. He looked back at Gale. She was looking at him intently. "Marc, it's time to get out that old place, you know, every time I walk to that gate, I get chills. Its so...Dead."
Marc thought about that for a minute. She was right, it was quite an imposing building, "Well, I'm stuck there for now, the paperwork still needs to go through."
Gale knew what he meant. After a minute or two of driving, Marc eased into the conversation and bantered with Gale about old times. The pair had known each other a long time. Who would've thought that such a close friendship could grown from a hospital bed?
Eventually Gale said, "Here we are! La Petit!"
Marc looked at the fancy restaurant. It was one of those novelty high class over priced restaurants that people visited to show that they had money to spend. A big abstract sign dominated the glass facade and blocked out the lights shining over the Square. He wondered why Gale had chosen a place where they were both a bit out of place. Time to find out. Gale pulled over and turned off the music before anyone high class heard her mixes. Shortly, they were both staring up at the doorway. Then Gale said in a snooty accent, "Shall we, dear friend of mine?".
That kind of language came easier to Marc, and he used to good effect: "Of course my lovely companion, why ever would we not?".
Gale laughed and led him inside towards some or other person: San-Marie.
Marc found little to be excited about in meeting this new person. He surveyed the entire crowd as he was led around tables and groups. Nothing much to look at, just another bunch of people. When he looked straight he found the blue eyes of San-Marie as she made a cautious introduction. He smiled warmly and greeted what he could only describe as a blonde bombshell.
San-Marie certainly looked as if she belonged in high society. Maybe she had chosen the venue, he thought as he weaved his way through the polite nothings of conversation that followed meeting a person for the first time. It was all so complicatedly needless to him. By San-Marie's third sentence he had already decided that she was a nice person and considered her worth talking to. But she kept on trying to make a good impression - talking about this and that and being overly nice. She was obviously a people pleaser. Eventually Gale caught on as she noticed Marc slowly receding from the conversation. She reached over and touched San-Marie's arm. "Hun, he already considers you a friend, no need to try and win him over."
Marc smiled and nodded. Good old Gale. San-Marie was a little taken aback by this, and stopped talking altogether. Gale sighed, " Well, I'm gonna go to the ladies' for a bit."
She looked at Marc and said, " I'm counting on you to make it work. Do it."
Marc nodded again and leaned over his pathetically small meal and said, "So, San, if that's okay? Cool. You said you've been to Paris?",
Gale smiled and walked away. Marc leaned back and waited for San-Marie to latch onto the story. She didn't, thank God. Instead she said, quite abruptly, "Where'd you meet Gale, anyway?"
She saw the instant change in Marc. The good natured smile simply vanished and she was staring at a completely different person. His face lost all traces of emotion, becoming vacant in a matter of milliseconds. It was decidedly disconcerting. Then he spoke. "Its nice story I suppose."
The sadness was tangible, but he continued, "Five years ago Gale had her tonsils out. There was a complication, and for two months, she couldn't talk. For Gale, that's torture, you know her. I was there at the time with a...battle wound..." he held up his hand, showing a faded yet clear scar running around his left index finger. "Nearly lost the hand after an infection set in." He expanded: "Gale had to go through serious vocal therapy and I was, I guess, a friend in difficult times. Afterwards, when she left, I made a point of staying in contact, and here we are today."
Marc's composure returned towards the end, and by now was back to normal, but it was clear he had left a lot out. Who stays in hospital for two months for a finger? San-Marie said instead, "Yeah, Gale told me once about how she used to be a good singer and all. Its sad that she can't anymore."
Gale arrived before the conversation could continue, and the rest of the evening was spent in relative ease.
By about ten, Gale was restless, Marc could tell. eventually she stood up and proclaimed to all in earshot, " I'm bored! I need to feel some excitement! Come on, guys, there's a club just around the corner!".
Gale practically ran out the door. Marc smiled as he trailed after her, with a decidedly embarrassed-looking San-Marie in their wake.
The club was indeed a rocking joint. Marc immediately bought a round of drinks for the ladies. While he was gone, San-Marie couldn't help but ask Gale about the story Marc had told her. but Gale too, was instantly shadowed. "Did he tell you what he was doing there?".
"He said it was an infection in his hand, but that's not all it was, is it?". Gale shook her head slowly.
"San...Marc was nearly murdered."