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[glitterglue-21.livejournal.com]

 

By: Molly
Name of Story: Baby
Name of Chapter: A Christmas Tipple
Pairing: Ryan & Josie
Rating for Chapter: PG
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Rights To Any Of The People In This Story or The Show Whose Line. This Story Is Purely For Fans
Summary Of Chapter: Ryan & Josie Got For A Christmas Drink

 

Chapter 2: A Christmas Tipple

 

A light jazz bass line weaved it’s way through the festive Friday night evening clouds in the West End. Glasses clinked together in polite gratefulness and well-wishing of the holidays as Ryan and Josie ambled clumsily through the crowds with the bags. Greg stood propped against the bar, an empty glass of beer in one hand, his car keys in the other. A petite blonde stood beside him, stroking the stem of her wine glass as he, no doubt, told her exaggerated tales of his glamorous TV life.

Ryan, spotting Greg, nudged Josie before calling him. “Casanova is at the bar again I see…”

He hissed through gritted teeth. Josie looked at her shoes and smirked as Ryan gave his biggest grin and yelled a friendly “Hello Greg!” across the bar. Greg averted his gaze from his new friend and scanned the bar for his caller. Ryan proceed to wave frantically, sending a woman behind him flying across the room. Greg gave his usual satisfied smirk and raised his eyebrows towards the blonde lass beside him. A succession of “excuse me’s” and “sorry’s” came from Ryan and Josie as they squeezed through the throngs of celebrators towards Greg.

“Actually” Greg called out “Clarissa and I were just leaving!” Clarissa remained mute but gave Ryan and Josie a smile, which Josie responded with a flash of her own teeth. Greg gave Ryan a playful slap on the arm and said his goodbyes before giving Clarissa a quick slap on the butt and sauntering back through the crowd, his nasally laugh echoing through the bar.

“I hate that dick.” Came Ryan’s voice from over Josie’s shoulder. She was rather shocked by his sudden hate-filled comment, however she could see why he felt that way. “He’s got a girl at home and he’s here boning some blonde who he just met.” cried Ryan. Josie thought this was quite sweet. He didn’t envy Greg for his luck with the ladies, but he was pitying his girl who was at home in America.

“Yeah well, any girl with half a brain and some dignity would know what he was after.” retorted Josie, beckoning the barman over to their barstools. “One beer and one orange…actually, one vodka and coke.” smiled Josie, suddenly happy the holidays were here. Ryan gave her a gentle nudge, “There you go girl, loosen up. It’s the holidays!” Josie smiled and supped the drink through a straw as Ryan sucked contently on his beer bottle.

“So, Ry. You heading back for Christmas?” enquired Josie, swivelling on her stool to face him. Ryan sighed and picked at the beer bottle sticker sadly. “Naw. There was no more flights. Patty…she blamed me. I’d love to go home but…it’s complicated.” Josie nodded in sympathy with him and sucked the rest of her tipple into her mouth.

 

****

It was two o’clock the next morning when Josie and Ryan stumbled clumsily onto the street, smelling on strong spirits, leather bags in tow. The city was still alive with lights and neon that December evening and Ryan managed to hail a cab by swinging the leather bag into the road.

“Josie! We’ll get a taxi to yours. I can walk it.” Ryan said, heaving her bags into the cab. Josie inhaled the cool night air and climbed into the cab for a second time that night and pressed her forehead against the cool glass. Every breath she took condensed the glass and blurred her vision through the window.

“That’s it, cool yourself down. You need a good night’s sleep.” Ryan laughed patting her gently on the back. Josie sighed deeply and closed her eyes. The car slowed down until it stopped and the driver tapped on the plastic window separating them. “That’ll be £8.90, mate.” Ryan scrunched a £10 note into the drivers box and slid his hand in Josie’s, pulling her onto the street.

As the cab pulled away, Ryan dropped the two bags at Josie’s feet and helped her scrabble through her purse for her keys. “Okay Josie, you go inside, and go to…” Josie reached down to pick her bag, but swayed slowly before careering towards the pavement. Ryan jumped forward and caught her underneath her arms. Her hair was pasted to her head with sweat so Ryan delicately moved her fringe to one side. “Sleep.” Josie looked back up at Ryan who was much closer than she had thought. She felt his hands creep ever so slowly around her waist, until they rested sturdily but not to presumptuously around her waist. She in turn held his arms. Together they moved closer until their faces were all but 7cm apart. Lips part pursed they stopped suddenly. Thick flakes of snow were falling from the navy sky. Josie gulped, “It’s snowing.”

“You better get inside before you catch your death. Happy holidays” he stuttered before dusting some snow from her coat, and striding off down the road.