2022-04-11 - Where Everybody Knows Your Name.

Evening has come in Gray Harbor and the day shifts have all let out. The Pourhouse is starting to pickup with those seeking a late dinner or an early start to a late night of drinking. Someone has started a series of 90s alternative on the sound system while the other senses are tickled by the scent of smoke and old beer.

Chelsea wanders through the crowd, a full glass of beer in each hand, and she makes her way to one of the last tables before the bathrooms where she saunters right on up. The beers are set down one for each of the two college-aged men that sit there. "Two more for you, guys. I'll be by in a bit if you need anything else." The blond waif is either ignorant of or ignoring entirely the backside-glances the college boys give as she turns to walk back to the bar.

The sound of a motorbike parking very close to the door heralds the arrival of Catherine. After a long day at work, she could certainly use an ale or two...dozen. She pushes open the door, clad in black bike leathers but no sign of a helmet - must have been left on the bike. Right? Catherine, or C.C. to her friends, pulls off her gloves as she approaches the bar. A bored voice calling out for, "Two beers." She may be in a mood, so if she does spot those boys checking out anyone's backside, there may be trouble.

Catherine's brow furrows and her eyes narrow a little as she watches the waitress walking towards the bar. She seems awfully familiar. No, it can't be. "Chelsea?"

Chelsea stops in her tracks and presents Catherine with one of those 'Awww-mah-gawd', open-mouthed smiles that shows off her perfect and pretty teeth. Flossing is definitely a priority for this one. "C.C? I heard you got a motorcycle. Oh my god!" A quick wave toward one of the regulars who comes in a moment behind Catherine, then Chelsea is redirecting her attention back toward her old classmate. "What kind of beer? Leon got this new IPA from Aberdine that's... well, nevermind. HOW HAVE YOU BEEEEEN?"

"It has been way too long" Catherine laughs. "I've had bike's for years. Probably since you last saw me. Some even survived the experience." She looks over her old classmate and gives an approving nod. "Damn, girl, didn't you grow up hot. You'd never be a wallflower these days. I bet there are whole lot of boys who regret their decisions about you in school." A shrug about what to order. "The IPA sounds fine. Get yourself something on me and then take a break so we can shoot the breeze and tell each other how we've obtained our dreams."

Where the compliments may make some academically-minded girls blush, Chelsea's response comes in the form of a lopsided grin. "I always said I would become a super model just as soon as I finished studying for 'this test'." She explains jokingly before she gives Catherine the quickest little hugs. The waitress darts behind the bar and begins to fill two glasses from one of the fresher taps. They're not the perfect of pours at all, but they are passable. Both glasses are set in front of Catherine before Chelsea fills a third, then the waitress is moving back around the bar so she can claim a seat beside her friend.

"You definitely became a super model" Catherine grins in reply, returning the brief hug without biting. Once Chelsea has sat herself down, Catherine raises one of her glasses in a toast. "To your super model career. Obviously, you're doing some undercover work for a modelling assignment advertising Budweiser at the moment." Glasses clink before she downs that first drink in one go - she must have been thirsty. "Not bad" she offers about the beer before making sure she is facing her friend for the interrogation...otherwise known as a conversation between friends.

"But, other than your supermodel activities, have you been up to anything exciting? I work down at the mill these days. As a mechanic. You remember how much I was interested in working with machines. Now I fiddle with the biggest machine in town" Catherine explains before frowning. "Damn, did I just do my life in one paragraph?"

Chelsea simply stares open-mouthed and amused as Catherine gulps down that first beer in one long pull. She holds her own glass up and takes a healthy-sized swig that is probably much larger than what she would normally sip. Setting the glass down, she leans in toward Catherine and replies, "You always were straight to the point. No dancing around the point, right? As for me..." The blonde holds her arms out wide in a majestic display of herself in her current working environment. "...here I am. I'm also taking classes at Bayside, Bio and Pharmacology. Still volunteering at the animal shelter, too. Do you remember Biscuits?!"

"Straight to the point? Nice way of putting it. Others usually called it rudeness or arrogance" Catherine smirks. "And I thought I was a wallflower just along the wall from you. Okay, a Venus Fly Trap wallflower, but a wallflower. Right? Totally demure and shy." The wicked grin on her face suggests she is kidding but she was never Miss Popular. Miss Crazy, sure, but not Miss Popular. Catherine admires Chelsea's domain with an approving nod. Though the studying is of more interest. "Bio and Pharmacology? Chelsea, are you the Ms Big of the Grey Harbor drug world now? Got anything on you?" A wiggle of her eyebrows before smiling warmly at mention of Biscuits. "Your goldie? Sure, I remember it." Catherine suddenly looks worried. "Has something happened?"