*****

Coffeehouse,
The next night

The glaring streetlights seem to invade the dark coffeehouse even more harshly tonight. It was not lost on Todd. Why the fuck was the light always trying to intrude on his dark world? Didn't it know he was a god damn black hole, swallowing any light that dared to enter?

Fuck it, he thinks, taking a sip of his dark, black coffee. Dark, but sweet. The girl behind the counter had tried to get him to sample one of their gourmet, international flavors. Had Téa been there, she would have known better. He glanced at the blonde girl, busily making more coffee. When he had walked in, he had noticed her immediately, noticed she wasn't Téa. He had felt a pang of disappointment, which pissed him off. Why the hell should he care? After finally convincing the girl to give him normal coffee, he had gone to his usual seat, with his usual newspapers. His routine. Normally, his routine made him feel sane, kept him grounded, kept him from wandering aimlessly into a sea of hopelessness. But tonight, it just irritated him. Because part of his nightly routine had been disrupted. No nightly chat with Téa. And the fact that that bothered him irritated him even more. After a few moments of cursing her up and down for having the gall to have a night off, he grudgingly admitted to himself that he almost looked forward to their nightly chats. He isolated himself for so much of the day that the little human contact he had with her felt...good.

Not that he would ever admit it.

He thumbs through the paper, his eyes scanning the articles that seemed to deliver nothing but bleak world news, when his solitude is interrupted by a figure sitting down across from him.

"Hey," Téa says, leaning back in her chair and grabbing one of his papers.

"Thought you had the night off," Todd says gruffly.

"Nice greeting. I do, but it's payday, so I came to pick up my check."

"I don't like that other girl," he mutters, glancing toward the counter.

Téa smiles, a glint in her eye. "Are you trying to say you missed me?"

Todd shrugs. "Whatever. At least you don't try to push all that gourmet shit on me."

"Oh, well I'm sure you set her straight," she laughs, standing up.

"Where ya goin?"

"Well, since I took tonight off in the hopes of going to some fancy club only to get blown off by Jake the loser, I decided I would just go out, get loaded, maybe spread some nasty rumors about him," she says wickedly.

"Chick revenge, huh?"

"Ummm, basically," she replies. Tilting her head slightly to the side, she considers him.

What the hell, right? The worst he could do is say no.

"Wanna come? I mean, I'm just going to this jazz club a couple blocks away. You know, have a few drinks, hang out..." her voice trails off as she notices the strange look on his face.

To say Todd was surprised at her invitation was an understatement. His first instinct was to blow her off. Keep up those armor walls, reinforce that protection. His next instinct, a stronger one, was to go get laced right along with her. Ease the pain that was him, was his life. Besides, she amused him, her predatory view of life. And the tiny crack in her own armor that he had witnessed, well despite himself, it intrigued him. He shrugs, standing up and tossing the paper he is holding to the side.

"What the hell, let's go."

*****

Blue Note Jazz Club

Téa idly swirls around the ice cubes in her vodka tonic as Todd gulps his second glass of scotch. She smirks, he sure could knock 'em back. She liked this place, coming here when her mood was darkest. It matched it. The sultry interior, plush booths. Dimly lit, with soulful jazz washing over the occupants. A perfect place to get lost, to forget.

"Wouldn't have pegged you for a jazz fan."

Todd's voice pulls her from her thoughts. "Oh, I wouldn't say I'm a fan really. I just like this place. It feeds my depression. I know, I know it's weird, but when I feel like hell, I don't want to be cheered up. I wanna wallow, and this place is wallowing heaven. Guess that sounds weird to you."

"Not at all."

Téa leans forward, leaning her chin against her palm. "You know, good friends of my family live in Llanview. Maybe you know them, the Vegas?"

Todd looks at her blankly, then shrugs. Then, a thought occurs to him. "Wait, you didn't mention me did you? Tell anyone I was here?"

"Relax. I haven't talked to her in weeks. Besides, you don't know her do you?"

"No, but I'm sure she knows me. And I don't want anyone to know where I am, got it?"

"Believe me, I have plenty of other things to talk about other than you."

"Yeah, well good, keep it that way."

"Yes sir," Téa says, her tone exaggerated. But he had intrigued her, and the burgeoning lawyer in her kicked in. "So, what are you running from?"

"Huh?"

"What are you running from? Why don't you want anyone to know where you are?"

"None of their fuckin' business," he mutters, motioning for the waiter to give him another.

"You in trouble?"

Todd glares at her, taking a swig from his new glass of scotch. "You always this nosy?"

"Um, yeah."

"And it works for you?"

"Usually. You gonna answer the question?"

He shrugs. "Llanview sucks. That's why I left."

"Oh, come on. There's got to be more than that. You in some kind of trouble?"

"Not even a lawyer yet and trying to drum up business huh?"

"Never hurts to start early. But you didn't answer the question."

"No, not in trouble."

"So, why did you leave?"

"Why does anyone leave?"

"Oh no. I haven't had nearly enough to drink yet to get into any philosophical discussions."

"Why the hell does it matter?"

"I'm just interested, that's all."

"Well, I'm not into twenty questions, so drop it," he barks.

Téa leans back, taking a long sip of her drink. Setting it down on the table, she nods slightly, a grin on her face.

"Ooooh, I get it."

"Get what?"

"A woman. That's why you left and ended up in the big city."

Todd slams his glass down and leans forward, his eyes icy. "I would be VERY careful Delgado. This is one place you do NOT want to go."