Meeting Sharon
Nara tapped on the table once, twice, a thousand times until basically she was drumming on it impatiently.
"Urggg.." She groaned loudly, not caring who heard her or about the glances that were thrown her way.
She couldn't take it anymore. She hated waiting, and she had been doing that for the past 30 minutes at this tacky restaurant.
Unable to control herself any longer, she reached into her bag to grab her pack of cigarettes. She grabbed one and popped it in her mouth and lit it, not caring if she was allowed to smoke inside the restaurant or not.
"I thought you quit smoking."
Nara smiled as she heard the familiar voice.
Turning around, Nara replied, "And I thought you were dead."
"Not yet."
"Not yet, either," Nara replied with a smile as she rose to hug Sharon, her lifelong friend who was basically her sister.
"I missed you so much," Nara whispered softly still hugging Sharon.
"Meanwhile, I didn't miss you one bit," Sharon replied as she hugged Nara back, although she was quite stiff and Nara noticed.
Nara let go, and they both sat down.
"Last time I saw you, you looked... kinda pretty. Now... you look the opposite of that," Sharon stated as she scanned Nara's appearance, she could see lots of changes.
"Really, my looks? That's the first thing you wanna talk about? After keeping me waiting for half an hour," Nara replied nonchalantly as she tucked her stray hair behind her ear.
"Hey, I'm allowed to talk about whatever I want. In case you forgot, let me remind you that you treated me so shitty the last time we met."
"I know. That's why I was gonna say a short apology first. But after you commented on my looks, we are now even," Nara said with a smirk.
"You don't change, do you?" Sharon replied rather disappointed. She hoped she would be meeting a more refined Nara, but she was so wrong. Same old Nara Smith.
"Nope. Never," Nara answered, her nonchalant attitude still intact.
"Wow," Sharon scoffed. "So what do you want?" She asked impatiently, wanting to leave as soon as possible and also very curious about the reason the almighty Nara wanted to see her.
"I need a friend, Sharon," Nara replied, totally suprising Sharon.
"Wow... I thought I wasn't good enough for you, why am I now? Are you suddenly tired of playing the rich snobby wife? Or are your rich snobby friends not nice to you anymore?"
"Sharon..."
"Look Nara. I really don't have time for this. Some of us still have to go to work. So please, I'm asking you again, what do you really want?"
"I want to kill myself!!" Nara yelled, her outburst shocked herself, Sharon, and half the people in the restaurant as everyone turned to stare at her.
Sharon was speechless and also very embarrassed, but mostly she felt pity as she stared at Nara, whose eyes were starting to fill with tears.
"What are you saying, Nara? You can't say stuff like that," Sharon whispered softly, concern lacing her voice.
"I want to fucking end my life," Nara responded as her eyes met Sharon's, and the seriousness in them terrified Sharon.
"Nara..."
"I want to drink acid or stab myself or jump off a building, but I think hanging myself is less scary... I think... that's what I might do," Nara replied casually, like what she was saying was totally normal.
"What the fuck are you saying, Nara? What's going on with you?" Sharon asked, totally confused. The Nara she knew loved life and was terribly happy, beautiful, and content. This Nara was a total stranger.
"I need a friend, Sharon. Someone to stop me from making any crazy decisions," Nara said to Sharon, her eyes reflecting so much pain that Sharon couldn't help but feel bad for her.
"Alright. But first, we need to get out of here and get something strong to drink so you can tell me what's going on."
"Fine. Let's go to my place. I have the best wine collection," Nara suggested, and Sharon agreed, trying to mask her concern with determination.