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Rachel opened the door, the sudden brightness making her squint. Not too long ago, Detective Rossi had advised her that she was free to go, and she was neither surprised nor relieved when he delivered the news. 

The first thought to cross her mind upon setting foot on the sidewalk was the inevitable reaction from not only her classmates, but the rest of the student body as well. At the very least, she would be front and center amid a campus-wide gossip fest. That meant enduring giggly whispers just out of hearing range, getting nasty looks from passersby, and being avoided due to certain "concerns". But simply put, none of it bothered Rachel. Sure, almost no one liked being perceived as dangerous enough to pull a homicidal stunt, but that wasn't the case for the young woman. 

[I]I'm not guilty...never was,[/I] she thought to herself, turning into Broadway. As she walked on, Rachel contemplated stopping by the college for a brief moment, but quickly dismissed the thought. She set her eyes on a local joint which was practically opened all day and night save for a few hours early in the morning. Walking into the bar, Rachel noticed she caught the attention of a few patrons. She tensed for a moment before reminding herself she was nowhere near that level of infamy.

"Hello miss, would you like a menu?" The bartender smiled at Rachel as she took a seat on one of the empty barstools. 

"No, I'm alright. Just a gin and tonic please."

"Will do."

"Not bad."

Rachel turned her head to the stranger seated next to her. "Glad you approve of my drink selection," she replied sarcastically, making him chuckle in response.

The two introduced themselves and went on to talk before Rachel's drink arrived. It was only a matter of minutes before their conversation mirrored that of a couple of friends who've known each other for years.