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[sub]With contributions from [@Bee][/sub][/center]

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After she had claimed another couple of mojitos for herself, Tara noted that things seemed to have died down around the bar. Tessa had gone off, likely not wanting to hang around after all the other departures, so it was just her and Allison. Not the combo she would have anticipated at the start of the day, but it seemed to be working. Allison was good for a laugh. Tara certainly needed more of those.

However, it certainly seemed like Allison was starting to head down the same road Tara had already trod along. Why would Allison think she was stupid? On the surface, Tara thought that the only thing stupid was the question. Of course Allison wasn't stupid. She was a doctor. She had to be some kind of smart. But as Allison started talking, it was clear that wasn't the stupid she was talking about. [color=217633]"Ummm..."[/color] she started, unsure where to go with this line of thought. [color=217633]"I definitely don't think you're stupid,"[/color] she answered. [color=217633]"I'm... fuck, I hate saying this. Maybe Amanda was right? Maybe we both are getting too hung up on who we were back in high school, instead of who we are now. I mean, you can't stop some things about who you are, but you can't let it force you to play up to someone else's notions of who you are, I think?"[/color] Drunken philosophy was one of her top subjects at Quinnipiac.

Allison put her face on her hand, squishing it and contorting it as she looked at Tara. She did have a point when it came to this. Maybe she did put a little too much weight when it came to her business on high school. At the same time, however, it was hard not to put weight on it when it was thrown in her face all the god damn time. [color=pink]"It's hard...."[/color] Allison bumbled, [color=pink]"Didn't you hear what Tessa said?"[/color]

Tara had hoped her best friend would not have been brought up, because in all honestly, it was a pretty callous line. However, Allison went to the topic first, so there was at least a bit of mutual screwing up. 

[color=217633]"I heard what she said,"[/color] she solemnly confirmed. [color=217633]"I know the first mention of it came from you though. And maybe that's it. Like, I wasn't too stoked when Grayson brought up the punching. I don't need that right now. But I tried my best to put that fire out. Just seems to be all anyone else remembers though. You, I don't think that's all people remember. Especially not when you have so much going for you now. Maybe you have to forgive yourself for what happened back then. Otherwise, that's all you're gonna be thinking about whenever you do anything. I'm trying not to do that anymore."[/color]

[color=pink]"But still... T-Taraa.... does everyone really think I'm just a tweaker?"[/color] The words may or may not have flown into one ear and out of the other, but Allison was still more than worried about how people saw her, despite her repeated efforts to not do so. Image was a far bigger thing now that she was making her entry into the medical world. Of course, she didn't want the name of "Adderall Allison" attached to her. [color=pink]"This is so fucked, Tara! Why did he have to even come to us? Why did I say that? Good lord..."[/color] She put her face inside of her hands, feeling quite a bit of shame.

[color=217633]"Hey! Hey-hey! Hey!"[/color] Tara wasn't gonna let Allison start dropping down to her level. She grabbed Allison's hands and pulled them away from her face. [color=217633]"No one, no one that matters, actually thinks that, OK Allison?"[/color] Tara didn't know that for sure, but it was in her nature to try and keep other people's spirits up. It helped on the table, even if it didn't help her. [color=217633]"I don't know why that... fuckhead, decided he had to pull that shit right off, but fuck him."[/color] She grabbed her second mojito. [color=217633]"You don't need his approval. You don't need anyone's approval! You're you, damn it!"[/color] She punctuated this last thought by slamming her hand on the table, but in doing so, she heard a splash instead of a bang. [color=217633]"What was that?"[/color]

Allison was about to retort and respond to Tara's efforts to cheer her up. Admittedly, it did cheer her up a bit. It was somehow working on her drunk ass and she even cracked a little smile. But, just when she figured out what she was about to say, she heard a rather loud splash behind her. She turned around, seeing a couple figures  in the pool, at least to the best of her ability. [color=pink]"Someone's getting wet."[/color]

[color=217633]"Least someone is,"[/color] Tara wryly commented. She picked up her glass. [color=217633]"Should we go see if they need medical attention, or just go to laugh at their sorry asses?"[/color]

[color=pink]"Well... I'm drunk."[/color] Allison said, [color=pink]"We're not supposed to practice under the influence..."[/color] Allison giggled softly.

Tara laughed, and felt better about somewhat accomplishing her goal of lifting Allison's spirits. With Willow no longer present, someone had to take the sunshine role. [color=217633]"All right, let's go laugh at them then."[/color]

As the two medical professionals finally abandoned the bar, a quick trip to the pool area revealed a pair of men in the pool. Brent was a bit of a surprise to see taking a dip with his clothes on, but she was all grins to see his synchronized swimming partner. Grayson deserved that. He deserved all of that the way he was walking around like a tool. Hard to be a smug prick when one looks like a drowned rat. It was the most beautiful thing Tara had seen at this place.

Apparently it wasn't enough for some people though. She heard a call ring out from behind her. She couldn't place the voice, but it was one of the dudes. [color=BBEEFB]"Who wants to get wasted?"[/color] Pfft. Amateur. Just starting now.

[color=217633]"Wants to? Fucking get on my damn level, boyo!"[/color] Tara shouted back into the ether. She was feeling it now. The over-hammering drink session with Allison was running full circle through her veins now. She spotted her best friend standing beside the pool, almost gloating over the soggy suit Grayson was forced to wear. She had to be congratulated. [color=217633]"Hey Tess, you do that? I fucking love you if you did."[/color]

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