Drink to the Truth || Brian & Lola.
As soon as he and Alyssa had bid the listeners of the show goodbye, Brian removed his headphones and stood up, grabbing his things and heading out. He didn’t even bother to say goodbye to anybody but that wasn’t anything unusual and this time nobody even tried to catch up to him. They just let him leave. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if that was more annoying than when they all yelled goodbye after him in cheery tones that were so obviously hiding a secret concern. He’d had enough of everybody around him pretending everything was okay. Most of the time it made him feel like he had to pretend it was okay too. Maybe that was the main reason he walked around, bottling up all the negativity. Because nobody really wants to deal with other people’s depression, did they? Most people were too wrapped up in their own problems and, as much as they might be worried about him, Brian knew that not one of them cared enough to actually sit down and listen to him talk about what was going on in his head. The only person in his life who did that was his therapist… and she only did it because she got paid.
He walked out of the building and scanned the car park, his eyes landing on the unmarked police car beside his own and quickly made his way over, giving the police officer inside a tight smile but not waiting for it to be returned as he slid into his vehicle with a heavy sigh. His arm bumped against the door as he slid in and he winced, cursing loudly as the bullet wound stung viciously. “Jesus fuck...” He slammed the door and glared at the steering wheel. Now he’d be driving angry. Awesome. Pulling out of the car park, he kept an eye on the police car behind him in the mirror, terrified that he would lose him but also irritated that he was still there. Brian didn't deserve protection now. It had been four weeks since his ex-wife had been murdered and nothing had happened. Usually, by now, there would have been another attempt on his life. Either Shaun was laying low for much longer this time - which would make sense considering someone had died - or he was too angry to even try anymore. Brian had managed to deduce that he was the hitman's hardest target... which made him feel uneasy instead of special.
Parking in the first available spot he could, Brian slipped out of the car and took stock of his surroundings as the unmarked car parked in behind him. He sighed and walked over, trying to look cheerful. "I'm just popping into Jeremy's... you can either stay out here, circle the block like you do at the flat, or find something more important to do." He didn't wait for a response, simply turned on his heel and walked down the street and round the corner. He knew the officer wouldn't follow. Most of those guys were sick of him by now and he knew that he'd head off to get some other work done before the evening shift outside Brian's apartment building. Whatever.
He sighed, pausing outside the building as he reached the doors of Jeremy's Ale House and then pushed them open, feelings of guilt and uneasiness already filling his stomach at the thought of seeing Lola.
