[For Peter] Timed 1 January 2011

[broken_brushes]

Back home, I'd never been much of a drinker. I'd always preferred caffeine to alcohol-Drinks that brought you up, made you want to move rather than slow you down. On the island, though, it was actually easier to get alcohol, and over the years, it had become one of those things I let myself do as a means of self-medication-Which is, for the

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[rhymingdevil]

Years of playing baseball on teams meant I was used to bleachers full of fans but those fans were usually the cheering type. This one was lone and solitary and judging from the hair color, probably Shari or Savannah. I was a little too far away and had only seen her from the corner of my eye, but it was enough to make me pause.

I'd put Shari to bed the night before and left her house quietly, not wanting to wake her up after she'd finally crashed. I'd gone back to the hut I shared with Savannah and all was well, but if she was here to talk, I owed her the opportunity to listen.

I put down the ball I'd been throwing into a pretty-pathetic snowman and crossed the diamond to settle next to her.

"Happy New Year?"

Always good to celebrate the holiday of choice.

[broken_brushes]

"I'll guess I start this conversation by saying I'm sorry," I began, canting my head to afford Peter a wry look from under my knit hat. "I could offer excuses but I'd rather not. I did bring coffee, though, if you want some. Just made."

[rhymingdevil]

"Coffee, I like," I said, trying not to make Shari feel bad. I hadn't really faulted her for getting drunk and making a pass at me; we both knew there was something there and being drunk always lowered a person's inhibitions.

"Excuses aren't really necessary anyway, even if that was your style."

[broken_brushes]

"They always seem like such a cop out," I explained as I popped the cup off the top of the thermos and began twisting off the cap. "I wouldn't do that to you. I mean, apparently I'll drunkenly try to feel you up, but I won't ply you with excuses. Here." I passed him the cup, coffee steaming inside.