“Now, but I thought I’d come and see you first before I head upstairs. Apparently Liam wants a word, but he can wait. I’ve no idea what he wants with me, though. Maybe he’s heard that I’ve stolen the hot girl and he isn’t too happy about it.” He says as he pushes himself up from the bench and reaches out to pull me in close to him. So close that both of our bodies are completely aligned, fitting perfectly like a jigsaw. My mouth and mind go slack as I look up into his eyes. “Make sure you behave yourself down here and I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”
“Uhm… okay?” I reply, more of a confused question on my lips. I’m taken completely off guard when his hand fists my hair just at the nape of my neck and he leans in and makes his claim on my mouth, right in front of everyone around us. I swear if it wasn’t for him holding me right now, I’d be nothing but a crumpled heap on the floor. I’m left completely speechless by his actions and all I can do is watch on in silence as he walks off into Poison.
“What the hell was that?” Fran squeals as me as soon as she is back within my line of sight. Her face has utter shock written all over it, mixed with surprise and what’s that… possibly pride? I can’t be sure, but I so wish I had a camera handy so that I could capture the look on her face. Absolutely priceless. “Well, bloody speak then.”
“What?” A large grin spreads across my face and I wouldn’t be able to stop it even if I tried.
“You, Jake. That kiss.”
“Oh, that?” I shrug and try to pass it off as nothing major, when on the inside I’m jumping up and down for bloody joy.
“Oh no you don’t treacle. You sneaky little cow. How could you even keep something like this from me?”
“Because there is nothing to tell.” I really don’t want her to make a big deal out of this, but who am I kidding? This is Fran that we’re talking about and she was designed to turn up the drama on everything.
“Really? The hottest guy on the Island just practically and very publicly made a claim on you and you’re telling me that it’s nothing? I want answers, lady and you’re gonna spill them. When did it happen? Have you shagged him yet? You have, haven’t you? Oh, you lucky bitch.”
“Fran, stop. Just stop.” I warn her as my face heats up again. I really need to get some kind of control over this. “Why, oh why did she have to come back and witness it? Why now?
“Nuh-uh. You’re not getting out of this one Lucy.” She regards me carefully, while slowly sucking on her straw. Oh, I’ve definitely got her full attention here, but I’m not really sure that I like it all that much.
“It was just a kiss. Seriously, it’s no big deal and nothing that you need to get your knickers in a twist over.” I exclaim, desperate for her to get off the subject of Jake before he comes wandering back over here.
“Just a kiss, my arse. That was some protective shit and you know it. He made it perfectly clear to everyone who was around you that you are his. I knew he liked you, I could tell that much, but Lucy, make no mistake; that guy, the hottest one that I have ever laid my eyes on has the hots for you and bad.”
“It’s no big deal, Fran.” I say again. “So, please don’t make it into one. Not now, not here. We’re just spending a little bit of time together, getting to know each other, that’s all.”
“Ha, don’t make me laugh. I’d say you’re both already pretty much acquainted already. I guess it looks like you might not need my help after all.”
“Fran, for god sake, enough. He’ll be back down soon and I don’t need you embarrassing me and making things awkward, okay?”
“Sure, no worries. But if you need to talk, you know, about the fun, grown up stuff, then I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
Great, that’s all I need and now she’s going to be on my case about it every time I see her and that’s going to be all the bloody time seeing as though we live and work together.
I’m not sure what’s happening upstairs, but Jake hasn’t been back down yet and it’s been a good few hours. Not that I’m clock watching or anything. I’m my own worst enemy and a bloody glutton for punishment, because every time someone comes out of those doors, I eagerly look over expecting it to be Jake and my heart drops a little more when it isn’t him.
“He’ll be out when he’s good and ready.”
“Huh?” I draw my eyes away from the doors and focus them back on Fran.
“You’ve been watching that bloody door like a hawk since he left. You’re both as bad as each other, you know.”
“I think you’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
“Lucy, stop it. I thought we agreed so don’t start again, please.”
“Hey, I promised I wouldn’t say anything more about it and I meant every word.” I say and nod my head behind her, while trying my hardest to stop the hysterical fit of giggles that are desperately trying to escape me.
Oh boy, she’s really got her hands full with this one. Jesus, what the hell is he wearing? If I thought his retro, prono tash was bad, then it’s got nothing on the combo that he’s decided to rock out tonight. As he steps closer to us, I can’t help bit cringe a little bit more at his farmer style canvas shorts and matching vest that adorn his gangly frame and his white socks and sandal concoction is just too much.
I know that If I don’t turn around now, I’m actually going to wet myself. Instead, I bite down on my lip, hard to stop the giggles from surfacing. So far, so good. I honestly didn’t realise that we had a theme going on at Poison tonight, but for his sake, I hope I’m wrong and I just missed the memo.
“Davey, baby. I’ve missed you.” Fran croons while dropping everything to rush over to him. The moment she reaches him, she desperately and unashamedly leaps up into his open arms, before jumping up and down on him like an excited little puppy. I don’t get it, I really don’t. But, I guess I don’t really have to seeing as though I’m not the one jumping into bed with him.
“Sugar, it’s been torture without you, but I’m here now. Oh look, it’s our very own little firecracker.” He tilts his head in my general direction and I shudder. Fran on the other hand just playfully slaps his chest in warning.
“Don’t…”
“What? She’ll soon come around and see what she’s missing. But don’t worry, because we’ll be here waiting when she does.”
“Seriously guys, I’m good.” I assure them both. “Trust me, I’m more than happy for you two to stick with each other.”
“Aw, not only is she cute, but modest too. A real rare find, this one.”
I know that he’s just goading me and he’s looking for a reaction. In all fairness, the guy’s definitely going the right way about it, that’s for sure. “No modest doesn’t have anything to do with it. I just have standards and I don’t particularly like sex-crazed weirdo’s, that’s all.”
I watch on as he opens his mouth to respond, but he closes it again and a look of pure, heated anger flashes in his eyes, but Fran, as if sensing it, quickly distracts him.
“How about you go get us some drinks?” She asks and just like that, our conversation is forgotten. At least I hope it is. I really cannot stand him.
The minute he’s out of earshot, Fran jumps on me and boy is she pissed. “You really need to be such a bitch, Luce? He’s only trying to have a laugh. Lighten the fuck up.”
“Really? Well, guess what, I don’t find it funny. Anyone who can happily watch someone they don’t even know sleep while also trying to hit on them is wrong, so wrong.”
“Lucy, he was joking. He’s not really hitting on you; he just knows that it gets to you. Plus, you were the one who turned him down to begin with, so I guess it’s your loss. You really need to get over it.”
Is she actually being for real right now? How deluded can you be? She’s known him, what, all of five bloody minutes and she’s going all psycho over him.
This is not good. Not at all.
Yes, I turned him down and for good bloody reason too. He makes my skin crawl. Ugh, even thinking about him is making
me itch. “Trust me, you can keep him. He’s all yours to do with as you please.”
I laugh, not wanting any unwanted tension to build up between us. The last thing I want is for us both to be arguing over some guy. Nothing in this world is worth that.
“Oh, don’t you worry. I fully intend to. You know, he’s not my usual type, but there’s just something about him. He makes feel all…”
“Enough, enough.” I shout out and raise my hand up to stop her from ending that sentence. “I think I’ve already witnessed enough. I’ve already seen him in all his glory, thanks. I don’t think I need any more visuals, do you?”
“Fair enough, but remember Lucy. No one likes a Debbie fucking downer.”
“So you keep telling me.” I grumble back at her. Sometimes you just can’t bloody win.
“Hey, you finished down here?”
I feel the heat of his warm hands encase my hips and a shiver runs throughout my whole body at the contact. “Almost.” I reply, while quickly spinning around to face him. “Where did you get to?”
I know it’s a standard question, innocent even, but as soon as the words have left me I find myself hoping that I’m not coming across as some needy cow. These past few hours have been absolute torture without him though, especially knowing that he was only a few feet away all the time.
“I really didn’t plan on being so long. I’m sorry. But, it turns out Liam wanted me to man the bar and I couldn’t really say no, not on my first official night. Trust me, I wanted to. I was about to come down here to tell you, but shit got crazy up there. There was no way that I could leave.”
“I can imagine. It always gets crazy up there on new arrival day. So what, are you like bar staff now?”
“Nah, I don’t think so, but who knows what the future holds. Maybe one day soon.”
Now I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a teeny little bit gutted. Both Fran and I have been working our tired little arses off in the hope that one day we’d eventually get promoted to bar staff, but nothing has happened yet. However, in walks Jake with all his manly beauty and charm and he’s basically stolen the bloody pitch on his first night. Maybe Liam did need a hand, or maybe it was some secret trial to see if he was up to the job or not. Either way, I guess I can’t really be mad at Jake, because I know that none of this is his fault. Wait until I see Liam.
“Have you finished for the night then? I ask, once I’ve calmed myself down a little, slowly getting over my little internal hissy fit.
“Aye and I wondered if I could treat the lady to a drink? Not here.” He adds as my eyes trail up towards the balcony above us. “I was thinking somewhere a little less rowdy. Maybe McDougalls, seeing as though you seem to love it there.”
“Is it really that obvious?” Clearly the boy pays attention. Could he even get any better?
“Just a little bit.” He laughs and once again I can feel myself melting into him more and more.
“Okay, you’ve got me sold.”
“Didn’t really take much though, did it?” I scold myself.
Before I leave, I hunt down Fran to let her know that I’m off and I’ll be heading home soon. It doesn’t take me too long to locate her. She’s sat at the first bloody table that I come across and it’s laden with shots and cocktails. I really hope all those aren’t for her, otherwise she’s going to be more than a little bit delicate in the morning.
“Come, sit down and join us.” She slurs at me. She tries to reach over to give me a hug, but she slips and I just about manage to catch her.
“I’d love to, but I’ve just come to find you because I’m heading off and calling it a night.”
“Ohhh… So you’ve had a better offer have you?” Her eyes meet mine and she waves her drink around frantically, almost taking someone’s eye out in the process.
“Very funny, Fran. I just didn’t want you to worry if you couldn’t find me.” See, now that’s what friends do, they let each other know what they are up to just on the off chance that they disappear. To be honest though, I really don’t think that she’d notice if I wasn’t around, but at least I can rest easy knowing that I told her. I decide to leave it at that, short and sweet, because I really can’t be bothered with her making a huge scene in front of everyone around her.
“Why don’t you stay for a bit? We can make a night of it. What do you say?”
“I would, but I’m pretty beat. Plus, I’d hate to ruin all your fun by being a Debbie downer.” I catch a glimpse of tash-man and shudder once again, but Fran’s eyes go all soppy when he leans in to kiss her and she actually looks possessed.
“Well, you two make sure that you have a night to remember.”
“Don’t worry, we will.” Jake pipes up, saving me from making a smart arse come back that I might later live to regret. What is it with these two? Are they desperate to embarrass me all the bloody time?
“Make sure you stay out of trouble.” I warn Fran. “I’ll see you later, if not tomorrow. You,” I say as I firmly fix my gaze on to her latest squeeze, “you better make sure that you look after her. I don’t want any of that funny shit in the morning. If you can stay out of my way, then I’ll happily stay out of yours.”
I’m more shocked than any one at the words that have just left my mouth, but I suppose if I want Fran to leave me and Jake alone, then I’m going to have to compromise and give her a little bit of breathing space too. After all, she’s an adult and she’s old enough to make her own mistakes.
“You know, that’s probably the nicest thing that you have said since I met you.”
“Yeah, well. Sometimes I like to surprise people, especially myself.” Jakes hand entwines around mine and he whispers in my ear, “come on you, let’s get out of here.”
The moment his words have registered in my head nothing else matters, nothing except the two of us getting out of here.
As we walk side by side, my body still tingles from his touch earlier and as soon as the images begin to flood my mind again, goose bumps begin to ripple all over my bare flesh. It’s bloody boiling and here I am, walking around with goose bumps.
“How was tonight?” He asks, bringing me back to the here and now, instead of my mind being buried deep in how we were together earlier.
“It was okay, I guess. It was pretty busy which is always good. It makes the night go by a lot quicker. What about you?”
“Seriously, it was utter madness. But the atmosphere was something else and that pulled me through.”
“Yep, it’s definitely something else up there, that’s for sure.” I love the whole atmosphere of Poison. Time seems to stand still, yet flash by in an instant all at the same time. It’s unreal.
“I would have preferred to stay downstairs with you though.”
His words melt my soul and I really want to believe him, but a part of me feels like he’s possibly just saying it to make me happy. Or maybe, once again I’m thinking into things that aren’t even there. “Oh yeah, because handing out flyers all night is really living the dream.” I laugh sarcastically, trying to shrug off the compliments that he’s throwing my way.
I’m quickly spun around on my heels as Jake pulls me towards him and holds me close. “I don’t care if it’s bloody litter picking as long as I’m near you Luce. One day soon, I promise you will believe me.”
My mouth opens and then closes just as fast. I really want to laugh at him for being so dramatic, but the look on his face shows me that he’s being deadly serious.
The terrace is almost empty, but the music is still flowing in the background. I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about this place that makes me feel calm and perfectly at home. It’s the one place that I know I can come to and be able to wind down after a busy day, or whenever I’m feeling a little homesick.
Shit. That reminds me, speaking of home, I really need to give Hannah a call. I’ve not spoken to her for a couple of days and I know that she’ll be pulling her hair out with worry. She’ll probably be running aro
und telling people that I’ve been eaten by a shark or something stupid like that.
Hannah has been my best friend since before we could talk properly and this is the first time that we’ve ever been separated for longer than a week. I bloody miss her like crazy and at first she wasn’t too happy with my decision to just up and leave for the whole summer. Eventually though, after endless upset and a little bit of begging thrown in she finally saw sense and came around when she realised that this was something that I needed to do; something that I have always wanted to do.
“Earth to Lucy.” Jakes voice pulls me out of my thoughts and I look at him expectantly. “Wow, you really were away inside your thoughts then.”
“Sorry. What did you say?” I ask apologetically. One thing’s for sure, I’m doing a bloody cracking job of acting like a tit around him.
“Nah, don’t worry about it. I just asked if you wanted to stay out here or head inside?”
“I’m good with outside. What are you drinking?” I ask, trying to make up for my wayward mind. I bet he thinks I’m a right rude cow.
“Oh no you don’t. I asked you to come for a drink, so I’ll be getting these. What do you fancy?”
“You…” I think to myself, but instead reply with, “I’ll have a Malibu and lemonade please. Hold the ice.”
“Malibu and lemonade, hold the ice. Got it.” He replies and I can’t help but think he’s the perfect gentleman and he must be too bloody good to be true.
Because McDougall’s is so quiet, it isn’t long before Jake is wandering back to our table, complete with our drinks.
“What have you got planned for tomorrow?” Jake asks, as he slides my drink across to me.
“Do you know what, I’ve got no idea. I know that I’ve got the night off, that’s a definite. But because it’s so rare, I haven’t got a bloody clue what I’m going to do with it just yet. Oh the choices. I don’t want to think about it too much because I’m already feeling a little giddy with excitement.
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