‘Sorry em...I couldn’t borrow your notes from earlier’
‘Right yeah no bother’ she replied, not even looking up from writing her notes. Thinking he had a bit of a neck seeing as he was always missing lectures, she thought she had better be nice all the same.
‘Would you by any chance have last week’s too and maybe the week before?’
He was pushing the boat out now but with an exam on the horizon next week he had to chance his arm. Wanting to tell him to crawl back to the pub he came from, she thought better of it and said yes through gritted teeth. Handing over what she had, she told him he could get the rest next week.
Unable able to say thank you to his new found friend after the lecture, Amy was out the door so quick, he didn’t get a chance. Wanting to show his thanks as he was sure he didn’t make the best of first impressions he tracked her down sitting alone in the library.
‘Well aren’t you a little Billy no mates!’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Sorry, sorry, I was only joking. Listen, I just wanted to say thanks for earlier....I brought gifts’
Amy could hardly classify a coffee and muffin as gifts but nonetheless she hadn’t eaten in ages and was starving. He had definitely broken the ice and she found herself smiling at his thoughtfulness. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as she had first thought.
‘We better get cracking with these. Are the three candidates here? Amy asked getting down to business after gathering herself before the interviews kicked off.
‘Yeah, I’ll call the first one’
The interviews were going ok, much to Amy’s gratitude. Once she got into the swing of it, she knew she would get through the day. Only another hour and I’m home she thought to herself as Sean called in the very last person.
‘Adam Staunton Please’ Sean walked back into the room, as a dark haired man walked in behind him. Amy lifted her glass of water and was about to stand up when she got slightly dizzy at the sight of the gentleman in front of her.
‘Amy, this is Adam Staunton’
Her face reddened and her knees gave way at Sean’s announcement.
‘We’ve already met’ Adam replied, a gentle smile appearing on his face at the sight of Amy.
‘Em yeah…yeah em…we did’ she replied timidly.
Sean did a double take of Amy, looking at her quizzically. Sean wanted to ask what was going on but he guessed that no doubt he would find out later. He had not seen Amy react like this in a professional environment before. Did she have a history with this guy?
Amy didn’t know where to look. She was mortified. Why was she such an idiot on the prom? Why did she cry so much? What was wrong with her! The hour seemed to go on forever. She could barely concentrate on anything, she was so embarrassed and spent the time crossing and uncrossing her legs. Trying to steady herself, she would do the interview, go home and then drown herself in the bath. If drowning oneself didn’t work, she guessed she might not ever see Adam ever again anyway, so why was she worrying needlessly?
‘Thank you so much for your time, Adam’ Sean said, grateful the day was finally over.
On his way out the door, Adam nodded at both, giving the extra second to Amy.
‘What was that about you little minx?’
‘Oh, for God’s sake Sean. That, was nothing. Nothing at all!’ pointing to the door Adam has just gone through.
‘Right yeah, pull the other one. You practically started salivating as soon as he walked in the door’.
‘I most certainly did not you big tool. Buy a pair of glasses’
How could she explain what happened. It was embarrassment and nothing else.
‘Look, I’m not judging’ Sean chuckled.
‘Look, yourself’ her temperature rose and her eyes widened ‘I met him on the prom before I got here. I was upset and he was there. Ok?’
Amy was annoyed at Sean now. He was so insensitive sometimes. She grabbed her bag, her notes and barged past him.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow’ quipped Amy and huffed as she left.
‘Oh Ame, I’m sorry’ Amy didn’t hear him. She was far too annoyed, as she ploughed her way into the lift making her way down to the underground car park. Where was the damn car now? After walking around a couple of times she dropped her notes to the floor and sighed loudly.
‘Could this day get any worse?’ she said aloud.
‘Probably’ came a voice from behind her.
Looking up from her crouching position, she recognised the voice.
‘Oh Gawd’ she could cry. Again.
‘We keep bumping into each other. We have to stop doing this’
Adam smiled again, bending down to help her with her notes. Why she hadn’t put them into her oversized bag?
‘I can do it, honestly I’m fine’ Amy said as she dropped half of what she was holding again.
‘Damn’
‘Calm down. I’m not stalking you’
Adam was smiling. Did he ever stop Amy thought.
‘Here, let me help you’
He picked up all of her belongings and handed them to her.
‘Where’s your car?’
‘Well, that’s what I was looking for. I was sure it was here’
‘It can’t be too far away. What’s the make and colour’
‘It’s a red Volvo’
‘Volvo…nice’
‘Company car’ she replied.
‘Even nicer’ clearly impressed by her choice in car.
‘I suppose’
They walked around, searching each line of parked cars when Amy spotted it.
‘Ah, there she is’ Amy was never so happy to see her car.
‘Are you sure you are ok to drive? You’ve had a rough day. I can drive you home if you want?’
‘Oh no, no, I’m ok. Earlier, everything just caught up with me. I’m fine now, I promise. Thanks for the offer though’.
Absolute mortification enveloped her, while she hoped the ground might open up and swallow her.
‘Are you sure?’ Adam was persistent but backed off. He was aware she seemed fragile.
‘I am. Look, I feel bad for you having to see that earlier. It’s not me. Really, it’s not’
‘You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I cry like a baby at the turn of a hat’
‘I’d doubt that’ Amy laughed.
‘It’s the truth. Ask my sisters. They’re afraid to go see a movie with me in case I show them up. It’s an affliction’
He shrugged his shoulders and helped her get into her car.
‘Well, thanks again Adam’
‘You are quite welcome, Ms Connolly’
‘It’s Amy’ she replied shyly.
‘Well you are welcome Ms Amy’
He walked away and looked back at her as she pulled out in the shiny red Volvo. Nearly smacking it off a Golf on the way out of the parking spot, she cursed her driving ability. Whenever she got nervous, she drove like a pensioner.
Adam tried telling himself that he wasn’t interested but he knew that he was. He couldn’t help himself when he saw her alone. She had long dark hair and sallow skin with a most striking face. It was her large brown eyes that caught him off guard. She was so upset, hugging her knees for safety. He knew that pain. The pain of someone leaving. He put it out of his head. There was no use digging up the past. That was where she belonged. She did not deserve to be thought of now. It was still awful to think about, so he decided that his only option was to move on. He was young, single and available.
‘Things are looking up’ he said as he hopped into his BMW. Whistling to himself, he headed homeward. ‘Yes they definitely are’.
Amy got home to an empty house. It was always the same now. Most days she would stare at Frank’s side of the bed while she changed out of her work clothes. Sometimes she would take his favourite cup out of the press by accident or she would find one of his socks in a drawer. She expected him to walk right through the door as he would have done every day, half an hou
r after she came home from work. It used to give her enough time to change and get the dinner started. Not now. All she had were ready meals and Ben & Jerrys. Her two new best friends.
Even though it was a major challenge on the best of days, Amy thought she was doing a good job being alone. Meeting Adam had put her out of joint somewhat. She wasn’t sure how she felt. He was a nice man but right now, she was still mourning a relationship she had for over ten years. Frank was her boyfriend since her school days. She couldn’t just go on and meet someone else putting herself on the line again. Her heart could not take it.
Pondering her new life, she thought about getting away for a few days. She had the option of Liz in Sligo or Sharon in Cork. They had known each other since secondary school and had remained firm friends. They may not see each other very often but talked on the phone nearly every day. While she loved both, Liz was by far her closest friend. They shared a deep friendship unlike any other Amy had known. Liz was almost psychic and knew when Amy was down without even talking to her. It was quite uncanny really. Liz couldn’t be more different to Sharon who was, to say the very least, not very grounded. She had a heart of gold and would give away her right arm but unfortunately she was in her own little world.
When they were growing up she would dump anyone in a second if it meant there was something better on or someone more fun to hang out with. An only child, she was convinced the world revolved around her. She always had some drama playing out which was quite ironic really, as it was Liz whose life was full of drama. She always wanted the attention on her and if it wasn’t, she would make sure that it happened.
In their teenage years, Sharon wouldn’t blink an eye getting them into trouble if the mood suited her. In a café, just before they were to go back to school after their lunch hour, Sharon ran out on paying her bill to see if she could get away with it. She did. So, she did it again and again until the staff realised what was going on. In the end the three of them were greeted by the manager and a policeman who scared the living daylights out of them. It didn’t matter if both Liz and Amy had paid theirs, they were with her and so part of the whole set up.
It never knocked a stir out of Sharon. She was oblivious to rules and always had a means of getting her own way. Her looks played a part. With long blonde hair and a slim physique, she used her natural assets to get what she wanted. She had a pretty face but to her detriment, was not in Liz’s league. Liz was stunning and had no clue. This was probably what made her more beautiful. She was of average build and height maybe a bit bigger but had a perfect hourglass silhouette. Always giving out that she couldn’t get clothes to fit her oversized assets, it didn’t stop her from shopping like there was no tomorrow. She had an Audrey Hepburn look in the facial department: dark haired and pale white skin with huge eyes. She had a face like a movie star and a personality to match. Liz unlike Sharon had a major problem with men however. It wasn’t that she couldn’t get one; it was that she seemed to attract all the assholes west of the Shannon.
Considering her options again for a breakaway, she concluded that while a few days in the sun would be nice, her bank account probably wouldn’t agree. Not for the moment at least. She contemplated the pros and cons of such a holiday. Watching loved up couples on the beach…blah! Next week she would decide. In the mean time Ben & Jerry called.
2
The next day Amy had a plethora of emails waiting for her when she got into work. Tom was in the UK for the rest of the week, so there was a relaxed atmosphere around the office. Laughter filled the air coming from the direction of Sean’s office. ‘You are so lucky, how the hell did you lay your hands on them. They are like freakin gold dust?’ squealed one of the PA’s.
Walking over towards the photocopier she ear wigged on the conversation. Patty from downstairs was chatting to Sean about some tickets to U2. Apparently, he won them on a radio competition. Amy had no real interest in U2 but Sean loved them with a passion as did Frank. She walked via his office just as Patty was begging for one of the tickets.
‘Ah go on. I’ll give you 200 Euro for it’ She was shameless and didn’t care.
‘Well, I can’t really since I promised I’d take Amy’ Amy turned on her heels and launched herself into the room and the conversation.
‘You what?’ Amy declared. Not appreciating his insinuation or lack of permission. She had zero interest in going anywhere. Not today. Probably not ever. Unless it was a holiday to Spain, in which case she was all in.
‘Amy, I promised you this morning’ His eyes begged Amy to go along with it ‘remember?’ his eyes widened. Amy had no choice. She knew that Sean couldn’t stand Patty. She was somewhat fixated on Sean and unfortunately, was not his type. Whatever that was, Amy didn’t fully know, but it sure wasn’t Patty.
‘Oh right. Yes’ Amy admitted slowly ‘Yeah this morning’ eying Sean behind his desk. If looks could kill, he would be flat on the ground.
‘Fine so. I’ll have to wait another ten years to see them. That’s if I’m still alive. My heart has been acting up recently did you know?’
‘Nice try Patty, it was the lungs last week!’
Although only in her forties, Patty was somewhat of a hypochondriac. Every condition known to man, she had either had it, had suffered from it previously or it was ‘running’ in her family. She was clearly at deaths door.
Patty stormed off visibly annoyed that Sean wouldn’t give in to selling the extra ticket.
‘Ah, come on Sean, I don’t even like U2. You’ll have to bring someone else!’
‘Go on away with you. You’re coming whether you like it or not. Anyway, what else will you be doing?’
The likelihood that there would be anything else lined up was slim but that wasn’t the point. She turned on him instantly.
‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’
Just because she was single did not mean she had no life. Well, even though she knew she probably wouldn’t have anything on, the last thing she wanted to do was see U2 and the last person she wanted to see them with was Sean. Then again, a few glasses of wine might not go astray. She softened.
‘Fine’
‘You’re welcome sweetheart’
‘I’m not you’re sweetheart and I’m only going with you because you have no friends and I feel sorry for you’
‘That will do’ he replied with a cheeky grin across his face.
Sean was definitely, what some women would call hot. Amy was never attracted to him but she agreed that he could be viewed in that light. His blond hair, tanned face with its sharp features, his previously mentioned good taste in clothes with a fun and cheeky attitude, was definitely an asset. He did however, have a tendency to sometimes treat women badly. Not only was he partial to bridesmaids, he liked desperate housewives, engaged and even married women. It didn’t matter if they were teachers or nurses, although he had a soft spot for a women in a tight fitting suit. Short tight skirts, glasses and high heels. Sean was addicted to women, so Amy knew that she would be safe enough. She may be a woman but she was not in the market for a new man, womanising or otherwise.
‘So when’s the concert then?’
‘Tomorrow evening’
‘What!’
‘Eh tomorrow, the evening after this evening…also known as tomorrow evening’
‘Smartarse, how come it’s such short notice?’
‘I won the tickets this morning’
‘That means that we have to go to Dublin. U2 are hardly playing in Galway?’
‘Affirmative’
‘Right. Well how will we go – train, car or fly?’
Amy was always organised and needed to know details.
‘I’m easy. No comments thanks’ always the joker, Sean knew what he was known for.
‘What ever you’d like’ It didn’t matter to him either way, he was so laid back.
‘Tomorrow’s Saturday so that will make it easier. We could leave tonight but it’s up to you’
Constantly plann
ing, Amy liked schedules, rotas and knowing what was next.
‘Tonight’s good for me but we might have a bit of bother getting a couple of rooms somewhere seeing as it’s Friday’
Amy knew that Sean was right. Not fancying the thought of being up at the crack of dawn, tonight was a better option.
‘I’ll look up flights straight away and see about a hotel’ ever the organised Amy.
‘That’ll do so. Let me know’
Even though she could take or leave U2, Amy couldn’t help but feel a little bit excited. It had been a while since she was away from Galway and maybe this was what she needed. She might even have some fun!
After an hour of messing around on her laptop, she found flights to Dublin at eight that evening and two hotel rooms for a reasonable rate. After filling in Sean on the plans, he suggested they take off work early as Tom was away.
The day wasn’t long passing after that and both of them left just after lunch. Packing wasn’t difficult for Amy. For the past few months she didn’t really care what she wore so long as it was clean and ironed. Style used to be high on her list of priorities but of late her interest had waned. She didn’t feel at all sexy and would rather eat her way through a truck load of chocolate chip cookies than go shopping. Guessing it had something to do with her recent betrayal, she knew that someday she would find herself again. Maybe just not today.
That evening Amy had to leave her house about 15 minutes before meeting up with Sean. She lived on the airport side of Galway near Oranmore, so it was very easy for her. Sean, on the other hand lived near Salthill. He had to contend with the Friday evening traffic. Regardless, he arrived just on time.
Whiplash Hotel Page 2