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Hated the other one.
So you get this one instead.
Enjoy, Love A.J
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Horrible
By A.J Turner
Chapter One: Congratulations
This was horrible. The winning-an-achievement-award-at-school-and-walking-all-the-way-up-to-the-stage-only-realising-after-you've-accepted-the award-it-wasn't-for- you-at-all kind of horrible. I might actually love him. That can't be right… I mean I may not hate him, but love him?
I'll start at the start of this horrible day where I realised my true feelings.
My parents are singers. Great I know, but they're not famous at all. They sing for hire. And they got me a job as a waitress with the company they're at. So I spend every summer I'm home from boarding school waiting table for rich peoples wedding receptions, or cocktail parties.
So as the van for Phil's, the company my parents work for, brilliantly named after the owner Phil, pulled up outside a magnificent hotel I couldn't help but feel miserable.
"All right guys. Make me proud" Our driver Eddie said.
We all smiled and climbed out of the truck. Eddie and the others began pulling the bands equipment out of the truck.
We all followed them into the hotel lobby and past the magnificent grand staircase into a beautiful ballroom.
"Rich" Jordan scoffed
"Heavy tippers" Eddie said straightening his bow tie.
"Heavy perverts you mean" Fran muttered glancing at me. I knew why, I was the youngest and that always seemed to attract older single rich men. As my parents were always a little distracted singing the others would all watch out for me.
I stood beside the other waiters and waitresses as we waited for the hosts to come over and brief us. A man in his late forties walked over to us.
"Phil's waiters?" he asked we all nodded.
"Head waiter?" he asked we all looked at Eddie.
"Me" he said
"All right" the man said, "I am Mr Harrison, that's all you need to know and that's all you shall call me. Now it's my sister's thirtieth wedding anniversary. Which is why we're having it here rather then in my personal ballroom as usual. Something special you know. So I want you all to do what you do best. We've pre ordered food your job is to merely go around and hand every one a dish through each course and refresh their drinks and so on"
"Yes sir" Eddie said
"Very good. I see there are a lot of you so if you run out of things to do I don't mind in the slightest if you chat to a few of the guests… or dance with them" Mr Harrison said looking me up and down.
"It's actually against company policy to be that… relaxed on the job" Eddie said "but of course we shall chat to your guests and we all thank you for choosing Phil's service to assist on this joyous occasion"
"Hmm" Harrison mumbled and walked off.
"Thanks" I said quietly to Eddie he patted my shoulder before walking off. I frowned at the other female waitresses. We all had the same white shirt, red vest and black skirt. The guys wore the same things except the got pants instead of skirts and had to wear bow ties.
I kind of wish the girls did to… it meant I would be able to button up my shirt, the fewer guys staring at my chest the better.
It was still another hour before the guests actually showed up so the band was rehearsing.
"May I have this dance milady?" Don asked holding out his hand. I smiled at him took it. He led me on to the dance floor and we began dancing to the bands first song.
"So Lily… do tell me… how did you end up at Phil's?" Don asked
"Those are my parents," I said pointing to mum and dad who were singing a song I'd never heard.
"Really? Well better not do what I'm about to do then," Don muttered.
"What was that?" I asked. He twirled me around and then tipped me back making me laugh. He pulled me up and twirled me once more before resuming the shuffle we'd been doing before. I giggled as he twirled me once more.
"So how old are you then?" Don asked
"Why? Interested in me?" I asked
"Possibly" he muttered.
"Seventeen" I said
"Ah… illegal" he said letting go of me. I stared at him he laughed and pulled me close again. I noticed a few others of the waiting staff dancing around us while the rest of them went to try and find some place to cram in fifty cigarettes into the next hour.
"Why? How old are you?" I asked as we started to dance again.
"Twenty-six" he said with a cough. My parents finished singing and we applauded politely.
"I'm getting some hiss back or something" mum said, the technical crew fiddled with a few things and the band struck up another song to test the speakers.
"I love to compliment the ladies. Just seeing them do that nervous modest cute little blush…" Don said continuing to dance with me. At a quarter past six we all began to get ready for the guests to begin arriving.
We all walked around the tables straightening cutlery and shining glasses, making sure it all looked stunning.
We all walked over and met Eddie at five to six to he could hand out a guest list. We were supposed to find the guests and get them to their assigned seat.
"You will stick to your assigned table. Mr Harrison wants the same waiter at every table… he thinks it'll be nicer if the guests get to know us as their own personal waiter through out the night" he said and glanced at me.
Everyone sort of came in randomly, each of them with gifts for the happy couple, wearing more then my houses worth in jewellery. Everything was supposed to start at seven so everyone sort of mingled for a bit.
I had tables one. Table one was front and centre meaning this was obviously for the head couple.
There were about ten people grouped around each table, meaning I'd be looking after just ten people. There were only about twenty tables all over the ballroom… and still there was enough room for another eighty more.
"Why am I on this table?" I asked Eddie pointing to number one.
"Isn't that the most important table? Why would you give me that table?" I asked
"Some people need to watch two tables. Which means twenty people so I put all my skilled waiters on those. As table one is the most important so I had to have someone working only one and you're immediately behind the others I picked to do double" Eddie replied.
"Huh…" I muttered.
"They'll get here last, it's a surprise so you won't have to bother showing them a table" he said
"This is where Mr Harrison is sitting isn't it?" I asked Eddie gave me a feeble shrug before walking off to greet some newly arrived guests.
The clock hit seven and all the guests had arrived and were sitting where they were supposed to be.
I stood with all the other waiters as we waited for the happy couple to appear and Mr Harrison to reveal his surprise to his sister.
A nice couple looking about in their late forties walked in. Everone shouted 'surprise' and applauded.
"Ah Georgia. It seems like a Melania ago that we saw you drive off in that limo the new Mrs Thomas Potter. But it was merely three decades. And tonight we celebrate those decades. So sit back and enjoy little sis… everything's taken care of," Mr Harrison said. Everyone cheered and applauded.
"Ok, grab only two plates at a time… offer drinks after every one on your table has a plate," Eddie said.
Georgia and Thomas Potter were shown to table one by Mr Harrison. He sat beside them with a few other adults.
I quickly grabbed two plates, of what appeared to be a strange green soup and headed over to table one. I put the plates in front of the celebratory couple then hurried away to get more.
After everyone on my table had a plate I pulled one of the twenty drink carts over to the table.
I saw two newcomers sitting at the table. They both looked about my age but I didn't really get a good look.
"Hello I'm Lily I'll be your waitress… would you like anything to drink?" I asked the Potters.
"Oh my aren't you a sweet dear. How old are you deary?" Georgia asked me.
"I'm seventeen miss," I said with a nod of my head.
"Call me Georgia" she insisted, "Do your parents know your doting on an old lady like me Lily?" Georgia asked.
"I should hope so my parents are the singers," I said pointing to them.
"Do you always do this with your parents?"
"Yes miss, and I love every minute. Is there anything you wanted to drink?" I asked politely.
"Yes… just a small glass of wine" she said smiling at me. I picked up her glass and poured the wine for her.
"Anybody else?" I asked holding up the wine. They all requested their drinks and I walked around the table pouring champagne, water, wine or anything else I had on the cart that they requested.
I walked over to the two newcomers
"I'm sorry sirs I did not realise you'd be dining here" I said "I'll go get you some soup if you'd like"
"That is all right Lilykins" the first one said and pulled me onto his lap. I stared at the guy who'd grabbed me. Messy jet-black hair, bright hazel eyes shining with pent up mischief and that charming smile that made women melt in his arms.
It was he… him.
"James Potter?" I said in surprise.
"Lillian how are you doing?" he asked I opened my mouth but said nothing and instead turned to the guy beside him. Those familiar grey eyes that could win him whatever he wanted, the shaggy shoulder length black hair and his soft rugged face.
"Sirius Black" I said staring at him. He grinned that charming grin of his and took the bottle of wine I still had in my hand from me.
"Wow… this is expensive" he said and drank straight from the bottle. A few people chuckled while I tried to not act appalled. I instead decided to just walk away and hope they wouldn't need me. I went to stand up but James still had an arm around my waist.
"No, Lily stay. Chat for a minute" he insisted pulling me back down.
"James" Mr Harrison said warningly.
"Oh hush, Georgia and Tommy are having a good time aren't you guys?" Sirius asked the Potters. They smiled at Sirius
"You can keep the bottle but let the poor girl get back to her job" Thomas Potter said. James smiled patting my leg affectionately before letting me go. I stood up dusting myself off self-consciously.
"Did you want the soup sir?" I asked Sirius.
"No… I'll take a cheeseburger"
"Sirius" Mr Harrison said.
"Relax man. I'm only being a jerk because you're a jerk to James. Lily up for a dance?" Sirius asked standing up.
"I'm sorry sir I'm not-" I said he put a finger to my lips stopping me mid sentence.
"Enough with the sir" he said and sat back down.
"What about you sir?" I asked James
"Just the champagne" he said. I poured him a glass and handed it to him. He took it graciously.
"Off you go. Stand in your corner until James decides to feel you up again" Sirius said James glared at him.
"I knew I should've put you boys on another table" Mr Harrison said.
"Aw come on Uncle Jeff… they're my parents. Do you really think they'd go for being separated from me?" James asked.
"James. Quit being a smart arse" Thomas said James nodded silently.
"And you Jeffery… grow up. This petty feud between you and my son is irritating" Georgia said.
"Now it's my wedding anniversary. I'd like to enjoy it. So James can I count on you to be the mature one? As it seems your uncle has not changed since he was twelve" George said looking at Mr Harrison.
"Look you've made Lily feel awkward. I'm trying to date this girl and your not helping the cause," James said standing up.
"Just go stand over there until we need you again" he said quietly in my ear. I nodded and walked away silently.
James Potter. I'd hated him since the first moment he opened his big yap to say something. He'd apparently liked me as he kept trying to go out with me. But after putting up this huge resistance and finally getting him to leave me alone I realised I did actually like him.
I'd spent a good six years of my life convincing the world that James Potter was an arrogant snotty rich kid who got whatever he wanted but would not have me. And then to have myself go and fall for him… well it was like a punch in the face. I liked the way he hovered around, asking about everything I did. And I liked that cute little grin he had only for me.
"Lily? Are you all right? I saw you at that table. Want to swap?" Eddie asked. I glanced over at the table. They were all laughing at something Sirius was saying. I looked at James who stared right back at me. He gave me that special grin and I almost tripped over.
"No" I sighed in reply to Eddie.
"Well you are right in front of your parents. He does anything again I'm sure your dad will jump down and hit him" Eddie muttered I nodded with a quick glance back over at my table.
"That'll be funny," I said
"Tenner says he does it" Eddie said
"Deal" I said and shook his hand.
After another tedious hour everyone was either finishing their dessert or dancing on the ball room floor.
Sirius and James had eaten a bit of dessert and were functioning nearly completely on alcohol alone. I glanced over and they were demanding more drinks.
"Wine! More wine!" they said joyfully. It was quite funny to see these two smashed. I mean they were funny when they were sober and doubly when they were off their face.
I walked over with another bottle.
"Refresh your drink sir?" I asked Sirius
"No… I fear I may actually pass out. Just another glass for James. I must drain his sorrows," he said patting James on the shoulder. I poured James a glass, which he sipped
"Ask why… I know you want to" Sirius said.
"Why are you drowning his sorrows?" I asked Sirius hit the table and smiled at me.
"His lovely girlfriend dumped him. He's looking for rebound sex if you're in" he said
"No thank you" I said.
"Sit with us… drink with us" James said with a hiccough.
"I'm sorry sirs… it's against company policy"
"We have to throw a party and invite Lily. Cause then she wouldn't be working and could get smashed with us" Sirius said nodding enthusiastically.
"Lily, how much have these two had?" Eddie asked.
"A lot" I replied.
"You know we can't-" Eddie began but I interrupted.
"I didn't… one of them distracts me and the other steals it from the cart" I protested.
"It's true. I can testify" Sirius said standing up only to fall flat on his face.
"I don't think you lads should have any more" Eddie said.
"Of course young sir. Wouldn't want to get lovely Lily fired" James said sobering in a second. I frowned at him but said nothing. Eddie eyed them suspiciously but said nothing and just walked away.
"Little act of ours to piss off James's Uncle Jeff. He hates us so we pretend to be drunk and he says whatever he wants. He thinks we won't remember due to the awful hangovers we should have" Sirius said.
"But as I've actually only had two glasses of wine and a glass of champagne I can actually safely say I'm going to remember" James said.
"I've had three bottles of… something" Sirius said and then frowned at what he was currently drinking. "But I can hold my liquor"
"Then next time we see him we bring it all up and make him suffer endlessly for it. You think he'd learn to keep his mouth shut in front of drunk people," James said smiling.
"You've got ten bottles here… where's it all going if your not drinking it?" I asked in spite myself.
"Magic!" Sirius cried clapping enthusiastically. I turned and saw Mr Harrison hovering nearby.
"I think it's best if you don't give them any more tonight" Mr Harrison said to me. I nodded and glanced at Sirius and James who were laughing at something.
Some beautiful speeches were made by the Potters and a few of their friends then everyone danced a little more before they all slowly left.
I stood with all the other waiters as we waited for the last of the guests to leave before beginning to clean up.
"Bye, bye Lily I suspect I shall see you at my cousins wedding" James said glancing at Mr Harrison who glared back at him.
"I don't think so, your probably not coming" Mr Harrison said.
"Don't be silly Jeff" Georgia said with a laugh.
James hugged me and then pulled away an arm around my waist the other holding on to a bit of my hair.
"So… pretty" he said glancing at Mr Harrison.
"Can I take her home?" he asked looking at his parents.
"Looks like someone's had a little too much to drink" Thomas said to me almost apologetically.
"Come on dear, let the nice girl go" Georgia said tapping James's shoulder.
"I want it I want it I want," he said almost like a spoilt child. I had to bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. I heard Fran snigger behind me and a few of the others snort as they tried not to laugh.
"Ok… I'll leave her only if I get to go to cousin Bens wedding and you get Lily's company to come and Lily as well…" James said everyone stared at Mr Harrison.
"Jeff the poor girl looks exhausted and surely just wants to go home. Now I know my Jimmy and if he says he will not let her go he's not going to unless you agree," Georgia said with a small wink at James.
"Of course… you were all wonderful" Mr Harrison said to us. "Tell Phil he has an excellent bunch of employees"
"Oh thank you Mr Harrison sir" Eddie said and we all murmured our thanks.
Mr Harrison smiled and walked off.
"Your not really drunk at all are you?" Thomas asked.
"No I am not," James said smiling. "Can I take her home anyway?"
"No!" his parents said. He grinned at me and gave me a kiss on the cheek before letting me go.
I stared after him a small smile on my lips.
Oh my God!
And that was the day I realised… I might be in love with James Potter.
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Hello readers,
I didn't like the other one. As you read before
I love this one and I hope you all do.
It's just a better story line and I can find it going somewhere.
Well… please leave a review so I know it you love it.
Till next time, A.J
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