First time publishing a story on here - please be nice :) I own nothing of the BBT or any song lyrics used.
Tuesday Night
"Are you always such an insufferable ass."
This was the first full sentence Cat Green said to Dr Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali.
A short, brown haired guy wearing what looked to be a red turtleneck with a yellow jumper and brown cord pants appeared behind 'the doctor' and with a smirk said "Why yes, yes he is" answering her rhetorical question.
"Howard!" Raj turned and looked at his friend in distress "Your ruining the moment between myself an..."
They both heard a condescending snort and turned to look at Cat who stood with a look of total disbelief on her face and one eye brow raised.
She'd arrived at the Cheese Cake Factory a short while ago with her guitar, hired for the next 5 days as entertainment for the restaurant. A bit of live background music for the week running up to Valentines Day. It wasn't the work she'd originally intended after moving from the UK to LA. Cat Green had originally hoping that she'd would of been signed up to a label by now. But after 3 years of working the scene, playing small gigs as opening acts, doing open mic nights, sending out demo tapes, Cat found she wasn't getting anywhere other than gigging as entertainment for bars, restaurants or small events (weddings, birthdays). Luckily as her father was American born and raised in Chicago before moving to the UK for work where he had met Cats English mother, she was dual national and didn't have to worry about visas and such. Though over the past few months she'd been debating whether it was time she should move on.
She stood at the grand height of 5ft3, long strawberry blonde hair which was currently tied up in a messy bun. Her figure was not slim, one agent had tried to sell her act as "similar to Adele", that agent hadn't last long before she'd given him the boot along with the middle finger.
So she might not be thin, she was a US size 16/18 depending on the store, very much a pear shape. Her chest which wasn't the largest of her assets, being a D cup at its best, her waist did neatly tuck in then her hips and ass curved out. It wasn't a bad figure, like most girls Cat wished it was just smaller! But she knew how best to dress, flattering and adding emphasise where needed. Her pin-tuck dress which she was wearing was one of her faves, a dark fabric with a floral pattern which was fitted at the top then flared out just above her waist. The skirt of the dress was pulled up in tucks suggesting it was more voluminous than it was. Ending just around her knee, she'd paired it with black wet look leggings and ankle boots. She looked damn cute tonight!
Then the somewhat insulting yet quirkily attractive Doctor Rajesh who still stood in front of her had said he liked his woman with "overly generous" curves.
Stunned for one moment, Cat then opened her mouth to lay into him when a leggy blonde in a waitress outfit appeared. Giving a grimacing smile the blonde put her hands on the shoulders of the two men and started to move them away "come on guys, what have I told you about scaring off the acts."
Rajesh looked at her almost pleadingly "yes but Penny" he started, the blonde Penny gave him a look and said "Raj" in a knowing way which caused the doctors shoulders to slump and walk away with his friend.
Penny turned back to Cat with million watt smile, "sorry about that, it's ok though they're pretty harmless," she laughed, "especially Raj."
"Yeah well thanks, I'd better get back to setting up," Cat liked the waitress who come across genuine and friendly.
"Sure thing, do you want a drink?" Penny asked
"Tap water with a slice of lemon would be great" Cat adjusted the mic stand and got her guitar out while the blonde headed off to the bar.
Sitting on the edge of the stage, Cat strummed a few chords making sure the guitar was in tune. Penny appeared back from the bar and placed a large glass down next to Cat.
"Here ya go," she smiled, Cat took a little sip and then returned the smile "thanks"
"No problem," Penny looked around the restaurant to check no one was waiting for service, deciding everything was under control she turned back to Cat who had nearly finished her sound check and was getting ready to preform, "I saw you play last night, your really good."
The compliment warmed Cat a little, "thank you," she grimaced, "it wasn't the plan I intended when moving here" Cat finding herself confiding in the friendly blonde.
Penny made a similar face, "I know what you mean, this is just part time gig," she shrugged indicting to her current role, "I'm an actress, just waiting for my big break." She gave a very weak smile, Cat nodded, she'd met a lot of actresses over the past 3 years waiting for that all important break.
Penny's face lit up again as she shrugged off the seconds of doubt, smiling brightly "I'll let you get on," she began to move away then she stopped and turned back "he's not all bad ya know, quite sweet really."
Cat looked at the blonde slightly confused,
"Raj, the insufferable ass," Penny laughed.
Not entirely sure where the waitress was going with this, all Cat could think to say was "Oh ok then, thanks"
Penny suddenly sat down next to Cat and looked at her directly, "looks he's a total sweetie, just not had much practise talking with girls and always says the wrong thing," taking a breath, "I guess I'm trying to say he's worth getting to know." Penny gave a small sweet smile, clearly this Raj was a good friend.
Cat strummed her fingers over the guitar strings gently really unsure how to respond, "Ok, well thanks again." And she stood up to take her seat on the stool next to the mic, looking back at Penny whose smile had now dropped making Cat feel bad, inwardly rolling her eyes to herself, "I'll give the doctor some consideration during my set" why did she feel she was going to regret saying that but the smile the pretty blonde now radiated seemed worth it.
"Cool," jumping up from her seated position "just shout me if you need another drink or a snack!" And she headed off towards the table where Rajesh, his short friend, two other men and two women, one tiny petite blonde and a rather studious brunette were sat. Groaning inwardly to herself, Cat got comfortable on the stool, yep she was definitely going to regret saying that.
Raj looked miserably over at the stage where the beautiful Cat was getting ready to begin her set. He'd watched her interaction with Penny who was now walking over to their table with a smile on her face.
"Hey guys, you ready to order?" She asked whipping out her notepad from the pocket in her apron.
"Yes Penny I shall have a dish of heart ache followed by a side of forever alone," Raj moaned.
"Oh Raj your not going to be forever alone," Bernadette patted his hand, "your a real catch, you just need to think before you speak when it comes to girls." The petite blonde tried to cheer up her husbands best friend.
Penny picked up Leonard's soda and took a sip, "what did you actually say to piss her off?"
"Oh he commented how he liked big butts," Howard not so helpfully answered with a laugh.
Penny's jaw dropped, "Raj! You did not mention her weight!"
Raj now looking extremely sheepish began to chase the ice in his soda with a straw, "Not how Howard said it, I just commented how I liked women with curves."
"Generous curves," Howard chimed in again, unhelpful, "Ow, Bernie" his small wife had swatted him giving him a look to behave.
Penny shook her head, seriously how guys so smart could be so clueless she would never understand, looking over to her own brainy boyfriend who was sat back with a smile on his face probably enjoying that for once it wasn't him being a total ass.
"Well I don't know if it helped but I did put in a good word for you Raj," giving him a comforting squeeze on the shoulder, "maybe when she's finished her set you could go speak to her again and you know maybe not mention her weight."
Raj looked up at her with big sad puppy dog eyes, "thank you Penny."
Sheldon who like Leonard had been quiet was now clearly getting fed up, "Can we order or do we have to wait for Raj to make amends with the entertainment?"
Penny's eyes rolled, "Ok Sheldon, are you having the usual?" Knowing it was a silly question.
"Of course, it's Tuesday and Tuesday means..." He carried on about his food requirements for that night, while Raj looked over at the strawberry blonde singer sadly. He didnt know why he'd made that silly comment, he'd just been trying to express that he found her curvaceous figure attractive. Why couldn't he of commented on her hair which gleamed with auburn highlights in the dim lighting of the restaurant or how her eyes sparkled like sapphires.
She was now perched on the stool next to the mic, Raj watched as she settled and oddly lay her guitar over her lap. He saw her take a slight breath, then she began to tap out a rhythm on the body of the guitar. Customers around the restaurant paused and looked to the musician, a quiet taking over the room apart from the repetitive sound coming from the stage. After 15 seconds, she began:
"I got my ticket for the long way round
Two bottles of whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow
what you say
When I'm gone...
When I'm gone..
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere
Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk...Ohh
You're gonna miss me by my talk
Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
I got my ticket for the long way round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains, it's got rivers
Its got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk
Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere
Oh, you're sure gonna miss me when I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk
Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone"
As the song drew to a close, Raj found his mouth agape at Cats singing. Her voice was very pure and sweet with a folksy hint to it. Penny who was still stood next to him placed a finger under his chin and closed his mouth, "she's good isn't she" Penny grinned, the poor astrophysicist was clearly smitten by the auburn haired singer.
"She is more than good, she sounds like an angel singing" he realised that the room had been applauding Cats performance and were now settling down.
"Thank you," she said almost shyly over the mic, "My name is Cat and i'll be here for your entertainment tonight, if you have any requests then please let me know and I'll do my best to play for you, otherwise I hope you enjoy my set." Picking her guitar up and holding it in the more traditional pose she began to play again.
Raj spent the rest of the evening entranced by the performer, her range was wide and she pretty much managed to play whatever people went up and requested. Bryan Adams, Adele, Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, to name a few, even Miley Cyrus which Raj spotted she grimaced slightly upon that request - clearly not an artist she favoured,
It was soon getting late, the others had all finished their meals and drinks and were getting ready to leave while Penny had been roped into working a couple extra hours on the bar.
"Hey Raj, you coming?" Leonard asked, Raj blinked out of his reverie, "I may stay a while longer, have a drink at the bar."
Leonard couldn't help but grin, "ok then buddy, tell Penny I'll see her later."
Absently mindedly Raj nodded and waved his friends off, Cat who had now finished her set was packing up her guitar. Raj hesitantly wandered over to her.
Cat looked up when she felt a presence to find a sheepish looking Raj stood behind her. Keeping her face neutral, "yes?"
"I was wondering to make up for my earlier discretion I could buy you a drink?" The doctor shuffled on the spot looking painful shy & uncomfortable. God it must of taken him something to come back over, Cat sighed then gave a small smile at the nervous man, "sure, let me finish packing up and I'll met you at the bar."
Raj grinned, "I shall order while you finish, what would you like?"
Cat bit her bottom lip and contemplated, she was driving but one small drink couldn't hurt, "vodka, lime and soda please" the doctor nodded and practically ran to the bar, maybe Penny was right about giving him chance, she chuckled softly at how eager he was.
Securing her guitar in its case, she tidied up the stage and then headed over to the bar where a drink sat waiting for her along with Rajesh. Over the course of the evening she'd been surreptitiously checking him out, he was about 5ft7/5ft8 - taller than her but not so tall he towered over her. She could tell he wasn't overweight, but he didn't seem thin (not like his short or tall friends), he seemed an average size what she could tell with the clothes he was wearing. A pale stripey colour shirt with a rather eye watering patterned beige & green sweater vest both of which looked like something out of the 70s show. A pair of brown khaki pants and trainers. Not the best taste in clothes, but he seemed to pull it off. His hair was thick and black in a shaggy but neat hair cut, framing his face. Large dark brown eyes stared at her with a sweet expectant smile. Cat sat on the bar stool next to him and took a small sip of her drink, putting it back down she focused on him "thanks."
"No thank you for giving me another chance." He said shyly while playing with a straw in his soda class.
"Are you not drinking?" She asked
He shook his head, "No, I was a little reliant on it," he started, then realising how it sounded, "but not in an I'm an alcoholic way," he rushed to put out there, "more Dutch courage, but I've recently found I don't need the courage anymore so not drinking."
Cat nodded trying to understand, "ok then, cool." She turned back to her drink and stirred the little straw around, mixing the vodka with the lime and soda water. The silence became tangible between them, until Raj spoke up,
"Your performance was wonderful, I really enjoyed that first song."
Smiling Cat looked back over at Raj, "thanks, it's one I've been working on since watching a film a couple weeks back."
"It was really good," he enthused, "I thought how you used your guitar as a drum was inspired."
"Well the songs called 'cups' and your supposed to get the rhythm using a cup," The look of confusion on Rajs face was quite sweet, "lemme show you," She reached past him, brushing his hand with her arm, a shot of electricity seemed to spark from the touch giving Cat a tinglingly sensation inside. She plucked an empty soda beaker from next to him. Settling back down Cat began the rhythm of the song again, this time with the 'cup', moving it around turning it over and tapping on its base. Before she knew it she'd begun to sing again,
"I got my ticket for the long way round
Two bottles of whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow
what you say
When I'm gone...
When I'm gone..
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere
Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone"
Raj was completely entranced, watching her move the cup around creating the beat, he realised after a moment she'd stopped and was looking at him, she had a shy smile on her lips "see what I mean,"
"Yes, yes i do, your very talented," he breathed, thinking to himself while Leonard and Penny's children would be smart and beautiful, his and Cats would be smart, beautiful and talented.
"Thanks" a slight blush appeared on her pale cheeks and she turned and took another sip of her drink.
"Well hello you two," Penny appeared behind the bar, loving how the two of them seemed to now be getting on, "can I get you anything else?" She asked.
Cat shook her head, "No thanks Penny, actually I should really get going," she stood up and downed the rest of her drink, "I'll see you tomorrow night, ok?" She said to the friendly waitress now bar tender, then looked at Raj "I'll be here till Friday, see ya." Grabbing her guitar she raced out before the doctor had a chance to say anything.
Raj sat in shock, one minute Cat had been there and now she was gone, he looked to Penny confused who was grinning, "I don't understand what happened Penny?"
Looking to his friend who was much more knowledgable about these things, Penny still grinning responded "that Raj was to let you know if you wanted to see her again you know where you can find her."
Raj still looking perplexed then Penny's explanation dawned on him and he grinned back at her. Maybe he hadn't totally messed things up.
Constructive / nice feedback is welcome :) thank you x