A/N: OKAY, PAUSE FOR A SECOND! I know I usually write, wrote, my notes at the end of each chapter. But hey, listen up. It's been a year. It's been MORE than a year since the previous chapter. BUT I STILL GET NOTIFICATIONS THAT YOU GUYS ARE STILL F*CKING READING THIS! It's totally insane, blows my mind. I'm honored and confused at the same time. So here you go, you deserve this one.
Chapter Four
The morning part of a full day shift was usually the easiest one. The only thing you had to do was to station yourself by the coffee machine and make Americanos as if you worked at an assembly line in a factory. The longer the day went on the more food people wanted, and the more special orders arose. In the mornings the only ones that came by were the business men and women who only needed their usual pick me up on their way to their office work. So that meant that you didn't even have to do any dishes since they all asked for take away paper cups. Which was really bad for the environment, but very convenient for us. But as the day prolonged the more cups made out of porcelain were used. And that day me and those cups weren't the best combo.
The afternoon rush had calmed down and my shift was drawing to a close. But the rain was draining my mood and making the work more difficult than it needed to be. I turned around and dropped my third cup of coffee, that day, onto the floor. The white cup scattered all over the tiles and the tiny puddle of coffee began to motion towards the drain underneath the counter. I cursed quietly at my own clumsiness, "shit…".
From behind me I heard Rob reassuring to the customer, who wore glasses with a broad, black trim, that he would get his coffee. "So sorry about that. Take a seat and we'll bring it to you." As I hopelessly stared at my mistake, trying to wish it away, I saw Rob's feet enter my field of vision. "You seem awfully distracted today."
"No, why would you say that?" I shook my head to break the spell that the shattered cup had laid upon me.
"Because you've already dropped, like what, three cups today, two of which broke." He handed me a broom and dustpan. "That's not like you. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thanks for the concern." I bit back and began cleaning up after myself.
"Okay, sorry for asking." Then he slyly added, "you sure it has nothing to do with the black haired femme fatale that entered a few days ago?"
The broom almost fell out of my hand and I fumbled to grab a hold of it. "What? Why? What do you know about that?"
Rob chuckled, his grin growing larger by the millisecond. Mischievously he replied, "I met her outside when I was closing yesterday. She was apparently looking for you". He took the broom and dustpan from my hands and swiftly cleaned up the mess I had made.
Yesterday I worked the closing shift. But since the café was empty before closing Rob had been an angel and allowed me to leave early. A sting of regret caught me as I heard how Jade had been looking for me… From nowhere the text with the address and invitation to the theatre made itself reminded, burning in my pocket. I pulled out my phone and re-opened the latest message from Jade. Out of habit I scrolled upp to see previous conversations. Nostalgia filled me as I re-read texts from years ago. The man that didn't get his coffee because of me, was long gone from my memory. The only thing that seemed to be on my mind was her. Black locks and a soft smile that was so inviting it hurt. Why she now was someone that inevitably pulled me closer appeared to be a mystery to me. The only thing I could compare her with was a black hole.
The bearded man returned from the floor. The man with the glasses had his coffee. My mistake was erased… thanks to Rob I might add. He bent over and leaned his elbow against the counter. For a silent second looked at me before begging me to obey with one simple word, "go".
Confused I searched for an answer, to his strange behaviour, in his eyes.
"How often does your friends from across the pond visit you? I've never heard of any. So I suggest that you make the most of the time she has here."
"Really?" I raised one eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.
"I can hold the fort. It's only one hour left." He straightened up and gave me a smug smile. "I'm a lot smarter than I look. Whoever she is she's a lot better than that pile of crap you have at home."
I stared at his tall, wide stature before finding his bearded face. He reminded me of Big Foot if the creature would have existed and been human. "And you're a lot nicer than you look too." I wrapped my arms around his midriff and gave him a quick hug, which he didn't enjoy. Not that I cared about how he felt about the embrace.
I took the underground to the theatre. It was only a few, short stops away. When I walked up the stairs to reach ground level I noticed that the sky had turned very dark, almost black. The evening was painfully cold and my coat didn't warm me as much as I wanted it to. Along the sidewalk the water, from the rain earlier that day, created a tiny river that flowed with me as I walked down the road. I used my phone as a guide to the adress that Jade had sent to me the day before.
The front of the theatre wasn't drawing too much attention to itself. A big signboard, without a poser, covered the second and third floor. The ground floor presented the box office behind glas doors. And the entrance was protected from rain by a narrow ledge with lamps along the brim. I tentatively tried to thug on the glass door, examining if it was a possible way in. Which it wasn't. I took two short steps backwards and looked up in the ceiling. Even if the answer most likely wasn't above me that was usually the first thing confused people did, for no apparent reason. No answer to anything ever fell down from the sky. I knew from experience that you entered a theatre from the back if you were a part of the staff or cast. But I was neither.
Due to the reflection, from the lit up street behind me, I failed to see Jade on the other side of the doors and almost pissed my pants as she opened them with a forceful swing. "You came!"
Before answering I had to catch my breath. So instead I simply nodded, smiled and waved at her. After I had calmed myself down slightly I asked, "you knew I was coming?"
"No, I just saw you on my way to the stalls."
"Oh, okay, good. Cause I have no memory of telling you."
"Thanks a lot for the info by the way." Jade rolled her eyes. "Come on, let me show you the theatre." She turned her back at me but I noticed her hand lingering behind. So I took it and I instantly felt safe. As soon as I grabbed her hand she responded by squeezing mine. We made our way over the red carpet clad floor in the foyer and entered the back of the stalls. It wasn't a big theatre, but the building was as extravagant as only old theaters were. Jade led me to the middle row of seats and gestured for me to walk down along it. As I ended up in the middle of the middle row she told me to sit down. So I did, with Jade seating herself next to me. For some reason wondered if Seth or anyone else from the staff was around.
Almost as if she could read me mind she said, "Seth left an hour ago. I'm sorry you missed him. But you'll get the chance to meet him, I promise." She leaned her head against the back of the velvet dressed seat and looked obliquely upwards.
To get a better look at her face, I leaned forward, resting my arms against my knees and looked slightly backwards at her. "But you're still here?"
Jade's green eyes met mine and she smiled. "Not alone."
"But you didn't know I was coming."
"I had a hunch." She smirked and chuckled, a very typical Jade-thing to do. "But really though, I find it very peaceful just sitting here. Looking out over the theatre, over the stage and imagining my play up there. It's like a dream come true you know…" Her voice faded away and merged into the walls.
I remembered how hard working she had been in high school, how dedicated she was to her art. And how much she was willing to sacrifice to reach her goals. Instinctively I grabbed her hand and said with conviction that was fit to plea to a jury, "I can't think of anyone who deserves this more than you".
Her soft lips turned into a gentle smile and she enclosed my hands with hers. She looked at me with such warmth. "Go up there." Her eyes went to the stage. "You deserve it too you know."
The dark wooden stage made a bothered sound as I walked across it. Like an old man who had been sitting for too long in his brown leather armchair and now, out of nowhere, had been disturbed. From up there the theatre looked a lot smaller. I looked out over the rows of seats and tried to take everything in. There was no light technician around so the lights were pre-set dim. Vaguely, I could see Jade looking at me from her seat. I wanted to do something with this moment, savour it. It had been my dream ever since I arrived. But that dream had withered away with my pride and my confidence. That moment that notion was more present than it had ever been… I turned around and looked at the backdrop, the heavy black fabric that draped down along the back.
Thanks to the talkative stage I noticed that Jade had joined me. "Don't you want to sing!?" I looked at her as she spun around on the spot with her arms wide open. She was filled with so much excitement that is was tangible.
"I don't know if I can anymore", I admitted. "Jade.. it's been years since I last went to an audition, or even sang for that matter."
She stopped spinning to look at me. "I didn't think I could write either. But look at this", she gestured out over the stalls, "it happened, it is happening." With decisive steps she walked up to me and, to my surprise, embraced me. With her arms lingering around the small of my back she said, "I can tell that you still want to be up here. And if that's the case I have no doubt in my mind that you're able to."
"Do you really think so?" I placed my hands on her hips and looked at her with scepticism. The way she looked at me. It was a long time ago since anyone looked at me like that. Like I could do anything I set my mind to. Jade's eyes told on her how much she believed in me. And that feeling was amazing. I didn't want to let it go. I wanted that feeling with me at all times. The gravity she possessed, that pulled me closer, worked its magic without my knowledge.
Her lips enchanted me, and I followed their movement as she spoke. "I believe in your talent." Jades green eyes trapped me.
The impuls I had was impossible to resist. So I gave in to my desire.. and kissed her. Against my lips hers felt like the softest silk. Her grip around me tightened and the kiss filled me with a feeling I had been running low on. The feeling of being wanted. Her scent, her perfume, turned itself into an association with her closeness and I knew that I would love that scent till the day I died.
Jade pulled away from the kiss and looked at me with a mixture of confusion and concern. "What was that for?" Then her face almost cracked up into an amused smirk.
"It's not funny Jade." I let go of her and backed up a step.
She followed my way and pulled me back into her arms. "I didn't say it was." And then she kissed me again. And once more I fell, deep down. And this time I couldn't get back up. So when she asked, "I take it's in order to ask you out for a dinner. How about tomorrow?", I didn't have the strength to decline. My heart had officially been stolen torn into pieces.
A/N: To be fair I had to re-read the previous chapters because I couldn't really remember where I wanted this to go. But now I get it, I miss them too, and I like this story. So yes I think I'm back on track. What do you think about this?
If you're still here from waaaay back when, all props to you. And leave a simple hi if you wan't to make it down memory lane with me.
