-x- Chapter 7 -x-
They sat giggling to themselves at their table, as the music played.
Charlie whispered in her ear.
"He sounds worse than the last one."
"Haha." Duffy laughed.
The singer wailed and screeched his way through the song.
(L-O-L-A, Lola, lo lo lo lo LOLA)
"I thought you said he'd be good." She replied, giggling.
"Well, looks can be deceptive." Charlie just shrugged.
They sang along to the song together, grimacing on the notes that the singer simply could not reach, and giggled.
As soon as the song finished the audience clapped, not that enthusiastically enough, but the singer seemed to appreciate it. Maybe he was too drunk to notice, either way he left the stage moments later.
"Is the band playing again?" Duffy asked.
"I'm not sure." Charlie answered.
"I hope so." Duffy added, then giggled at him.
"Same here!" Charlie replied.
"Same again?" He asked, as he got up to get them another drink.
"Thanks darling." Duffy said, as she smiled up at him.
-o-
The band did began to play again. And they sat listening to a few songs, sipping their drinks.
Charlie heard the first few notes of the next song, and he whispered into her ear.
"My turn for a dance." Charlie said, as he held out his hand to her.
"Aww Charlie." Duffy said, as she smiled back at him, blushing, realising herself what song it was.
She took his hand, and he led her to the dancefloor. He then took her by the waist, and pulled her close to him, holding her hand close to his chest.
"You're the sweetest man ever, do you know that?" She said, as she looked at him with such emotion.
Charlie simply smiled back at her, and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"Love you." He said, gazing into her eyes.
"Love you too." She replied, as she the rested her head on his.
They danced gently and emotionally listening to "stand by me", being sung and played by the band.
-o-
As the band finished the song. The lights came on, and the couples dancing slowly came to a stop.
The audience cheered; and clapped at the band.
But Charlie held Duffy in his arms, they continued to sway to the music, lost in the moment, as they gently broke apart; Charlie tenderly kissed her.
They were distracted momentarily by the singer announcing who had won the 'open mic night'.
"We all agreed that the best 'open mic' performance and song of the night was "Something by The Beatles" sung by Mr Charlie Fairhead. Let's give Charlie here, and his Mrs a cheer folks." He said, as he began to clap.
Charlie and Duffy looked shocked. Charlie started to blush. But, Duffy kissed him on the cheek, released her grip on him, and began to clap at her husband, along with the crowd.
"Come up here Charlie. You've won a bottle of champagne." The singer announced.
"Go on Charlie." Duffy said, as she encouraged him.
Charlie got up on stage and shook hands with the singer, taking the bottle of wine from him.
"Thanks, thanks a lot." Charlie said.
"Any time you fancy coming for open mic night again mate, just ask. You were great." The singer replied.
"Cheers." Charlie said, as he shook the singer's hand once again.
Charlie left the stage, and joined Duffy by their table.
"Well done darling, you deserved that. You were the best by far." Duffy said, as she kissed his cheek.
"Not bad at all. A bit rusty, but not too bad." Charlie said, grinning to himself.
"I'll have to practise a bit more I think." He added.
"Fine by me sweetheart, but you were amazing." She replied, grinning at him.
He sipped at the last drop of his whiskey, and then helped Duffy put on her coat.
"Thanks darling." Duffy said, as she pulled her coat together, lifting her bag onto her shoulder; a little clumsily, due to the amount of wine she'd consumed.
Charlie grinned at her, then kissed her on the forehead and asked.
"Ready?" He said, as he put on his coat, and put the bottle of wine in his large coat pocket.
"Fish and chips?" Duffy asked.
"You read my mind." Charlie replied grinning at her.
"Let's go." Duffy said.
She took his hand as they walked out of the bar, and into the night air together.
-o-
"That was amazing Charlie, I loved it. You were amazing, are amazing, what a night." She said, as she hugged into his arm, as they walked in a jagged line down the path.
"I knew you'd love it." Charlie said, as he turned his head to her, and kissed her on the forehead.
They carried on walking down the path, arm in arm, and slightly tipsy.
"I've missed this, just you and me." Duffy said, as she took his hand in hers.
"I've missed this too." Charlie replied, as he squeezed her hand.
"It doesn't have to end you know, not yet." She added, as she stopped in the street.
"What do you mean?" He asked, as he stopped then turned to look at her.
"Why don't we grab a bag of chips to share and walk back home instead?" She replied, looking at him.
"Haha, sounds good to me darling." He chuckled.
"What did you think I meant?" She asked him.
"Well..." He raised his eyebrows at her and smirked.
He grasped her by the waist and pulled her closer to him, then kissed her seductively.
"Charlie." She said, as the kiss ended, she blushed, feeling dizzy and light headed. The feeling in the pit of her stomach began to surface.
"Mmm." He replied, as he looked down at her, smirking, holding her close to him.
She played with his collar and looked into his eyes.
"You're such a tease." Duffy said, as she bit her lip, then kissed him again.
"Mmm." Charlie mumbled, as their kiss continued, his eyebrows raised more.
"Duffy..." Charlie said breathlessly as their kiss ended.
He rested his forehead on hers, and sighed.
-x-
