Just a quick thank you to my sole reviewer Writer By Nature, it made my day :)
"So you gonna explain to us that bruise on yer head and how you already seemed to know Ms. Josie up there? Or are you just going to let us think up our own scenarios which will be much more…eh what's the word Swill?"
"Porno-esque. That what yer goin' for?" Swill's reply was met with laughter while Dave just looked at him with a smirk. Pete sighed and just glared back at them, still debating on whether he should tell them or not. They were his mates though…
"Well, Josie is kinda the reason I got this bruise – she's the tour guide I tackled." Laughter rang out around the table and Pete had the good sense of mind to look slightly embarrassed. "Shits gospel of Paul, I knocked her right on her ass and shredded her palm a fair deal. Not on purpose of course."
"Hah, fit piece of arse like that I bet it was on purpose. Jesus mate, you coulda just asked her for her number instead of going for intimidation tactics, I don't think violence is the best pickup line nowadays."
"Eh, piss off will ya? I was gonna go back to the museum next week to apologize since I didn't get a chance to this afternoon. This blonde bird flipped at the sight of blood and dragged her inside." Pete looked once more over to the bar where Josie was standing and felt his blood boil seeing a herd of blokes standing round trying to chat her up. How did she already have such an effect on him? He'd met plenty of good-lookin' girls in his 23 years, but never one that seemed to seep into his head like she had.
"Fucksake, ya look at that?" Pete pointed up, "They're not even tryin' to get a drink." He continued to glare in the direction of the bar, as the rest of the boys casually glanced up. There were in fact currently about 5 men, all with full pints standing at the end of the bar near Josie. Each one seemed to be staring intently at her, erm assets, rather than her actual face as they vied for her attention.
"Bruv, what are ya expectin'? There 'asn't been a female that good lookin' in this place in years – shit maybe never." Dave stared at Pete giving him a knowing look that caused him to turn his head away – Dave had always been a little too perceptive for his liking.
"So where's Bov, haven't seen his miserable face round here yet tonight?" Pete tried desperately to change the conversation and tried to keep his eyes away from Josie. It didn't seem to work and as if sensing someone watching, she looked up from pouring shots over to the boys and locked eyes with Pete. She gave a half-smile and a slight nod in his direction that made him feel weightless before she broke the stare to return to her work.
"Eh, you know Bovver, he'll show up when it's good for 'im and shit for us. He has that talent." Pete laughed at Ike's response then noted with delight that his pint was done. But before he could leap up to get the next round Dave beat him to it. Clenching his fists slightly and watching as Dave went straight for Josie, Pete made the decision to 'help' him out and was on his feet immediately. In a few long strides he'd caught up to Dave and noted the look of surprise on his face.
"I got 'em mate, I'll have Joze bring 'em down for us." He placed a friendly hand on his shoulder which Pete shrugged off.
"Nah mate, she's busy. I'll help bring 'em down." Trying to look casual Pete hoped he wasn't being quite as obvious as he felt he was.
"Right mate," finally grasping what Pete was gunning for he gave a quick wink, "She's all yours."
He turned and headed back to the table, leaving him to face Josie again. Watching her as she casually chatted with one of the usuals he leaned against the bar, content to wait until she noticed him as it gave him more time to examine her. Closer up he could see the light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose and the brown hair that was interwoven with shades of blonde, glistening in the dingy light of the bar. He watched as she lightly moistened her plump, pink lips and again blew her bangs out of her eyes as she wrote down someone's food order. Chewing slightly on her lower lip as she concentrated on entering the order, Pete felt his stomach do a little flip – every nerve in his body seemed to be on fire just from watching her. As he continued to gaze at her, she seemed to finally notice his presence and turned towards him.
"Hey you," softly smiling up at him Josie walked closer and leaned over the bar to speak to him without having to yell over the dull roar of the crowd, "Another five for you and your mates?" With a quick smile up at him she turned to grab a pint glass when she was stopped by a warm hand covering hers.
"Nah, fuck 'em they can get their own drinks. Just one for me - you still have to give me more ways to make up for doing this to your hand." Lightly squeezing her hand that he still had enclosed in his she smiled back at him.
"Oh really? So mayyyybe something like a horsie ride in the park or a ride around a carousel and cotton candy and treats for me!?" Looking up at him with a sweet smile on her face he couldn't help but chuckle at her sarcasm.
"Seriously Pete, I'm not five, it was just a scratch. My friend Emma overreacted at the sight of a little blood and the wrap is mostly to keep it clean from the usual griminess of the wonderful world of bartending. And as much as I'd usually like to milk an injury for all its worth, I don't want to be the one making that guilty look appear on your face…unless I have an identical one on my face because we both robbed a bank and are filthy rich, sipping fruity drinks on some faraway island." His laughter rang out loudly attracting a few looks from around the bar while Josie simply stared back to him.
"What? I'm serious – you look a little on the rough side and I've been looking to recruit someone into my gang of thieves. We're top notch, really – we make those Ocean's 11 guys look like amateurs." Smiling back at him she glanced behind her when she heard a voice.
"Ere love, this foods ready – you know where it;s goin, yeah?" Terry interrupted, handing Josie two steaming plates of bangers and mash and she took them with a smile and walked the length of the bar to deliver the dinners.
"So, seems you've taken quite a liking to my little Josephine, eh?" smiling at Pete, Terry watched and waited for his reaction.
Fuck me, am I that obvious? Pete thought.
"Yeah well, I knocked the Yank on her arse earlier today so I felt obliged to apologize."
"Hm, I bet it's that innocent." Giving him another knowing look he continued, "Either way, she's workin' wonders on this joint. I shoulda hired a lady bartender years ago, the boys can't stop drinking in the hopes she'll turn that pretty smile on them while she's taking their order. Though she aint makin' any friends with the other girls." Nodding over his shoulder, Pete turned and saw a small group of local girls, glaring daggers at Josie – though she seemed to have no idea as she stood chatting with the older couple whose food she'd just delivered.
"Bound to happen, females are fuckin' vicious on a good day. Lucky for you, the majority of your patrons are of the male persuasion." Hearing a loud outcry he glanced down to see his mates trying to get his attention, "Aw shit, I guess gimme five pints – the lads have caught on that I wasn't hurrying back." Terry followed his gaze down the bar to see the boys screaming and making rude hand gestures in Pete's direction, waving empty pint glasses at him.
"Looks like they finally cottoned on to your plan of everyman drinks for himself," Josie said appearing at Pete's side, having finished talking with the older couple, "Swill isn't as dumb or drunk as he looks – the second his glass was empty he pointed it out to the rest of the boys and they all seemed to remember you'd left ages ago to get another round."
Pete smiled down at Josie, taking in the sweet smell of her perfume and shampoo, he noticed just how short she was – he'd make her to be about 5'2 putting him almost a foot taller than she was. He towered over her slight frame but he would bet she fit perfectly in the crook of his arm.
"Christ those heels were deceptive – you're a midget!" Shoving Pete slightly, Josie gave a slight huff and left to come back around the bar. Feeling his chest burn pleasantly where she'd touched him, he waited until a moment later when she reappeared on the other side, slightly taller now on account of the platform behind the bar.
"There, that better Mr. Jolly Green Giant? Excuse me that we aren't all the size of huge cartoon characters." Shaking his head in awe at the ridiculous comparison he watched her turn with a smirk while she began to pour the long-awaited pints for the boys, handing the first one to Pete. He took a long sip and they sat in pleasant silence as she continued to pour their drinks.
"So how'd you end up out here? Lambeth is a trek on the best o' days." Pete asked, intrigued as to how a yank ended up in this neck of the woods.
"One word: money. I found a relatively nice apartment, in just a slightly dodgy area, for rent I could afford. The museum doesn't pay much and I start school in September so this was most cost efficient."
"School?" Pete raised an eyebrow at her, "Just how old are you?"
"17, I'll be turning 18 in September." She deadpanned and his mouth dropped open in shock until she burst out laughing at him.
"The look on your face! Relax, I'm 22, its grad school – War Studies to be precise. I'll be starting at King's College in the fall." Pete sighed with relief; it would've been just his luck to fall for a girl that was jailbait.
"War Studies, eh? You a regular ol' Rambo, huh love?" Ignoring his question and just smiling up, she grabbed the pints and motioned for him to follow her back to his table. Walking through the crowd he tried to keep his eyes on her but was stopped abruptly.
"Pete! I've been waiting for you to come over." Looking at the face in front of him, he recognized one of the local girls, thought her name was failing him at the moment.
"Oh, hi." Grimacing slightly at the girl blocking his way he continued, "uh, I'm actually just tryin' to get through to my mates back there." Craning his neck over the crowd he saw Josie had reached his table and was setting the drinks down now. Swill was reaching for his and grabbing at Josie as she kept dangling it just out of his reach.
"Oh well, why don't we just join you lot then?" Nodding towards the couple of girls behind her, he took in the tight, low-cut shirts of the homely girls all looking at him as though he was a piece of meat.
"Uh well, Friday is boy's night…maybe another time, yeah?" Not waiting for an answer Pete sped away leaving one insulted local behind. As he moved along he heard one of the girls loudly exclaim, "Then whys that Yankee cunt get to chat 'em up then?" Pete almost turned back with a biting reply but held his tongue, choosing to get back to the table while Josie was still there.
"They behavin' themselves, not gettin' too cheeky with you Joze?" Finally reaching the table he moved closer to Josie and rested an arm lightly around her shoulders. For a moment she leaned slightly into his touch and he saw goose bumps erupt on her bare arms. Noticing the sly looks on the boys' faces she maneuvered out of his arms.
"The only cheeky one here is you, Mr. Dunham. Making these poor, thirsty boys wait ages for their pints. Whatta sin. You should be ashamed of yourself." With a wag of her finger and a flip of her long brown hair she returned to the bar to continue working, leaving the boys in an uproar.
Staring at her back as she walked away from the table to return to behind the bar he couldn't help but think he may have finally met his match in the form of one Josephine Murphy. And he'd be damned if he was going to screw this up.
Hope you're all enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Any feedback is always appreciated!