AN: Howdy, all! I hope you're all doing wonderfully and that you're having a nice day/night! Thank you for your reviews that you have left me, I'm happy that you're looking forward to this new part! There's some new stuff coming at you in it, but especially in the next part, so I hope you are happy with it! Don't be shy to let me know what you think of it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks and enjoy!
He pulls me along with him to the stairs and over to the area in back away from tables where a pool table sits in the middle with these yellow lamps hanging from the ceiling over it and a claw machine against the wall.
"Have ya ever played eight ball?" Paul asks and he lets go of my hand to grab a pool cue from the few hanging on the wall.
"No. I'm horrible at games, I always lose." I answer and I watch him turn around to grab the cube of chalk to swivel around on the tip of the cue and I pull a chair over to sit.
"Nah, I bet that isn't true. Come and play me for a bit."
"What about the-." I start to object but I see him shake his head before his mouth opens.
"They're awfully laid back, these people. They don't mind people taking their time ordering, so to speak, and they'll just ask for what we want when we're ready." Paul explains as he sets the small block on the wooden edge of the dark pool table that has soft looking green felt on the inside of the somewhat oval.
I look away to see the walls covered with pea green wallpaper that I don't really think suits the place but the framed pictures make up for it I think, and I also see an Italian flag hanging on the wall next to a door that I assume leads to the kitchen. I glance to to the few tables sat near the steps, away from the booths lining the walls as people sit there laughing with plates of food before them as waiters wiggle their way around the crowds to deliver hot food. My eyes wander back to Paul who had laid the cue on the pool table and I catch him looking at me as one of his hands is sat on the pool balls sat inside the wooden triangle to bring them together. He looks away just as fast as the second he was staring at me and I feel my cheeks involuntarily warm up from blushing and I glance to my feet clad in the simple flats that feel comfortable, but sometimes sweaty.
"You sure you're feeling alright?" Paul asks and I face his eyes that are away from me.
"Yeah." I respond quietly and I stand up from the hard chair to step over to the wall left of Paul to look at the dozens of pictures where some are celebrities who must of visited the place, and then there are newspaper articles, drawings as well as paintings.
I cross my arms over my chest by habit as I silently look them over to see faces in the photographs and brush strokes in the paint as indistinct voices fill my ears to become just some type of background noise to take over silence, "I can tell when you're lying, you know. I've had plenty of practice with John who loves to fib." Paul's seemingly patient voice enters my ears as he walks up and I glance to see him stop at my left.
"You're awfully quiet, why is that?"
"I'm just thinking about things." I respond immediately with the first thing that pops into my head.
"Yeah I'm sure that's why you've been so silent towards me tonight. Did I do something or is it something else entirely?" his softness comes through even though I sometimes notice how he tries to act more tough, especially around people other than me and I consider fessing up to the eavesdropping and how what was said bothers me.
My plans are stopped when I hear excited voices behind me, ones that are much louder than any of the others in this restaurant and we both turn around to see two teenage girls staring at Paul with a hopeful look on their face. I sigh and look to Paul who doesn't seem to know what to think as they approach us in their high dresses and blonde hair flowing from behind them as they bat their unusually long eyelashes that any girl would long to have.
"Paul, hi! We're sorry to bother you, but could we get your autograph and maybe a photo as well?" the one on the left with the pink dress asks as they both are just lit up from the sight of him. I don't blame them though, but I'm just not getting a good vibe from them, so to say.
"Uh, I dunno, loves. I'm kinda busy and-."
"Oh come on, it won't take long. We promise." the other one who has a bow in her hair, like the ones I used to wear when I was five encourages Paul and he glances to me with an off look taking over his looks before they squeal and walk up to take spots at his sides.
They said it'll only take a little bit, and aren't they the biggest liars I've ever met because I've been staring at the damn wall reading the same paragraph of this newspaper clipping of when a house accidentally burned down, for fifteen minutes. I roll my eyes when I hear those girls' giggles as they speak word after word to Paul who replies to them and appears to be loving the attention they're giving him. I peek over at the trio who are all laughing at something somebody must of said and I glance to the one wearing the pink dress who is laughing real loud, like she's faking the laugh or just trying to make it look like she thinks it's funny. Whatever 'it' is. The laughter fades and I look to the two girls' manicured hands that hold these little books that they had Paul sign on the inside and my eyes go big when I see her stand up on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek, for the second time. Jealousy flares up inside of me as I see his plump cheeks fill with a blushing red while he smiles and of course she does too. I look back to the black and white article that I pretend to be reading and I turn to see a sign behind them on the wall showing the location of the bathrooms. I look to see them still deep in conversation as eyes are locked within the group and so I scurry off to use the bathroom.
I step out of the stall and walk up to use the sink where I turn on the warm water to wash my hands with the orange soap. I hear the squeak of the wooden door opening and I see a dark headed figure come around the corner and she stops to flash her red lips at me in a smile.
"Girls these days, I tell ya. There's these four out there who won't leave my friends and I alone. My friends are of course two blokes, but I can't even get a word in or eat my pasta in peace while they're laughing away and smacking their gum. Ah for goodness sakes." the black haired girl wearing a black skirt and a striped shirt grumbles in her lovely british accent as I look over her almond eyes and I grin. Join the club.
"I know how you feel." I remark and I turn off the water and walk over to the dryer where I rub my slippery hands together as she removes a black tube of lipstick from her clutch of a purse to open and roll up.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart. I hate those kind of girls who think that they can get any guy they want, no matter if he's already taken. I thought I had escaped them for good when I left high school, but they always seem to come back." she remarks while she stares into the mirror and runs the bright red lipstick over her thin lips. I flash her a smile after not knowing what quite to say and she returns it as the short, but curvy lady places the cap back on the makeup.
"You aren't having boy problems too, are you, dear?" she questions after storing it away and I shrug my shoulders, and I see her frown.
"I'm sorry, but I just hope that the man isn't letting it get to his head and forgetting about pretty little you."
"I wish he wasn't, but these two girls just walked up and have been speaking to him for a good fifteen minutes.." I trail off as I'm not sure of my words and she frowns again and pulls me into a small hug that I appreciate.
"Thanks." I tell her after we part and she pats my cheek with a smile as I grin too.
"Anytime, doll. I'm sorry about your man, but now that I've thought about it I'm gonna go get mine back. I think you should do the same thing and kick those birds out of the picture. Go get him back and show him what he's missing!" she encourages and I think of those moments of Paul and I acting like a couple who likes each other that way and how I've truly been almost unsure of that since I heard his fight with John and now ever since.
"I-I don't know. I'm not gutsy like that."
"Oh, just go barge in and give him a good kissing on the lips or give his sweet cheeks a grab, they all love it, you know. They also like it when a girl is in charge and somehow most of them find it cute when a girl is jealous." she eggs me on as well as voicing some suggestions as she wiggles her perfect eyebrows that arch over her brown looking eyes and she inches toward the door before I get to respond.
"Thanks for the nice girl talk, um..."
"It's Izzy, love, and how about you, honey pie?" she replies while her hand that shows red nails holds onto the door handle.
"It's Courtney, and thanks, Izzy. It was nice meeting you." I respond as this newfound courage and energy pulses through my veins and she smiles big, showing her flawed teeth.
"The pleasure was mine, sweetheart." she remarks before walking out the door and leaving me standing in front of the mirror.
I unbutton the sweater to give my plain looking figure some flare before I walk out with the bravery coursing through my limbs and my eyes catch Paul's who look around quickly until they fall on me and I see the relief flood his eyes and his parted lips close. I glance to the two girls who seem to be all over him still and the one in the skimpy pink dress says something to him that gets a bad reaction out of him and he gives her a nasty look before he lifts his feet and travels over to me by the two washrooms.
"Where have you been? I thought I had lost ya!" Paul exclaims the minute he gets close enough to me.
"Well fancy that. I thought that I had lost you too." I shoot back and I see the understanding flow onto his features and the sorry soon fills his eyes.
"Court-. I-I'm sorry, they just came up and we got talking and then I looked over to you were and you were gone. I got worried."
"Yeah, I've heard it all before, Paul. You get distracted by some gorgeous girls who laugh at your jokes and who also flirt with you. It's what you must be used to, am I right?" I retort and I don't bother to hide the frustration in my voice and I turn to walk away, but he shifts his weight to block my way.
"Courtney love, I really am sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen-."
"Don't call me these cute names like I'm not mad at you, because I am as a matter of fact, and I'd really like it if they didn't hear us arguing." I cut him off as he tries to look remorseful and I'm attempting to have him feel the pain I'm feeling about this entire situation.
"Who cares about what they think?"
"I do." I reply before he steps forward and catches me off guard by bringing a hand to my cheek and dipping in to press his lips to mine in a passionate kiss that stops me from saying anymore, and him too.
I hear glass breaking and a frustrated female groan as my eyes are closed and I feel his fingers hiding away in my hair and his strong lips moving in unison with mine.