A.N. I needed some practice writing an OC again, so let's see where this one takes us. Also, felt like it was about time Tommo had an interest that was a little more believable than all his friends!
It had to be said - while they had all grimaced at the thought of doing a job in this town, and Tommo had drawn the short straw of surveillance, at least this place was cleaner then The Crow's Nest. The air smelled of food served hours before, no squeaks or squelches happened if he moved his feet, and when he leaned on the bar his clothes came away unusually dry.Yes,he thought with a sense of victory,I haven't done too badly out of this deal at all.
As he sipped his pint that actually tasted like beer and not sewage water - and he had unfortunate experience of the real thing - he couldn't help but ponder how quick they had been to judge Rochdale before actually stepping foot there. He supposed it was the bad reputation it had, but Hawley was far from perfect so they were in no position to make assumptions. Thinking these things was simple, and kept him from thinking about something else that was far too distracting from the job at hand.
Jo Jewell was in a chair beside the small dancefloor of the pub. She was slim, tall, and fairly pretty with long brunette hair. It always amazed Tommo how women could brave a tiny summer dress when the weather absolutely did not permit it. You'd never know by her energy that she was so much richer than anyone else in here, she had a smile and a kind word for everyone who passed her. His job was to keep watch of her while the others completed the job, distract her with a certain charm if he had to. If he didn't do his job effectively, the others would never make away with the haul of goods from her family warehouse that she was in charge of while her parents were away. That's why, Tommo knew, he must not be distracted by her friend.
They were quite different, in more ways than just first glances. Her friend was shorter, curvier, and tattooed. He'd had to laugh when he'd noticed the one on her thigh - almost identical to that on his chest. Her oversized Nick Cave shirt, baggy denim shorts and filthy trainers didn't exactly scream 'feminine glam', more like 'moody little git with no self-pride'. The blonde pixie cut was cute, he supposed, although he'd never really been a fan of short hair on a woman before. It drew attention to her face, though - and that was quite a sight to behold. She was wearing less makeup than him, yet she was captivating. Her eyes caught every light in the room, her lips reminded him of pillows, and he wondered how she didn't cut herself on those razor-sharp cheekbones. She almost looked cruel, but it stirred something within him. While Jo was busy sitting and chatting, her friend seemed content to dance alone, twirling and whining like no one could see her - although she occasionally wrapped her arms around Jo's shoulders trying to persuade her to join the floor. He wondered how much she'd had to drink.
It was during a distracted moment that he turned his attention back to his target, and realised she was gone.Fuuuuuuccccckkkk! Why do I listen to my dick?! Where the fuck has she gone? Cigarette in hand to look inconspicuous, he stepped outside the front of the pub and scanned the area. To the left were some steps, where he spied Jo sitting.Thank shitting hell for that.Although close, it was far enough away that if she took off running his tiny legs would never catch up with her. He'd have to sit with her, and he'd have to be smart about it.
"Want one?" He offered his packet as he reached her, and she took a cigarette smiling up at him.
"Thanks. Can't let my mate catch me though, I've been trying to quit and she'll kill me." They both laughed but Tommo, who had seen said mate, was quite sure that she probably could.
"I'm Billy" he said, offering his hand which she shook.
"Nice to meet you, Billy. Not from round here, are you?"
He paused, trying to remember the cover story they'd invented should the need arise. "No, no I'm not. A few mates were supposed to meet me here, but they must have got held up. How did you know?"
"The outfit." Jo smirked. "Not many lads round here brave enough to go out in that." Seeing the offended look on Tommo's face, she added "It's nice, though."
Just as he was about to switch into flirting mode, a voice halted their conversation.
"Jo! What have I told you about hiding in the dark with strange men?"
Jo snorted, a little sloppily and giving away her drunken state. "He's not strange, he's Billy! And... s'alright, he's gay."
Tommo's eyebrows raised at this, he wasn't sure if it was an air he was giving off or a lie she was telling to pacify her friend. When she gestured at his outfit to make her point, he assumed it was the former.
"No he's not! He was watching me dance with his tongue hanging out of his gob!"So much for being inconspicuous."And why are you smoking?" She took the cigarette from Jo, who slumped against the wall and promptly fell asleep, and started to smoke it herself.
"So she can't smoke, but you can?"
"She promised to quit." The friend smirked. "I made no such promise."
Without conferring, they instinctively sat either side of Jo to stop her from falling. This seemed to amuse the friend, but she opted to stay quiet.
"Apologies for being so obvious." Tommo offered. "But you know my name. What's yours?"
"No."
"Your name is No?"
"My everything is No." She surveyed him in a way that made him feel very exposed. "You were very obvious. Anyone would think you were up to something."
Shit. I can't be suspicious. The whole gang have a lot riding on this job."Can't say as I am, sweetheart. Just a sad little man whose mates forgot about him. Can't help that you caught my eye a little."
Not long before, he'd been chastising himself for being distracted by her. But now that Jo was passed out here, keeping this woman talking would be crucial to the plan. It was like fate had fallen straight into his lap.
If she was flattered, she didn't show it. No small smile playing on her lips, no slight blush rising in her cheeks. She kept the cool and detached demeanour that Tommo had earlier observed, and switched topic. "She had a point about the outfit, y'know. Makes you look a right knob. Please tell me you've got a really stupid car aswell, you'll give us something to gossip over tomorrow."
"Like to make assumptions, don't you?" Tommo avoided the question. "I resent the implication that I'm trying to get my own way with you. I'm quite a nice person, really."
She laughed, deeply from her gut. "Well, no one's ever told me off for that before. I feel like I'm being scolded. But maybe that's what you like, Billy Boy..." she raised an eyebrow in his direction. "I know your type, and they always want the same thing. They wanna take me home and get up to filthy deeds. It ain't happening. It'll take something very special to turn my head and you, Mr 70's pornstar, are not it."
If it were anyone else, Tommo would have taken great offence at that remark. Yet somehow, every time she insulted him he felt a tingle in his stomach and had to bite his lip to avoid grinning. "Is that why you dress like that, to keep the men away?"
This seemed to strike a chord with her, and Tommo wondered if he'd gone too far. "Listen mate, I'm not drunk enough to go anywhere near you - and me being teetotal means I never will be." There was a slight hiss to her voice, then she softened. "Buy hey, if you're actually 'a nice person, really'... do you think you could give me a hand getting my friend back inside?"
Never one to leave someone alone and vulnerable, Tommo happily obliged. They gently roused Jo and eased her to her feet, which earned him a genuine smile from her friend.
The two aided Jo in getting back inside the pub, asked the barman for a glass of water and focused their attention on getting her to drink it while sitting up straight. When their taxi arrived, the friend bid him a quick farewell.
"See you around, Billy Boy."
"Au Revoir, No."
As they left, Tommo checked his phone to see a text from Vinnie. With you in five.He ushered the bartender over and asked "Jo's friend, who is she?"
"Kimberley Parsons." he shuddered. "Don't even think about it, she's a lunatic."
A lunatic, hey?Tommo thought carefully. Surrounded by them... one more can't do much harm.
