Get Ready For It - A Gary Barlow FF

Chapter 7

I drive towards what I consider to be one of the most amazing places to eat in the entire city of London; Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair. I really love it on this side of town as even though it's a popular part of London for celebrities, I never seem to get recognized whenever I'm out and about on the streets here.

As we round the corner on to Mount Street, I notice that the streets are surprisingly quiet for a Saturday night. No paps lurking about but then again, this is London so they could pop out from behind a bin or bush any second! That's one thing I don't like about this city and the only aspect of my job that I would change, but I guess that's what one needs to deal with when they're in a band like Take That.

I pull the car up in front of the restaurant as the valet approaches the car. I hop out and quickly walk over to open Sophie's door before she gets her belt off.

'If I'm going to do this, then I'm going to do it right' I think to myself as she swings her long golden legs over the step of the car and gracefully picks herself up from the seat.

Linking her arm with mine, I hand my keys to the driver who will park the car in the VIP parking area and in return he hands me a card with the number 8 on it.

'Ah just like Steven G's number' I say to myself as I quickly pop it in my inside jacket pocket before leading Sophie to the main door of the restaurant.

We're greeted with a warm atmosphere as we are shown to our table in the corner of the restaurant. I see one or two familiar faces scattered across the main floor of the room; James Corden and his wife, along with Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls also. I catch her eye and quickly wave at her which she politely replies with the same and a big grin before diving back into conversation with her partner I'm guessing. I slide out Sophie's chair for her before taking a seat across from her myself. 

''Wow, this is really fancy'' I hear her chuckle quietly.

I hope she doesn't feel weird being here. Being an upscale, fancy and maybe a little posh place and all. I just wanted to make a good first impression that's all.

''Ah, it's not the worst. Believe me. Been to some places where even the Queen would feel out of place let alone me'' I reply softly as the waiter comes over with a bottle of red wine.

''Wine, Ms.?'' he asks politely.

She looks at me quickly which I reply to with a wink and a nod.

''And for you Mr. Barlow, sir?'' he then turns to me.

''Just the one please Joshua as I'm driving, mate'' I smile at him as he blushes slightly at me remembering his name.

''I'll be back in a few minutes to take your orders. Mr Barlow, ma'am'' he bows his head at me ever so slightly before looking at Sophie, before spinning on his heels and tottering off into the flow of the restaurant and out of sight. 

''What?'' I ask her confused when I catch her looking at me with a slight squint in her eyes.

''Oh, nothing. Do you know all of their names in here? Showing off or something?'' she winks at me as my eyes widen slightly at her almost insulting but evidently sarcastic and lighthearted comment.

''No, not at all. I've been here a few times and Joshua has served me on a couple of occasions, that's all...really!'' I urge as her eyes narrow slightly before she begins to giggle slightly.

Joshua bounces back over to take our orders for dinner; I opt for the Scampi while Sophie plays it safe with Salmon. I get the feeling she doesn't often have fish but we may get a chance to change that.

About an hour later, we are deep in conversation about each other. Basically just getting to know each other but for some reason, I've shared a lot more about me and my life than she has about hers. I mean, there's not much about my life that's any bit unknown as everything I do or say is splashed in the papers or up on Twitter. I try every so often to try and divert the conversation but it always seems to be switched back to me. From school to favorite hobbies, I seem to say about 50 words to her every 1 word. She seems very closed off for some reason. Just as she begins to ask me something else about the early days in the life of Take That all those years ago, I take this opportunity to finally speak up, and not in the way that I have all night. 

''How are you feeling about what happened earlier, Sophie? I mean, when I met you early outside Burlington Arcade, you..you were pretty upset and I just..don't want to pry at all or force you into telling me, but just want to make sure you're OK...'' I trail off quietly as I notice her eyes flicker up and down between my own slightly more widened ones and her napkin where she plays with her fingers slightly.

Nerves I'm guessing. Nerves from being suddenly put on the spot. Her mouth opens and closes once or twice in pure apprehension. I reach my hand across the table and take her hands in mine. In doing so, her eyes snap away from her lap and find themselves glued to both our hands before meeting mine and locking with them.

''It's OK, Soph. It's OK. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, you know? I'm in no position to force it out of you and I would never push you to tell me something that you're not completely comfortable with, especially seeing as I only met you earlier today..'' I chuckle lightly as I try to make light of the situation that all of a sudden got a little bit tense all of a sudden.

Nothing but minor noises escape her lips for a minute or two and just when I think I'm going to have to speak up once more, she seems to have found her voice again.

''Gary I..'' she begins with pure fear running through her voice and drippings all over the words that pass through her lips.

''I'm...I..'' I squeeze her hands once again to let her know that I'm here for her, and that I want her to continue but only if she's ready and comfortable to do so.

''Excuse me...''

All of a sudden, she breaks the connection between us and slides her hands away from mine, before sliding out her chair, grabbing her purse and heading off towards the ladies room. I stand immediately from the table to excuse her before sitting back down with nothing but confusion plastered across my face. I take out my phone from my jacket pocket and quickly type Sophie a message.

Recipient: Sophie Brooks

21:18

''Soph, I'm sorry if I startled you a little with that question, but I just wanted to make sure you were OK from earlier today. I didn't mean to scare you, please know that. G x''

Hitting send, I can do nothing more than sit back and wait. Wait to see if the girl I like, the girl I really like, to come back from the bathroom after I scared her off. I take out my phone and briefly check my Twitter feed. Nothing really new, half of my timeline seems to be drooling over some new Olly Murs photo or something like that.

'Might get together with him for a game of football with Rob soon or something' I think to myself as I take a sip of my glass of red, as I do whatever I can think of to take my mind off of the fact that my date for the night has ran away from the table. 

About 3 minutes later, I'm brought out of my trance and forced to tear my eyes away from some article about Liverpool's next match. What I'm distracted by is the sound of heels. Heels getting closer and closer to the table with each passing step. It's Sophie, and she looks so gorgeous that my jaw bounces off the floor and glues itself to it. This will be interesting...