Something Better

Don't Shoot Me Santa Claus

Martha spotted Brandon straightaway. She was at the back of a group of four people who had piled out of a taxi and through the doors of Brandy's bar and grill, trying to get out of the December rain. Everyone was laughing and shaking off the rain as they fixed and preened at their hair and faces. A waitress was attending to them and showed them where to put their coats. Martha, however was quiet, her internal organs were in a spin and she felt shaky. She peeled off her coat and tried to collect herself.

Brandon and the rest of The Killers were sitting in a booth set into the right hand wall. Brandon was sitting at the edge wearing a dark green shirt and jeans. He was rubbing his jaw line with his hand and Martha could see he was tapping his leg under the table. As the waitress began to led the others to their table, Martha saw that they were going to pass right by Brandon. She suddenly felt more nervous than ever and started to look for another way through, but it was too late, he had already spotted her.

Brandon locked his eyes with Martha's. He smiled and raised his hand up in an awkward wave. Ronnie's head turned from the other side of the booth to see who Brandon was waving at. Martha thought she was going to throw up! At least the last time she had the courage of cider, but now she was sober and socially awkward. She smiled and waved back, but the blushing started as she approached Brandon's table.

"Well hello there!" Brandon said with a friendly smile that was very disarming.

"Hi" Martha managed to smile back and she waved generally at the table, but she couldn't focus on any face, apart from Brandon's. His green shirt allowed the green tones of his eyes to shine out and she couldn't stop looking into them.

"Guys, this is Martha, the girl with the lightening bolt boots" Brandon giggled.

The guys at the table all nodded as if they recognised that name and waved with their greetings of hey and hello.

"Still with the gold," Ronnie laughed pointing at her golden t bar high heels.

"Well, it is almost Christmas!" Martha laughed, trying to stop her voice from shaking.

"How are you?" Brandon asked softly, "Looks like the desert suits you," he smiled.

Martha could feel her cheeks burn and she cast her eyes down to the floor, "I'm good, thanks, how are you?" She replied looking back up at him.

"Yeah, good, we're out for a bite to eat, after doing promotion all day for our Christmas song, we are pretty hungry," Brandon giggled.

"Oh, it's such a good song and I love the video!" Martha gushed, hating herself for sounding so over the top.

"Hope you bought the single, it is for charity now," Ronnie said with a mock serious tone.

"Of course!" Laughed Martha, grateful he was there to relieve her awkwardness a little.

Just then a late Mitchell Blair came rushing through the restaurant. He stopped where Martha was standing.

"Hey!" He said, kissing her on the cheek, "You look really lovely! Is everyone else here?" He asked not paying the slightest attention to the table beside them.

"Yeah, they're through in the next room," Martha answered a little taken a back by Mitchell's behaviour, "I'll be through in a second." Martha said, hoping he would head to the table without her.

"Ok, I'll keep you a seat," he said squeezing her shoulder, "Hey, listen," he said suddenly turning to Brandon and sticking out his hand, "I'm a big fan!"

"Thanks, man!" A surprised Brandon said shaking Mitchell's hand.

"See you in a sec," he said turning back to Martha with a smile and then disappeared through to where the rest of her friends were sitting.