Something Better

Your Feelings Are Your Own

Martha sat in the back of a taxi. She felt like she was going to throw up.

"You OK back there?" The kindly taxi driver asked, catching Martha's eyes in the rear view mirror.

"Yeah," She sighed heavier than she had meant to, "I'm heading to an important meeting, you know like chance of a lifetime sort of stuff and I'm just nervous." Martha gave a shaky smile.

"Well just be yourself and show 'em what you got!" The driver said with gusto.

"I know! I'll be OK when I get there, I hope!" Martha laughed nervously.

"You will, you just gotta believe!" He continued as he pulled over to the side, just next to Brandy's.

"Thanks for the encouragement!" Martha smiled as she slipped the money through to the driver.

"Good Luck!" He said as Martha clambered out of the door with her sketch book and bag under her arm.

Martha looked at her reflection in the blacked out window of the shop next to Brandy's. She hadn't been sure what to wear and she had gone from smart suit to skinny jeans and baseball boots. She was wearing a Blondie t shirt and a woolen camel coat. She had tied her hair back and she fixed her wayward fringe as best she could in the window. She could tell without looking in any mirror that she was pale and her green eyes were big and mournful.

"Get a grip of yourself," She thought to herself, as she tried to shake off her nerves by throwing back her shoulders and pushing the big door to Brandy's open. Martha hoped Brandon would be there already, she didn't want to sit alone waiting for him.

Martha stood at the entrance of the restaurant waiting for a server to come over. She scanned the room for him and there he was, waiting for her. Martha was so relieved she felt tears stab at the back of her eyes, but she managed to control herself as she made her way over to the booth where Brandon was standing smiling, looking drop dead gorgeous as ever. He was wearing a red and black checked shirt that he had buttoned right up to the collar and black skinny jeans.

"Well hello there!" He said, moving in to kiss her cheek.

"Hi!" Martha breathed as she stood on her tip toes to allow his greeting kiss, thinking she would never wash her face again.

Martha blushed heavily, but she tired to cover it up by getting herself settled in the booth putting her coat, bag and  sketch book over to one side. When she finally looked up him and smiled he smiled back.

"Can I get you some drinks?" The waitress asked, pad and pen in hand.

"I'll have a coke, please," Brandon said playing with his napkin.

"Fresh orange and lemonade please," Martha said smiling at the waitress, hoping she might read her mind and put a secret shot of vodka in her drink.

The waitress smiled back and disappeared off to the bar. Martha and Brandon were left alone and Martha could feel the tension. She had wanted this to be easy and relaxed. She wished for a moment that Ronnie was there to help relieve the pent up atmosphere with a joke.

"So are you a Blondie fan?" Brandon asked gesturing to her t shirt.

"Yeah, I think Debbie Harry is pretty cool, I love her look," Martha said smiling, "I remember looking at my mum's LP's when I was young and I loved how Debbie Harry was the lead singer of a band of boys!" Martha laughed at the memory.

"I love looking at album covers, especially old LP's," Brandon said, interlacing his long fingers together and pacing his clasped hands on the table.

"Some of them are real works of art," Martha continued as their drinks arrived.

"You're right, there," Brandon said taking a long drink of his coke.