𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄 | Jamie Tartt

TWO, BECAUSE...FEMINSIM

DELICATE
TWO, BECAUSE....FEMINISM

" IS THIS REALLY THE NEW MANAGER OF RICHMOND?" Inez's phone is pushed in my face, with so much vigour I almost choke on my cocktail. Once my adjust from the dim lights of the bar in Westminster we've inhabited for the night to the fluorescent blue light of her phone I watch the video.

It's of Ted lasso, apparently some kind of football hero ( American football that being). He's doing some kind of celebratory dance whilst the players hype him up — he looks nice enough, harmless. But still, not someone I think my mum should have hired to run her club ( although I won't tell her that until I have enough proof to back it up.)

I nod " I believe so."

Inez pulls the phone away and shows Harriet who has been pulling at her arm to show her. Both share an unimpressed look as Harriet musters up a joyful smile " well, he looks..jolly!"

I take a sip of my drink again,  larger sip that normal that being  as Harriet continues " should have no problem getting morale up!"

Inez scoffs " he will, if Richmond lose every game that they play."

With that, the blonde whacks her hand on Inez's shoulder — the brunette glares at her with wide eyes " did you just hit me?" Inez asks, as Harriet nods.

" because you're being a negative Nancy!" I watch as Harriet gestures to me " we're Hollie's best friends so if she supports her mum's decisions then we do too-"

I shake my head " oh, I think it's a terrible idea." I say and watch as Harriet's face deflates — I place my hand on hers and smile sigh pursed lips.

" but nice to know you have my back Haz." I lean in slightly and smile brighter when she goes timid and just nods.

My two best friends since eleven sit beside me. The girls that despite the drama of both boarding school girls and then the international press that has tried their hardest to tear us apart — we sit here, in this booth of one of Harriet's families many bars in their own personal game of Monopoly a little over twelve years later.

It brings a smile to my face. But that smile is almost instantly diminished when I Inez's body stiffens and then Harriet's follow before looking at me with worry.

" what?" Furrowed brows, as I dare to turn around — a decision I instantly regret.

Him. Fucking him! stupid slit in his eyebrow, hair spiked ( it looks horrible ) , a cocky smile on his face as his tongue presses to his cheek. His haggle of bitches (aka his team mates) circle him.

Jamie bloody Tartt. I have met him a handful of times and all those unpleasant experiences drift to my mind every time I see him and they linger whenever he's not around.

The first time we met, he hit on me. I didn't know who he was and he wasn't playing for Richmond at that time. In a bar like this one, he offered me a drink I declined and he later spoke about how a drink offered by Jamie Tartt was a privilege, and that I should reconsider his offer.

I threw my drink over him, brought myself another drink ( because..feminism) — and yeah, mine and Jamie Tartt's non existent relationship has  been pretty downhill from there. I see him at Richmond events that my mum used to drag me to, he'd eye me up, I'd scowl and he'd remember who I was and then go back to glaring at me.

The odd times I run into him, I pray Keeley is with him ( his girlfriend, god knows how as she's a million times better than him) — because he's forced to be pleasant to me which is entertaining to watch him force back the catty comments.

He thinks he's god gift to women, to the world in general — and I like to play part in knocking him down a few pegs whenever I get the chance.

" I can ask him to leave." Harriet grabs my hand, and that's when I realise I've been looking too long so I whip my head back and Inez scoffs.

" yeah Haz, like you'd go up there and tell Richmond's star player who's surrounded with ninety percent of the Richmond team to leave your bar." She snorts, I agree with Inez but don't say anything as Harriet shrugs.

" I'd get security to do it." The blonde mumbled and I smile and shake my head.

" don't worry about it, I'm a big girl." I tell them as I move my fingers to tug down the material of my red latex dress that I felt needed an outing earlier that evening.

" anyone fancy a drink?" Inez smirks when she clocks onto what I'm doing whilst Harriet furrows her brows at me.

" holls..it's table service." she tells me, as Inez counters her with " Hollie Welton you are evil." she tells me as I lift my fingers to hover over my lips before blowing Inez a kiss.

I stand up, Harriet is still confused as I drink away into the bar which is crowded. People part when they realise it's me tapping them on the shoulder — I give small smiles until I eventually land half metre from my target.

I prop my arms up on the bar and smile sweetly at Tommy ( yes me and the bartender are on a first name basis.) — he's cute enough, blonde, glasses that are too big for his nose so he's always pushing them back up. He's studying to be a lawyer, working here to pay the mountain of debt which will be left on his doorstep once he finishes.

He's polishing glasses as he walks towards me, opening his mouth to speak as someone cuts him off.

" oh four eyes , can we get another round?" his Mancunian accent makes my ears ring and that rage flutter in my stomach — it makes my heart race, my cheeks flush. My hatred for Jamie Tartt is all consuming.

I whip my head around, a few of the other players notice and make noises as I scowl at them " don't talk to him like that!"

It takes him a few seconds to look at me, probably contemplating who would talk to him like that ( because the list is shamefully short). But when he does he looks annoyed when he notices it's me.

" why am I not shocked it's you." he tuts, eyes wondering up and down my body ( I hate that they wonder). I keep my look stern,

" i want you to apologise to him." I state, I hear Tommy mumble that it's not necessary but I shake my head dismissing his comment.

Jamie scoffs, before squinting his eyes and shaking his head " no, hollie he's here to serve he is literally paid to do it."

" I do not need you to mansplain what a bartender does Tartt, some of us did get our GCSES." I tell him, a few of the boys chuckle but stop when they notice Jamie's glare, " he's not your servant, treat people with some respect." I tell him.

I exhale " now like I said, I want you to apologise." I say again as Jamie nods and for a second, just a split second I think he's a decent person.

He turns away from me and to Tommy who's swallowing dryly as Jamie leans " I'm sorry foureyes, now can we get those pints yeah?" he's cocky and I hate him.

I reach over and grab the quarter full pint glass that sits in front of him. He doesn't even have time to react as I tilt my arm that the liquid gets in his hair. And drips down his face, as he turns to me as I gently place the glass back onto the surface of the bar.

" always a pleasure Tartt." I say, gliding back to the seats where both Harriet and Inez stare at me with wide eyes ( Inez is slightly more smug about it) .

" why did you do that?" Harriet asks as Inez laughs.

" it's their thing, Jamie's an arse and Holls pours some kind of drink over his head." I repulse at her words as I shake my head.

" it's not 'our thing'." I tell her " please don't insinuate that me and Jamie Tartt have a thing, I will be sick."

Inez leans over to Harriet, " the first sign, not seeing it was a sign." I roll my eyes and lean back and cross my arms.

I most definitely do not have any sort of thing with Jamie Tartt. My aim is just good with a glass of whatever in my hand and my target is his horrible spiked hair.

AUTHORS NOTE.
love them already tbh

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