Chocolate Button Eyes - Joseph Quinn & Characters Stories

Stepping Up (Preview) - Joseph Quinn

Pulling back-to-back shifts between the coffee shop and the bar were never ideal for you, even more so on Lily, your barely 3-year-old daughter. You missed out on so much time with her these days because of work, but that was to be expected when you'd decided to go it alone and continue living in London after your divorce.

It was a short marriage, only really tying the knot because you were pregnant with Lily. Lily's dad, Benjamin, was the idyllic school sweetheart; meeting in secondary school, becoming the "will they, won't they" pair of the friendship group and finally ending up together in your final year of school. It was everything you thought the perfect relationship was and after all, you mum did always tell you to "marry your best friend" as she apparently did with your dad. The divorce came as a surprise to you, almost. You'd always sensed there was something off between Ben and one of your old college friends, Jessie, something that felt familiar. They were close, very close, but you'd always known he was friendly and protective of his friends - just like he was with you for years. You'd all go out together but you'd spend half the night wondering where he was until he'd eventually turn up, Jessie trailing behind him looking just as mischievous as him.

By the time you were pregnant with Lily, Ben was spending most nights out with his friends... and Jessie. Bar hopping of going for dinners and movies, leaving you to find your own way home from work to your shared flat. During your pregnancy you were living with Ben's parents since he'd decided to go back to uni and retrain in some shitty business management degree - he always fancied himself somewhat of an entrepreneur, but wasn't particularly money minded in the slightest. You wanted to move back to your parents but they didn't feel comfortable about your unmarried situation despite not living in the 18th century, but they were more than happy to bankroll the wedding before you'd started to show.

You'll never forget the day you gave birth to Lily. You were trying to fall asleep and ignore the pain radiating in your lower back but the light from Ben's phone was rubbing on your last nerve. You sat up quickly, ready to let rip at him for keeping you up when you saw what he was doing on his phone... he was watching a video from his camera roll, of him balls deep in Jessie. He went to throw the phone on his bedside table, hoping you hadn't seen but to his dumb luck, you saw every single disgusting thrust he rammed into your friend. Before you could shout and he could lie, the pain in your back began to wrap around your stomach and 15 awkward and angry hours later - Lily was born and you never went back to Ben's parents again.

But anyway, back to today?

You were just wrapping up your bar shift while Lily stayed with your parents again, it was loud and busy being a Saturday night in central London. You'd spend all night serving wine bottles and cheap cocktails to the table in the far corner, being surprised when they suddenly started adding martinis to their drinks order. You'd thrown your apron into the hamper and were about to walk away from the bar when a voice called out over the music. "Excuse me, our mates just spilled his wine on the table. Have you got a rag or some paper towels and I'll sort it?" you barely looked up to see who it was, just rolled your eyes at how close you were to finishing before this request came in. You grabbed the towels and the spray bottle and headed over the table you knew would be the culprit of the spillage, "No, wait. Please? I said I'd do it." the same voice pleaded with you. You glanced up at him and almost dropped the spray bottle on the floor. It was Joseph Quinn. You knew he'd come in here sometime but had never actually met him before.
"N-no, no. Really. I'll do it. I- I have time before my train." you felt like an idiot, tripping over your words like a schoolgirl. Joseph didn't protest, he could see you were already set on doing it for yourself so just escorted you over, making sure to clear a route for you on the way.
"Wes, mate, move out the way and let the lady clean up your mess." he chuckled as he gently steered his friend from the table. You cleaned up the mess and turned to thank him for letting you know about it but he'd already gone.
"No, don't need a thank you. Just cleaning up after your pissed up mates. Don't worry about thanking the service staff." you grumble as you throw the towel and bottle onto the bar and start your journey to the tube station, now tainted by your newly acquired foul mood.