26/7 (Van McCann)

1

I never go to pubs alone.

I had to tonight, though.

The ever present autumn drizzle hasn't arsed me as to bring my umbrella with me so as I am walking through the empty street I just pop up the collar of my denim jacket. My hair is getting slightly wet from the small drops gathering on its top layer. As I leave the dark street and enter the maroon door of a pub, the blasting music and thick air welcome me. The sense of anonymity is what I am craving right now.

As gross as it might be, I order a pint and up it in a minute or two not even bothering to sit down. I'm not here to drown bad memories, or to finish off a bad day... I just couldn't bear the sometimes so soothing silence of my flat anymore.

"Errrm... mate?!" I try to get the bartender's attention. He only just moved from where I'm staning so he doesn't expect me to want anything off him for the time being, but I finally manage to get him to notice me. He pulls a surprised look.
"Can I have like a... coffee?"

"Sure why not." He nods in a 'don't-see-any-problem' way.

"Cappuccino?"

"I'll see what I can do."

"Brilliant." I hum to myslef.

Standing here right next to the counter without a pint in my hand makes me feel like an odd one out so I turn to scan the room to see if I can find a small booth somewhere at the corner. I have been to this place once or twice with some people whose names I don't even remeber anymore, but the pub feels pretty familiar. There is about twenty customers in I can see, most of them parts of pretty cheerful bunches tugged in suddenly small looking booths. The same booths look humongous from where I am standing, though.

I finally notice one booth that should normally take a couple or four people in, and as I like the way it is hidden behind the counter a bit, I approach it trying to look as nonchalantly as possible and sit down.

I glue my eyes to the surprisingly shiny and clean table and start fiddling with a napkin. The Libertine's Heart Of The Matter follows the song I didn't know which just finished playing from the hidden but highly appreciated speakers, and it makes my restless mood somehow better.

I knew it would be worth it getting my arse out tonight.

I even pull off a side smirk.
At that very second a person lands in my booth and I only manage to see them as a moving blot. Not because the beer kicked in - I'd wish, but because their landing was very swift. I narrow my eyes at them surprised, determined to try hard to give a pissed off look.

"Oh ey." A young, very boyish looking man in front of me says. He tries to sit up straight and moves the mid long hair from his face where it got a second earlier.

"Hi?" I almost start laughing. This one is not going to stick around, I know that, and at least the wait for my cappuccino won't seem so long.

"How are ye?" His thick accent is hard not to notice even from this short sentence of his.

"Depends."

"Depends on...?"

"The bartender I guess."

"Good. Nice." The boy - or the man? I can't decide - says. I raise an eyebrow when it starts to look like he plans on sharing the booth with me. Not what I'd wish for, dear, not what I'd wish for.

"Ye often down here?" He asks.

"Not really." He nods as I answer and thank the bartender who just brought me my coffee.

"I'm Van by the way." His hair got into his eyes again and he has to whip it off, which he does as he raises his hand to shake it with mine. I hesitate at first but then just shake hands with him. I take a sip of my steaming cappuccino, feeling the boy's - Van's - eyes on me. Some very awkward seconds later, I am still rooting for him to take the hint and leave me alone, but he just keeps staring. I look into his bright eyes. He breaks the silence.

"You?"

"Hm?"

"What are you called?" Van questions.

"Does that matter?" I take another sip.

"Sure it does." A chuckle escapes his lips.

Does it? I take another sip.

"I need it for me lyrics you know." Van explains.

"Lyrics?" I chuckle.

"That's what I said, didn't I?" He sits straight and leans his back on to the vinyl settee, giving off a slightly cocky vibe.

"So you are in a band?" I ask, not very interested, but wanting to give the kid in black sweater some space to share what's on his mind. I have all night and it looks like this might turn into a laugh.

"Yeah. And we're class."

"Oh really?"

"NME don't think so."

I can't fight the amusement and smirk widely. "But they have an opinion, that is a good step forward, innit?" I ask.

"Definitely." His hair fell back into his eyes again which makes him shake his head to get rid of it. I smile.
"So... the name?" He leans back on the table with his elbows.

"Ivy."

"Ivy."

"Yeah that is what I just said." I giggle.

"So... Ivieh." He takes a napkin off the pile. "Can I have ye number?" I give him a puzzled look. "If the song goes viral you should know which one it is... you know just to be sure." He explains, dead serious. I wonder how many numbers in his phone he got to this way.

"You're incredible." I shake my head.

"Am I? They say so, yeah." He acts as if he was thinking hard. "Mary says I was a magic baby."

"Mary?" I raise an eyebrow as I take the napkin from his outstretched hand.

"Me mum." Van chuckles and I join before long, seeing he really means it.

"Hiya." Another black persona emerges into my booth. This one wears a sort of beret, has hair of almost the same length as Van and has a black shirt on.
"Van." The guy nods at Van and looks back at me curiously, which he somehow manages even with a blank facial expression. "Do we know you?" The question is filled with self-importance rather than rudeness.

Van shifts in his seat uncomfortably.

"Well, I don't know you so I don't think so." I answer, shaking my head and smiling. What a fun night this turns out to be.

"This is Bondi." Van says matter-of-factly.

"Hiya." Bondi repeats himself.

"Hi." I answer his greeting for the first time. Is it just me or this is getting weird?

"Anyway." Bondi pats Van's shoulder harder than necessary. "We're leaving, man, are you coming?"

Van looks at me questioningly. I look at my cup of cappuccino, still half-full.

"S'ppose so." Van almost asks.

Bondi is stood up already.

"So..." Van slowly takes the napkin with my number and name on it. "See you around, Ivieh." He stands next to the table with his hands in his pockets, waiting for me to greet him.

"See you around, Van." I smile and watch the black figure walk away and slowly merge with the surroundings of the dim room.