HOURGLASS (The Story Of Us)

The Bar/Meeting Her

(Van's POV)

"Larry mate!" I call over to my best friend, "c'mon we're going to be late getting into the bar."
Larry chuckles to himself. "alright lets go" he says putting out his cigarette.

We walk back of the curtain that covers the stage. "loads of people here eh?"
"not many, maybe 60 or so." Larry says.
I nod. It was nice to have a small crowd, although I hadn't played this small in a while.
I watch Larry as he goes out on the stage to put out our gear, he's such a twat i think to myself while peeping through the curtain at the people waiting. Should be an easy night.

"Van, how are you honey?" Mrs. V calls to me.
I hug her and kiss her cheek, "I'm well, how are you?"
"i couldn't be better, it's so nice to see you getting on so well since I've last saw you!" she exclaims with a large smile plastered on her face.

Mrs. V had been the first person to let me play live here at the bar when the band started. Shes a lovely woman.

"we've come back just for you, love." i say jokingly.
She laughs and goes back around the curtain to the bar counter.

"Van mate, you're on" Larry says slapping me on the back as he passes by. I wink at him teasingly. He hates when i do that.
The rest of the band and i proceed onto the stage. I grab my guitar and strum it a few times making sure its tuned before i engage the crowd. I give the rest of the band time to do the same.

"Ello, how's everyone doing tonight?" i ask the crowd. I hear a few cheers but everyone's mostly drunk so im guessing they're ready for me to get started.

We start to play and everyone fades in the room.. That is except for this one girl I've found in the back who is sitting alone. She's beautiful.
I close my eyes trying to refocus my mind on the lyrics, but all i could think of is her face.
Even at first glance i could recall all of her features well. She had tan skin and gorgeous curly brown hair that framed her face well. It was a bit messy, but it was absolutely perfect.
I open my eyes ever so often hoping to meet hers. But, they never did.

Our time on stage seemed to have blown by considering that im now used to playing a number of sings whereas here we've only got time to play four and sometimes five songs.

"okay everyone, i hope yous all enjoyed our set! Have a great night!" i say ending the show. I looked once more for the girl, this time our eyes locked. My heart felt as if it were skipping beats. I smiled at her before exiting the stage, knowing i had to go find her.

Larry meets me at the curtain greeting me with cheers and offering me a ciggy.
I push it aside, "hold on mate, ive got something to take care of, save it for me eh?" i say.
He stands there looking a bit confused and slightly follows me from behind the curtain before stopping.

I see Mrs. V still working at the bar so i go up and call her over. She comes round to me, "yes honey, do you need anything?" she asks. How do i even ask a favor like this?
"Um, yea" i say shyly, "uh, do you know the girl in that booth?" i ask while pointing over in the direction.
"why of course i do! She works here at the bar for me. She's a lovely young lady. She's about your age too" she nudges me.

I blush slightly at the thought of her.

Slowly gaining the courage to approach the girl i take a step in the direction of the booth, but she's not there. What! where could she have slipped off to?! I scan the room quickly only to see her headed for the door. I look back towards Mrs. V and before i knew it she shouts over to the girl
"Um Marie? Are you leaving?"
Marie. That's her name. It's a lovely name.

"Come here sweetie, there's someone i want you to meet." Mrs. V exclaims.

She slowy starts to make her way over. She looked a bit nervous. Could i be what's making her nervous? Bloody hell, she's making me nervous.

When she gets near, she speaks to Mrs. V. I've no idea as to what she has said because my heart is thumping so loudly that i cant hear a single thing going on around me. Before i knew it i come to and i hear Mrs. V pawning me off saying that it was me who was the one who wanted the girl and then she walks off leaving us alone. Thanks for the proper introduction Mrs. V. I think to myself.

The girls cheeks go red. She's fucking adorable. A real beauty in all honesty.

"Hi" she says to me with a shy smile.
"Hello, love. My name is Van. May i ask yours?" i reply.

"My name is Marie, you did great out there"
Her voice was so sweet. Oh, how i could listen to her speak all day.

"thank you sweetheart." i say, pausing for a moment. "look, i dont mean to be forward but, you're by far the most gorgeous girl ive ever come across."

She blushes even more.

"Do you 'av the time tomorrow if i could see you? I'd love to get to know you more" i say.

She gives me a smile and agrees to meeting me tomorrow. I write my number down on her small hands. They were cold and i just wanted to hold onto them and never let go. I ask her to message me when she has a spare moment and then we say our goodbyes.

I walk back to the curtain to find Larry who's already been watching the whole thing.
"Oi mate!" he teases, "you've just got yourself a fucking girl!" he shouts.
I tell him to shut up, acting like what just happened was nothing even though i was really exploding on the inside. I couldn't wait until tomorrow.

***

It was nearly 2 in the morning and i had not yet received a message from her. Im now laying in bed some time after the show trying to catch up on some sleep, but all i can think about is Marie. She was the prettiest girl ive ever saw. I hope it didn't bother her how forward i had been with her earlier, but i just couldn't help myself. I wonder if she'd been thinking about me too after she'd left the show. I hope that i was was on her mind as much as she's been on mine.

My phone vibrated on the nightstand next my bed. My heart sank, could it be her? I almost dreaded to open the message, scared for it to be her, but i didnt want it to not be her either.

[unknown number]

"Hi, it's Marie. Sorry im getting to you so late.."

I quickly reply back to her, she's probably not expecting me to be up so late but i cant get her off my mind.

"No love, its fine. Text me in the morning eh? I know you've plenty of tired. Looking forward to tomorrow, sweet dreams love x"

I save her number and lay back into my bed. I continue on thinking about her and how tomorrow will be. I wish it could only get here quicker.