never let me down | a. wilder (depeche mode)

8 - Secret To the End

Charlotte

When Martin wakes up, we all go in and greet him.

We're all smiling mischievously, and Martin is puzzled.

"Why are you all staring at me like that? Oh god, my head hurts." He says, squinting.

"Had a little fun last night, Martin?" Dave asks, smirking.

"I don't remember a thing. Oh no. Did I do it again?" He says, face palming.

He turns to me. "Sorry about that. It's a weird habit. I don't know where it comes from." He apologizes.

"Don't worry about it." I say, laughing.

After they all leave for the studio, I get ready for work.

I put on my waitressing uniform and go to the restaurant.

Two young teenage girls are seated with an older man.

As I walk by their table, I see the girl point at me.

"Cece! That's the girl that was with Alan last night!" She shrieks.

"Abigail! Shush! It's not polite to point!" The older man sighs.

"Yes, uncle." She says.

I turn back at the girl and smile.

All though I would have been more discreet pointing out a potential celebrity, because she's assuming I'm famous, which is a joke, she reminds me of a younger me. I'm assuming she lives with her uncle, like I did, and my heart goes out to her.

I check the table map, and just my luck, that's one of my tables.

"Hello, I'm Charlotte and I'll be your server today. Would you like to order any drinks?" I ask.

"Orange juice, please. And, is my cousin right? Are you the girl we saw with *giggles* Alan Wilder last night?" Cece asks me.

"Yes, I am." I say, writing her order down on my pad.

"How did you meet? Are you friends with the other members?" Abigail asks. "And, I'll just have water."

"It's a long story," I say.

"Girls! Stop bothering this young lady with twenty questions! I'll have orange juice, also," the man says.

"Sorry father," Cece says.

"Don't worry about it sir," I assure him. "I'll be back with your drinks."

***
Andy

"Are you sure she'll like the gift?" Alan asks me, as we leave the store.

"I think so." I say.

"Ooh, Alan, why are you so concerned?" Martin teases Alan.

Alan blushes. "Shut up!" He says to Martin.

Dave and I laugh.

"Just admit it, Alan. You have feelings for her. We're not going to tell her! That's your job." I say.

"But Da-" Alan starts.

"But I agree!" Dave says quickly.

I raise my eyebrow at Dave.

"We know you like her too," says Martin. "No point in hiding it."

"Yes there is!" Dave says. "Now it's going to be awkward for Alan and me. We both want her, and we can't have her. So thanks!" He throws the shopping bag to me, and I catch it, then he stalks off ahead of us.

"This was not a can of worms I wanted to open." Alan says, and runs up to catch up to Dave.

Martin turns to me. "As bad as it is to get it out in the open, if either of them made any advances to Charlie, the other would have been crushed." He says.

I nod. "I just wonder how they'll work it out."

The two of us decide to put off giving Charlie her present until tomorrow, to give Alan and Dave a chance to talk.

It's been a long day, so we eat a quick dinner with Charlie, then go to our separate rooms to sleep.