I was being impolite when people approached me. I hadn’t known River long so I couldn’t join in with the stories about his childhood and I can’t exactly tell anyone about any of the times I was River. They were his and my stories, not anyone else’s.
I didn’t feel so sad though. Of course, I still missed him and was annoyed that he was taken from me so quickly but I couldn’t be selfish. There were people that loved him who were missing him; I was one of the luckiest in this house.
Instead of speaking to people, I had moved to the side of the room watching everyone else speak. I had a glass of champagne in my hand, my fourth glass to be exact, and I could feel the bubbles in my empty stomach.
I had seen Michael walking around, being stopped by people that obviously knew him and River, the exact same with the other boys. Both Nicole and Rosie left at my insistence. I could see that they weren’t enjoying themselves and apart from me, they had barely any obligation to be here. Now, I was regretting telling them to leave.
“How are you holding up?” I turned, hoping to find Michael standing next to me but disappointment filled me when I saw Luke. Why hadn’t Michael talked to me?
“I’m going to leave soon, I don’t belong here,” tears threatened to fall again but I told myself the last time I would cry over River was the funeral. Now, at the celebration after, I wasn’t going to let myself.
Luke could obviously tell what I was trying to stop as he pulled me into a big hug. It was one of those ones where he had to bend down to get even close to my height and his head was leaning into my neck. It was a friendly, comforting hug I had seen him give in quite a few pictures with fans.
“You’re amazingly strong, Natalie. You’ll get through this easily.” His fingers were tracing small circles similar to what Michael did when I was upset. They didn’t feel quite as comforting as when he did it but it calmed me down nonetheless.
“Thank you,” I pulled out of the hug and smiled at Luke. “I just feel so out of place.” Sighing, I leant back against the wall.
“Well where’s Nicole and Rosie?” I spotted Michael walking, or should I say storming, in the opposite direction to us and I sighed again.
“I told them to leave,”
“Well, who’s to blame?” Luke nudged me, grinning and I couldn’t help but smile back at him. I was glad to have someone to talk to, even if it was just for a little while.
“I think you need to get back to mingling,” I gestured to a girl around our age who was quite obviously gawking at Luke. He followed my gaze and grinned when he saw her.
“I think you have a problem with telling people to get lost,” He pointed his finger at me accusingly, a mock seriousness on his face. “But… she’s hot and my brain tells me to follow your instructions!” He winked at me as he backed away.
“Of course it was your brain!” I rolled my eyes at his shrug and laughed. It was only 6pm but I couldn’t stand to act like I was interested in what people were saying around me. I walked off in search of River’s mum and possibly Michael.
18:26 Natalie: I’ve spoken to River’s mum and gone home. I couldn’t find you, see you later?
The whole way home on the bus I waited for Michael’s reply – they were usually pretty quick but I never got on. Instead of sitting and moping again, I fired up my laptop to check my e-mails from Georgina to do some work.
Reading through one, it told me to get some background information on some big shot shop owner and report back to her in the store. I knew that all the shops were open later today due to the councils ‘Late Night Shopping!’ policy so quickly gathered all I could find.
I didn’t bother changing and happily slipped into my car instead of going to the bus stop. The seats were chilly and I was annoyed that I hadn’t used it in a few days.
Mark was working again today and I grinned at him as I walked into the store.
“You came back for me?” He was always one to over exaggerate and I couldn’t help but giggle at his acting.
“Dear sir, no! I must speak with your queen!” He scoffed at this but attempted to look heartbroken. I couldn’t keep a straight face and was bending over slightly, failing at keeping my laughs to myself.
“Natalie?” I whirled round, wiping tears from my eyes, to come face to face with Michael. I didn’t question why he was there, Republic sold some pretty great men’s clothes.
“Michael! I found you!” He ran his hand through his hair trying to flatten some of it out, it looked crazy and I giggled again.
“This is not my Queen, fine lady. I believe you have come back for me!” Mark came around the cashier desk and opened his arms for me.
“I mean well sir, but you were never my interest. This young man is one I have met many times before,” Mark’s arms dropped and he scowled at Michael. Flouncing off to his side of the desk and crossing his arms, acting annoyed. I laughed again at Michael’s baffled expression, most probably questioning my sanity.
“Well I have to go…” Michael half-smiled at me again, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. I nodded and said goodbye, happily turning back to Mark who was watching Michael leave with a now-real scowl.
“He didn’t buy anything,” Mark’s ability to watch people when in this store stopped surprising me a long time ago. He was like the Sherlock Holmes of shoppers.
“You can just look in a store, dipshit.” He raised an eyebrow at me and I snorted. Deciding it was time to go see Miss Priss, I started to walk away.
“If you’re here for 40 minutes, you usually buy something!” Mark shouted after me before plastering a smile on his face for a customer that approached him.
“Michael’s weird, deal with it!” I laughed as I knocked on Georgina’s door.
Hearing a mumbled ‘come in’, I pushed open the door to a slightly unkept Georgina sitting behind her desk. The shoulder of her dress was hanging off one shoulder as if she pulled the dress on quickly and her hair was tangled. Her lipstick was always perfect but I saw her trying to wipe of the smudged makeup quickly.
I restrained myself from bursting out laughing at the obvious quickie she’s just had with one of her employees. There was a reason she only hired the hot ones.
“I have that background information you wanted” I smiled at her, knowing she was already flustered.
“Thanks,” I could tell she was dismissing me as I placed the folder down on her desk. “Oh and Natalie, don’t tell anyone.” Her warning look was hilarious and I wanted to pat myself on my back for my acting skills.
“Whatever you say, boss.” I saluted and she glared so I quickly darted out of her office. I rushed my way back to Mark, laughing.
He was serving someone and gave me a questioning look. The customer glanced at me and frowned, annoyed by my laughter at seemingly nothing. I got behind the second cashier, pretending that was my job and smiled at the customer.
As she walked away I whispered to Mark, “Guess who just had a quickie on her office desk,” I wiggled my eyebrows at him and we both burst out laughing. It took us a while to calm down and when we did, I left as I was worried we had scared off some customers.
I wondered if the girls would find this as funny as me, or maybe the band would. I was still laughing to myself slightly in the car; Georgina’s messy appearance still fresh in my mind.
~
well shit c:
i really like mark ok
I THOUGHT IT WAS SATURDAY BUT NOPE SO UH, UPDATE TOMORROW lucky you hahah i'm such a loser
YOU ARE READING
that damned cigarette ↪ m.c
Fanfiction"This isn't a stupid chick flick movie, Clifford!" "Who said I wanted that?" Once upon a time, there was a boy and girl. She was beautiful and he was handsome. He saved her and she made him realise his wrongs. But what if there wasn't a happy e...
