Take My Hand

Summer 2017 (Part 1)

"Come on it's our last night in Dublin. We have to go out!" Josie almost shouted to her two best mates as she got out the shower. 
"But Jo, our flight home is at like 8am we really shouldn't be out late," Olivia responded, always being the responsible one. 
"I agree with Josie, Liv." Emily interjected. "It's our last night here and it'll be fun to go out one last time. Why don't we just go to that pub down the street?"
Josie and Emily both gave Olivia a look that perfectly hinted the words don't be boring and you know you want to. 
"Okay fine!," Liv sighed with a grin as she took her perfectly blonde waves out from the messy bun on her head, "Pass me my curlers please."

Once ready, the girls tidied up their small AirBnB and packed up the rest of their suitcases, ready for their early morning flight back to London. They rushed out the door giggling with the warm fuzz of beer gently running through their veins. Reminiscing on the last four days, the three best friends noted that this was probably one of the best holidays they had shared together out of the countless getaways they had been on before. It had been a trip of exploring, getting giddy drunk, meeting welcoming people, and making unforgettable memories; and all three of them were very sad to be leaving tomorrow knowing that they had another year of university to get back to. 

"Here we are," Emily pointed out when they reached the small but lively pub on the corner, arms linked with one another. 
Olivia pushed the door open to be greeted by the familiar smell of beer and jaeger and apologetically pushed past the busy crowd of bodies until she reached the bar. 
"We'll be sat over there Liv," Josie said gesturing to a table by the window and Olivia nodded in response. 
"Please can I have 3 pints?" Liv said smiling back at the bartender. 
"Course you can, love."
"Thank you," She said quietly before leaning back over the bar shouting above the noise "How come it's so busy tonight?"
He laid the first pint out in front of her before going back to the draught tap to pour the next. "There's a local band in playing tonight," He said nodding his head in the direction of the live music. "The boys come in every few weeks or so and they've got quite a good crowd now. It's always a good night."

Olivia smiled in praise to the voice she could hear singing through the crowd as she paid for the drinks and took them with a thanks from the bar. She struggled through the crowd - men and women of all ages - before she finally reached the table where her friends were sat. 
"They sound pretty good," Liv commented in regards to the band that was still out of clear view. 
"Yeah and the lead singer is a bit fucking fit," Josie commented receiving a laugh from the others. 
"Jo you can't say that you've got a boyfriend!" Liv said. 
"Oh come on Liv," She rolled her eyes, "I would never do anything, but I can still appreciate a good face you know."
"And a good voice as well," Emily added. 

The girls sat chatting and drinking as they nodded along to the live music in the background; some well known covers and some unfamiliar original songs. The crowd swayed back and forth in rhythm, a few joyful characters slurring on the words to the songs as they danced with one another out of time. The overall pub was filled with that summertime vibe, where people seem genuinely overcome with happiness, and their only concern is what drink they'll be ordering next and hoping they know the words to sing along to the next tune. But summer sadly always comes to an end. 
"I'm going for a cigarette," Liv said standing up, grabbing her phone from the table.
"You really need to stop smoking," The others said in unison.
"And here we go again," She laughed rolling her eyes as she disappeared through the crowd.

Liv walked towards the back exit, cigarette in hand, bobbing her head along to an Oasis classic. It wasn't until she tripped over someone's foot where she caught a glimpse of the lead singer and eventually found herself standing right in front of the band. He didn't stop singing, but he did laugh through his smile at her as a kind man grabbed her preventing her from face-planting in front of an audience. She laughed it off and said thank you to the older man and carried on her way. She had noticed the singer's reaction and smiled at him in response - somewhat embarrassed - but it wasn't until she got to the door that she really saw him. She waited there just for a moment taking in his friendly face; he was probably a couple of years older than her age of only 19. He had tousled brown hair slightly tucked behind his ears, longer than most boys she knew but not in a way she didn't like. He had light eyes, possibly green, that glanced at her a couple of times in those moments. He had a nose ring - something which she always found attractive on boys - and a gentle smile. His slightly rugged appearance and dress sense was endearing to her and fit in well with his tattoos and the acoustic guitar he had draped across his body.
"Excuse me-" Her attention was redirected to the couple standing beside her trying to get through the door she had been blocking.
"Sorry sorry," She responded confused as to where her mind was wondering to and pushed through the door, holding it open for the couple to exit as well. 

She walked over to an empty table and sat on one of the wooden chairs, taking comfort in the last of the August evening air. She pulled out a cigarette and her I love Dublin lighter that she had bought earlier that day and took a drag of her fag. She checked her phone to see 3 missed calls and 7 messages received from Jack. She locked her phone and ignored it all, choosing to let her attention drift to the passers by on the street and the various bits of music coming from other nearby pubs. She was happy here. Happier than she had been in a long time. And she wasn't looking forward to going back home tomorrow and for it all to be holiday memories. 

Her attention was once again stolen by the pub door swinging open, for her to ask herself how long she had let her mind drift for. The singer stumbled out of the pub grinning as his mates cheered for the set he must've just finished. He noticed her immediately and leant against the wall a couple of metres away from where she was sat. 
"You shouldn't smoke you know," He said as he lifted a cigarette to his own lips, "It's bad for you."
"You don't say?" She shrugged back sarcastically, smiling without meaning to. 
"May I?" He asked gesturing to her lighter on the table.
"Oh yeah sure." She handed it to him, and whilst lighting his fag he pulled out the chair next to her and made himself comfortable. 
Olivia readjusted herself so that they weren't sat so close together and laughed shyly. 
"You guys are really good by the way," She added, not quite sure what to say. 
"Ah thanks, well it's just a bit of fun really but I love it."
His Irish accent was soft and wholesome, it made her feel weirdly safe considering she was sat chatting to a complete stranger. 
"So you sound like you're from London..."
"Is the accent that obvious?" She blushed. 
"Well yeah, but I like it," The stranger shrugged back, "I'm Ryan by the way. Ryan Kennedy."
He held our her hand politely for her to shake and she softly laughed.
"Well I'm Olivia by the way. Olivia Wilson." Almost copying what he had said. 
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Olivia." His smile resonated with her, just like his voice had done when he was singing. 

The moment was interrupted by the vibration of her phone. She apologised to him as the grabbed it from her pocket and saw Incoming call from Jack. She swiftly declined the call and put it back in her pocket. 
"You can take that if you want," Ryan insisted.
"No, it's not important don't worry."
"Ah needy boyfriend back home?"
"Hm... something like that," She glanced down timidly. 
"So sorry I didn't mean to-"
"No honestly don't worry," She interrupted his desperate apology when he realise his joke had touched a nerve, "It's just very complicated." 
"Well I hope you don't mind my proposition," He started, "But I've gotta go play a few more songs. So why don't you come in and listen and after, let me buy you a drink and if you want, feel free to tell a complete stranger all about your problems." He said this with a cheeky grin on his face as he reached his arms out like he had the confidence to solve all of her issues. 
Liv couldn't help but laugh, not sure if she was agreeing to his request or not, but then he stood up and held out his welcoming hand for her. 
"Take my hand," He said confidently. A sense of security in his voice that made her heart skip a beat in a way that was so terrifyingly unfamiliar. 
She looked up at him, absorbed in his aura, and rested her hand in his as he lifted her to her feet.