Forward

Chapter Eight

After a few shared looks, stares and nervous smiles, we finally arrive at the restaurant.

I quickly take the opportunity to jump out of the car and hold the door open for Jo before closing it behind her and thanking the driver.

With my hands firmly back in my pockets, I follow Jo closely as she wanders off, craning her head to look around and over people in order to see where Anna and Inanna might be.

Being that much taller, I have an advantage and so it doesn't take me long to locate and point them out to Jo. I watch as she eagerly makes her way through the small crowds and into the dining area.

I follow slowly but surely, eyeing up the odd table for two here and there, wondering if I could somehow make an excuse and arrange for us to sit together, alone.

"Jo? Hero! Come and take a seat!" Anna stands and directs us with a smile and swift gesture of her hand. "Hero, you are here, next to Inny.."

Of course. Of fucking course.

"Jo, you are sitting next to me, ofcourse!" Both she and Jo giggle excitedly as I stay rooted to the spot, trying repeatedly to think of an excuse to change my mind and leave, without seeming too rude or obvious.

"Hero? What are you waiting for!? Christmas??" Jo quips with a giggle.

I take my seat opposite her and ignore the fact that Inanna is already watching me. I retrieve one of the menus and spend so much time pretending to look at it that I realise I probably should actually decide what I am going to have.

After settling and deciding on the most basic, simple and english dish, I replace the menu and clear my throat.

I know that I can't spend the night looking down at my feet and forcing a smile at the appropriate time when all the others laugh, but I'm not willing to sit here and converse that much either.

Stupidly, I had thought that maybe it would be Anna and a couple of others similar to her age or older. I didn't realise I would be meeting more co-stars my age..

"So how long have you two known each other?" I hear Inanna ask the awkward question and I know without even looking at her that she's darting her eyes between me and Jo suspiciously.

"Since today." I surprise both myself and Jo by answering her.

"Oh." Inanna forces a small laugh. "You two seem pretty.. Acquainted? Considering.."

I smile, unwilling to entertain her speculation any longer.

"Well, turns out we have quite a lot in common." Jo smiles.

"You do?" Inanna quips, taking a sip from her drink.

"Yes, and seeing as Hero and I are going to be working so closely, it made sense to spend some time together before we met everyone else.. Yourself included." Jo counters and smiles a little less.

"Oh really? Well that's not what I heard." Inanna places her drink down loudly on the table and appears to make herself more comfortable in her chair.

"As I understood it, you had lost your own suitcase. And Hero.. Well. Being a Hero, stepped in and came to the rescue. Your.. Rescue." She sipped again from the straw in her glass.

I look over to Jo's raised eyebrows, wanting to back her but unsure how to when Inanna has basically just paid me a compliment while managing to be passive aggressive towards Jo at the same time.

"It.. Wasn't quite like that." I laugh nervously.

"Oh, so humble and modest." Ianna smiles at me warmly whilst swatting at me.

"Food! Yay!" Anna exclaims and thankfully, we are all distracted. But for how long, I wonder,

It doesn't take long for me to demolish the fish and chips in front of me. Nothing beats the real thing of course, but they came a close second considering how far we are away from the UK.

I'm just about to order myself another drink when Inanna leans in and attempts to recapture my attention.

"My, my, you do have quite the appetite don't you." She meets my eyes with a smirk.

I look her up and down before turning my attention back to the waitress beside me.

Before long, she returns with my drink in her hand and I am free to put my plan into motion; Get pissed and go home. Well, to the hotel at least.

"I didn't have you down as someone who likes a strong drink?" Inanna tilts her head thoughtfully.

I don't. But I need it if I'm to continue to sit next to her tonight..

Ignoring her comment or at the very least pretending I didn't hear it, I take a quick swig from my glass before standing and excusing myself.

"You're not going already?" Anna is quick to notice and ask.

"No." I say looking at her and then glancing at Jo who's smile has just as suddenly disappeared. "Just going outside for a quick smoke." I pull out and hold up my packet of fags for them to see.

"Good idea, I'll join you." Inanna's chair scrapes loudly as she stands to join me.

I say nothing and head outside without waiting for her.

Once outside, she asks if she can pinch one of my cigarettes. After lighting it for her too, and ignoring the way she looks up at me under her long, dark thick lashes, I pull away and continue to smoke my fag in silence.

I swear she was accentuating the hollow of her cheeks deliberately. The way she was sucking on that cigarette and looking up at me was very.. Unnecessary.