-black velvet ; j.lennon

one

1 9 5 9
ও

[blue moon; billie holiday]

it was a chilly autumn night as she wrapped her wool coat closer to her body, walking along the uneven sidewalk, brown and orange leaves fluttering around her ankles with each new step in her black suede booties. the stars above appeared to be blurred with the thin, cirrus cloud coverage, and the streets around her crowded with an even mass of model young art students like anna.

"can't believe me mum insists i get home at midnight. for god's sake i'm a bloody adult!" holly, anna's soon to be flatmate cried in agony from next to her. holly cocked a brow and went silent as she noticed that anna was paying no heed to her outburst. "well...who pissed in yer tea?" holly wrapped her hand around anna's bicep as they stood at the crosswalk into the small parking lot of the pub.

"no one." anna replied plainly, her mind set on moving in tomorrow. "just a bit nervous to be on my own now." she huffed, her breath white in the brisk atmosphere.

"eh, just relax and have some fun tonight, save the worryin' for tomorrow, hun. liverpool ain't that bad." holly spun the two of them back around and headed for the entrance to Ye Crack. jazz music spilled from inside as holly pulled on the golden handle, nudging anna to go inside first, taking in the look of the tacky sconces on the dirty white walls, and the mismatched tables and chairs which littered what little square footage they had.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

anna, a soon to be art student, first took in the unusual colorful stained glass windows in the shape of collected diamonds, wrapping around the small, wooden pub filled with her peers. anna soon felt every eye land on her, nerves rising on the back of her neck, her hands growing clammy by her side. she turned to whisper something to holly, who was behind her, but was instead ushered to the bar top where a line of gold taps sat eager to be pulled.

"i'm going to use the loo." holly's hands let go of anna's biceps, leaving anna alone at the bar. she locked eyes with an older gentleman wearing a black apron, a bartender.

"a black velvet, please." she smiled sweetly. he nodded his head and grabbed a glass.

from the corner of the packed pub, john's dark eyes caught sight of anna through the space between a couple swing dancing in front of the jukebox. he took back the last of the potent whiskey in his hands and pulled out a pack of cheap woodbines. "look at 'er." the cigarette bobbed between his wet lips as he rummanged in his jacket for a light.

"who?" paul's face quickly glanced around the room as the couple left, giving complete view of anna. she had taken off her simple black coat and draped it in the fold of her elbow, straightening out the hem of her short black skirt.

"her. the bardot." john smirked as he lit paul a cigarette before his own. paul chuckled as he took a drag, watching anna fiddle with her bangs and thick black hair bow.

"eh, don't do anythin--" paul began to mother. but john had already made a beeline for her, disarming the entanglement of the young couple in his way. at the same time, holly emerged and positioned herself next to anna. john stopped and stood still, his stiff leather jacket squeaking as his shoulders dropped.

"ordered yerself a black velvet, did ya?" holly piped, smiling and flagging down the bartender to order herself something of a local brew.

"it's rather tight in here." anna mentioned, cupping her hands warmly around the short glass and leaning her back against the bar, looking out at the variety show of people enjoying themselves on a friday night. her eyes caught john as he continued to watch, but now leaning against the back wall, his arms folded. "who's that?" anna whispered, her eyes still placed on john as holly turned around to look.

"a creep." holly flashed an unkind symbol towards john and he chuckled, leaning forward a bit as he laughed. anna smiled modestly, showing her beautiful, luminiscent smile that got caught in john's throat as he watched her admirably--he decided to walk over to her again.

"he's coming over here." anna hissed in a panic.

"good evening." his voice was smooth and slightly pubescent as he extended a rough hand to anna. holly took it instead as anna swallowed.

"great. lovely to meet ye. i'm holly." she thought for a moment. "i've got a little something for ye." her tone changed to a lower register and anna snapped her head to face holly, her eyes wide. john smirked and leaned into anna's friend.

"yeah?"

[poetry in motion; johnny tilotson]

holly nodded her head and brought her face closer to john. "its a little poem, ye may hear it often though." holly batted her lashes. john was intrigued as he turned his head to wink at paul, who was watching closely. holly's face suddenly went blank and she rose her glass to her lips. "staring isn't nice, ye fucking prick." holly sneered, quickly pouring the rest of her beer on john, watching as it splashed onto the floor. john bit down on his tongue as anna attempted to fight back laughter.

holly grabbed onto anna's wrist and started to drag her towards the door; anna caught the eyes of paul, who winked at her through his outrageous fits of laughter. "lovely to meet ye!" anna waved back at john as she tripped out of the threshold with holly pulling her quickly.

as soon as the pair of friends made it outside the doors they both broke into hysterical laughter. "that was genius!" anna giggled, her hands on her knees, attempting to catch her breath.

"thanks. now let's catch the last train home." holly took anna's hand again and the two ran in the middle of the dark, poorly lit street, laughing as the brisk wind struck their freshly peachycomplexions, singing loudly the lyrics to one of their favorite songs, their smiles emitting pure bliss and pride. anna thought back to the priceless look on his face as the chilly beverage dripped down to his trousers, making it look as though he weed himself.

john on the other hand, felt very keen to know more about this new girl, and not only because she resembled bardot.