“Can I help you?” I questioned him sternly as I turned to face him. He was taller than me at a guess he was just 6ft, his hair was jet black and they matched the colour of his eyes. My skin crawled.
“Do you want a drink?” There was an accent in his voice and I couldn’t place what it was. He wasn’t British. I rolled my eyes and looked back towards the bar. Alfie was leaning over it. His eyes flited left and warmed instantly. Haz was there. I breathed a small sigh of relief, I instantly felt safe again.
“Can I help you Rava?” His tone was ice cold. It was the same tone that he had used with that blonde guy here once before. That’s where you know his name from. The memory of the blonde fresh faced young man entered my head. ‘wonder if she’s to Rava’s taste.’ I shuddered at the image in my head and glanced back at him.
“Who is this then?” He glanced towards me, his eyes wandered over me and I instantly turned to look at Haz.
"A friend of Chloe's." He lied, he lied so well I believed him for a split second. “Why are you over here? I thought we sorted everything out when we came over to see you?” I felt Haz’s hand on my waist and felt him move me to the other side of him. Right so he’s in business with this guy? Is he the reason for the black eyes? I was now in a world of my own imagining crazy scenarios in my head.
“Things have changed.” His accent made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and not in a good way. The guy creeped me out. He studied my face again and I watched as he nudged his slightly taller friend who was standing next to him. He looked at me too and wolf whistled. The atmosphere instantly went dense and I shifted slightly. I was uncomfortable.
“She’s beautiful Harry.” I realised now Haz stood smiling at me.
“She is.” He stated bluntly, I warmed and then he dropped his gaze before he made eye contact with Rava again. Alfie popped from nowhere with a glass of wine and winked at me. I looked back towards the table and saw the girls having a wail of a time. I touched Haz lightly on the shoulder.
“I’m going to head back to Chlo?” He just nodded. I clutched my hand around my wine glass and placed my hand over the top of it as I carried it back towards the table. My earlier joy, now gone. I couldn’t for the life of me understand the connection between the two. How could business partners hate each other so much? I shook my head as I hit the table and slumped next to Nance. To add to my problems now my feet hurt. I kicked off my heels and closed my eyes with relief. They thudded as blood pulsed around them once more, no longer constricted by my 5 inch heels. Haz re-joined the table and took his seat next to Natalie again. I wanted to smack the smug look off her face but I didn’t have the energy. Haz’s eyes looked blank now as he sat staring at the bar, sipping his pint and I felt Nancy rest her head on my shoulder.
“Jay’s just told me not to go very far? Why?” I shrugged at her question, I didn’t know for definite but I guessed it had something to do with Rava and his mates. I closed my eyes momentarily and I was suddenly tired. So tired.
As the evening wore on the drinks flowed more and more. The girls got more and more wasted as time went on. Nancy had dragged me down towards the dance floor once again but this time Chlo joined us. Jay nodded with approval. I followed her and watched as she danced. Though every bone in my body ached I danced with her. Nance raised her fist in the air as Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody blared through the speakers and I watched as Chlo air guitared. I belly laughed at the sight of them. Soph popped up from nowhere, she was a tiny bit drunk. I watched as she screamed the words of the song.
“Ohhh baby! Just gotta get out of here baby!” She slurred her words and waved her head around. She stumbled slightly and grabbed Nancy’s arm, who then grabbed Chlo’s who then grabbed mine. It was a domino effect. We all landed on a heap on the floor, there was an explosion of laughter around us and I watched as Chlo held her belly.
“I bet Foley thinks we’re so mature!” I laughed at her comment. I bet she does…
Thursday
My head didn’t feel attached to my body. I was pretty sure the room spun for a short period of time when I opened my eyes. Am I still pissed? I held my head as I sat up and kicked Nancy who was passed out on the end of my bed, hugging a bucket and groaning.
“Fuck off Av.” She gripped the sick bowl tighter and heaved. I closed my eyes again slightly before I opened them again. We weren’t at home, we were at Alfie’s. I didn’t remember getting back here. I moved slowly in an attempt to keep myself from throwing up. I didn’t think I’d been sick though I wasn’t 100% certain. I carried myself towards the main bathroom in search of paracetamol or ibuprofen. I rummaged through the cabinet and heard the door open slightly. I placed my head on the sink and wrapped my arms around
