Part 74 (2/2)
”Like that'll stop you.”
The Blue Room is a dark, loud, and intimidating place hidden behind double-doors at the edge of Camden. The name makes sense. The smaller than expected venue has painted, dark blue walls decorated in band posters and graffiti art, and the theme extends to the rough wooden bar. Chairs and tables surround the small dance-floor and the place has a relaxed and intimate atmosphere I never expected.
Ruby Riot sit in a cordoned off raised area at the rear of the club, low sofas around a couple of metal tables. Jax waves as we head over. Tegan's curled into Jax's side and he has an arm across her shoulder, holding a beer in the other. They deserve their position as the beautiful couple of the day. She's gorgeous and he's, well, Jax Lewis of the perfect face and perfect body variety.
Will flops next to Jax and I take a seat opposite the golden couple.
”Don't be freaked out,” calls Tegan over the music.
”I'm not. I'm okay.” Overwhelmed, but okay.
”Have a drink.” She turns her head. ”Hey! Will! Get Fleur a drink.”
I smile to myself as he dutifully heads off to the bar. I'm here, in his circle, but at the edge. Will isn't in sight anymore, and Nate's female friend from outside now sits next to him, Nate's attention focused on her. He pushes hair from the girl's neck and whispers something in her ear. She slaps his leg; Nate catches her hand and kisses it. As if sensing my scrutiny, Nate looks over and I quickly look away.
”You sure you don't want a real drink?” asks Will as he places a gla.s.s of c.o.ke on the table in front of me.
”Maybe later.”
”Cool.”
The table fills with people I don't know; some Will introduces me to, others he doesn't seem to know either.
The more people who join us, the easier this becomes. Will remains with me and I relax as the number around the table pushes me further into the background. He's right; there's no difference between my Will and Ruby Riot Will. He hasn't taken on a persona. This guy, like me, is a take it or leave it person.
I compare him to Nate, who definitely has the persona. In the past, I've seen pictures and heard stories that Will was the same, but I've noticed subtle changes in the time I've known him. The self-a.s.sured joker is still here; but dropping his att.i.tude leads to a relaxed Will, and not the idiot who accosted me at the party three months ago.
I've dropped my guard too. The world isn't as black and white as I thought; university doesn't automatically create cultured, intelligent people who are above others. I always compartmentalised people, and my judgement of character is way off the mark.
Why else would I lock myself into Will's life and risk a relations.h.i.+p with a man far removed from the ideal I set myself before I came to London?
Because he is that man. Will's right. Our surfaces don't matter, what's beneath does. Underpinning our relations.h.i.+p is respect and a growing love for each other. In a year, five years, ten years, we'll be different people shaped by experience; but the heart of who we are will remain the same.
The heart and soul resting at the centre of who we are has recognised another and found a place to belong.
The number surrounding us grows by the hour; people vie to be part of the band's company. Ruby doesn't show and I haven't met her yet. Will has told me about the dynamics of the band and I'm unsure I'd like Ruby. Or that she'd like me.
As the evening progresses, Will's humour kicks in and he hams up everything for his audience with his brother. If this included any teasing of me, I wouldn't be happy; but this side of Will is part of what drew me to him. He and Nate also relax further around each other and their affinity becomes clearer with their banter. Nate lets go of the animosity around me; maybe I'm oversensitive and imagined some of his dislike.
After a visit to the bathrooms, I approach the edge of the dance floor, ready to head back to the table. Somebody b.u.mps into me striding in the opposite direction. I stumble as the bulk of the guy knocks me sideways in his hurry. He stops and steadies me, his hand on my arm.
”Sorry, sweetheart.”
”No problem.”
The man's hand remains on my arm and I look up. He's smiling, in a lopsided way with unfocused eyes. ”What's your name?”
”Fleur.”
”Hey, Fleur. I'm Adam.”
”h.e.l.lo.” I move from his touch, and walk away.
”Hey! Fleur!”
Adam catches up with me and I stop again. The drunk smile continues. This guy is tall and his bulk intimidates me, even if he's not deliberate.
”You wanna drink?”
”I'm okay, thank you. I'm with somebody.”
Adam scratches his head and looks around. We're at the edge of the dancers, the music louder and I can't hear what he's saying. I gesture in the direction of my table and he frowns in confusion. Smiling and nodding at the words I can't hear, I attempt to walk away again; but Adam steps in front of me.
”Excuse me!” I say.
”One drink, c'mon.”
I lean towards him in the hope he hears me above the music. ”I said I'm with somebody. Thank you for the offer.”
As I draw away, he stumbles slightly. ”So?”
Again, I attempt to walk away. This time he grabs my hand.
”Let go!” I snap and pull my hand away.
When I turn my head again, I see Will's figure striding towards us. He stops short and looks at our hands.
”What's going on?”
”Nothing. Adam wanted to buy me a drink, and I was explaining I had a ”
My sentence is interrupted by Will stepping between me and Adam, the two men practically nose to nose. ”She's not interested, mate.”
”Jeez, okay. Calm down, man.”
Will shoves him in the chest. ”Leave her alone.”
”I only asked her if she wanted a drink!”
A cold fear trickles down my spine as Adam changes his mind and steps up to Will. No way, Will...
”Will!” I grab his hand. ”Not this again!”
”Are you okay? Did he touch you?”
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