Dark Star

In the coming days, I waited for a phone call that never came. Even though we lived next door to each other, I did not see him at all. My parents barely mentioned our neighbours and I began to wonder if it was all just my imagination. Had I really ‘worked’ for Harry, had I really ended up in his bedroom that night? The only answer I did know was why nothing had happened. Between the alcohol and the sleeping pills, Harry was fast asleep, leaving me to make my exit.

“It is what it is.” I thought to myself, despite the awkwardness I felt about the entire situation. With a heavy sigh, I resumed my job hunting efforts. I applied for everything: from admin to waitressing jobs. When I received a call from the local bar, I eagerly accepted the interview.

A couple of days later I was officially working at the Black Cat, an upscale bar in town. My parents raised an eyebrow, but I assured them that this was only temporary. I planned on looking for something better; maybe even enrol in the local college.

“So, you’re not working for Harry anymore?” My mother asked.

“I haven’t heard from him so I guess not.” I replied casually.

My parents exchanged glances, but did not respond. I could not help but think they seemed a little relieved.

I invested in a pair of nice black pants and a slinky black top, as part of my new Black Cat uniform, slicked back my short bob and took my time with applying my makeup.

Tuesday afternoon was my first shift and it did not take long for my manager Jack to show me around. I had done bar work before my last job so I was pretty comfortable with the whole set up and it was not long before I was alone behind the bar while Jack went to check on a delivery.

The afternoons were pretty slow, he had explained, which I guess why he had asked me to work now. It gave me a chance to familiarise myself with the place and I had just started polishing some glasses when he walked in.

Dressed entirely in black, from his short sleeved black top that showed off the tattoos on his arms to his shiny black boots, I watched open mouthed as he made his way toward the bar.
Harry did not hide the surprise on his face as his lips curled into a smile.

“You?” He simply said.

“Me.” I smiled back.

He nodded slowly as he sat on the bar stool and peered over the bar to take a proper look at me.

“So you’re working here now?” He said.


“I just started today… what’s your excuse?”

He suppressed a smile as he glanced at his watch.

“It’s two o’clock.” He said. “So I’ll have a vodka please.”

I gave him a strange look before I realised I actually had to serve him. I was in the middle of pouring his drink when it suddenly hit me.

“So this is where you come every day.” I blurted. It was his turn to give me a strange look and I quickly scrambled to explain. “I always see you come home at the same time every day. You always go home at around 3.00pm… I could never figure out why.”

“Well, you’re very observant.” He mused and I could not help but blush.

“I guess I had a lot of time on my hands.” I mumbled shyly as I slid the drink over to him.
I heard footsteps and looked over my shoulder to see my manager had returned.

“Hi Harry.” He said with a slight nod, as Harry raised his drink in response. “I see you’re getting to know one of our regulars.”

I nodded politely as Harry gave a small smile, when a small group of people entered the bar and sat in a corner booth.

“Speaking of regulars.” Jack said. “Ali, I’ll take care of this group. Just sit tight and I’ll be back in a moment.”

Jack grabbed a few menus before effusively greeting the group of guys, leaving me alone with Harry.

“I come here every day.” Harry said, after a moment’s silence. He slowly took a sip of his drink. “I always need a drink after dealing with Dr Miller.”

“Dr Miller?” I echoed.

“My therapist.” Harry said his green eyes now boring into mine.

“You see a therapist?”

“Yep.” He drawled and I nodded, not knowing how else to respond. “She’s supposedly keeps me sane… but if you ask me, this drink seems to do the trick too.”

We shared a smile before he suddenly frowned.

“I haven’t been in touch with you have I?” He said.

“Not since that charity dinner.” I reminded him and he made a face.

“Fuck.” He said as he hunched over the bar, cradling his drink. “I don’t even remember how that night ended.”

“We had a few drinks…” I said hesitantly. “And you took a few pills so you weren’t awake for long.”

He looked at me closely for a moment as if he were deep in thought and then shook his head as if to clear it.

“Oh.” He said. “Well, if any work comes up, I’ll let you know. Is that okay?”

“Yeah sure.” I glanced up to see a customer approach the bar. “Okay, I better leave you to it. I gotta get back to work.”

“Ali?”

I paused and looked at Harry expectantly.

“Maybe you can come over for a drink one night.” He said. “Promise I won’t fall asleep again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Just try me.” He said and I almost tripped over as I walked away.

X

All of Harry’s loaded looks and knowing smiles counted for nothing, because I barely saw or heard from him for one week. I was now working nights at the Black Cat, so I never caught out Harry during his daily 2pm drink ritual.

It was not until one Friday night when I was leaving work; I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked to see a text message from Harry.

So I’ll see you on Saturday then?

I paused for a moment, not knowing how to respond. Maybe he had sent the message to the wrong person or maybe it was a direct way of asking me out on a date. I was a little confused as I shot a message back to him.

Saturday?

I jumped when I heard the phone suddenly began to ring.

“Hello?” I said, even though I had seen Harry’s name on the screen.

“Hey.” His deep voice greeted me and I could not help but feel a flutter in my stomach. “I’m talking about my Mum’s party.”

He said it in a tone which implied I should know what he was talking about, but it was the first I had heard of it.

“She is?” I asked.

“Yeah… she does it every year and usually I’m out of town for it, but this time I thought I’d stick around.”

“Are my parents invited?” I asked and frowned when he said they were. “They never mentioned it to me.”

“Well consider yourself invited.” He said. “But if it gets too boring then we can always escape.”

“I hope you’re not thinking about the Black Cat… I’m not going there on my night off.” I said in a lame attempt at a joke and smiled when I heard Harry’s throaty laugh.

“No, I was thinking somewhere a little closer than that.” He said. “You know the way to my bedroom by now, don’t you?”

“Ha ha.” I said jokingly, still feeling my cheeks warm in response.

It was hard to know when he was being serious or when he was just kidding around. I remembered how he had gently flirted with me before he had passed out and I couldn’t help but feel a tiny thrill down my spine at the thought of him following through.

A part of me wanted it and a part of me was scared at the prospect of getting closer to Harry. He was damaged and so different to anybody I knew. I wondered about what he spoke to his therapist about, I wondered why he had given up his career and I wondered why wanted to get to know me.

X

I tentatively followed my parents as he walked through Harry’s back patio, which was filled with wine swilling, beautifully dressed people who seemed to fit in perfectly.

My parents headed straight to the bar area and I found myself hanging back. I was still annoyed with them after the argument we had had not long after I had spoken to Harry on the phone.

“Why did you tell me about the party?” I asked them unable to conceal my annoyance.
“We didn’t think you’d be interested.” My Mother said, exchanging glances with my Father like she usually did whenever the subject of Harry came up.

“Well that’s weird, especially considering I was working with Harry up to a few weeks ago.”
“I thought you were working on Saturday night.” My Father chimed in.

We had argued further until they begrudgingly agreed for me to go with them. I didn’t know why they disapproved of my spending time with Harry, but it was slowly becoming more and more apparent.

A string of lights illuminated the patio as I nervously looked around for Harry. I finally found him standing by the pool in deep conversation with an attractive blonde. Her long hair was pulled back into a sleek bun and she wore a stylish white dress that showed off her shapely legs. She sipped a glass of wine as she intently listened to Harry and I couldn’t help but self-consciously look down at the short flared black skirt and black ankle boots that I had chosen to wear for the night.

What chance did I have compared to the beautiful blonde who seemed so much more self-assured than I ever would? I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn’t notice Harry’s attention had shifted to me. His face suddenly lit up and he smiled at me, though he kept talking to her. I stood there awkwardly, unsure about whether to join the conversation or wait for Harry to approach me. I shifted from one foot to the other as Harry continued to watch me, finally gaining the attention of the blonde who followed his gaze. She appraised me carefully, her eyes lowering down to my boots before settling on my eyes again as Harry excused himself.

“Hi Stranger.” He said warmly, leaving the blonde behind.

“Hi.” I said.

“I’ve been waiting for someone to come and save me.” He said.

“Sorry?” I said, stumbling after him.

“I hate parties.” He said making a face as he led me away. Several people greeted him and despite what he had just said, Harry responded with a smile. He grabbed a couple of bottles as he walked, barely pausing as he did. I got the feeling that as soon as he did stop, he would be accosted by someone wanting to have a chat. We eventually ended up deep in the sprawling garden, the sound of the music reverberating through the warm air. He pointed toward a small gazebo and took me by the hand to help me up the steps. He wasted no time cracking open his bottle of vodka and taking a long swig.

“Fuck that feels good.” He said, offering me the bottle. “God, I hate parties.”

“It didn’t seem like you weren’t enjoying yourself back there.” I said taking a sip.

“Huh?” He mumbled.

“You were having a good time chatting to that blonde, weren’t you?”

“That blonde is my therapist.” Harry said grabbing the bottle from me.

“Oh.”

“So I have to be on my best behaviour.” He winked. “Not that I always am when I’m with her.”
I gazed back at him not knowing make of that comment and he just laughed,

“Innocent Ali.”

“I’m not so innocent.” I grumbled.

“Really now?” He said. “You wanna show me?”

Notes

Hope you're enjoying this, please let me know what you think.