Waiting

Waiting

The small envelope on Alice’s phone spun to show a text had been sent. She sat back in her seat gazing out the window. In that instant she regretted sending it. If only she could stop it arriving at the other mobile. But it was too late. It had gone. Now all she could do was wait for an answer... if there was one!

Alice grabbed another coffee. Returning to her seat she checked her phone again. No messages! Daydreaming she thought about Thursday past......

            She’d spent the morning studying for a forthcoming exam.  The afternoon was filled chatting with friends over coffee. Alice was excited about the night’s events. She was off to the pub with her roommate for its live music. One band in particular!

Alice smiled as she thought about Daniel the bassist. His cute face she first saw back in the summer. How she’d cheekily asked her friend to ‘go get him to sign’ the band’s CD. And how Daniel had not just wrote his signature on the side with the others. But a whole message on the blank side.

‘To Alice, thanks for listening, hope to see you at the next one, love Daniel x’

The ‘next’ one Alice missed and the one after that. Other commitments had come first. When she next saw Daniel it was last Thursday. The cold winter chill had left crystals on the ground. There was a cool breeze and icy drizzle. A text from her roommate and she was on her way to the pub. Alice stood outside waiting. Lighting a cigarette she composed herself. Alice looked round for her roommate; the text said she’d be there in 10 minutes. That was 15 minutes ago. Nerves were getting the better of her, although she didn’t know why. It had been three months since she’d seen him. He probably had a girlfriend now and had forgotten all about her.

Alice’s roommate arrived a minute later. They descended the stairs into the seductive atmosphere below. With its alcohol branded mirrors. Artwork from local artists and signed album covers from bands that had played there over the years. Heading straight to the bar, they toasted the evening with a drink. Alice drank hers down and ordered another. ‘Dutch courage’ she stated. Her roommate smiled a knowing smile that said Alice was falling in love. Alice of course had no idea.

A drink or two later they were joined by the band. Daniel was there being as cute as ever.  With his shaven head, beefy build and a shy look in his eye. Alice was sure he could tell exactly what was on her mind. As if ‘you’re cute as hell’ was written all over her face. Wandering down to the stage, she watched as they set up for the sound check. Alice loved their music and the bass especially.

When they had finished, Geoff and Daniel went out for a fag. Alice joined them. It was still raining. Looking round, the city was busy with Thursday night pub goers. Dodging cars, they crossed the street in the hope of finding somewhere dry to smoke. The other side of the road offered nothing but Daniel spotted a vacant doorway. Reaching out for Alice's hand he quickly ran back across the road to the door with her in tow. Alice totted on her heels.

Now dry. They chatted about the band, music, and the weather. Alice just wanted Daniel to hold her hand again. The electricity from the last time was tingling all over her body. She tried not to stare at him and acted normal: well as normal as she could. This all proved one thing...there was no way he’d have held her hand if there was a girlfriend. Alice smiled a relieved but giggly smile.

Back inside the band got ready to play. After getting a drink Alice positioned herself to the left of the stage. She had a perfect view across to the right side where Daniel was loosening his fingers waiting for the nod to start.

‘Boom’

The music was deafening. But Alice loved it. She danced and swayed. Dreamily she watched Daniel as he plucked the deep notes out of the bass. And when he started to sing she swooned. The deep seductive tones made the hairs on her neck stand up. ‘I will have this man’ she whispered to her roommate. Her roommate smiled that knowing smile again.

‘Yeah...if he fits in with your “ok to date” age thing’ she said.

Of course, Alice HAD thought of this. She’d halved her age and added seven.

‘As long as he’s over 27’ Alice informed her roommate. ‘Then he’s fair game’

It turned out that Daniel was 30. Alice grinned at the news but was aware that the age difference might be a problem for him, unless of course he was into older women! The drinks flowed freely and her Dutch courage grew. Alice waited for the band to finish with the full intention of spending the rest of the night flirting like mad with Daniel. The last song reached the end and Alice’s heart skipped a beat or two. As the band came off stage, Alice prepared to say something only to be met by Daniel’s eyes.

‘Fancy a fag?’ he said.

‘Yeah ok,’ Alice replied glancing over at her roommate with a childlike excited grin and a very noticeable glint in her eye.  

Taking her hand Daniel led the way. It was still raining outside. A queue of people stood at a nearby bus stop waiting for taxis. The smell of fresh chips floated out from the chip shop next door. Loads of people were bustling about working out the best way to get home. Some staggered around whilst others sat on the wet pavement. In the same vacant doorway, Alice and Daniel chatted about nothing and everything. Neither noticed time passing. Neither cared.

When Daniel’s mobile rang, they both jumped. It was Geoff wondering where they were as they had been ‘gone’ for ages and he was ready to head back the 70 miles to their home. Alice’s heart sank at the thought of Daniel leaving; she had no idea when or if she would see him again. What she didn’t know then was Daniel was thinking the same.

‘We better head back inside’ Alice said

‘Yeah’ replied Daniel.

Taking her hand, they walked slowly back towards the pub. Half-way Daniel stopped.

‘I suppose I’d better kiss you’ he said.

‘Yeah suppose so,’ Alice replied.

Daniel slid his one hand around Alices waist; the other gently held her face. As their lips touched the world stopped, there was no sound, even the rain hung motionless in the air. Endlessly they kissed.

For the following week Alice had talked the ears off her roommate about that kiss. Was it a drunken one? Would there be any more? It didn’t ‘feel’ like a drunken one. I wasn’t that drunk!! Was I? It had taken 7 full days of texting different people to get Daniel’s number. Thanks to Geoff she now had it.

‘Hi Daniel, got ur num off Geoff, hope u don’t mind. wanted to let u know i really enjoyed that kiss last week.. Alice J’

Ding-ding...ding-ding.

Alice’s mobile vibrated on the table dragging her back to the present. Her heart skipped a beat. The little envelope sign flashed like a beacon and nervously she clicked to open it.

‘Hi Alice, no i don’t mind. i enjoyed that kiss too, thought about nothing else J Daniel x’

Happily relieved Alice clicked reply.

©Mills Laine