Two days later, Lily drove to work with an overnight bag firmly shut and sitting in the boot of her car, and a good feeling about the day. Christian was spending the night with his cousin in Stroud, so Alex had ordered Lily to join her and Jools for a girly night in. Lily’s excitement about the evening and the prospect of seeing Jools meant that the day flew by, and she was still feeling cheerful when the clock hit five that afternoon. Natasha staying in her office throughout the day and not coming out to terrify her workforce only confirmed in Lily’s mind that this was a good day.
As she stepped through Alex’s doorway later that afternoon, Lily was reminded of two things that always came to her mind on occasions such as this. The first thing that Lily remembered was just how much she adored Alex and Christian’s flat. They had done all the interiors themselves when they first moved in, and their harmony and shared sense of style was evident in every detail of the design.
The flat was part of a block of about 20 flats formed out of a renovated factory building. Large sections of uncovered stone wall were interspersed with deep coloured paint over smooth plastering. The lounge was a deep purple, although the stretches of wall were dominated by stonework, and the huge, wall mounted television formed the room’s centrepiece, reflecting the comfy, black leather sofa that stood opposite it. The main bedroom was a fiery red, and the guest bedroom a rich but gentle blue. The bathroom was tiled in glimmering black, and filled with clean lines and elegant glass. Lily loved the dramatism of the design, which was a wonderful echo of Alex’s fiery personality, and the desire to spice things up which Christian shared with all gourmet chefs.
The other thing that Lily always noted was how different Jools and Alex were. Of course, there was no reason why they should be similar, since they weren’t actually related by blood, and they had been brought up by different people until Alex was 12 and Jools was 6, but even so, it would be hard to find two people with less in common. Indeed, the only similarity between them was a powerful, unashamed confidence which they both shared.
The most noticeable difference between the adoptive sisters was in their appearances. Everything about the way Jools looked was in complete contrast to the tall, thin, effortlessly chic Alex; never a long, blonde hair out of place. Jools was short and full-figured; both things she totally didn’t mind, although she hated being a redhead. Her thick, wavy hair was always loosely tied up or clipped back with a cute accessory, which opened up her snub-nosed, freckled face, and her eyes, which were always framed with plenty of eyeliner, and were almost as green and sparkling as Laz’s, although not quite. Jools’ style was mod and fresh. She was always wearing at least one very colourful thing, often more, and generally had on many brightly coloured beads, rings and badges.
When she ran into the lounge to greet Lily that night, Jools was wearing a bright red sundress over black leggings, her hair clipped back on one side with a red bow and a long string of pearls around her neck. Lily and Alex were still dressed from work that day, although the journalism business allowed them such wardrobe freedom you could barely tell. Lily was dressed simply in long, black heeled boots over darkwash skinny jeans and a tailored black jacket over a plain white, fitted t-shirt, whilst Alex was wearing a crisp, white shirt with a lilac pinstripe, tucked into a black tulip skirt.
Jools ran straight up to Lily and flung her arms around her.
“Omigosh Lil, it’s been so long!” She gushed.
Lily giggled “Hey Jools. Yeah, it really has been ages, hasn’t it? How’ve you been?”
“Great!” Jools exclaimed. “Uni is amazing! I love it so much, it’s the best fun ever! How are you?”
Lily grinned. “Oh I’m fine. I’m glad you’re enjoying uni so much. I’ve really missed seeing you!”
“Alex has told me about this guy you’re seeing.” Jools said, grinning at her sister. “He sounds so dreamy!”
Lily blushed. “Yeah, he’s amazing. It’s early days yet, but things are going really well.”
“Early days? You don’t say.” Alex sniggered, putting one arm around Jools’ shoulders and the other around Lily’s and steering them towards the lounge.
A few hours later, after donning pyjamas, grabbing Ben and Jerry’s and cocktails and watching far too many re-run episodes of ‘Sex and the City’, Jools and Alex were curled up on the huge sofa, and Lily was in the adjoining kitchen making them all hot chocolates.
“So, Jools,” she called through to the lounge, “how’s your love life been going? Anyone special I should know about?”
Jools grinned. “Not right now. Although...”
“Here we go...” moaned Alex, jokingly, rolling her eyes.
“Goodness, you haven’t got another one?” Lily breathed, in awe, as she always had been, of Jools’ ability to pick up a different suitor every week.
“Well... maybe.” Jools fluttered her eyelashes and smiled innocently. “We’ll see what happens.”
“Well keep me posted.” Lily ordered, grinning.
“Right girls,” Alex interjected, “I think we need Carrie.”The trio snuggled down into the sofa and poured fresh cocktails as the ‘Sex and the City’ titles ran for the millionth time.
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Friday 29 May 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 9}
When lunch time finally arrived, Alex went straight down to the cafeteria to sit out the usual 10 minute wait for Laz, whilst Lily went to meet Sébastian in the car park. He was already there when she emerged from the building, standing smartly by the entrance in jeans and a deep blue shirt. Lily smiled as she saw him, and he returned the smile with a gentle wave, the sunlight making his flowing, blonde hair shine, and glinting in those amazing blue eyes. Lily ran down the steps towards him and flung her arms around him, glad to be out in the sun for a moment, and pleased that he cared enough already to come to her workplace and meet her friends. Sébastian chuckled within her enthusiastic embrace, and kissed her softly on the forehead.
“Come on then.” He said, pulling away and taking her hand “I’m eager to meet these infamous friends of yours.”
Alex and Laz both courteously stood up as Lily and Sébastian approached their table, and Alex immediately rushed forward to shake Sébastian’s hand.
“This is Alex.” Lily chuckled.
“Alexis Clarke.” Alex butted in, “Lovely to meet you.”
“Ah, the friend from the bar.” Sébastian smiled, “Wonderful to meet you too.”
He took Alex’s outstretched hand and instead of shaking it, raised it to his lips and kissed it. Alex raised her eyebrows at Lily, who mouthed ‘he’s French’, prompting a moment of giggles from both Alex and herself as Sébastian turned to shake hands with Laz.
“Laurence Johnson, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour.” Sébastian chuckled, as Alex seated herself, and Lily rolled her eyes at Laz.
“Right, we’ll go and get some food then.” She said, hooking her arm through Sébastian’s and steering him towards the queue.
Laz seated himself next to Alex and nudged her arm with his elbow.
“So...?” He prompted, grinning.
“He’s very French, isn’t he?” Alex exclaimed.
Laz laughed, and Alex shrugged and grinned.
“What do you think? You know, upon first impression.” She asked.
“I don’t like him; he’s better looking than me.” Laz said, winking.
“Everyone’s better looking than you babe.” Alex joked.
Laz donned his most convincing dejected face, so Alex put her arm around his shoulders, giggling, and he flashed her a cheesy grin as Lily and Sébastian returned to the table.
Lily and Sébastian sat down opposite Laz and Alex, and they all tucked in to their lunches. After a few minutes, Alex swallowed a mouthful of tuna and sweetcorn sandwich and gestured at Lily with her cup of fanta.
“Oh, Lils I forgot; Jools is coming to stay with me and Sti for a couple of days.”
‘Sti’ was Alex’s pet name for Christian. She always said ‘Christian’ was too long to use all the time, and she just hated the name ‘Chris’. Lily stopped staring at Sébastian and turned her head sharply towards Alex.
“Omigosh, yay!” She cried, “I totally love Jools, and I haven’t seen her in ages!”
“Jools is Alex’s sister.” Laz explained to Sébastian.
Technically, Jools was only Alex’s adoptive sister. When Alex was 12 years old, both her parents were killed in a car crash. Alex was staying at a friend’s house for the night, and the accident happened when her parents were on their way to collect her the next morning. Even though there was nothing she could have done, and she was not responsible for the event, Alex always blamed herself for her parent’s death, and although she would never admit it to anyone, the guilt haunted her throughout her entire life. Alex went to live with her closest living relative, an aunt on her mother’s side, until she went to university at the age of 18. Alex’s parents adopted the 6 year old Julia two years before the accident, and Alex immediately loved having a younger sister to do things with, and to take care of. Alex was a strong and forward person by nature, but she was always softer with Jools. After the accident, Alex became incredibly protective of her recently acquired, confident, younger sister, and even though Jools was now a mod 18 year old, in the middle of her first year studying for a law degree at York university, the 22 year old Alex still did her utmost to act as a mother figure for her. Laz once told Lily he suspected the reason for Alex’s tough, worldy-wise attitude was largely the fact that she had grown up having to take care not only of herself, but of her younger sister too; a younger sister who had lived six years of her life without any parents at all, and then when she had finally gained a family, had two-thirds of it snatched away after only two years. Lily forgave Alex everything, partly because she was her best friend, and a great friend to have, but also partly because she knew what she had lived through, and she was aware that the world had taught Alex to fight everything, and to speak first and think later.
As Laz checked his watch half an hour later, and informed Alex and Lily that it was time for them to return to their desks, Lily became vaguely aware that Alex and Laz had spent the whole lunchtime engaged in conversation with Sébastian about his travels, his past, the countless odd jobs he had undertaken, each providing its own entertaining anecdotes, and his memories of France. Pleased that the lunch had gone well, and Sébastian seemed to fit well into her central group of friends, Lily realised she was keen for Sébastian to meet Christian, and she had a feeling he would find Alex’s larger than life partner as entertaining a companion as she always did.
As if on cue, Alex set down her napkin and smiled at Sébastian.
“You must come out with me and Christian soon.” She urged, “I’m sure you’d love him.”
“I’m sure I would.” Purred Sébastian, taking Lily’s hand.
Alex smiled contentedly. “How does dinner sound? Maybe Thursday?”
“That sounds wonderful.” He turned to Lily, “If that’s ok for you?”
“Yeah, sounds great. You’ll love Christian, he’s a real sweetie.” Lily grinned back, putting an arm round his waist and looking into his eyes.
“Well,” Interjected Laz, “I have no boyfriend for you to meet, but if you do happen to know any stunningly attractive, fun loving yet remarkably single, gloriously European, French women, I’d be happy to meet them.”
They all laughed as Laz winked at Sébastian, and Alex shoved him playfully towards the door.
“Come on then.” He said, pulling away and taking her hand “I’m eager to meet these infamous friends of yours.”
Alex and Laz both courteously stood up as Lily and Sébastian approached their table, and Alex immediately rushed forward to shake Sébastian’s hand.
“This is Alex.” Lily chuckled.
“Alexis Clarke.” Alex butted in, “Lovely to meet you.”
“Ah, the friend from the bar.” Sébastian smiled, “Wonderful to meet you too.”
He took Alex’s outstretched hand and instead of shaking it, raised it to his lips and kissed it. Alex raised her eyebrows at Lily, who mouthed ‘he’s French’, prompting a moment of giggles from both Alex and herself as Sébastian turned to shake hands with Laz.
“Laurence Johnson, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour.” Sébastian chuckled, as Alex seated herself, and Lily rolled her eyes at Laz.
“Right, we’ll go and get some food then.” She said, hooking her arm through Sébastian’s and steering him towards the queue.
Laz seated himself next to Alex and nudged her arm with his elbow.
“So...?” He prompted, grinning.
“He’s very French, isn’t he?” Alex exclaimed.
Laz laughed, and Alex shrugged and grinned.
“What do you think? You know, upon first impression.” She asked.
“I don’t like him; he’s better looking than me.” Laz said, winking.
“Everyone’s better looking than you babe.” Alex joked.
Laz donned his most convincing dejected face, so Alex put her arm around his shoulders, giggling, and he flashed her a cheesy grin as Lily and Sébastian returned to the table.
Lily and Sébastian sat down opposite Laz and Alex, and they all tucked in to their lunches. After a few minutes, Alex swallowed a mouthful of tuna and sweetcorn sandwich and gestured at Lily with her cup of fanta.
“Oh, Lils I forgot; Jools is coming to stay with me and Sti for a couple of days.”
‘Sti’ was Alex’s pet name for Christian. She always said ‘Christian’ was too long to use all the time, and she just hated the name ‘Chris’. Lily stopped staring at Sébastian and turned her head sharply towards Alex.
“Omigosh, yay!” She cried, “I totally love Jools, and I haven’t seen her in ages!”
“Jools is Alex’s sister.” Laz explained to Sébastian.
Technically, Jools was only Alex’s adoptive sister. When Alex was 12 years old, both her parents were killed in a car crash. Alex was staying at a friend’s house for the night, and the accident happened when her parents were on their way to collect her the next morning. Even though there was nothing she could have done, and she was not responsible for the event, Alex always blamed herself for her parent’s death, and although she would never admit it to anyone, the guilt haunted her throughout her entire life. Alex went to live with her closest living relative, an aunt on her mother’s side, until she went to university at the age of 18. Alex’s parents adopted the 6 year old Julia two years before the accident, and Alex immediately loved having a younger sister to do things with, and to take care of. Alex was a strong and forward person by nature, but she was always softer with Jools. After the accident, Alex became incredibly protective of her recently acquired, confident, younger sister, and even though Jools was now a mod 18 year old, in the middle of her first year studying for a law degree at York university, the 22 year old Alex still did her utmost to act as a mother figure for her. Laz once told Lily he suspected the reason for Alex’s tough, worldy-wise attitude was largely the fact that she had grown up having to take care not only of herself, but of her younger sister too; a younger sister who had lived six years of her life without any parents at all, and then when she had finally gained a family, had two-thirds of it snatched away after only two years. Lily forgave Alex everything, partly because she was her best friend, and a great friend to have, but also partly because she knew what she had lived through, and she was aware that the world had taught Alex to fight everything, and to speak first and think later.
As Laz checked his watch half an hour later, and informed Alex and Lily that it was time for them to return to their desks, Lily became vaguely aware that Alex and Laz had spent the whole lunchtime engaged in conversation with Sébastian about his travels, his past, the countless odd jobs he had undertaken, each providing its own entertaining anecdotes, and his memories of France. Pleased that the lunch had gone well, and Sébastian seemed to fit well into her central group of friends, Lily realised she was keen for Sébastian to meet Christian, and she had a feeling he would find Alex’s larger than life partner as entertaining a companion as she always did.
As if on cue, Alex set down her napkin and smiled at Sébastian.
“You must come out with me and Christian soon.” She urged, “I’m sure you’d love him.”
“I’m sure I would.” Purred Sébastian, taking Lily’s hand.
Alex smiled contentedly. “How does dinner sound? Maybe Thursday?”
“That sounds wonderful.” He turned to Lily, “If that’s ok for you?”
“Yeah, sounds great. You’ll love Christian, he’s a real sweetie.” Lily grinned back, putting an arm round his waist and looking into his eyes.
“Well,” Interjected Laz, “I have no boyfriend for you to meet, but if you do happen to know any stunningly attractive, fun loving yet remarkably single, gloriously European, French women, I’d be happy to meet them.”
They all laughed as Laz winked at Sébastian, and Alex shoved him playfully towards the door.
Sunday 17 May 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 8}
Alex and Lily spent the entire time until Alex raised her wrist at nine o clock the next morning talking about Sébastian, with Alex coming up with odd scenarios involving Sébastian serenading Lily in the middle of the cafeteria, which meant that when the imposing black door at the front of the room bearing the name ‘Natasha Holloway’ swung open ten minutes later they were still in fits of giggles, and had to duck behind the monitors to conceal their laughter. Alex and Lily’s boss was an impersonal, domineering woman, and about as strict a boss as could be found. Emerging from her office donned in one of her usual dull trouser suits and the eternal ponytail they had never seen her without, she stood a moment surveying her workforce, legs apart, one hand on hip, the other clutching that morning’s ‘The Daily Standard’ tightly to her body. Alex flashed her wrist bearing ‘onwards through the mist’ at Lily, and they both took a couple of deep breaths, resisted the impulse to descend into giggles again, and straightened up.
Natasha began pacing between the rows of desks, glaring at frightened workers as they stammered into their headsets, shaking under the pressure enforced by her presence. Alex rolled her eyes and calmly continued her typing. Lily had always envied Alex’s undying confidence. As Natasha approached the dingy corner where Alex and Lily’s desks sat, Lily crossed her fingers tightly under the desk, praying that her phone would not ring. Glancing at Alex, she saw her staring fixedly at the light on her phone, and Lily knew that Alex was determinedly hoping her phone would ring, and she would have a chance to prove to Natasha, and anyone else who was listening, how collected and professional she was. Lily chuckled under her breath. However, both phones stayed silent as Natasha stopped between their desks, and Lily and Alex typed frantically, doing their best to indicate how hard they were working. Feeling the heat of Natasha’s gaze, Lily felt sure that she was about to receive a telling-off, but Natasha instead turned to look at Alex.
“Your figures for last week were most impressive, Alexis.” she boomed, prompting several jealous glances in Alex’s direction from nearby workers.
“Thanks, Tasha.” Alex grinned, looking Natasha evenly in the eyes.
“Yes, 74% of calls answered. 81% of enquiries concluded. Very good. Keep these figures on the rise and you’ll be in line for promotion. Well, carry on.”
Lily signalled a thumbs up to Alex, who winked in reply, as Natasha turned and strode back along the line of desks.
Natasha began pacing between the rows of desks, glaring at frightened workers as they stammered into their headsets, shaking under the pressure enforced by her presence. Alex rolled her eyes and calmly continued her typing. Lily had always envied Alex’s undying confidence. As Natasha approached the dingy corner where Alex and Lily’s desks sat, Lily crossed her fingers tightly under the desk, praying that her phone would not ring. Glancing at Alex, she saw her staring fixedly at the light on her phone, and Lily knew that Alex was determinedly hoping her phone would ring, and she would have a chance to prove to Natasha, and anyone else who was listening, how collected and professional she was. Lily chuckled under her breath. However, both phones stayed silent as Natasha stopped between their desks, and Lily and Alex typed frantically, doing their best to indicate how hard they were working. Feeling the heat of Natasha’s gaze, Lily felt sure that she was about to receive a telling-off, but Natasha instead turned to look at Alex.
“Your figures for last week were most impressive, Alexis.” she boomed, prompting several jealous glances in Alex’s direction from nearby workers.
“Thanks, Tasha.” Alex grinned, looking Natasha evenly in the eyes.
“Yes, 74% of calls answered. 81% of enquiries concluded. Very good. Keep these figures on the rise and you’ll be in line for promotion. Well, carry on.”
Lily signalled a thumbs up to Alex, who winked in reply, as Natasha turned and strode back along the line of desks.
Sunday 3 May 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 7}
“Oh my God” Lily sighed, sinking into her chair and dumping her bag on the floor the next morning.
Alex put down her mocha and looked up from her magazine. “Please tell me that’s a good ‘oh my God’” she said.
Lily grinned broadly. “And then some.”
“I take it last night went well then” grinned Alex, pulling off her plain black cardigan and brushing muffin crumbs from her blue and white striped, halter neck dress.
“It was the most sublime date I have ever, ever had. He took me to his apartment and served me a really yummy dinner, which was luckily vegetarian...”
“Oh yeah, that could have been awkward” interrupted Alex.
“You’re telling me” Lily winked, “Anyway, after dinner he told me to close my eyes and take his hand, so I did, and he led me up some stairs, and when he told me to open my eyes we were on the roof of his apartment block, and there were fairy lights and flowers everywhere. It was so beautiful.”
Alex put a hand to her face and gasped. “Omigosh, that sounds so, so adorable!” she breathed.
“It totally was” gushed Lily, smiling. “He had a stereo up there and he put on some music and we danced...on his roof...with fairy lights!”
“Wow” Alex sighed, brushing a hand through her hair and picking up her mocha.
“Wait, there’s more!” Lily surged. “When we got tired of dancing he took me over to one side and he had these airbeds laid out on the roof, and we just lay for ages and looked at the stars. It was so peaceful it totally didn’t feel like we were on the roof of an apartment block in the middle of a busy city. It was actually so peaceful I was practically falling asleep, so he drove me home, although I totally did not want to leave.” Lily folded her arms on her desk, and resting her head on them, closed her eyes and sighed contentedly.
Alex glanced thoughtfully at her tatooed wrist. “Ermm...That’s really great and everything hun, and I’m totally happy for you, but wasn’t that only your second date?”
Lily lifted her head and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. So?”
“Well, doesn’t it all just seem a bit too good to be true?” Alex asked, looking concerned.
“I guess it kind of does, yeah.” Lily mused. “But I’m hardly going to start asking him penetrating questions or anything because of that, and you can’t blame me for enjoying this, for now at least. I know it seems like there has to be a catch, but I feel really good about this.” Lily smiled hesitantly.
“No offence hun, but you always feel really good about it, and it never seems to work out.”
“Yes, thanks for that” Lily muttered, glowering at Alex.
“What?” enquired Alex loudly, “I said ‘no offence’”.
Lily stuck her tongue out at Alex and turned to her monitor, switching on the computer and searching her drawers for her headset.
“Anyway, when do I get to meet him?” Alex asked.
“Erm, I don’t know. I could ask him to come in for lunch tomorrow. What do you think?”
“Ooh yes! Go for it.” Grinned Alex.
“But you and Laz have to behave. No silly comments, no embarrassing stories...”
Alex giggled. “Silly comments? Us? Never!”
Alex put down her mocha and looked up from her magazine. “Please tell me that’s a good ‘oh my God’” she said.
Lily grinned broadly. “And then some.”
“I take it last night went well then” grinned Alex, pulling off her plain black cardigan and brushing muffin crumbs from her blue and white striped, halter neck dress.
“It was the most sublime date I have ever, ever had. He took me to his apartment and served me a really yummy dinner, which was luckily vegetarian...”
“Oh yeah, that could have been awkward” interrupted Alex.
“You’re telling me” Lily winked, “Anyway, after dinner he told me to close my eyes and take his hand, so I did, and he led me up some stairs, and when he told me to open my eyes we were on the roof of his apartment block, and there were fairy lights and flowers everywhere. It was so beautiful.”
Alex put a hand to her face and gasped. “Omigosh, that sounds so, so adorable!” she breathed.
“It totally was” gushed Lily, smiling. “He had a stereo up there and he put on some music and we danced...on his roof...with fairy lights!”
“Wow” Alex sighed, brushing a hand through her hair and picking up her mocha.
“Wait, there’s more!” Lily surged. “When we got tired of dancing he took me over to one side and he had these airbeds laid out on the roof, and we just lay for ages and looked at the stars. It was so peaceful it totally didn’t feel like we were on the roof of an apartment block in the middle of a busy city. It was actually so peaceful I was practically falling asleep, so he drove me home, although I totally did not want to leave.” Lily folded her arms on her desk, and resting her head on them, closed her eyes and sighed contentedly.
Alex glanced thoughtfully at her tatooed wrist. “Ermm...That’s really great and everything hun, and I’m totally happy for you, but wasn’t that only your second date?”
Lily lifted her head and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. So?”
“Well, doesn’t it all just seem a bit too good to be true?” Alex asked, looking concerned.
“I guess it kind of does, yeah.” Lily mused. “But I’m hardly going to start asking him penetrating questions or anything because of that, and you can’t blame me for enjoying this, for now at least. I know it seems like there has to be a catch, but I feel really good about this.” Lily smiled hesitantly.
“No offence hun, but you always feel really good about it, and it never seems to work out.”
“Yes, thanks for that” Lily muttered, glowering at Alex.
“What?” enquired Alex loudly, “I said ‘no offence’”.
Lily stuck her tongue out at Alex and turned to her monitor, switching on the computer and searching her drawers for her headset.
“Anyway, when do I get to meet him?” Alex asked.
“Erm, I don’t know. I could ask him to come in for lunch tomorrow. What do you think?”
“Ooh yes! Go for it.” Grinned Alex.
“But you and Laz have to behave. No silly comments, no embarrassing stories...”
Alex giggled. “Silly comments? Us? Never!”
Monday 27 April 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 6}
When she got to the office the next morning, Lily was glad to see Laz his normal, well-styled, not overly masculine self. He was lounging in his chair, eyes closed, feet resting on the reception desk with his ankles crossed, and singing gently to himself. Lily approached the desk as quietly as she could and stood a little distance away, watching him. Laz reached the end of the song, and without opening his eyes murmured “Hi there.”
“Hey.” Lily replied, dumping her bag on the desk. Laz showed no signs of moving, so she walked round behind the desk and swiped her personnel card through the scanner. Lily studied Laz for a moment before deciding that he was in one of his dreamy, thoughtful moods, and therefore it would be completely impossible to obtain a normal flow of conversation from him, so she grabbed her bag and strode towards the lifts.
“See you at lunch!” Laz called after her, lazily lifting a hand to brush his fringe out of his eyes.
“No you won’t...” Lily yelled back, “I’ve got a date.”
Laz opened his mouth to reply, but as he did so the phone on his desk began to ring. “To be continued.” He said, yawning, stretching and picking up the phone.
At lunch the next day, Laz and Alex listened eagerly as Lily described a wonderful lunch with Sébastian, followed by a walk around the city, and some time spent sitting in the sun in a peaceful park near the city centre. As Alex pointed out, Lily mentioned Sébastian’s eyes every other sentence, and blushed when she recalled charming things he had said to her.“It was just so, so amazing that I can’t quite believe it.” Lily finished, sighing happily and returning to her food.
“So...when are you seeing him again? You are aren’t you?” Alex asked.
Lily grinned. “Tonight” she said, fiddling with her hair.
“Tonight?” Alex gasped, “gosh this is going a bit fast isn’t it?”
“Well, yes, but I don’t really mind.”
“With him looking like that I’m not surprised!” Alex smirked.
“Hey.” Lily replied, dumping her bag on the desk. Laz showed no signs of moving, so she walked round behind the desk and swiped her personnel card through the scanner. Lily studied Laz for a moment before deciding that he was in one of his dreamy, thoughtful moods, and therefore it would be completely impossible to obtain a normal flow of conversation from him, so she grabbed her bag and strode towards the lifts.
“See you at lunch!” Laz called after her, lazily lifting a hand to brush his fringe out of his eyes.
“No you won’t...” Lily yelled back, “I’ve got a date.”
Laz opened his mouth to reply, but as he did so the phone on his desk began to ring. “To be continued.” He said, yawning, stretching and picking up the phone.
At lunch the next day, Laz and Alex listened eagerly as Lily described a wonderful lunch with Sébastian, followed by a walk around the city, and some time spent sitting in the sun in a peaceful park near the city centre. As Alex pointed out, Lily mentioned Sébastian’s eyes every other sentence, and blushed when she recalled charming things he had said to her.“It was just so, so amazing that I can’t quite believe it.” Lily finished, sighing happily and returning to her food.
“So...when are you seeing him again? You are aren’t you?” Alex asked.
Lily grinned. “Tonight” she said, fiddling with her hair.
“Tonight?” Alex gasped, “gosh this is going a bit fast isn’t it?”
“Well, yes, but I don’t really mind.”
“With him looking like that I’m not surprised!” Alex smirked.
Tuesday 7 April 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 5}
That night, Alex rang Lily and persuaded her to get a taxi down to Bristol for a good night’s clubbing, so Lily threw on a cobalt blue, halter neck dress and some sparkly silver stilettos, grabbed a clutch bag and called a taxi.
A couple of hours later, after a little drinking and a lot of dancing, Lily and Alex were chilling at a table in the corner of a lively, packed out bar, rating the looks of passing men.
“Oh wow look at that guy by the window, on the left.” breathed Alex.
“He’s with a woman!” Lily exclaimed in her best fake disapproving voice.
“So what? I could take her.” said Alex proudly.
“Omigosh, guy two tables to the right! He’s so cute!” Lily gushed, resting her chin on her hand and sighing dreamily.
“Oh, yes please.” giggled Alex.
Lily looked round at Alex, and as she did, she caught sight of a guy sitting alone at the bar, looking around interestedly and drinking what looked like a dry martini.
“What do you think of the guy at the bar? Pinstripe shirt, no tie. Blonde.”
Alex shrugged. “Not my type; you know I don’t like pretty boys.”
“Yeah, but I do!” said Lily, grinning and glancing at Alex, before returning to staring at the guy.
“You look...intrigued.” observed Alex.
“Yeah...” Lily mumbled.”I dunno, there’s just something about him. Like he’s totally excited about being alive.”
“Well why wouldn’t he be? He’s about to meet you.” Alex chuckled.
“No way.” objected Lily. “You know I’m way too shy to just go up to a guy I don’t know and start a conversation.”
“Oh go on. If not because you want to then just so you can say you have. Besides, I need a refill.”
“Well I’ll go for drinks but I’m not promising I’ll talk to him.” Lily said, grabbing their empty glasses and heading towards the bar.
As she approached, Lily could see that her distant glances had proved accurate; the guy was really cute. He had floppy, golden blonde hair and gorgeous olive skin. His strong jawline contrasted beautifully with the soft lines of his neck and collar bones, just visible beneath the open collar of his pale blue and white pinstripe shirt, which he wore with the sleeves rolled up so that the fold sat just below his elbows. As Lily came to a couple of steps away from him, he turned and looked right at her. Lily felt her skin tingling. He had the purest blue eyes she had ever seen. They looked like light blue water under a clear sheet of ice on a sunny day. He smiled, and she noticed that he had small dimples in his cheeks when he smiled, and his face came alive. Lily stopped walking for a moment and exhaled suddenly and quietly.
The guy turned back to his drink, and Lily recovered herself and, glancing back at Alex, who was watching with a massive cheeky grin across her face, she walked to the bar and perched on a bar stool next to the guy to wait for a bartender. A few moments passed, Lily staring fixedly at the empty glasses in her hands, very much aware that the guy was watching her. It seemed like hours before the bartender finally saw Lily and came to her, and she was able to ask for one Long Island Iced Tea for Alex and one Cosmopolitan for herself.
“Here, let me pay for those.” said the guy, handing the bartender a note and smiling. His voice was soft, and when he spoke Lily thought if she closed her eyes it would feel like she was lying on velvet. He seemed to have some kind of accent, but it was hard to tell as he spoke so gently.
“Th-thanks.” she stuttered, realising speech was necessary.
“You’re very welcome.” he smiled, and Lily noticed more distinctly this time the French accent in his voice. “I’m Sébastian. Sébastian Lefevre.” he murmured, holding out his hand.
“Lily Sanchez.” she mumbled, not quite daring to look into his eyes again, for fear that she might gasp out loud in front of him.
“What do you do Miss Sanchez?” he asked, and whereas with any other guy she had just met, Lily would find this question suspect, with this guy it seemed like the most innocent question in the world.
“I’m a journalist.” Lily said automatically. “Erm, well, I work for The Daily Standard, but I just answer phones. I work on the enquiries line. It’s not great, I know.” She looked down at her hands as she fiddled with her necklace, feeling herself go red under the gaze of his beautiful eyes.
“But what would you like to do?” he asked.
“Well, really I’d like to be a field reporter, but I’d never be good enough. I do have a journalism degree though.”
“You’d like the excitement of it? Being out there, seeing the world; seeing life actually happen.”
“Exactly.” breathed Lily, unnerved by his perceptiveness. “What do you do? Do you live in England?”
“For now, yes.” he said, his smile making Lily immediately feel totally comfortable. “I’m on a gap year. I was at university in France, studying art, but after I finished my course I wanted to get out and see the world, like you, so I’ve been travelling around Europe for the last eight months, taking odd jobs here and there, staying anywhere I can find; seeing life actually happen.” He raised his glass to life and closed his eyes as he drank from it. Lily grinned as she followed suit.
“So are you staying in Bristol?” she asked, replacing her glass onto the bar.
“Yes. I settled here yesterday actually.”
“Well, erm, if you like I could maybe show you around a little. I know all the best cafés. If you like.” Lily stammered.
“I would like that very much Miss Sanchez.” he replied, smiling gently and placing his hand over hers. Flushed, but unable to stop herself smiling widely, Lily gathered herself.
“Well Mr...erm...”
“Lefevre”
“Lefevre, that was it. Well Mr Lefevre, I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me; my friend is over there waiting for her drink, and I have left her sitting there alone far long enough.”
“Of course.” he purred. “It’s a pleasure to have met you. May I take your number so that I can call to make arrangements?”
“Erm, yeah, sure.” Lily grabbed a napkin, and ignoring the cliché scrawled her number on it with a pen the bartender had left by the till.
As she walked back to Alex at their table, drink in each hand, bag jammed between her arm and the side of her body, she turned her head back over her shoulder, and saw that he was smiling gently as he took a sip of his drink, his eyes closed again. Just as she was about to turn away, he put down his drink, twisted his neck a little and looked right into her eyes. Lily was aware for a moment that she was holding her breath, as visions of beautiful alpine lakes in France flashed through her head behind the image of those stunning eyes. Lily Sanchez was a self-proclaimed, idiot realist. But sometimes, sometimes she was an idealist, and she was always a romantic.
A couple of hours later, after a little drinking and a lot of dancing, Lily and Alex were chilling at a table in the corner of a lively, packed out bar, rating the looks of passing men.
“Oh wow look at that guy by the window, on the left.” breathed Alex.
“He’s with a woman!” Lily exclaimed in her best fake disapproving voice.
“So what? I could take her.” said Alex proudly.
“Omigosh, guy two tables to the right! He’s so cute!” Lily gushed, resting her chin on her hand and sighing dreamily.
“Oh, yes please.” giggled Alex.
Lily looked round at Alex, and as she did, she caught sight of a guy sitting alone at the bar, looking around interestedly and drinking what looked like a dry martini.
“What do you think of the guy at the bar? Pinstripe shirt, no tie. Blonde.”
Alex shrugged. “Not my type; you know I don’t like pretty boys.”
“Yeah, but I do!” said Lily, grinning and glancing at Alex, before returning to staring at the guy.
“You look...intrigued.” observed Alex.
“Yeah...” Lily mumbled.”I dunno, there’s just something about him. Like he’s totally excited about being alive.”
“Well why wouldn’t he be? He’s about to meet you.” Alex chuckled.
“No way.” objected Lily. “You know I’m way too shy to just go up to a guy I don’t know and start a conversation.”
“Oh go on. If not because you want to then just so you can say you have. Besides, I need a refill.”
“Well I’ll go for drinks but I’m not promising I’ll talk to him.” Lily said, grabbing their empty glasses and heading towards the bar.
As she approached, Lily could see that her distant glances had proved accurate; the guy was really cute. He had floppy, golden blonde hair and gorgeous olive skin. His strong jawline contrasted beautifully with the soft lines of his neck and collar bones, just visible beneath the open collar of his pale blue and white pinstripe shirt, which he wore with the sleeves rolled up so that the fold sat just below his elbows. As Lily came to a couple of steps away from him, he turned and looked right at her. Lily felt her skin tingling. He had the purest blue eyes she had ever seen. They looked like light blue water under a clear sheet of ice on a sunny day. He smiled, and she noticed that he had small dimples in his cheeks when he smiled, and his face came alive. Lily stopped walking for a moment and exhaled suddenly and quietly.
The guy turned back to his drink, and Lily recovered herself and, glancing back at Alex, who was watching with a massive cheeky grin across her face, she walked to the bar and perched on a bar stool next to the guy to wait for a bartender. A few moments passed, Lily staring fixedly at the empty glasses in her hands, very much aware that the guy was watching her. It seemed like hours before the bartender finally saw Lily and came to her, and she was able to ask for one Long Island Iced Tea for Alex and one Cosmopolitan for herself.
“Here, let me pay for those.” said the guy, handing the bartender a note and smiling. His voice was soft, and when he spoke Lily thought if she closed her eyes it would feel like she was lying on velvet. He seemed to have some kind of accent, but it was hard to tell as he spoke so gently.
“Th-thanks.” she stuttered, realising speech was necessary.
“You’re very welcome.” he smiled, and Lily noticed more distinctly this time the French accent in his voice. “I’m Sébastian. Sébastian Lefevre.” he murmured, holding out his hand.
“Lily Sanchez.” she mumbled, not quite daring to look into his eyes again, for fear that she might gasp out loud in front of him.
“What do you do Miss Sanchez?” he asked, and whereas with any other guy she had just met, Lily would find this question suspect, with this guy it seemed like the most innocent question in the world.
“I’m a journalist.” Lily said automatically. “Erm, well, I work for The Daily Standard, but I just answer phones. I work on the enquiries line. It’s not great, I know.” She looked down at her hands as she fiddled with her necklace, feeling herself go red under the gaze of his beautiful eyes.
“But what would you like to do?” he asked.
“Well, really I’d like to be a field reporter, but I’d never be good enough. I do have a journalism degree though.”
“You’d like the excitement of it? Being out there, seeing the world; seeing life actually happen.”
“Exactly.” breathed Lily, unnerved by his perceptiveness. “What do you do? Do you live in England?”
“For now, yes.” he said, his smile making Lily immediately feel totally comfortable. “I’m on a gap year. I was at university in France, studying art, but after I finished my course I wanted to get out and see the world, like you, so I’ve been travelling around Europe for the last eight months, taking odd jobs here and there, staying anywhere I can find; seeing life actually happen.” He raised his glass to life and closed his eyes as he drank from it. Lily grinned as she followed suit.
“So are you staying in Bristol?” she asked, replacing her glass onto the bar.
“Yes. I settled here yesterday actually.”
“Well, erm, if you like I could maybe show you around a little. I know all the best cafés. If you like.” Lily stammered.
“I would like that very much Miss Sanchez.” he replied, smiling gently and placing his hand over hers. Flushed, but unable to stop herself smiling widely, Lily gathered herself.
“Well Mr...erm...”
“Lefevre”
“Lefevre, that was it. Well Mr Lefevre, I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me; my friend is over there waiting for her drink, and I have left her sitting there alone far long enough.”
“Of course.” he purred. “It’s a pleasure to have met you. May I take your number so that I can call to make arrangements?”
“Erm, yeah, sure.” Lily grabbed a napkin, and ignoring the cliché scrawled her number on it with a pen the bartender had left by the till.
As she walked back to Alex at their table, drink in each hand, bag jammed between her arm and the side of her body, she turned her head back over her shoulder, and saw that he was smiling gently as he took a sip of his drink, his eyes closed again. Just as she was about to turn away, he put down his drink, twisted his neck a little and looked right into her eyes. Lily was aware for a moment that she was holding her breath, as visions of beautiful alpine lakes in France flashed through her head behind the image of those stunning eyes. Lily Sanchez was a self-proclaimed, idiot realist. But sometimes, sometimes she was an idealist, and she was always a romantic.
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 4}
Lily had barely stepped into reception the next day before she burst out laughing. Laz was leaning casually against the reception desk in a rugby shirt, eating a hefty beefburger and reading a men’s fitness magazine. Looking up as he heard Lily laughing, Laz nodded, cocked one eyebrow and said “Sup?” before returning to his reading. Chuckling as she reached the desk, Lily seized the burger out of Laz’s hand and replaced it with her personnel card. Laz put the magazine down on the desk, walked round behind it and swiped her in.
“Alright, I get it.” Lily giggled, “Receptionists can be masculine.”
Laz simply smiled at his computer monitor and handed Lily back her card, which she took before picking up Laz’s discarded magazine and flicking through it.
“You look bloody awful by the way.” Laz pointed out, his eyes never leaving the screen.
Lily grinned, “Yes, I know. It’s a good thing I get here early and you’re the only person who sees me before I have a chance to get to the toilets and put some make-up on. I slept on my sofa last night, without setting an alarm, so I woke up late and didn’t have time to sort myself out before I left this morning.”
Lily automatically ran a hand through her fine, straight(ish) hair. Sometimes Lily loved her hair, other times she hated it. When she was younger she had hated the colour of her hair, and always considered it plain, but ever since one boyfriend had described it as “golden”, Lily found she didn’t mind it so much, and her hair seemed to always be very soft. But on days like today, when she had barely had time to run a brush through it, her hair was an unruly mess. Lily found herself watching Laz as he organised the papers on his desk. Laz somehow managed to look great no matter what, yet still seem not to have taken any time over his appearance whatsoever. Lily found it odd seeing him in the casual rugby shirt, mismatched with a pair of his usual stylish work trousers, today grey with a white pinstripe. Laz noticed Lily looking and raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Oh nothing, never mind.” said Lily, “I’d better go and make myself presentable before everyone gets here.”
“See you at lunch.” called Laz to Lily’s retreating back, pulling off the rugby shirt to reveal a smart, white shirt and thin black tie underneath.
“That’s better.” said Lily, looking back over her shoulder, “You can be manly and stylish while you answer the phone all day.”
“Hey, isn’t that your job?” Laz joked.
“Shut up.” returned Lily, realising that he was right, and that actually, his job was probably a lot better than hers. Laz grinned and feigned zipping his lips together as the lift doors clanged shut, obscuring him from view, and Lily went zooming upwards.
“Alright, I get it.” Lily giggled, “Receptionists can be masculine.”
Laz simply smiled at his computer monitor and handed Lily back her card, which she took before picking up Laz’s discarded magazine and flicking through it.
“You look bloody awful by the way.” Laz pointed out, his eyes never leaving the screen.
Lily grinned, “Yes, I know. It’s a good thing I get here early and you’re the only person who sees me before I have a chance to get to the toilets and put some make-up on. I slept on my sofa last night, without setting an alarm, so I woke up late and didn’t have time to sort myself out before I left this morning.”
Lily automatically ran a hand through her fine, straight(ish) hair. Sometimes Lily loved her hair, other times she hated it. When she was younger she had hated the colour of her hair, and always considered it plain, but ever since one boyfriend had described it as “golden”, Lily found she didn’t mind it so much, and her hair seemed to always be very soft. But on days like today, when she had barely had time to run a brush through it, her hair was an unruly mess. Lily found herself watching Laz as he organised the papers on his desk. Laz somehow managed to look great no matter what, yet still seem not to have taken any time over his appearance whatsoever. Lily found it odd seeing him in the casual rugby shirt, mismatched with a pair of his usual stylish work trousers, today grey with a white pinstripe. Laz noticed Lily looking and raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Oh nothing, never mind.” said Lily, “I’d better go and make myself presentable before everyone gets here.”
“See you at lunch.” called Laz to Lily’s retreating back, pulling off the rugby shirt to reveal a smart, white shirt and thin black tie underneath.
“That’s better.” said Lily, looking back over her shoulder, “You can be manly and stylish while you answer the phone all day.”
“Hey, isn’t that your job?” Laz joked.
“Shut up.” returned Lily, realising that he was right, and that actually, his job was probably a lot better than hers. Laz grinned and feigned zipping his lips together as the lift doors clanged shut, obscuring him from view, and Lily went zooming upwards.
Saturday 28 March 2009
Under Blue Skies {chapter 3}
Lily and Alex’s lunch break began 10 minutes before Laz’s, so when he walked into the cafeteria that lunchtime, Lily was able to watch him from her seat at their usual table as he selected a chicken salad sandwich, stood for five minutes in a queue behind a large woman trying to pay for her curry in pennies, and strode towards them, pushing his floppy, brown hair out of his eyes and humming to himself. As he reached the table and sat down, the smile faded from his face, and he suddenly became very serious. “So,” he said, fixing the gaze of his penetrating green eyes on Lily, “how was it?”
Lily grinned. “Patience is a virtue...”
“That Laz doesn’t have.” Butted in Alex. “Besides, I have to call Christian before the end of lunch, so spit it out!”
“Alright, alright.” Lily took a moment to compose her thoughts, and then began the story Alex and Laz had been dying to hear all morning.
“So, it started off a little badly, entirely my fault. I had a last minute outfit crisis and ended up being 10 minutes late.”
“What was the crisis?” Interrupted Alex.
“Well it was a posh restaurant, but a first date. I couldn’t decide between jeans and a dress.”
“And what did you decide?”
“I thought, ‘what would Alex do?’ So of course I wore both.”
“Of course. A light dress over jeans is good enough for any restaurant.”
Laz forced a cough. “Excuse me ladies, but I’d actually like to hear about how the rest of the evening went, thrilling as the mental processes behind your wardrobe decisions are.”
Lily chuckled “Sorry Laz. So anyway, when I eventually got there, I found him standing in the doorway; like the perfect gentlemen he had waited for me to arrive before getting a table.”
“This sounds good.” Said Alex excitedly.
“Yes, he was all charm and manners and ‘here, let me pull out your chair for you’, and everything was going so very well. We were getting along wonderfully, and he was turning out to be a real laugh. He seemed like such a fun guy... But in the end he was just a little too fun.”
Laz swallowed a mouthful of chicken and lettuce and murmured “Uh-oh...”
“Yes, uh-oh is right. As the evening went on I began to notice his voice getting louder, and his jokes getting cruder, and that the number of empty wine bottles on our table was increasing at quite remarkable speed.”
“Oh lord.” Said Alex, stifling a laugh. “I’m sorry Lil.”
“Never mind though.” Laz placed his hand over Lily’s and smiled his warmest, most caring smile. “We still love you to bits.”
“Of course we do.” Chipped in Alex, putting a consoling arm around Lily’ shoulders.
“Thanks guys.”
“Right.” Alex brushed the crumbs from her jacket and stood up. “I have to call Christian and confirm dinner reservations for tonight. I’ll see you back at the front line.” She blew a kiss in Lily and Laz’s vague direction, and strutted off.
“I don’t know how those two do it.” Lily sighed.
Lily could just see Laz raising one of his eyebrows behind the thick curtain of his fringe. “Do what?” he asked.
“Not drive each other crazy.”
Alexis Clarke and Christian Larsen were the perfect couple. Despite being wildly different people, they agreed on practically everything, and each of them was always prepared to sacrifice their own desires to keep the other happy, which had the glorious effect that they were always happy when they were together. Alex had met Christian three years ago, when they were both just 19, and Norwegian born Christian was working in the main cafeteria on Alex’s university campus. Christian now worked as sous chef at one of Bristol’s top restaurants, which meant that although they were living together, they saw very little of each other, as Christian had to be at the restaurant every day for lunch and dinner service, and Alex was at work in the mornings when he was at home. However, this was never a big issue for Alex, who was a real ‘sisters are doing it for themselves’ girl, and not the sort of person who relied upon others.
Lily thought back to the first time she had met Christian. She remembered turning to see Alex walking towards her hand in hand with a tall, muscular guy, (in fact, Alex and Christian were the exact same height), his naturally blonde hair dyed jet black and messily spiked up, and looking as if it should belong to a different person than the huge, all-encompassing smile on his pleasantly chiselled face. Christian was a real clown; sweet, kind of goofy, and totally adorable. The kind of guy it’s impossible not to like.
“I guess they just fit.” said Laz, bringing Lily back into the room. “It’s like when you see a seventy year old man and woman sat in a park kissing, and they look so happy and totally crazy about each other they could be 15 years old. They fit.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Laz grinned and leant forward onto the table. “What’s up?” he asked.
“Oh nothing.” Lily muttered, looking down sheepishly.
“Come on, what is it?”
“It’s just...sometimes I get so jealous of Alex. She’s 22 and she’s already living with the man of her dreams. So how come you and I are still sleeping alone at night? I mean, I know Alex is great, but what’s wrong with us?” Lily sighed.
“Nothing’s wrong with us babe, I guess we’re just not as lucky as her and Christian. They just happened to find each other when they were still really young. But you’ll get there, you know that, you just have to be patient and keep trying.”
“And what about you? How are things in your love life?”
“Well not that great to be honest, but hey, I’m happy. I love my job, I have great friends,” Lily smiled as Laz patted her arm. “I’m enjoying life!” Grinning, Laz folded his hands behind his head and leaned backwards in his chair.
“You know, I don’t think it’s always a good thing that you love your job so much.”
“What do you mean?” Laz enquired, looking scandalised.
Lily giggled. “Well hun, you’re a receptionist, and you totally love it. Don’t you think that makes you seem a little bit gay?”
Laz chewed meditatively on the end of his plastic fork. “Hmm...I do see your point...but obviously my rugged good looks and bulging muscles would prevent anyone from ever suspecting me of being gay.” he laughed.
Lily sniggered. “Obviously.”
That night, as Lily sat in front of the television with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream, watching Bridget Jones’ Diary and feeling sorry for herself, she found herself mystified by what Laz would call luck, and Alex would call fate. Why was it that out of the three of them, it was Alex, the loud, sassy, independent one who was settled in a happy, long-term relationship, and why was it that a great guy like Laz hadn’t found someone, even if he was a little camp? And above all, why was she herself so totally hopeless when it came to romance? Was she destined to spend all her evenings binge eating and watching chick flicks, alone in her tiny flat, for the rest of her life? Lily smiled. ‘Ah well, at least I’m not completely alone’, she thought to herself, as her handsome silver tabby cat, Xerxes, came striding up to her, purring and waving his tail proudly in the air.
“Time for bed I think baby.” she yawned.
“Prrt” said Xerxes in agreement, jumping onto her lap, kneading her legs with his paws, and curling up contentedly.
“Alright, I guess I’m sleeping on the sofa tonight.” Smiling and stroking Xerxes, Lily shoved a cushion behind her head and closed her eyes.
Lily grinned. “Patience is a virtue...”
“That Laz doesn’t have.” Butted in Alex. “Besides, I have to call Christian before the end of lunch, so spit it out!”
“Alright, alright.” Lily took a moment to compose her thoughts, and then began the story Alex and Laz had been dying to hear all morning.
“So, it started off a little badly, entirely my fault. I had a last minute outfit crisis and ended up being 10 minutes late.”
“What was the crisis?” Interrupted Alex.
“Well it was a posh restaurant, but a first date. I couldn’t decide between jeans and a dress.”
“And what did you decide?”
“I thought, ‘what would Alex do?’ So of course I wore both.”
“Of course. A light dress over jeans is good enough for any restaurant.”
Laz forced a cough. “Excuse me ladies, but I’d actually like to hear about how the rest of the evening went, thrilling as the mental processes behind your wardrobe decisions are.”
Lily chuckled “Sorry Laz. So anyway, when I eventually got there, I found him standing in the doorway; like the perfect gentlemen he had waited for me to arrive before getting a table.”
“This sounds good.” Said Alex excitedly.
“Yes, he was all charm and manners and ‘here, let me pull out your chair for you’, and everything was going so very well. We were getting along wonderfully, and he was turning out to be a real laugh. He seemed like such a fun guy... But in the end he was just a little too fun.”
Laz swallowed a mouthful of chicken and lettuce and murmured “Uh-oh...”
“Yes, uh-oh is right. As the evening went on I began to notice his voice getting louder, and his jokes getting cruder, and that the number of empty wine bottles on our table was increasing at quite remarkable speed.”
“Oh lord.” Said Alex, stifling a laugh. “I’m sorry Lil.”
“Never mind though.” Laz placed his hand over Lily’s and smiled his warmest, most caring smile. “We still love you to bits.”
“Of course we do.” Chipped in Alex, putting a consoling arm around Lily’ shoulders.
“Thanks guys.”
“Right.” Alex brushed the crumbs from her jacket and stood up. “I have to call Christian and confirm dinner reservations for tonight. I’ll see you back at the front line.” She blew a kiss in Lily and Laz’s vague direction, and strutted off.
“I don’t know how those two do it.” Lily sighed.
Lily could just see Laz raising one of his eyebrows behind the thick curtain of his fringe. “Do what?” he asked.
“Not drive each other crazy.”
Alexis Clarke and Christian Larsen were the perfect couple. Despite being wildly different people, they agreed on practically everything, and each of them was always prepared to sacrifice their own desires to keep the other happy, which had the glorious effect that they were always happy when they were together. Alex had met Christian three years ago, when they were both just 19, and Norwegian born Christian was working in the main cafeteria on Alex’s university campus. Christian now worked as sous chef at one of Bristol’s top restaurants, which meant that although they were living together, they saw very little of each other, as Christian had to be at the restaurant every day for lunch and dinner service, and Alex was at work in the mornings when he was at home. However, this was never a big issue for Alex, who was a real ‘sisters are doing it for themselves’ girl, and not the sort of person who relied upon others.
Lily thought back to the first time she had met Christian. She remembered turning to see Alex walking towards her hand in hand with a tall, muscular guy, (in fact, Alex and Christian were the exact same height), his naturally blonde hair dyed jet black and messily spiked up, and looking as if it should belong to a different person than the huge, all-encompassing smile on his pleasantly chiselled face. Christian was a real clown; sweet, kind of goofy, and totally adorable. The kind of guy it’s impossible not to like.
“I guess they just fit.” said Laz, bringing Lily back into the room. “It’s like when you see a seventy year old man and woman sat in a park kissing, and they look so happy and totally crazy about each other they could be 15 years old. They fit.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Laz grinned and leant forward onto the table. “What’s up?” he asked.
“Oh nothing.” Lily muttered, looking down sheepishly.
“Come on, what is it?”
“It’s just...sometimes I get so jealous of Alex. She’s 22 and she’s already living with the man of her dreams. So how come you and I are still sleeping alone at night? I mean, I know Alex is great, but what’s wrong with us?” Lily sighed.
“Nothing’s wrong with us babe, I guess we’re just not as lucky as her and Christian. They just happened to find each other when they were still really young. But you’ll get there, you know that, you just have to be patient and keep trying.”
“And what about you? How are things in your love life?”
“Well not that great to be honest, but hey, I’m happy. I love my job, I have great friends,” Lily smiled as Laz patted her arm. “I’m enjoying life!” Grinning, Laz folded his hands behind his head and leaned backwards in his chair.
“You know, I don’t think it’s always a good thing that you love your job so much.”
“What do you mean?” Laz enquired, looking scandalised.
Lily giggled. “Well hun, you’re a receptionist, and you totally love it. Don’t you think that makes you seem a little bit gay?”
Laz chewed meditatively on the end of his plastic fork. “Hmm...I do see your point...but obviously my rugged good looks and bulging muscles would prevent anyone from ever suspecting me of being gay.” he laughed.
Lily sniggered. “Obviously.”
That night, as Lily sat in front of the television with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream, watching Bridget Jones’ Diary and feeling sorry for herself, she found herself mystified by what Laz would call luck, and Alex would call fate. Why was it that out of the three of them, it was Alex, the loud, sassy, independent one who was settled in a happy, long-term relationship, and why was it that a great guy like Laz hadn’t found someone, even if he was a little camp? And above all, why was she herself so totally hopeless when it came to romance? Was she destined to spend all her evenings binge eating and watching chick flicks, alone in her tiny flat, for the rest of her life? Lily smiled. ‘Ah well, at least I’m not completely alone’, she thought to herself, as her handsome silver tabby cat, Xerxes, came striding up to her, purring and waving his tail proudly in the air.
“Time for bed I think baby.” she yawned.
“Prrt” said Xerxes in agreement, jumping onto her lap, kneading her legs with his paws, and curling up contentedly.
“Alright, I guess I’m sleeping on the sofa tonight.” Smiling and stroking Xerxes, Lily shoved a cushion behind her head and closed her eyes.
Thursday 26 March 2009
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 2}
“You’re early.” Laz smirked as he whipped off his glasses and pushed his fringe out of his eyes. “I’m always early” Lily muttered, handing him her personnel card and leaning against the reception desk.
“I know,” he replied as he swiped her in, “it’s not healthy.”
Lily picked up his glasses and slipped them on. Walking round behind the desk she leant her elbows on his shoulders and peered at the computer screen. “Do I have any mail?” she asked eagerly.
“Nope. Sorry babe.”
She shrugged and handed him his glasses. He passed her personnel card to her over his shoulder, and she kissed him on the cheek and walked towards the lifts. “Are you not going to tell me how it went?” he called after her.
“I’m sure you can wait until lunch.” She replied, chuckling as she stepped into the lift and pressed the button for floor 7.
Shoving her mirror hastily back into her bag as she stepped out of the lift three minutes and six juddering stops later, Lily began the perilous journey from the lift doors to her desk in a dark corner on the opposite side of the room. Even 20 minutes before the day’s work was due to begin the office was a madhouse of technicians, cleaners and personal assistants making doubly sure that they had got the bosses the right coffee, and that morning’s edition of The Daily Standard was laid out neatly on their desks. Breathing a sigh of relief as she reached her station, Lily turned on her computer, switched her mobile to silent and sat down heavily on her swivel chair.
10 minutes later, a tall, slim woman walked into the room, brushing her long, straight blonde hair out of her face. Lily smiled widely as every man in the room stopped what he was doing for a moment to look admiringly at the beautiful woman with the sparkle in her pale grey eyes, winking at Lily as she strutted across the room towards her. Alexis Clarke dumped her bag on her chair and perched on the edge of Lily’s desk. “Wow Alex, you look so great today!” Lily breathed in awe. It was true; Alex’s natural beauty was blindingly obvious in the pale red and green, paisley-patterned chiffon dress skimming the tops of her knees, leaving a glimpse of her flawless, rose-tinted skin before the top rim of the black leather, buckled boots which totally shouldn’t match but did, and as she whipped off her maroon leather jacket, a flash of sky blue glinted from the butterfly necklace lying gracefully over her collar bones. As usual, Alex answered the compliment with a simple smile.
“So...” she said, “how’d it go?” Her eyes sparkled even more than usual, as they always did when hearing tales of Lily’s romantic exploits.
“You’ll have to wait until lunch. I’ve promised Laz a full account as well.”
“Fine then.” Alex went to sit at her own desk, pulling a cherry mocha out of her bag and shoving it haphazardly under her desk. “So how is Laz this morning?”
“Impatient as ever.” Lily chuckled.
Alex smirked and took a meditative sip of her mocha.“So when are you and Laz going to admit your true feelings for each other? It’s been four months since you came to work here, and every time you see him your whole face lights up.”
Lily opened her mouth to reply, but just in time she noticed the playful smile playing on Alex’s face. “You!” She giggled, “Every excuse to tease me. I don’t know why I put up with it!”
“It’s only because you love me.” Giggled Alex, dumping her starbucks cup on a neighbouring desk and switching on her monitor.
“Eugh.” Groaned Lily as she noticed the clock ticking dangerously close to nine. Alex simply held up her left wrist in response, as she did every morning when the phone lines were about to be opened. Around Alex’s wrist were tattooed the words ‘onwards through the mist’. It was a mantra that kept Alex’s spirits at a constant high, and lifted Lily’s when her own optimism failed her.
As the minute hand hit twelve, a bell rang in the office, and within seconds the ‘incoming call’ button on Lily’s phone flashed red. “Time for work, helpline girl.” Alex said, slipping on her headset and turning in her chair to face her computer screen.
Lily sighed and pressed the button. “Daily Standard Enquiries, how can I help...?”
“I know,” he replied as he swiped her in, “it’s not healthy.”
Lily picked up his glasses and slipped them on. Walking round behind the desk she leant her elbows on his shoulders and peered at the computer screen. “Do I have any mail?” she asked eagerly.
“Nope. Sorry babe.”
She shrugged and handed him his glasses. He passed her personnel card to her over his shoulder, and she kissed him on the cheek and walked towards the lifts. “Are you not going to tell me how it went?” he called after her.
“I’m sure you can wait until lunch.” She replied, chuckling as she stepped into the lift and pressed the button for floor 7.
Shoving her mirror hastily back into her bag as she stepped out of the lift three minutes and six juddering stops later, Lily began the perilous journey from the lift doors to her desk in a dark corner on the opposite side of the room. Even 20 minutes before the day’s work was due to begin the office was a madhouse of technicians, cleaners and personal assistants making doubly sure that they had got the bosses the right coffee, and that morning’s edition of The Daily Standard was laid out neatly on their desks. Breathing a sigh of relief as she reached her station, Lily turned on her computer, switched her mobile to silent and sat down heavily on her swivel chair.
10 minutes later, a tall, slim woman walked into the room, brushing her long, straight blonde hair out of her face. Lily smiled widely as every man in the room stopped what he was doing for a moment to look admiringly at the beautiful woman with the sparkle in her pale grey eyes, winking at Lily as she strutted across the room towards her. Alexis Clarke dumped her bag on her chair and perched on the edge of Lily’s desk. “Wow Alex, you look so great today!” Lily breathed in awe. It was true; Alex’s natural beauty was blindingly obvious in the pale red and green, paisley-patterned chiffon dress skimming the tops of her knees, leaving a glimpse of her flawless, rose-tinted skin before the top rim of the black leather, buckled boots which totally shouldn’t match but did, and as she whipped off her maroon leather jacket, a flash of sky blue glinted from the butterfly necklace lying gracefully over her collar bones. As usual, Alex answered the compliment with a simple smile.
“So...” she said, “how’d it go?” Her eyes sparkled even more than usual, as they always did when hearing tales of Lily’s romantic exploits.
“You’ll have to wait until lunch. I’ve promised Laz a full account as well.”
“Fine then.” Alex went to sit at her own desk, pulling a cherry mocha out of her bag and shoving it haphazardly under her desk. “So how is Laz this morning?”
“Impatient as ever.” Lily chuckled.
Alex smirked and took a meditative sip of her mocha.“So when are you and Laz going to admit your true feelings for each other? It’s been four months since you came to work here, and every time you see him your whole face lights up.”
Lily opened her mouth to reply, but just in time she noticed the playful smile playing on Alex’s face. “You!” She giggled, “Every excuse to tease me. I don’t know why I put up with it!”
“It’s only because you love me.” Giggled Alex, dumping her starbucks cup on a neighbouring desk and switching on her monitor.
“Eugh.” Groaned Lily as she noticed the clock ticking dangerously close to nine. Alex simply held up her left wrist in response, as she did every morning when the phone lines were about to be opened. Around Alex’s wrist were tattooed the words ‘onwards through the mist’. It was a mantra that kept Alex’s spirits at a constant high, and lifted Lily’s when her own optimism failed her.
As the minute hand hit twelve, a bell rang in the office, and within seconds the ‘incoming call’ button on Lily’s phone flashed red. “Time for work, helpline girl.” Alex said, slipping on her headset and turning in her chair to face her computer screen.
Lily sighed and pressed the button. “Daily Standard Enquiries, how can I help...?”
Under Blue Skies {Chapter 1}
Lily Sanchez was a self-proclaimed idiot. No matter how many times experience taught her that all men are the same, and no matter how perfect every relationship seemed at the start, they always ended the same way, she still wound up feeling lonely enough to long for another relationship; another insufficient, insensitive guy to fill the gaping romantic void in her life. She was still young enough to dream of the idyllic life with the perfect home and the perfect family, and the perfect picnics under blue skies, but yet she was old enough now to know that an impossible dream only makes reality that much harder to live through. Lily was not a cynic, but she recognised that idealism gains you nothing except disappointment with the world as it really is. Lily Sanchez was a realist: A self-proclaimed, idiot realist. No wonder she felt so alone.
Shaking her head to clear her mind of the blurry, early-morning philosophies that always hassled her on the way to work, Lily checked her mirrors and pushed the car up a gear. The battered Peugeot struggled on through the mist, complaining noisily and causing irreparable damage to the environment, as Lily gazed wistfully at shiny BMW convertibles and wooden framed Jags whizzing past up the fast lane. Pulling off the motorway she yawned widely and reached for her Starbucks to-go hot chocolate. She had never been any good at mornings.
Half an hour later Lily cut the engine in the office car park and released the catch on her seatbelt. Grabbing her bag from the passenger seat and slipping on a pair of sleek, black heels, she took the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car. Chucking her empty Starbucks cup into the dustbin at the bottom of the steps Lily sighed as she resigned herself to another day of answering phone call after phone call, making sure everyone else’s problems were sorted out, whilst her own went un-noticed. That was something she could never forgive herself for; letting three years of hard work for a degree in journalism go to waste, and because of a man, of all things. Grinning ironically, Lily shoved her keys into her bag and walked into the building.
Shaking her head to clear her mind of the blurry, early-morning philosophies that always hassled her on the way to work, Lily checked her mirrors and pushed the car up a gear. The battered Peugeot struggled on through the mist, complaining noisily and causing irreparable damage to the environment, as Lily gazed wistfully at shiny BMW convertibles and wooden framed Jags whizzing past up the fast lane. Pulling off the motorway she yawned widely and reached for her Starbucks to-go hot chocolate. She had never been any good at mornings.
Half an hour later Lily cut the engine in the office car park and released the catch on her seatbelt. Grabbing her bag from the passenger seat and slipping on a pair of sleek, black heels, she took the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car. Chucking her empty Starbucks cup into the dustbin at the bottom of the steps Lily sighed as she resigned herself to another day of answering phone call after phone call, making sure everyone else’s problems were sorted out, whilst her own went un-noticed. That was something she could never forgive herself for; letting three years of hard work for a degree in journalism go to waste, and because of a man, of all things. Grinning ironically, Lily shoved her keys into her bag and walked into the building.
Under Blue Skies {foreward}
So...
A friend of mine recently began writing a story in short chapters posted as written on his facebook account.
I loved the freedom that this style of writing gave, and his story inspired me to create my own.
To this end, I have begun writing "Under Blue Skies", a story of everyday people and everyday events, loosely based around my experiences and people I know.
All the names, and generally the appearances, of the characters are changed from the real people they are inspired by, but the central character, Lily Sanchez, represents a fictional version of myself, a few years in the future.
I will not pretend that the story is well-written, but as it is written in short bursts, with only a vaguely planned plotline for reference, I will excuse myself this.
Friends, please, please do not take offence at any characters you may know or suspect are based upon you.
Often I have drastically changed a character from the person on which they are based, simply in order to add interest to the story. No negative references are intended...except one...
Anyway...
Don't judge me; I have far too much spare time.
Much love xxx
A friend of mine recently began writing a story in short chapters posted as written on his facebook account.
I loved the freedom that this style of writing gave, and his story inspired me to create my own.
To this end, I have begun writing "Under Blue Skies", a story of everyday people and everyday events, loosely based around my experiences and people I know.
All the names, and generally the appearances, of the characters are changed from the real people they are inspired by, but the central character, Lily Sanchez, represents a fictional version of myself, a few years in the future.
I will not pretend that the story is well-written, but as it is written in short bursts, with only a vaguely planned plotline for reference, I will excuse myself this.
Friends, please, please do not take offence at any characters you may know or suspect are based upon you.
Often I have drastically changed a character from the person on which they are based, simply in order to add interest to the story. No negative references are intended...except one...
Anyway...
Don't judge me; I have far too much spare time.
Much love xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)