The Cafe Girl
Out Of This Club
“Baby let me take you out of this club, I’ll make your dreams come true.” – Out Of This Club, Pussycat Dolls
Harry’s POV
I was left standing there awkwardly as Emma ran after Jess. I felt really stupid just then and couldn’t help but wonder what I did to upset her so much? I was being nice, wasn’t I? Especially considering that I was planning to have a quiet night at home tonight. Of course Sven gave me no choice but to go out so that I can be seen with her in public.
Was I rude for saying that I was only buying her a drink because management asked me to? I wasn’t saying it to be rude but I guess it did come across that way. I don’t know why I always feel the need to be on guard and defensive when it comes to talking to Jess. I also don’t understand why she would cry over some stupid little comment as that.
I noticed the other guy that was with Jess and Emma standing awkwardly beside me. “Hey. I’m Harry,” I said to make things less awkward.
“Mosh,” he said shaking it.
“So how do you know Jess and Emma?” I asked, trying to make conversation so that we wouldn’t have to stand there looking like idiots. The club was still buzzing and none of my friends paid attention to what was going on with me.
“I um, work with them,” he replied uncomfortably.
“Oh at the café?” I asked. Obviously that was a stupid question on my part since where else do Jess and Emma work?
“Yeah, I was behind the counter the last time you were in,”
“Oh cool man,” I didn’t know what else to say so I asked if he wanted a drink which he politely declined.
So we were back to square one. Small talk didn’t work and it was a really awkward situation, but I didn’t want to leave before Jess comes back. I thought that would make the situation worse than it already was.
As it turned out, I didn’t have to wait that long anyway. I saw Emma and Jess make their way back to us just then. I focused my eyes on Jess and I could see that her eyes were bloodshot. Her red lipstick was also gone leaving the faintest tint behind. It looked like she was crying and I felt like such a jackass for making her cry.
“Is she okay?” I asked Emma as she walked towards me.
“Hi Harry, bye Harry,” she said as she grabbed Mosh and led him to the bar urgently.
I went up to Jess, wanting to apologise for how rude I was. It obviously upset her too and I just cannot stand the thought of deliberately being rude to someone to the point of making them cry.
“Jess. . I –“
“I’m fine,” she cut me off.
“No, I was rude and that was uncalled for. I’m really sorry,” I said and tried to awkwardly get closer.
“It’s alright,” she replied.
The way she said it was quite obvious that it wasn’t. “No, no, it’s not alright. I obviously struck a nerve seeing as you’re eyes are red from crying.”
“I could just be stoned off my eyes. That’s why my eyes are read. I smoked some weed in the bathroom,” she said sarcastically.
“Wait, what?” I said, taken aback. I was not expecting that. It’s like, I have this idea of Jess in my head and then she says something sassy and unexpected that takes me by surprise.
She just looked at me with a blank expression.
“Right, of course,” I said feeling stupid.
Her friends came back with drinks on hand but Jess refused them. I heard her say something about trying to sober up and just getting some water. Both Emma and Mosh disappeared into the dance floor after that, leaving Jess and I to awkwardly standing alone again.
“Do you wanna dance?” I asked, desperately trying to make up for my earlier behavior.
“I don’t think I can,” she said. Her eyes were a lot less red now and her face was looking less flushed. “I might just go home now. Is this enough exposure for your management?”
“I don’t care what management thinks. . , If you don’t want to be here that’s fine. But I’m really sorry for how insensitive I was.”
“It’s alright, Harry, I know we’re just doing our jobs. Sven didn’t say we had to be friends for real, right?” she smiled sadly.
“Yeah. . . but I shouldn’t make this harder than it already is,”
“It’s fine,” she said again, “Bye, Harry. I’ll see you when I see you.”
Just as she was about to leave, I had an idea. “Jess, wait! Let me give you a lift home. . it’s the least I could do.”
“Harry, I know you’re just offering me a ride home because Sven told you. So just save the gas money. I can take a cab,”
“No, no,” I knew from that point that whatever I say would always just be thought of as me trying to do what management tells me to. That at this point, we can’t even try to be real friends anymore, “I do feel bad for what I said tonight and I wanna make it up to you. Also because you’re quite drunk and it’s not safe for you to go alone.”
“I’ll drag Emma and Mosh home with me,” she said, setting out to look for them. The dancefloor was dark and crowded, and from where we stood we could barely see anyone.
“And ruin there fun?”
“What?” she raised her eyebrow.
Damn it. Why does everything I say tonight keep coming out wrong?
“I mean, I could just give you a lift home so you won’t have to drag them home,”
“Whatever,” she said. She knew I was pretty incessant with dropping her off and I could tell that she wanted to get out of the club so bad.
“Let me just say good bye to my friends there,” I said before realising that it would probably be a good idea to introduce her to them now. “Do you wanna quickly say hi to them?”
She shook her head so I continued on, “Sooner or later you’re going to have to meet them anyway?”
“I know. But not tonight. Not like this. Not with me looking like shit.”
“Fair point, mate. Meet you by coat check in 5?”
I watched as she disappeared into the crowd. I bet Sven is going to cream his pants when he sees this all over the news tomorrow. I knew for a fact that the paparazzi were waiting outside cause they were all there when I got here. No doubt that they would still be there.
I waved goodbye to Nick and a bunch of other friends that was with us. “You’re leaving already?” they all asked. I told them I was tired and that a friend needed a lift home so they excused me.
“Catch ya later Hazzagator,” joked Nick as he waved goodbye.
I saw Jess waiting for me by the coat check. I was trying to be a friend to her so thought I’d warn her about the paparazzi before we left.
“So there’s some photographers out there. They’re harmless, but there might be some yelling and a lot of lights,” I said trying to be helpful.
“Guess that’s what tonight was about, right? To be photographed and make Sven happy,” she shrugged.
I tried to ignore the bitterness in her tone. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah,” she sighed.
I pushed the door for her and led the way. I was right about the photographers. The second the security let us out, it was madness. There were still a long queue outside that was looking to see what the commotion was all about. The paparazzi started yelling things at me asking how I was doing and what tonight was like.
Jess was walking behind me and at first, they didn’t really notice her. I looked back and sort of tried to walk alongside her and that’s when the flashes of light became more aggressive, with everyone curious as to who she was. They were yelling things like, “who is she?” “is she your latest conquest for the night?” and other questions that might reinforce my ladies man reputation that the media tries to portray me as.
I looked at Jess to see if she was coping alright. She had her hair down as she looked at the ground when she walked. Her face could barely be seen by the photographers, and I put an arm around her protectively.
We got into my car eventually but the camera flashes didn’t stop. I put my seat belt on and made sure that the doors were locked. I looked over to Jess’ side and saw that she still had her head down and was on her phone.
“Are you alright?” I asked, concerned about her first brush in with the paparazzi. It can get overwhelming especially the first time. Heck, three years on and I still find it so overwhelming everytime.
“Yeah, I’m good,” she replied, still not looking up.
“Alright then,” I said as I started the engine, “where are we off to?”
Harry’s POV
I was left standing there awkwardly as Emma ran after Jess. I felt really stupid just then and couldn’t help but wonder what I did to upset her so much? I was being nice, wasn’t I? Especially considering that I was planning to have a quiet night at home tonight. Of course Sven gave me no choice but to go out so that I can be seen with her in public.
Was I rude for saying that I was only buying her a drink because management asked me to? I wasn’t saying it to be rude but I guess it did come across that way. I don’t know why I always feel the need to be on guard and defensive when it comes to talking to Jess. I also don’t understand why she would cry over some stupid little comment as that.
I noticed the other guy that was with Jess and Emma standing awkwardly beside me. “Hey. I’m Harry,” I said to make things less awkward.
“Mosh,” he said shaking it.
“So how do you know Jess and Emma?” I asked, trying to make conversation so that we wouldn’t have to stand there looking like idiots. The club was still buzzing and none of my friends paid attention to what was going on with me.
“I um, work with them,” he replied uncomfortably.
“Oh at the café?” I asked. Obviously that was a stupid question on my part since where else do Jess and Emma work?
“Yeah, I was behind the counter the last time you were in,”
“Oh cool man,” I didn’t know what else to say so I asked if he wanted a drink which he politely declined.
So we were back to square one. Small talk didn’t work and it was a really awkward situation, but I didn’t want to leave before Jess comes back. I thought that would make the situation worse than it already was.
As it turned out, I didn’t have to wait that long anyway. I saw Emma and Jess make their way back to us just then. I focused my eyes on Jess and I could see that her eyes were bloodshot. Her red lipstick was also gone leaving the faintest tint behind. It looked like she was crying and I felt like such a jackass for making her cry.
“Is she okay?” I asked Emma as she walked towards me.
“Hi Harry, bye Harry,” she said as she grabbed Mosh and led him to the bar urgently.
I went up to Jess, wanting to apologise for how rude I was. It obviously upset her too and I just cannot stand the thought of deliberately being rude to someone to the point of making them cry.
“Jess. . I –“
“I’m fine,” she cut me off.
“No, I was rude and that was uncalled for. I’m really sorry,” I said and tried to awkwardly get closer.
“It’s alright,” she replied.
The way she said it was quite obvious that it wasn’t. “No, no, it’s not alright. I obviously struck a nerve seeing as you’re eyes are red from crying.”
“I could just be stoned off my eyes. That’s why my eyes are read. I smoked some weed in the bathroom,” she said sarcastically.
“Wait, what?” I said, taken aback. I was not expecting that. It’s like, I have this idea of Jess in my head and then she says something sassy and unexpected that takes me by surprise.
She just looked at me with a blank expression.
“Right, of course,” I said feeling stupid.
Her friends came back with drinks on hand but Jess refused them. I heard her say something about trying to sober up and just getting some water. Both Emma and Mosh disappeared into the dance floor after that, leaving Jess and I to awkwardly standing alone again.
“Do you wanna dance?” I asked, desperately trying to make up for my earlier behavior.
“I don’t think I can,” she said. Her eyes were a lot less red now and her face was looking less flushed. “I might just go home now. Is this enough exposure for your management?”
“I don’t care what management thinks. . , If you don’t want to be here that’s fine. But I’m really sorry for how insensitive I was.”
“It’s alright, Harry, I know we’re just doing our jobs. Sven didn’t say we had to be friends for real, right?” she smiled sadly.
“Yeah. . . but I shouldn’t make this harder than it already is,”
“It’s fine,” she said again, “Bye, Harry. I’ll see you when I see you.”
Just as she was about to leave, I had an idea. “Jess, wait! Let me give you a lift home. . it’s the least I could do.”
“Harry, I know you’re just offering me a ride home because Sven told you. So just save the gas money. I can take a cab,”
“No, no,” I knew from that point that whatever I say would always just be thought of as me trying to do what management tells me to. That at this point, we can’t even try to be real friends anymore, “I do feel bad for what I said tonight and I wanna make it up to you. Also because you’re quite drunk and it’s not safe for you to go alone.”
“I’ll drag Emma and Mosh home with me,” she said, setting out to look for them. The dancefloor was dark and crowded, and from where we stood we could barely see anyone.
“And ruin there fun?”
“What?” she raised her eyebrow.
Damn it. Why does everything I say tonight keep coming out wrong?
“I mean, I could just give you a lift home so you won’t have to drag them home,”
“Whatever,” she said. She knew I was pretty incessant with dropping her off and I could tell that she wanted to get out of the club so bad.
“Let me just say good bye to my friends there,” I said before realising that it would probably be a good idea to introduce her to them now. “Do you wanna quickly say hi to them?”
She shook her head so I continued on, “Sooner or later you’re going to have to meet them anyway?”
“I know. But not tonight. Not like this. Not with me looking like shit.”
“Fair point, mate. Meet you by coat check in 5?”
I watched as she disappeared into the crowd. I bet Sven is going to cream his pants when he sees this all over the news tomorrow. I knew for a fact that the paparazzi were waiting outside cause they were all there when I got here. No doubt that they would still be there.
I waved goodbye to Nick and a bunch of other friends that was with us. “You’re leaving already?” they all asked. I told them I was tired and that a friend needed a lift home so they excused me.
“Catch ya later Hazzagator,” joked Nick as he waved goodbye.
I saw Jess waiting for me by the coat check. I was trying to be a friend to her so thought I’d warn her about the paparazzi before we left.
“So there’s some photographers out there. They’re harmless, but there might be some yelling and a lot of lights,” I said trying to be helpful.
“Guess that’s what tonight was about, right? To be photographed and make Sven happy,” she shrugged.
I tried to ignore the bitterness in her tone. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah,” she sighed.
I pushed the door for her and led the way. I was right about the photographers. The second the security let us out, it was madness. There were still a long queue outside that was looking to see what the commotion was all about. The paparazzi started yelling things at me asking how I was doing and what tonight was like.
Jess was walking behind me and at first, they didn’t really notice her. I looked back and sort of tried to walk alongside her and that’s when the flashes of light became more aggressive, with everyone curious as to who she was. They were yelling things like, “who is she?” “is she your latest conquest for the night?” and other questions that might reinforce my ladies man reputation that the media tries to portray me as.
I looked at Jess to see if she was coping alright. She had her hair down as she looked at the ground when she walked. Her face could barely be seen by the photographers, and I put an arm around her protectively.
We got into my car eventually but the camera flashes didn’t stop. I put my seat belt on and made sure that the doors were locked. I looked over to Jess’ side and saw that she still had her head down and was on her phone.
“Are you alright?” I asked, concerned about her first brush in with the paparazzi. It can get overwhelming especially the first time. Heck, three years on and I still find it so overwhelming everytime.
“Yeah, I’m good,” she replied, still not looking up.
“Alright then,” I said as I started the engine, “where are we off to?”
I miss this story so much. I hope you can update on this story
4/1/15