He was nervous, excited, terrified, anxious, happy, distracted. A whole host of emotions but what do you expect when it's his first day on the job. First day of his first job in fact. He'd somehow fumbled his way into a bar job in the city centre. He thought it was a classy establishment but some of the other workers had him convinced otherwise before he'd even started his shift and he was still signing his zero-hour contract.
"Mate it's the McDonald's drive-thru of cocktails. Just you wait until you see the clientele, classy my arse," they said. They seemed like a nice bunch he thought. One of them said he'd "Look after him," which brought him some comfort.
He could hear the bass pumping through the walls but couldn't quite make out the song. No doubt 2009's best club anthems or something of that ilk. He'd soon be bored of them he thought. He was shown round all parts of the bar, how to pour a pint and all the rest of it. His nerves had melted somewhat. That was until he saw a gaggle of prim girls approach. Short dresses, high heels, way overdone make-up and invariable big blonde hair, such is the fashion. He still absolutely would, he thought.
They asked for a variety of cocktails, pronounced in such a manner that they made a Pina Colada somehow sound unsexy. He recruited the help of one his new colleagues and they got to making the drinks. Bit of crushed fruit, pour the alcohol with a dramatic flair, give the girls a flirt. He was impressed by his colleagues competency. He took mental notes.
The night continued in much the same vein. Over dressed girls and over-tanned lads asking for a variety of exotic drinks from the McDonald's drive-thru of cocktail bars. The music was distracting enough that time passed swiftly. He was quite enjoying his first shift, mainly because his colleague had shown him the best way to get away with having a couple of drinks yourself. He was a little merry and enjoying the electricity in the air. Pretty soon the bar was 3 people deep and time flew, but then he saw her. She was a few feet back but her eyes were piercing him. He daren't stare back too long as he had South Yorkshire's finest clientele expectantly waiting for their pints of lager.
As he waited for a pint of Guinness to take it's sweet time to settle he chanced another look. Those eyes were staring straight back. He could make out a little more in the relative dark of the club lights. Her pink lips pursed round a lollipop. He looked away again. He'd overpoured the Guinness. For fucks sake, he couldn't concentrate anymore.
Pretty girls were nothing new. He'd been gawking all night, but this one stared back. There was something about her. He continued serving, tactically seeing to those in front of her so he could get to her quicker. Then there she was. Her eyes had cast him under a spell. She was stunning. Dark red hair shimmering in contrast to her heavily made-up eyes, bright pink lips that matched her tight, figure-hugging dress.
"Hiya," was all she said.
"Hey, what can I get ya?"
She shrugged in response and continued sucking on her lollipop.
"Cocktail? Vodka? Gin! You look like a gin girl," he said, he'd been practising his patter all night.
"Yeah, gin sounds good," she said with a strong suggestion of 'whatever'. He feels he could have served her anything and she'd happily accept. What was happening here? Sparks were flying. He dutifully made her the gin drink and placed it on the bar. He wasn't quite sure what to do next, he just sort of, grinned.
"She's next," she said, pointing to the girl next to her, presumably her friend, "come find me," she added with a wink and disappeared into the crowd.
Her friend said something but he didn't hear. She waved a hand in front of his face.
"Hello!"
"Sorry, hi, what can I get ya?"
"I'm not paying for hers by the way."
"What?"
"I said I'm not paying for hers. She gives all the handsome bartenders the eyes and whaddya know? Free drinks for the night," she said with a wry smile, "don't worry though, I'll pay for mine," she seemed nice. But he felt a bit damaged. Hoodwinked on his first shift. He'd settle it with her.
"Cheers loverboy, you can lift your jaw off the floor now, she's gone," she said matter-of-factly as she too disappeared into the crowd. It wasn't long before his part of the bar had started to quiet down. Long enough for him to look around at all the people milling about. The local wildlife were fascinating. But he was looking for one in particular.
"Here ya go, get on glasses," he heard with a basket shoved into his hand.
