Late Night Start

A Chapter by Hannah

Now I have one major problem right now. I feel I should do some explaining, because it’s not exactly normal I guess. Have you ever met someone and wondered things that shouldn’t be going through your head? Well believe me I have and it’s really not the fun you think it is, it’s not the cute daydreaming and fantasising s**t that you think it will be. It’s anxiety for when you’ll see them again; it’s wondering how to create a ‘moment’ but… subtly. Then it’s realising that all that’s going through your head it just that, in your head. Nothing more, just your imagination spurred on by a person that, captivates, fascinates and intrigues you. In short, it sucks, but it does make some interesting situations. You find yourself sat talking to the smiling, not because of them, but because of the scenario in your head. The of course it gets awkward as they ask you why you’re smiling and you make up some crazy bullshit so you don’t look like complete freak, but of course what you come up with is, in many ways, weirder than what was actually going on in your head. So why is it that you are unable to turn around nd just tell them exactly what was going through your head? There are some people who can just tell them, but that really isn’t me, and those people are bloody lucky to be that confident because not many people are.

I’m rambling on like this because I was introduced to someone many moons ago who … I don’t know stuck in my head I guess. His name is Jac, well Steffan Jac Griffiths but, Jac. He went to Cardiff Uni with my sister and I first met him when I was fifteen. Now my sister is four years older than me, so he is as well. I spent a happy few hours talking and laughing with him in the SU when I visited my sister. Admittedly we flirted a little, and we were completely comfortable round each other, and no it’s not because he knew I was his mates little sister he thought I was 19 for God’s sake. Something was there I swear.

So here I am, four years later. Out in my favourite city, a few friends and I friends are staying here for a few weeks over the summer, we have days out and sporty s**t planed but here I am in Cardiff again. Standing at the bar about to order a round and guess who walks in. You’ve got to be kidding me.

I order a round of Vodka shots and turn to lean on the bar watching the sea of dancing bodies in the room in front of me. As I watch the door opens and a group of lads come in, all of the built and, let’s face it, gorgeous. They immediately head toward the bar and I turn back to the barman to collect the shots. I pick mine up toast the barman and toss it back as the group gets to me. i try to ignore them but as I pick up the drinks and turn one of them gets in my way, he stands a good few inches taller than me, even in my heels, he reaches forwards for my waist and smiles down at me. I smile back, and with my free hand reach for his, instead of taking his hand I grab his thumb and pull it to the side, putting him off balance. I let go a push his chest so he stumbles into one of his mates. His friend catches him laughing. I smile sweetly, before saying “Look, don’t touch” my eyes land on his mate. I falter, but wink at him turn and, with hips swaying, make my way back to my group of mates.

We’re soon pissing around and laughing but I know who that guy was. In an effort to distract myself I convince Alex �" short for Alexandra �" to come and dance with me. So we make our way through the bodies and dance. We’re singing along and laughing so hard it hurts and I love it. We aren’t far from the bar, and one of my favourite songs comes on and I’m just drunk enough to not give a damn what people say so I run to the bar and grab Jamie, drag him onto the dance floor and him being the lad he is he goes with it. We dance and sing the words so loud we get weird looks from anyone near us. But the majority just laugh and join in, soon there is a massive circle around us of people clapping and singing with us. As the song finishes Jamie grabs me and swings me over his shoulder and carries me to the bar where he, rather unceremoniously, drops me so I’m sat on the bar. Laughing I slide off the bar and stumble. A strong arm wraps itself round my waist and a with a wonderfully thick welsh accent somebody says “Don’t fall over” grinning I look up into a pair of mischievous green eyes and reply “It’s a skill to fall over as much as I do” as I say this I realise it’s the guy I recognised earlier. I know who he is now. We end up sat at the bar talking until he drags me to my feet to dance. So together we dance the night away, laughing and flirting time doesn’t matter.

Eventually, Jamie and Alex come and find me to drag me back to the house we’re renting while we’re here. I tell them I’ll meet them outside and they go on ahead of me. I go to get up but Jac catches my hand and stands up beside me, he steps towards me so there are only inches between us leans in and kisses my cheek. His hands go round my waist as he pulls me into a hug; I wrap my arms around him and slip my number into his back pocket before leaning against his chest and hugging him back. He whispers “I’ll call” before releasing me, I smile up at him before stepping back and retreating out onto the street to Jamie and Alex. I grin to myself as I slip my hand into the back pocket of my shorts, feeling a piece of paper there I pull it out. On it is written: Don’t fall if I’m not there �" JG and his number. I grin to myself. “What you got there H?” Alex says leaning over my shoulder as we walk down towards the taxi’s “Nothing” I say going to put it back in my pocket. I’m not fast enough and Jamie grabs it from my hand “You got his number?!” he exclaims, almost shouting. I laugh “Why so surprised? Who wouldn’t want some o’ this?” I do an awkward wiggle and gesture to myself raising my eyebrows and we all burst out laughing. “Ture” Ale says through giggles “But he was, like, model gorgeous”

“Well that might be because he IS a model” I wait for the response and am not disappointed by the screech of “You pulled a model!” from Al and the whooping and applause from Jamie, who slings his arm round my neck “I’m proud of you, I taught you to flirt and you used my skills wisely” I hip bump him “Oh but it was all me tonight”

“Then how the hell do you have his number?” he teases handing me the paper back. I tuck it safely into my shorts and give him a look before saying “He was so overwhelmed by my awesomeness and adorable clumsiness he never knew what hit him”

“Well that’s one way of putting it” a Welsh voice says from behind us. Jamie drops his arm from round my shoulders and we all turn, I can feel myself going red but I refuse to let it show in my voice “Really? How would you put it?” I cross my arms and smile at him tilting my head to one side as he walks towards me “Your insanity amazed me and I wanted to know more”

“The best people are mad” I say as he comes to a stop right in front of me “Am I mad?” he asks “Completely” I breathe as he stops in front of me. He seems almost nervous as he stands there he looks down at his feet, with his hands in his pockets. When he does raise his eyes to mine, there is a playful glint in them.

“Tomorrow, 11 outside Revs” he says, reaching out to take my hand and lace his fingers between mine. “Is that a demand or a question?”

“Both” he replies with a grin, I can’t help smiling back, the heat of his hand and the slight roughness from weights captivates me, and the way our hands fit together distracts me momentarily before I remember “I have to gym”

“Then come in gym kit and we’ll both go, I need to as well” he replies without missing a beat. I smile and say “deal” he releases my hand and takes a step backwards, “Don’t be late” he calls as he walks backwards towards the club, “Wouldn’t want to leave you lonely” I tease, he laughs before turning away and vanishing into Revs.

I hear a squeal from behind me and turn to find both Al and Jamie bouncing up and down. They both look insane and I laugh at them “Jeez guys, anyone would think you were the ones he was talking to”

“You made him nervous, he wants to see you again and he wants to gym with you? Admittedly the last bit is a little weird but so you and oh my god…. What will you wear to gym? You have to look awesome but not like you’re trying to…” Al is talking a million miles an hour so I shake my head grinning and link my arm with hers and Jamie links his with mine. “I have an idea” I say to Al through her rambling “Black three quarters, my Fabletics graffiti sports bra and that black jumper with the mesh insert on the shoulder, comfy good for a workout and looks good”

“Ok but take your funky run tights for afterwards coz they look awesome with that jumper” she tilts her head as she says this “Well you’ll look awesome no matter what” Jamie says nudging me, I glance at him and grin. What would I do without these two?

We clamber into a taxi and chatter on about what I could wear, after a while I just leave them to it and gaze out the window. I love Cardiff, I just wish the course had been a bit better and I wouldn’t have hesitated in coming here instead I’m having a gap year, don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing to live away from home with awesome people and to be completely independent but it’s weird being the only one not at Uni