five
Jamie lived above a charming little pub, not too far away from her flower shop. The flat wasn’t very big, but the rent was decent and it was right next to a tube stop. She’d lived there for a couple of years now and never bothered too look for anything else, she was perfectly content with staying there.
She was a regular at the pub and a very good friend of the owner. Neither of them talked much, they just drank and exchanged pleasantries and nods. She liked him very much.
He probably liked her because she visited at least three times a week and left at closing hours after having drunken her body weight. That’s one of the perks of living above a pub, even if they kick you out, you’re just a step away from home.
She knew most of the staff and they always happily cheered when she came in. Today was not different, she was met with a ’Hello there, Jamie!’ As soon as she walked though the door.
As she’d suspected, the room was almost empty, since it was in the middle of the week. Another pair of regulars, two old northern Irish men, sat in their usual corner playing cards and drinking whiskey. She didn’t really think much of the other people, she was there on a mission - to have a nice couple of drinks.
”Afternoon, Thomas.” She nodded at the barkeep, the owner’s oldest son.
”Good afternoon, Jamie.” He put down the glass he’d been polishing. ”What can I get you?”
”Gin. Neat.” She sat down on a barstool and offered a smile at the bartender.
”Someone’s having a rough day?” He chuckled.
”Oh fuck off, can’t a woman just enjoy a drink without any questions?” Jamie playfully scoffed at him.
”Alright, then. Tanqueray?” The barkeep asked before holding up a bottle.
”Pour me one, eh?” Jamie said and slid a few quid across the counter.
She happily accepted the drink and started sipping on it. The sour lime wedge countered the bitter drink and her tongue was met with citrus and slight heat.
A drink like this usually lasted for a while, it wasn’t one she’d down in one go, she saved some money on that. Sipping on her drink, she started watching the people around her that she hadn’t paid attention to earlier.
Three younger men were playing dart over by the restrooms, awful placing, you go to take a piss and then get a dart in your eye. Jamie was genuinely surprised that no accidents had happened there yet.
The clock had barely turned seven and she heard an Irish accent call ’Your shout!” And she was soon accompanied by an older man at the bar, asking for another round. The two men were always here whenever Jamie came down, she could not think of one day where they hadn’t been. Practically lived here, the two of them.
A young woman sat by herself, empty glass next to her, she kept checking the watch on her wrist. She was probably waiting for someone, had she been here a long time? Hopefully, the poor lass wasn’t being stood up, that’s never fun.
Two middle-aged women came in the door laughing, they sounded like they were celebrating something. One of them waved to the bartender and the other went to sit down at a table.
”Oi, Tom,” Jamie called, astounded that her drink was already gone. ”Get me a pint, will you?”
”Coming up!” He answered
”Thank you.” She looked over her shoulder to see that the two older men had been joined by another man, probably around their age.
She swallowed a mouthful of her drink and noticed that Thomas, the barkeep, lingered.
”Is this new?” The people who worked here usually knew what types and brands of beer Jamie liked, this wasn’t one she recognised.
”Yeah.” The bartender said with a smile. ”You like it?”
”Not too bad, actually.” Jamie replied and tasted it again.
”A mate brews it just outside of town, I’ve helped him with the taste. We’re the only place that sells it for now, but I’m going to recommend it to customers and hope that other pubs will ask for it.” He looked proud.
”Good job there, Tommy, don’t be surprised if I order it again.” The florist shot him a wink.
He was definitely more talkative than his father, but he was always full of beans and sweet as sugar, so she didn’t really mind. He sometimes felt like somewhat of a brother to her.
She no longer had any contact with her brothers, or with her family at all. She wasn’t that close with her older brother, but her younger one was her best friend for a long time. They had drifted apart and that really disappointed her, she had truly cared for him.
Having Thomas around was nice. Their relationship was close to what a brother and sister might have and she would only have to see him when she came to the bar. She enjoyed this selective-family situation.
Turning around again, drink in hand, to get a look of the people around her, she noticed a familiar face at the door. A pretty blonde woman was looking occupied with taking off her coat, to Jamie’s luck not having had time too look over at the bar.
Dani was there, and Jamie was not prepared to talk to her. She liked seeing her, it was just that she was caught a bit off guard. She poured down her drink and quickly motioned for Thomas to refill it, which he happy obliged to. The brunette turned around and took a deep breath as to steady herself.
”Do you come here often?” Dani took a seat next to her, smiling. Jamie snorted.
”Actually,” She started, looking smug. ”I live right above.” Jamie pointed to the ceiling.
Dani wasn’t anticipating that response, she probably thought Jamie would make some joke, Jamie could see that by the expression on her face. That blush she was now so familiar with had started to appear on her soft, pretty cheeks again.
”I… uh.” The blonde stammered. ”I didn’t know.” A nervous laugh left her lips.
”Traded coffee for alcohol, now have you? In the middle of the week as well?” Jamie teased.
”Well, I thought I’d go out for just a glass of wine and since you gave me no useful bar-tips, I asked Owen.” Dani looked at the woman next to her and then to the man behind the bar. ”A glass of the house's red, please.”
”And that’s how you ended up here,” Jamie said, mostly to herself. ”Owen.”
Of course Owen led her here, it’s not like it’s the fanciest or most popular pub in London, you wouldn’t really go here unless you knew about the place. It was a nice place, Jamie’s favourite, in fact, but that also had a bit to do with her living above it. It was a nice place, but again not typically the place you’d go if you weren’t familiar with the area.
”Well,” Jamie decided to show a little bravery. ”Cheers to Owen, then.” She held up her glass just as Dani had gotten hers filled.
”Cheers.” Dani, sounding awfully American, responded.
”Well, Poppins, you’ve almost become an official Londoner, going out to pubs and all.” Jamie was halfway there to emptying her glass.
”Almost?” Dani asked, chuckling. ”What do I have to do to become one then?”
”I wouldn’t know, I’m not one of them.” The brunette smirked and raised her glass to take another sip.
”You’re not from here?” Dani wondered.
Jamie scoffed.
”Do I bloody sound like I’m from here?” She laughed and shook her head.
”I think you do!” The American defended. ”You sound like one of those ’proper cockneys, mate’” She imitated… some sort of accent and the florist burst out laughing.
”You don’t know what you’re talking about, Miss America.” She finished her glass and put her hands on the table. ”But you know what? I can help you become a real English-woman.” Jamie waved for the bartender to come over. ”And the biggest step on your journey is having a proper drink.”
”I haven’t even finished this one.” Dani smiled and looked Jamie in the eyes.
”Down it then.” She shot her a wink before turning her attention to Thomas. ”A Pimm’s for her and one for me, but tone it down a bit on the lemonade, eh?”
The bartender smiled and turned around.
”Don’t worry, it’s on me.” Jamie looked back at the woman accompanying her.
”Thank you, Jamie.” Dani smiled.
A buzz shut through her body, hearing the blonde say her name. Her name sounded more gorgeous than it ever has, leaving Dani’s lips. She had no idea the American could make a name as boring as her own sound that pretty.
The name itself wasn’t very special, but the woman saying it certainly was. The name seemed to fit very well on her lips, the tip of her tongue, Jamie wondered what else would feel good there.
”What did you get me, should I be worried?” Dani asked as the two women got their drinks.
”Try it, it’s sweet. It’s got strawberries in it.” Jamie nodded to the drink and then took a sip of her own. Her drink had the fruits and the mint, but lacked lemonade.
Dani hesitantly gulped down the rest of her wine and moved on to her new drink. It did have a sweet taste, fruity. Slices of strawberries and apple floating around in it, topped by a mint leaf. She liked it.
”It’s good, I understand why you English drink so much.” Dani laughed.
”That and all the pleasant side effects.” Jamie added. Liquid courage, she thought. ”I’ll get us another round.” She waved at the bartender again, pointed to their glasses and shot him a smile.
”We just got these!” The blonde exclaimed.
”If you want to be truly English, you’ve got to keep up the tempo, love.” Jamie said and took a big sip.
She knew what she was doing to the other woman, she knew what her words were doing to her. Jamie just had to call her ’love’ and her cheeks would softly go pink. Jamie was interested in her, she couldn’t deny that at all. Liquid courage.
Like a true woman, Jamie could handle her liquor well. She was only a little tipsy, and knew it would take more for her to become drunk, but that wasn’t the goal for today. Today, just like any other day, she came for some after-work, just looking to relax a little bit.
However, she did not know the American’s limit. She decided it would be best not to pressure her into any more after this next Pimm’s.
Jamie’s glass was quickly empty and she looked for the bartender, bottles in his hands, behind the bar. She could drink more, but maybe it was for the best to slow down after this, just continue with a pint or a cider.
”So, tell me, Poppins,” Jamie started. ”Who are you?”
”What do you mean? I’m Dani, I work across the street from you.” Dani answered, puzzled.
”No I know that, but who are you really? What’s your story?” An amused Jamie asked.
The bartender came with their drinks and Jamie swiftly reached for hers, Dani’s was still almost full.
”Well,” The blonde readied herself, taking a big gulp of her drink. ”I usually know what I want and what’s right for me. I’ve always been sure in my career, as a teacher, not a barista. It was my certainty that lead me to moving here.” She brought her glass to her lips, took an even larger sip and swallowed again. ”After I called of my wedding with my now ex-fiancé.”
There it was, the story that Jamie was looking for. She wasn’t going to press any further and ask why they broke up.
”I just knew that he wasn’t right for me. We were together for so many years and it never really felt right.” Dani sighed. ”I’m just glad to start over again here, start a new life without the pressure of the people back home. They wanted to decide my life for me and I’m so happy that I’m the only one who gets to do that now.” The American smiled. ”I’m happy I don’t have to think of them anymore.”
”To new beginnings.” Jamie raised her half full glass.
”To new beginnings.” Dani repeated, with a sound of relief escaping her lips.
”I know how it is.” The brunette looked at the other woman. ”To want to get away and just start from the beginning. I know the feeling of freedom that comes with it when you finally do, the ease.” They locked eyes.
”It’s great.” The blonde almost whispered. She was happy someone else understood her. ”Have you got a similar story then?” She then asked.
Jamie let the last of her drink run down her throat.
”I’m going out for a smoke, fancy coming with?” Jamie ignored her question.
She didn’t wait for an answer, she just got up and walked out. Her story was not a topic for tonight. Jaime didn’t have to wait for an answer, because Dani had just grabbed her drink before heading off after the brunette.
It had already gotten dark outside and the street was lit only by a few lanky lampposts and the light from inside the shops.
The florist elegantly lit the cigarette and put it between her lips. She inhaled the smoke and felt it go into her lungs, warm, tickling her on the way down, before exhaling a big cloud.
She took it out of her mouth an offered it to the woman next to her. Without hesitating, Dani took it and brought it to her lips.
”Didn’t think pretty girls like you smoked.” Jamie said, leaning against the pub wall.
”And still you offered me your cigarette.” Dani gave it back to her.
”Well, I’m a gentlewoman, I’ve got manners.” Jamie smirked.
”Buying women drinks and sharing cigarettes… quite a gentlewoman, yeah.” Dani laughed.
”Not to just anyone, though.” The florist took a step closer to Dani. ”I’m also really picky.”
It was dark, but she could still make out the faint blush covering the blonde’s entire face. She held out the cigarette again and let her fingers linger when they gently brushed against the other woman’s.
The American accepted the cigarette and drew in the smoke while pondering what to say back. She blew a small cloud of smoke in the brunette’s face, before lifting her glass to her lips.
How easily she could lean in for a kiss, standing that close, Jamie thought. Only a few centimeters were between their mouths.
Jamie put herself even closer to the blonde, and gently took her cigarette back. She could feel Dani’s breath on her, smelling like gin and fruit, sweet, just like her. She took a long drag before putting the cigarette out in the empty glass.
”Better be heading home.” Jamie said, lowly.
She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against the corner of Dani’s mouth.
”European goodbye.” She explained with a wink, then turning around, leaving Dani with her jaw dropped.