Chapter 3
What am I actually doing here, yes I'm not on shift tomorrow but to come here and sit in this bar on my own, for a drink, how sad must I look, I know I needed a drink and to get out of the house, but maybe this wasn't one of my best plans.
Sighing to herself Vera gazed down at her glass, running her index finger through the condensation that had formed on the side.
The bar was bustling slightly but nothing too busy, she'd tucked herself round the corner on the end of the bar, out of the way of the main swell of the bar, but close enough to hear the atmosphere.
"You look a nice gal, how about I get you a drink..." came the rough voice of someone nearby, Vera looked up at the man stood next to her, grimacing at her, he'd obviously had a few, about Vera's age but nothing that you'd look at, hair a bit all over the place, shirt not ironed, as if he'd slept in it.
"No, that's ok I've got one thank you...".
"Oh come on you've nearly finished it, I can get you another one then we can sit together and have a nice little chat and who knows what else..." leering at her.
"I said it's ok thank you..." getting somewhat concerned at how close he kept moving to her and not retreating.
"And I said let me, what's the matter with you don't you want a drink when a man offers to buy you one, you're here for a good time, looking for a shag so here I am...." moving even closer to her face.
"No I am not..." she started, trying to back up as she got up off the stool, starting to get frightened.
"Yeah you are, you're single and here on your own, not waiting for anyone...." he chuckled, being cut off by the words from the darkness.
"She's not single or on her own, she's waiting for me actually..." the voice instantly recognisable to Vera even with her back to it.
Joan.
Joan Ferguson.
Joan Ferguson was here.
The guy sniggered, this quickly being pulled from his mouth as the taller woman moved out of the shadows and alongside the smaller woman, snaking a strong arm around Vera's shoulders, coming to rest her hand on the small of her back, pulling her against her body, not moving her gaze from the man in front of her.
"So I suggest you take your sorry backside away from her because if you don't I'll have to remove you myself and you don't want me to do that..." her voice harsh, eyes glaring at him.
Turning away he sloped off, not uttering a single word, getting the message.
Watching him walk away Vera glanced up to the woman beside her, smiling thankfully as she spoke.
"Thank you for that..." Joan looking down to Vera, moving her arm from around the other woman, something feeling odd as she lost the contact.
"You're welcome Vera, I saw him from the door, seemed to be making a nuisance of himself to you...".
Vera forced herself not to sighed as Joan released contact from her, liking the way the taller woman had held her with just one arm, especially her hand on the small of her back and being close to her, she felt protected, safe, like not the man or anyone in that bar could've harmed her.
"You...you were coming in here?" wondering if she was prying to much after she'd ask the question.
Joan took the stool next to Vera's, ordering a drink before turning to answer the question.
"I was, I fancied a quiet drink so thought I'd quickly come in here" paying the barman and taking a sip.
"That's what my plan was, but felt a bit stupid sat here on my own so I was just about to drink up and leave before he came along" also taking a sip from her glass.
"I hope I didn't speak out of turn about what I said to him, it's the first thing that came to my mind" taking another sip, she didn't normally bother about whether she spoke out of turn, but in this instance with Vera, well with Vera in general for a while she'd realised that she did bother what the younger woman thought and if she'd offended her.
In all truth Vera had liked what she'd said, she'd like the fact that man had felt threatened and scared when he'd seen Joan, liked the fact she had immediately come to her rescue, saved her from his clutches, added to this she'd put her arm around her and what was that, held her close, pretending to be her what....date...no she'd said she wasn't single, partner? Any other woman she'd have instantly took a dislike to being pretending that she was with her, but not here with her, not with Joan.
It was different, the butterflies the blue eyed woman had felt at having that strong arm around her caused a jelly like feeling in her legs, being glad of being held close so she didn't fall.
But she wasn't attracted to women was she.
Or at least she never had been before.
Before what.
Before Joan Ferguson.
She shook her head.
"Not at all, I'm grateful for your help, I didn't mind you saying that at all..." smiling at her boss over her glass.
She'd not quite known why she'd said it, it just seemed the best thing to say, the most what was it appropriate, no that wasn't the word.... natural was the word. She'd actually liked standing there glaring down at that pathetic excuse of a man, her arm around Vera, holding her close as she'd watched him slope off, she'd protected the younger woman and it felt good, it felt...right.
Natural even.
Joan gave her a nod, this seemed to be her go to action when words failed her.
Sipping their drinks, they floated between bits of conversation about work and the weather, a bit of politics, something they realised they shared the same opinions on.
The taller dark haired woman looked at her watch before getting up off the stool.
"I think I'll be going, it's been a long day, early start tomorrow" straightening her loose fitting blouse as she did so.
Vera rose too, her eyes being drawn to how the blouse hung on the older woman, the way it floated over her figure in all the right places, her dark jeans hugging her curves.
Feeling eyes on her Joan glanced to the smaller woman, Vera was unaware she was looking at her, watching as the blue eyes scanned her body, moving up and down, taking in her figure.
She felt a flutter in her stomach.
She's looking at me, wandering her eyes over me, over my figure, lower than my blouse, down my legs and then up again, she's actually looking at my body.
She's looking at me, no one else.
These thoughts alone making her clench her fists softly at the attention being given to her, before clearing her throat rousing Vera from her day dream.
"Sorry did you say something?" started Vera, becoming aware of who was beside her again, suddenly wondering what Joan had seen.
"I'm going now, enjoy your day off tomorrow Vera.." .
Vera smiled up at her, suddenly not wanting her to leave, but shaking the other thoughts from her mind, knowing the idea was ridiculous and putting it down to the drink.
"I'm heading off myself too..." as she walked through the door and outside with Joan, before stopping and adding as the brown eyes looked at her.
"Thank you again for your help tonight..." catching a smile being returned.
"You're welcome, good night Vera".
"Good night...Joan" watching the older woman walking away.
What has got into you Vera, you're stood in front of the woman checking her out, get a grip and stop, this has got to stop, you're talking about Joan Ferguson here, the Joan Ferguson.
The name itself causing that feeling in her tummy Vera had started becoming aware of more often since the dinner that night, it first being ignited by the soft stroke of that thumb, now it seemed just thinking of her name set it off again, not to mention tonight, having her arm around me, thank god I stayed standing.
She shook her head, trying to rid the thoughts as she stood there in the car park, being lit up by the street lamps dotted around at various points.
Maybe a day off would have the desired effect of sorting her head out.