Once Julianna left his table, Owen found himself able to get immersed in the work he came to do at the shop. He ordered a second coffee at some point in the afternoon from the woman who had bussed his table earlier that morning. She’d served him again with the same funny look in her eyes. As if he was a curiosity.
Her looks didn’t bother him. Perhaps she’d learned of his date with her boss. Certainly reason to give him searching looks. Besides, he liked the attention.
Whether Julianna came and went from the room he didn't notice. It was easy for him to lose sense of the world around him when he focused. The flow state some people called it. When finished with the work that required him to have internet access, he closed up laptop and packed up for home. Owen left the shop without saying goodbye to Julianna, wherever she was.
They’d see each other later. He didn’t need to be clingy.
At home he piddled around the theatre doing some light work. He changed his bedsheets for one. Not that he was necessarily expecting Julianna to come home with him. But he hoped she would and knew women appreciated clean sheets. He cleaned himself up, also. Even showered and put some product in his hair and put on a touch of cologne. Just a hint of something fresh. He kept the same outfit but traded the graphic-t for a plain navy blue button down.
Julianna had sent him a text message, really for the purposes of confirming her intention to go on a date with him. He replied back a simple ‘ditto. see ya later.’
Owen returned to the coffee shop at five till nine. Punctual without seeming to eager. But she was already waiting outside for him. He pulled up alongside the curb and walked the bike in front of where she waited for him. He thought she looked rather fetching dressed down with her hair around her shoulders. Converse shoes were perfect for riding and would fit in well at the bar. He took off his helmet to let it rest against his thigh, before patting the seat behind him.
“Ready?” He called over the motor. The vibrating engine transferred to his hands clad in leather riding gloves.
When she approached he shook his head, “Man I was hoping you’d wear a tiny little skirt. But those jeans look nice.” He smiled charmingly at her.
“There’s a second helmet in the saddle bag there.” He nodded to the leather bag on the left rear. “Throw your leg over the back and mind the exhaust.” He waited for her to get settled. “Hold on around my waist. I’ll lean to go around turns with this thing. Just relax and move with me, but not too much or we’ll tip over.” He laughed and it was muffled when he replaced the helmet over his head.
When she seemed settled he took off at a slow pace, doing a few turns around the parking lot to get her acclimated to the way it would feel on the road. It wasn’t much of a ride to the district where the jazz club was. It was a part of town that had been vibrant probably thirty years prior, but had been neglected when the downtown area started blossoming.
There were several empty storefronts, some businesses that looked like they were barely hanging on, the occasional pub, and art galleries shared by visual art students at the university. Owen pulled into a neglected parking lot and killed the engine. Once the motorcycle was off, the sound of drums and bass reached them. He waited for Julianna to dismount before he did.
“I’m taking you to the loudest jazz club on the block.” He explained before offering her his hand. Owen led her to a run down looking storefront from which the sounds of music seemed to be emanating. It read Trading Post in faded letters on the outside of the glass door and appeared to have been an old convenience store. The inside had been fixed up with instruments hanging on the walls underneath which little plaques explained who they had belonged to and their history. Towards the back, a stairwell leading down was cordoned off in old-fashioned looking red velvet ropes. A woman dressed-up in black dress and too much black eyeliner took money for the cover while chain smoking. Owen paid in cash and led Julianna down a gloomy stair well.
Each step the sound of music and voices became louder until they were down a couple of floors underground in a murky jazz club with a fog of cigar smoke overhead. Owen kept hold of Julianna’s hand as he led her through the crowd. The place was crowded with an assortment of people. Anyone in could really fit in the scene. Obvious student hipsters, couples engrossed in dates, sharp looking business types who looked straight from the office, a trio of three in paint stained blue jumpsuits, an old lady swaying at the front near the band. The floor crunched underneath with the discarded shells of peanuts and pistachios.
Owen kept his head high seeming to look for something over the heads of the crowd. He leaned down to speak into Julianna’s ear at a shout which was necessary given the noise. If the music wasn't loud enough, people shouted over it to speak, and during solos the crowed hooted and clapped their approval adding to the din.
“We’ll have to steal a seat when someone gets up -” Suddenly, his free hand jerked in the direction of a booth a woman and man were abandoning. “Quick, grab that.” He pulled Julianna ahead of him and pushed at her lower back directing her towards the soon to be empty booth. “I’ll get us some drinks. Run!” He laughed at his own urgency in securing the seat and shoved her again playfully for good measure.
Her looks didn’t bother him. Perhaps she’d learned of his date with her boss. Certainly reason to give him searching looks. Besides, he liked the attention.
Whether Julianna came and went from the room he didn't notice. It was easy for him to lose sense of the world around him when he focused. The flow state some people called it. When finished with the work that required him to have internet access, he closed up laptop and packed up for home. Owen left the shop without saying goodbye to Julianna, wherever she was.
They’d see each other later. He didn’t need to be clingy.
At home he piddled around the theatre doing some light work. He changed his bedsheets for one. Not that he was necessarily expecting Julianna to come home with him. But he hoped she would and knew women appreciated clean sheets. He cleaned himself up, also. Even showered and put some product in his hair and put on a touch of cologne. Just a hint of something fresh. He kept the same outfit but traded the graphic-t for a plain navy blue button down.
Julianna had sent him a text message, really for the purposes of confirming her intention to go on a date with him. He replied back a simple ‘ditto. see ya later.’
Owen returned to the coffee shop at five till nine. Punctual without seeming to eager. But she was already waiting outside for him. He pulled up alongside the curb and walked the bike in front of where she waited for him. He thought she looked rather fetching dressed down with her hair around her shoulders. Converse shoes were perfect for riding and would fit in well at the bar. He took off his helmet to let it rest against his thigh, before patting the seat behind him.
“Ready?” He called over the motor. The vibrating engine transferred to his hands clad in leather riding gloves.
When she approached he shook his head, “Man I was hoping you’d wear a tiny little skirt. But those jeans look nice.” He smiled charmingly at her.
“There’s a second helmet in the saddle bag there.” He nodded to the leather bag on the left rear. “Throw your leg over the back and mind the exhaust.” He waited for her to get settled. “Hold on around my waist. I’ll lean to go around turns with this thing. Just relax and move with me, but not too much or we’ll tip over.” He laughed and it was muffled when he replaced the helmet over his head.
When she seemed settled he took off at a slow pace, doing a few turns around the parking lot to get her acclimated to the way it would feel on the road. It wasn’t much of a ride to the district where the jazz club was. It was a part of town that had been vibrant probably thirty years prior, but had been neglected when the downtown area started blossoming.
There were several empty storefronts, some businesses that looked like they were barely hanging on, the occasional pub, and art galleries shared by visual art students at the university. Owen pulled into a neglected parking lot and killed the engine. Once the motorcycle was off, the sound of drums and bass reached them. He waited for Julianna to dismount before he did.
“I’m taking you to the loudest jazz club on the block.” He explained before offering her his hand. Owen led her to a run down looking storefront from which the sounds of music seemed to be emanating. It read Trading Post in faded letters on the outside of the glass door and appeared to have been an old convenience store. The inside had been fixed up with instruments hanging on the walls underneath which little plaques explained who they had belonged to and their history. Towards the back, a stairwell leading down was cordoned off in old-fashioned looking red velvet ropes. A woman dressed-up in black dress and too much black eyeliner took money for the cover while chain smoking. Owen paid in cash and led Julianna down a gloomy stair well.
Each step the sound of music and voices became louder until they were down a couple of floors underground in a murky jazz club with a fog of cigar smoke overhead. Owen kept hold of Julianna’s hand as he led her through the crowd. The place was crowded with an assortment of people. Anyone in could really fit in the scene. Obvious student hipsters, couples engrossed in dates, sharp looking business types who looked straight from the office, a trio of three in paint stained blue jumpsuits, an old lady swaying at the front near the band. The floor crunched underneath with the discarded shells of peanuts and pistachios.
Owen kept his head high seeming to look for something over the heads of the crowd. He leaned down to speak into Julianna’s ear at a shout which was necessary given the noise. If the music wasn't loud enough, people shouted over it to speak, and during solos the crowed hooted and clapped their approval adding to the din.
“We’ll have to steal a seat when someone gets up -” Suddenly, his free hand jerked in the direction of a booth a woman and man were abandoning. “Quick, grab that.” He pulled Julianna ahead of him and pushed at her lower back directing her towards the soon to be empty booth. “I’ll get us some drinks. Run!” He laughed at his own urgency in securing the seat and shoved her again playfully for good measure.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
The following 1 user Likes saronym's post: megs
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Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-16-2017, 01:38 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-16-2017, 01:45 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-16-2017, 03:06 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-16-2017, 03:27 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-16-2017, 04:10 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-16-2017, 07:17 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-16-2017, 09:07 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-16-2017, 09:56 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-16-2017, 10:45 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-17-2017, 10:01 AM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-17-2017, 11:15 AM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-17-2017, 11:54 AM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-17-2017, 12:46 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-17-2017, 01:17 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-17-2017, 02:05 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-17-2017, 02:53 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-17-2017, 07:15 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-17-2017, 08:43 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-20-2017, 11:21 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 04-21-2017, 04:37 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 04-23-2017, 02:50 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 05-07-2017, 05:14 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 05-13-2017, 09:26 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 05-15-2017, 01:48 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 05-16-2017, 12:44 AM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 05-21-2017, 12:54 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 05-24-2017, 12:10 AM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 05-29-2017, 04:50 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 05-30-2017, 07:51 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 06-24-2017, 09:38 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 06-28-2017, 07:39 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 07-31-2017, 11:09 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 08-29-2017, 12:16 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 09-29-2017, 07:04 PM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by saronym - 12-01-2017, 01:17 AM
RE: Variations on a Theme [Closed] - by megs - 08-04-2019, 12:06 PM