Unedited.
| The Halfway House.|
Piper ♀
I sat tall my lanky body at its height, my hands clamped together in a tight sweaty sandwich. My eyes continued to gaze up at the clock in horror, it was nearly time.
When I first opened the local paper in hope of finding a job to fit my minimal qualifications and could maybe help me pay my water bill I wasn't excepting this dump.
I hadn't been living by myself for long and I already felt like I was drowning in quicksand, ever since my parents had kicked me out without a dollar to my name two months ago at the mention of my future (a future the couldn't control) I had been alone.
The confidence I had to muster to tell my parents that I wanted to pursue a career in art rather then carrying on the family tradition of becoming a lawyer, let's just say it didn't go down to well.
Being disowned at the tender age of 19 would have to be a record, and after endless couch surfing and odd jobs I finally managed to save enough for this shity apartment which was located in the most dangerous and dodgy part of London. But at least I had a view of the stars (from all the holes in the roof).
When I first came across the add in the paper I nearly chocked, it was only a couple blocks away from my apartment and waitressing at a pub couldn't be that hard right?
And I desperately needed the money or I wouldn't make rent this month. When the building first came into view I was sure I had mistaken the address only to be unfortunately reassured by the faded logo, this place couldn't actually be open could it? It looked like the roof was about to cave in.
I took a deep breath in and opened the door and walked in. When I entered I was met with the smell of cheap cigarets and even cheaper alcohol and new that this ghastly smell would forever be printed in the back of my head. I looked at my surroundings to see that the interior was just as shitty as the exterior.
It was your standard English pub only more shit. It was bigger inside then I imagined but not tardas worthy, the yellow wallpaper that painted the inside had faded over time and was peeling like a bad sun burn.
The circler bar centred the room witch was matched with worn tatted bar stools, there also was some booths dressed up and down for others to sit and eat ( if you wanted food poisoning). There also was a small stage and the very back were I guessed the entertainment would play and I prayed to god the weren't karaoke fans, a person can only take Celine Dione's my heart will go on so many times.
I saw an older lady behind the bar serving customers and decided I would talk to her. I tried to walk without tripping which had always posed as a challenge because I'm so naturally clumsy, especially when I'm nervous, which was mostly all the time.
When I finally approached the bar (without tripping I might add) I was met with the older lady's eyes witch were light in colour and seemed kind, she looked in her early forties but her smile gave her a younger glow. She lent on the counter and spoke
"You, here for the job?" Her accent thick,
American maybe. She was a long way from home.
I went to answer but she continued to talk while wiping out empty beer glasses.
"Or are you here for the band? I only asked cause you don't look like most of them groupies, to sweet."
"No, I'm here for the job" I corrected shyly
"Good, girls like you are to good for the likes of them, I'll take ya to the boss"
"Your not the boss?" I asked confused
"Oh, no honey bee not me" she said with laugh excusing herself from behind the bar, there was a grand total of two customers who's drinks were to full for 10 in the morning but surely they wouldn't want a top up for a while.
She took me behind the bar and we exited through the back door into the back alleyway which smelled surprisingly better than the pub we walked down the alley in till we met a second door.
"This is it, go in there take a seat he will be in soon"
"Thank you"
"Don't worry you'll be great" she reassured me, she could sense my nerves, but then again you could feel them from a mile away.
I returned her smile and opened the door taking a seat inside.
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And here I was half an hour later still waiting for the guy to turn up, the room was also claustrophobic like the others, it was dressed with second hand furniture and posters with half naked women lounging on expensive vehicles.
I personally felt very uncomfortable against such a backdrop I myself was not poster worthy and I had excepted that, I was just plain old me nothing special.
The office it's self creeped me out, it reeked of B.O and stale cigars it was a living breathing crime scene waiting to happen.
When another ten minuets had passed the door finally reopened.
"Hello my darling, sorry to keep you waiting I'm a busy man" his voice thick and sleazy,
so I guessed the carpet matched the drapes, when I first met his eyes I wasn't surprised by his appearance.
He was all blubber, short for a man with pig like facial features.
He was bald on top with a bit of greasy hair on the either side, that was by the looks of it was hanging on for dear life.
The hair he lacked on his head was made up by a ghastly mat of chest hair displayed by his open shirt which revealed way to much skin for a man his age, matched with a single golden chain and sweat patches.
He took his place behind his desk and looked at me with a sly smile
"So I'm guessing you must be Pepper Collins right?"
"Piper" I correctly quickly trying to maintain eye contact
"Piper right I'm Garry, but you can call me whatever you like"
he said looking me up and down and biting his bottom lip
Sweet Jesus.
How do I answer that?
"I'm just joking my darling, or maybe I'm not who knows?" He answered laughing at his own joke.
"Anyway, Piper why do you want to work here it's not because of that stupid fucking band is it? I'm sick of hiring groupies who skip work hours to have sex with one of them in the staff Bathroom." He huffed raising his voice
Who is this band anyway?
"I don't permit sex on these premise, bad for the business but I'll make a small exception only if it's with me" he replied calmer than before adding a creepy wink.
"No sir, I haven't even heard of this band before" I assured him
"Good you look to naive to be a fan of there shit anyway, your hired you'll start tomorrow" he said getting up to leave
"Pardon?.. Sir you haven't even looked at my résumé yet don't you have to ask me more questions?"
"Look kid, your young, easy on the eyes and we really need some fresh meat to liven this place up. I'm a good judge on character and I like you, your hired.
I sat in shock, I was hired just like that? After spending months applying and being countlessly let down, I finally landed myself a proper job. This might not be may not be the most ideal workplace but it would fit for now, I just have to remind myself that it's just a stepping stone to get myself were I want to be.
It was going to be an experience none the less, something one day I could think back and laugh about.
Gary spoke again before he met the door
"Tell Ida, she'll help you out with your uniform and all that shit, and please don't help your self to the alcohol, I'm poor enough already" he wouldn't have a problem there
he opened the door for me, I walked in front not wanting to know what was going on behind me or knowing what descriptive words he was using in his head to describe my ass. Garry gave the "I would pounce on anything that has a pulse" vibe and if I had the option of Garry or living alone forever with my only company being felines, the cats would definitely win.
He opened the pubs back door and before entering he turned to face me, he raised his arms in dramatic effect and yelled
"WELCOME TO THE HALFWAY HOUSE"
Kill me now.
I quickly rushed passed him in embarrassment I was never good with attention, I liked to remain hidden and I did a pretty good job of it too.
I tucked a stay hair behind my ear and tried to seek Ida quickly so I could get out of here. I found her waiting a near by both, after taking there orders she came to face me but before I could speak she embraced me in a tight hug. When she finally released me from her hold she smiled.
"Congrats sweet cheeks, were going to be partners in crime" I laughed she then gave me my own personal cribz tour of my new workplace. She showed me the rat infested kitchen and the staff bathroom were I was reminded of the "no sex" rule which I'm sure I would follow, unless Zac Efron secretly worked here, then we'd have a problem.
She then showed me my uniform which was a crappy reproduction of the two broke girls dinner outfit in the shade of vomit green and dark blue, it was awful short and revealed way to much, Ida was lucky she was short, I would have to wear something under it for sure.
After we were finished the tour we relocated back to the bar were I saw the once empty stage now filled with instruments and band members. My eyes skimmed to the drum kit where there was a name written in thick crappy sharpie "Identity theft".
I looked up to the owners of the instruments and was surprised by what I saw, I finally understood why people assumed I was here just for them. Four early twenty year old guys stood on the small rectangular stage all dressed in the same shade of black, dripping with tattoos and piercings.
I was surprised and disgusted by my sudden attraction and hoped they wouldn't find me staring, that would be extremely embarrassing. All of them oddly alluring which was disheartening because of the reputation that others had build up in my head, I wasn't like the girls they were into and I was never going to be.
They all seemed to into setting up to realise me staring at them like a tourist at a zoo, they had various instruments they were setting up, one each in fact and the space that was centre stage was left vacant with only a tall stand and microphone.
None of them dared to take that place so it left me to think they were missing a member, to only here the door slam shut nearly of its hinges. The band members Ida and I all quickly looked to the door to find a tall man in the doorway, he had been the culprit of such a slam and that is where our eyes first met.
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Hiya, Thank you for taking the time to read this, it means so very much to both Skye and I.
This is my first time publishing my work for others to read and I'm very nervous about it, but I'm glad to have such a great friend like Skye who is very experienced and talented in this area she also writes on her single account, Hotel_Horan so you should check her out. If you enjoyed this chapter please vote,comment and share it would make my world and I will leave you with a quote because I'm fucking clichè, this is a quote from one of my favourite movies in honour of the passing of Mr Robin Williams gone but never forgotten.
"Seize the day, Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die."
Lots of Love
Georgia xx