Don’t want to Forget - 3. Chapter 3

The night of the accident

The bar was busy. Which was good. Crowds of people in their high-end fashion flare and pints all around. People in good roaring spirit.

Arjan smiled as he leaned into the bar, the barmen all busy pouring as many drinks as they could, the smell of alcohol wasn’t too overwhelming.

There was a loud chattering of people, he looked around. He barely recognised some of them, not that they hadn’t aged well but probably aged better. Not the awkward looking teenagers from school anymore. He wasn’t sure why he had gone to his school reunion gig; it was quite awkward.

The stage was set up near the end of the pub, a plain drum set, amps set all around. The band was there on the little stage, adjusting the microphone stands and tunning their guitars.

‘Hey.’

Arjan turned and he couldn’t help but smile, ‘Tom. Hey, you, okay?’

Tom rubbed the back of his head, and his smile lit his face up, ‘Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to this for a while.’

‘I know, it’s a cool school reunion idea with the best band from school. I heard they tour now properly so it’s nice they’ve done something small here, it’s a weird sort of cool school and college reunion.’

‘Better than everyone organising an old pub meet up where everyone gets drunk. Oh, wait a moment.’

They both laughed.

They were both waiting for the moment it was supposed to be awkward. The classic bumping into your ex at the bar awkward. But that awkward feeling never came.

‘I got a job as a nurse,’ Arjan smiled at him. He waved the barman over and he ordered his drink, ‘Pepsi, please? You want anything, Tom?’

‘Nah, I can get my own. Unless you’re earning loads now as a nurse?’

‘Oh, yeah, I’m rolling in the dimes,’ he rolled his eyes and told the barman. ‘Guinness as well, please.’

As the barman walked away to pour the drinks, Tom leaned into Arjan, ‘Ah, actually I’m on gin and tonics now. Recommended. Good for the old belly.’

‘Oh? By who?’ he laughed. ‘Oh, my bad, I’ll try and change.’

‘Oh, this is free, I’m not turning this drink down, don’t you worry,’ he grinned at him.

A harsh whistle from the amps grabbed everyone’s attention.

‘Sorry!’ one of the members of the band called to the crowd.

‘I’m glad to hear about your nurse role,’ Tom cleared his throat.

‘Thank you,’ Arjan paused. ‘Congrats on you and Tanya by the way, pictures looked lovely on Facebook. Sorry it’s a few years late ha, ha.’

Before Tom could reply the barman came over and Arjan paid him.

The member of the band spoke into the microphone, ‘Hey folks, great to see so many people here! We’ll be starting in 2 minutes!’

‘I better sit down,’ grinned Tom reaching for his drink off the bar. ‘Thanks for this.’ He paused. ‘It’s awesome seeing you, Arjan.’

Arjan nodded at him.

Tom went to sit down with his group of friends in one of the booths. They were all loud and chatting and laughing.

Tom grinned and sipped his drink. As his friends told another awful joke and laughed, he snatched a glance up at Arjan at the bar.

Arjan was on his phone. Tom looked down and replied back to his friends.

Looking up from his phone, Arjan stole a quick glance sideways at Tom, he was talking away. He looked back down at his phone.

The band played well and the atmosphere was full of e-liquid smoke, drinks and generally chilled out fun. Catching up with old friends and listening to their most successful band from school.

Arjan got outside for a bit. It was a little cold, but the sky was bright with stars twinkling. No clouds that night despite the odd chill in the air.

He found a small smoking area with a small wooden table with an ash tray.

A couple went past him. He could smell the cigarettes from them.

He looked over his shoulder then sneaked a hand into his pocket to get his secret cigarette box.

As he lit up, he took a long drag.

‘Terrible, nurse, absolutely terrible!’

He recognised Tom’s voice and grinned at him, flickering his cigarette at the floor.

‘Shh!’ he put his fingers to his mouth and Tom laughed.

He folded his arms and stood next to him.

Arjan sighed, ‘You want one?’

‘Please.’

He took one out and lit it up for him.

Taking a long drag, Tom sighs a little.

‘We’re both terrible people,’ Tom laughed a little taking another drag of a new cigarette.

He nudged Tom’s shoulder, ‘You’re right, we shouldn’t be doing this at all. It hurts other people.’

‘It’s a selfish thing.’

‘That’s true.’

‘But it feels good and it makes me feel happy,’ he paused and added. ‘And I think about it all the time.’

Arjan smiled and replied quietly, ‘Me too.’

‘But you know,’ Tom chuckled, looking at the cigarette in his hand. ‘It is bad.’

‘You’re right there. It’s something we definitely shouldn’t do.’

They both laughed and finished off their cigarettes.

Stamped his onto the ground, Tom nodded at him, ‘Thanks.’

‘See you round,’ Arjan smiled back at him.

Tom quickly reached over to him and gave him a quick hug.

He smelt like lavender.

His arms were warm and long around Arjan.

They both parted quickly and Tom rushed back inside the pub.

‘Yeah, I see them,’ Johnny said on the phone. He was leaning against the wall; he was standing across the road from the smoking area. He had been watching Tom and Arjan the whole time. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Tom rush back into the bar. The band music was playing loudly, and everyone was cheering.

‘Go fast with him in the car tonight.’

‘Round bends and that?’

‘Yeah, it’ll be fine. Just pretend to skid, make him really crap himself. Drive as mental as you can.’

‘Ha, ha, ha, if that’s what you want Tanya!’