When Worlds Combine - A WWC Sequel

12; Rum and Cokes, New Releases, and Art Galleries

Zayn

"Ah, so this is where the famous Zayn Malik works."

I look up from stacking the glasses to find Emma sliding onto a stool behind the bar, placing her arms on the table in a relaxed manner. She gives me an amused look.

I hold my arms out. "You found me. What can I get you?"

"Rum and coke," she responds.

I raise my eyebrow and she notices.

"Something wrong?"

I shake my head. "Not many girls drink that, is all."

She gives a twisted smile. "I'm not many girls."

I smile. She certainly isn't. I get started right away on fixing her drink.

"So, tell me, how does an eighteen year old get given a job in a bar? Don't you need experience for this kind of thing?"

I slide the drink to her and lean on the bar. "I guess you can say I got lucky."

"I guess you could." She sips at her drink. "I think this is the best rum and coke I've ever had."

I smile smugly. "Very lucky."

"Hey," she says seriously. "Are you busy tonight?"

I hesitate for a second. This is the first Saturday night I've had off in a while, and Violet and I had planned to spend it together. We haven't really spent much time together alone since we got here, I guess we thought we'd be on the same schedules but we're not. So in the rare chance we do get, we like to take advantage of it.

"It's just that there's an art show on over at Saatchi," she continues. "Would you be interested?"

Although I'm not too big on the arts, Emma and I have discussed our mutual love for contemporary art. It's never been something Violet understood, so I didn't really discuss it much. I'm very interested to go have a look at the show as I haven't really been to one before, and Emma would be the perfect companion to go with. Because she's the only person I've met that's really understood things like I do. But tonight is all about Violet and I.

"I really wish I could, but I'm afraid I have plans tonight," I tell her, a sinking feeling in my chest at the opportunity I'm missing.

Emma looks disappointed. "With Violet?"

"I ... yeah."

"Well, alright. If you change your mind, it starts at eight."

I know I won't, but I thank her anyway.

"How much?" She asks, looking at her empty glass.

I wave my hand. "On the house."

She looks at me and gives a small smile. "See you, Zayn."

"Yeah, see you." I watch her walk out the bar then get back to work.

-------

I finish work at five and head to Violet's dorm with a bag of new release DVD's and about three bags of sweets. Violet said that her roommate was going to a party so we'd be safely alone all night, unlike my roommate who seemed to never leave our room.

I don't bother knocking and instead just go straight in, only to find Violet not there. Which is strange because she said she would be. After all, what else does she have to do? Tonight was the night we had planned.

I decide to sit down on her bed and wait for her to come back, telling myself she's probably just out getting a few things. I eye the Cosmo magazine sitting on her bedside table and shake my head, laughing. That girl shouldn't be reading that thing.