Don't mind about me, dear

((The mask))

Once again a night without nothing special to do. It was Saturday and Kieran was sitting at home, watching telly? How boring can your life be, Kieran?

Then it came like a flash. A masquerade was the perfect way to make the best out of this lazy Saturday. It was nearly 8'o clock, so - almost the best time of a day to get drunk. It was nearly the basic way of life for Kieran nowadays - it was the best way to forget all that had happened. He cheating on Harriet (allthough, it was nice - maybe it was so amazing because the girl was his sisters best friend), Harriet cheating on him... With his best friend, for Gods sake! It totally made Harriet look like a bitch - at least Kieran thought so. He couldn't see his own failures, it was just - to be honest, it was a mission impossible. Kieran changed his clothes and looked his figure from the mirror - perfect. As perfect as it could be. Then calling to a taxi service - finally Kieran was ready.

The Index - nightclub was a bit crowded. Kieran tried to make his way to the right side of the nightclub - he wanted something to drink. People all around him were pushing each other, eager to get what wanted the most. Alcohol. Tonight it was all about drinking - at least that was the way Kieran saw things. Maybe that's why Kieran decided to be as arrogant as all the others - he pushed his way through the clubbers, just to have some vodka.
"One vodka martini - well, make it a double", he said lazily.
Only a few seconds later Kieran was holding a glass full of his favourite drink - vodka martini. What could've been better? Then it beginned - womanazing and gazing. Kieran couldn't help it - it was like a bad habit. He just had to look around, just in case - he could see some of his mates or bump into someone he absolutely wanted to avoid.

And there it was - the person who should be avoided. Even though she had her mask on, Kieran recognized her. It was his ex, Harriet and she seemed to have someone with her. A woman, no doubt of it, but who was it? It could be Nell - after all, she was Harriets best friend. Kieran just wasn't too curious to find out and to be honest, he just didn't want to meet Harriet. He knew he had acted like an asshole and it just wasn't in Kierans nature - he couldn't say 'I'm sorry'. It was just too difficult. Maybe that was the main reason why Kieran decided to turn around - now he definately wanted to have a fag.

(The look)

Nell wasn't planning for an evening out. But once again Harriet had convinced her that a masquerade party at a club nearby the city centre would be good for her. And then of course came the real problems: what to wear? Nell was completely out of ideas so she just went through her old stuff finding and old mask she used in high school masquerade ball. But the dress was the real question – since the mask was white, she just had to wear a white dress too, right? After an hour Nell finally found the perfect dress – white with a little black lace on waist. And with no further imagination she decided to wear black butterfly-buttoned high heel boots. Perfect. Or well, almost. Only makeup and hair and she could actually show her masked face in a club.

After an hour and a half she was waiting for Harriet in front of her apartment in Yellow Avenue. They were supposed to take her car because Nell just didn't want to take a bus when she was looking so... ridiculous? Well, at least that was how Nell felt when she first took a look in the mirror with her costume on. Nell sat on the front seat while Harriet drove the car nearby the club. The Index – Nell hadn't been there before, but on the contrary she rarely visited night clubs. Actually she wouldn't probably have visited even one if it wasn't for Harriet. Nell wasn't really a party-person. She actually preferred quiet and relaxing nights at home watching a movie and munching popcorn. But she just had a soft spot for Harriet. I mean look at her – she was dressed for a masquerade! It was a true miracle. Maybe just Harriet had that effect on her...

They moved in and went straight to the bar. Harriet ordered them the first round – Nell would order the next one. Two Cosmopolitans found their way in front of the girls in no time. Nell started to gaze for a table and spotted a free one near a corner – a bit far away perhaps, but Nell acutally preferred it. The girls did manage to get to the table only spilling a few drops from their glasses. Nell sat down with Harriet until the glasses were empty - it took about ten minutes. Then Harriet announced that she was in the mood for a dance, but Nell declined. She actually just preferred to sit for a while – even Harriet couldn't get her into the dancing floor. Not in the night club anyway.

That was a quick move to be made - Kieran turned around and got himself to the another end of the bar. He never wanted to smoke inside, so this wasn't an exception. So, Kieran went straight out and lighted the cig in between of his lips. It tasted good and also felt even better - it calmed him down. It was Harriet, so - what about it? It was only one party at the club after all, he could always avoid his ex. But who the hell was the another girl with Harriet? Could it really be Nell? Kieran didn't like the fact that he couldn't recognize that girl. She seemed familiar, but was she really? She could be almost anyohe. Naah - not anyone, Harriet really didn't have that much friends. Maybe he really should get in touch with Harriet again, even though Harried would've preferred to avoid him. Ha - that was the right thing to do. If it was Nell, she had to say hi, at least. And maybe, just maybe... There was a little chance that the girls wouldn't even recognize him.

Kieran had no more time to smoke - he had to get inside. He just had to know if it was Nell - Harriet didn't matter at all. But what if Harriet would know his voice? Allthough, Harriet had been listening to it the last couple of years. But that was only the risk Kieran had to take, if he wanted to get to know Nell better. So, Kieran got back inside and gazed around. In few seconds he saw the girls dancing on the floor, even though Harriet looked more excited than Nell. This was absolutely the chance Kieran had been looking for and the best thing was that Kieran didn't have to wait for long.

Slowly Kieran walked to the floor and tried to dance - he really didn't like it at all. Would've been much more easier just to go to say hi, but there were some risks. This was the best chance Kieran could get. Gently Kieran pushed people off, just to get to dance closer to Harriet and Nell. And when he finally get closer, he was definate that it was Harriet. He could've been sure, that the girl with Harriet was Nell, now that he could take a closer look.
"You mind?" Kieran asked - even though he had no thoughts of getting away.
This situation was just... Just too good to be missed.
Kieran danced, had a closer look to Harriet - yeah, it really was Harriet. She looked Kieran intensively, but Kieran still was sure that Harriet didn't know who he was. Maybe Harriet thought that Kieran had some familiar characteristics, but still... Wow. It was just fantastic. The best way to get closer to Nell.

Well alright, let's take it back. SOMEHOW Harriet did manage to get Nell on the dancefloor. There was puppyeyes, grinning and pretty pleases involved. And Harriet was maybe the only person who could get Nell to do anything. Maybe it was because of her past – Harriet knew about it and she was perhaps the only one Nell trusted completely. So after Nell drank her Cosmo, she followed Harriet to the dancing floor and started to feel the music. In some level Nell was a little embarrased – she was not use to dancing in public. But in her defense, partying at a nightclub was easier than trying to dance waltz or tango. The last time she had danced those was in her Prom. And after that she just wanted to forget – she was really bad, like she had born with two left feet. At least partying wasn't dependable on any certain moves so improvising was pretty easy.

Step by step Nell was really getting to having fun. Maybe it couldn't hurt to let a little loose. Maybe it was the first time in a week when Nell didn't think of work and especially that one prick who gave the nurses a hard time – and her mother. Goddamn if she wasn't the head of gastro and if she couldn't make everyone's life miserable, the nurses would've stopped working a long time ago. Snap out of it girl, relax, the voice inside Nell's head was telling to her. The music started to flow through her ears and it was pretty easy going along with it. Until someone broke the flow.

Did they mind? Well, Harriet seemed to stare at the unknown man that came to them. Nell didn't quite know what Harriet was thinking, but the man didn't go away as he wouldn't take declining answer. Nell didn't really mind, but her feet were getting a bit sore.
”Harriet, if you don't mind, I'll go sit for a while”, Nell tried to shout to Harriet bowing towards her and then she turned to the man. ”Excuse me.”
The table she left a moment ago was fortunately still free. Nell pushed people away a little bit trying to make her way to it. Once she got there, she sat down graciously.

Kieran was looking around, he didn't want to stare exactly towards Harriet and Nell. So, he heard the few words girls exchanged - Nell wasn't too keen on dancing anymore and wanted to go to sit for a while, but Harriet still wanted to show us some dancing moves. When Nell finally left the dancefloor, Kieran had no doubts about what to do.
"Excuse me, too", he said politely.
That could've been a mistake - Harriet seemed like she'd seen a ghost. It didn't even take a second when Harriet thought she'd realized everything.
"What are you doing here, Kieran? You want to break Nell's heart next? You fucking bastard", she fizzled.
Kieran had to think for a while - what to do? He wanted to get to know Nell better and Harriet was something like a big, poisoned apple in between them - Kieran and Nell. He had to figure out something, fast.

"I'm sorry, but I think I'm not that person you think I am", Kieran said again as politely as he could.
The reality was that he was angry, rally angry. Harriet just couldn't spoil everything.
"Of course you are. Leave Nell alone, you understand me?"
Kieran just pretented to be astonished, and maybe that was the trick he needed. The expression in Harriet's face changed a bit - Kieran could see that Harriet was thinking.
"So - what's your name then?"
This was so fhrustrating - Kieran just wanted to go to sit with Nell and Harriet... Harriet!
"This is a masquerade party - is there anything surprising, if I tell my name now?" he grinned - that was the moment he knew he'd won the battle.

- -

After the fhrustrating moments with Harriet, Kieran finally managed my way to the table pushing and nudging the crowd.
"You mind if I sit here, just to keep you some company? Your friend seems to be busy entertaining herself", Kieran said and laughed a bit.
"So, I think you don't like to dance that much?" Kieran asked - even though, it was quite obvious.
Then he just sat there and looked Nell properly - yep, it totally was Nell, now Kieran was definate. Now he only had to make a good expression of himself and then - just wait. Kieran decided that Nell was gonna be his some day - the sooner, the better.

For a moment Nell took a look at her phone only to see what time it was. No one had missed her – but who would? Harriet was one of the few friends she hung out with. And she was still on the dance floor. Nell didn't really care about it, but she noticed it. Nothing on her pager either. But that was only good. She actually just couldn't take another shift that night. She wanted to sleep – well after the party of course. Nell wouldn't leave Harriet alone even if she met some guy to go home with (besides, wasn't she with Rocky or something like that) or whatever might've come up. Nell was that kind of a friend who'd wait until the last dance if she had to. She didn't want anyone to lose their fun because of her – as said before, Nell wasn't really the partying type.

”Do as you please. Who am I to keep a perfectly good chair free?” Nell said, but not michievously.
Nell didn't really mind. She was just a bit bored – she didn't drink alcohol that much and she really wasn't keen on dancing, but she followed people in the club. But she could drink soda's and water – though bartenders sometimes looked at her a bit weirdly. Maybe it wasn't usual, but at least they had non-alcoholic beverages. She just wanted to maintain her senses and her intelligence. Trust me, she had learned to control her drinking after she had her unplanned baby. That was the one point Nell went over and over again. Those teenage years taught her in many ways – she had to be rebellious, stupid and careless. Now she was quite the opposite. Or at least she tried to be.

”Is it that obvious?” Nell stated moving her glaze to the mystery man. ”I'm not built for partying unlike my friend.”
Well at least anymore. Nell felt a bit uncomfortable staring at the man too long so she glazed towards the bar. Maybe something to drink would lighten her up. Coke. Or just water. Water sounded good. Still Nell didn't feel like rising up just yet.

Maybe it was that obvious then - allthough, Kieran couldn't do nothing more or less, but laugh. He looked at Nell - it was only a good thing, that Nell didn't want to dance. This was the best opportunity Kieran could have - no Harriet, only Nell in front of him. Kieran recognizwd one little fact - Nell was looking at her. Kieran didn't want to scare Nell more, so he looked to the another way and thought what could he do next. Maybe he could offer something to drink? No more dancing, that was for sure. Kieran looked at Nell again, tried to figure out what was she thinking.
"Maybe it is that obvious", Kieran said at last, smiling.
"And hey, don't worry - that's just good that you aren't built for partying. Actually you sound just like me because of that. I like to go out, clubbing, but dancing and partying... Well, that's just not my thing", Kieran said after a while.

Kieran was thinking what to say, what to do. This really was his best opportunity yet, but he had no idea what to do. Maybe offering something to drink was the best choice so far.
"Would you like to have something to drink? I can get you something", he said and smiled again.

(( Sori, en oikeasti nyt saa Kieranista mitään irti... Voit vapaasti edistää tätä kyllä, niin ehkä mäkin saan tästä taas paremmin kiinni. Ja sori ääliömäisen lyhyttä ja sisällötöntä vastausta :D ))