A-Chapter 1-October 31st

Rene finishes work early about 4:30.I am already at my local bar
Eastside in Ilford,it's just across the road from where Rene and I work
I'd been there for the last 6 hours just drinking myself dry on pretty
much everything ranging from cocktails,shooters,beers etc.and the thing
was I was still standing,the reason it's my 25th birthday and I never
ever work on my birthday it's sort of like one of the"Ten Commandments"
for me,"Thou shalt not work on your birthday."
Anyways Rene decides to pass through,to have a couple of drinks for my
birthday,hell I was up for that as long as I wasn't paying,after all
it's my birthday.
One of the barstaff called Tasha comes up towards Rene and me and asks
what we both want to drink.
"Anything coz I ain't buying." I reply.
Rene cuts in at this point."Just get this jackass a Long Island Ice
Tea,and I'll have a Labatts Ice."
Tasha goes and gets the drinks,she prepares the cocktail,like a
musician plays music.
A Long Island Ice tea is for me one of the most lethal cocktails I've
ever had,and I have had many,it conssits of vodka,gin,fresh lemon and
lime,coke and to add that extra kick triple-sec,enough to get you
totally fucked up after just one of them.
"That'll be ?6.85." Tasha says.
"Whaaaattt Rene says with an exaggerated response.
I laugh quitetly in my head,and say nothing,Tasha brings the drinks
towards the both of us as Rene hands over the money.
"So guys what's the occassion today." Tasha asks the both of us.
"It's this dudes' birthday today,and his 25th at that." Rene
replies.
"Hey Imee,why didn't you say so?" Tasha asks me."We all gotta go out
for a session."
"Ahh sorry,I thought you were going to be tied up her all night."
Trying to fake ignorance at this point.
"What time you get off." I ask Tasha.
"6.00,when all the evening staff get in." She continues.
"Listen,Imee wait 'til Grace gets here and we can sort something out
for tonight,what do you think?" Tasha asks me again.
"Sounds good to me Tash." I reply
"So Rene,you think you'll be up for a long night out on the town
tonight?" I ask him.
"Hey I wish I could dude but I got assignments for uni to finish off
maybe over the weekend,I'm free then,that cool." Rene says.
At this point Rene gets up to go to the toilet,it leaves me time enough
to catch up on all the gossip that's been going on around the Eastside
Bar recently,Tasha is sitting next to me at this point by the end of
the bar taking a quick 5 minute break,and I was just about to say
someting when a tall woman rushes out from the kitchen.
"Oh no!!!" I think to myself,I knew exactly who it was it was Julia,the
"Ukranian Bombshell."In more ways than one.
"Ahhh! there you are,BASTARD!!!!" Were the first words that came from
her mouth.
Well it was what I expected anyway.
"And it's good to see you too Julia." Comes my slightly stunted
reply.Julia comes and joins Tasha and myself by the end of the bar
taking a little break.
Rene comes back from the toilet and takes his seat and finishes off his
beer,
Rene looks at Julia then he looks at me. "What's wrong with her?" He
asks me.
"What do you think?" I reply back to him.
"You didn't." Rene says.
"Yeah I did." I got my head in my hands at this point,just thinking
what Julia is going to say next.
Tasha is in the background just laughing quietly and enjoying the
show.
"Bastard,you said that the things I put on hold would still be there."
Julia says.
"What things,Julia?" I reply.
"You know Imee the Bag,the CK underwear,the D&;G perfume and the
Katherine Hamnet jeans,"Julia replies back to me.
"You know,Rene is not like this he ACTUALLY remembers." Julia
continues.
"Yeah right." Comes my sarcastic reply.
"You know dude,I hope you got a good excuse this time." Rene
says.
"Don't worry Rene,everything is under control." Was my reply.
"Listen Julia,It wsn't my fault, really,well not this time anyway.Your
things were put out,before I had a chance to get to them,ask Rene." I
say to her.
Rene spits out some of the beer that he has been drinking."What the
hell,Imee don't get me involved in this one,I had nothing to do with
this one." Rene quickly replies.
"Okay fine,Imee." Julia says
"Never mind I'll come tomorrow,and get the things myself." Julia
continues in a huff.
In the background all this time while we were all having a go at each
other Tasha was laughing even more so now.
"What's so funny Tasha?"Julia asks her.
"All of you just standing there arguing over perfume and clothes,all
over nothing,AGAIN, you do it all the time Julia." Tasha replies.
"You know Jules she does have a point?" Rene says to her.
"Hey,you shut up,who asked you anyway,You're almost as bad as Imee."
Julia relpies.
Anyway at this point I get up to leave the bar,it was 5.00 now and I
was running a little late.
"Listen Tash,I gotta go I got a few things to take care of." I say to
her.
"Yeah Imee but,what about Grace I thought you were going to wait for
her." Tasha asks me.
"Yeah sorry Tash,I just remebered." I reply.
"It can't wait anyway you got my number ask Grace if she is up for it
tonight,although I am sure that she will be."
"Anyway I'll be back here for 8.00 for the latest,so I'll check you
later."
"Ok Imee no worries I'll check you out later." I say.
While Tasha and myself were discussing a few things,Rene was getting
another Labatts Ice from Julia.
"That'll be ?2.30," Julia says to Rene
"What!"
"Okay,okay here Julia." Rene replies.
"Oh and Rene tell that BASTARD,Imee no more freebies,"Julia says,she
knew I was supposed to hear that comment,I knew she didn't mean
it.
I say my goodbyes to everyone and leave the bar on my way to the bus
stop.