2. The First Date
That evening Ben applied the finishing touches to his outfit. With a checked red and white shirt, black checked trousers and a dashing of cologne he felt the business—all it took was a touch of classiness and he could be transformed into a true gentleman. Hayleigh was going to be so pleased!
Grabbing his mouth freshener, he paraded into the café’s lobby, enjoying his ten minutes of fame from his customers before leaving for the date that could very well change his life. Planning to meet Hayleigh outside the restaurants doors, Ben was slightly amused to see her already standing there; looking slightly on the impatient side…wasn’t it in the daters’ handbook that the lady arrives a few minutes later? Figuring she must’ve had a new version he hurried to greet her.
“Hayleigh! Good evening!” Ben said chirpily. Hayleigh’s mouth was set in a firm frown.
“Where have you been!? I’ve been waiting ages, I looked such a loner standing here all on my own, I could see all those couples pitying me as they walked past and here’s me thinking I’ve got a date, I HAVE, he’s just STANDING ME UP!”
“What! But we weren’t supposed to meet till 8pm I’m on time, bang on in fact look.” He said, indicating to his watch.
“Argh! You’re so out of date, you should know the gentleman always arrives half an hour early!” “Do they?” Ben murmured; his face befuddled.
Hayleigh sighed, threw her hands up in frustration. “Oh forget it, come on let’s get down to it.”
His chirpy grin slipping slightly, Ben followed Hayleigh into the restaurants entrance hall.
Greeted at the podium by a waiter, Ben was asked for his name. “Ben Dover.” He replied.
“Excuse me sir? I asked for your name, not a crude comment. What is your name?” Mystified Ben repeated himself.
“Sir would you PLEASE tell me your name.” “Ben Dover!” he repeated calmly.
“No sir, I will NOT bend over! If you carry on these shenanigans I will report you to the manager!”
Cursing the day his mother decided to christen him Ben, he tried to joke through his embarrassment.
“No I assure you I’m not asking you to bend over, my name is Ben Dover,” he said, with as much assurance as he could muster.
The waiter glanced suspiciously at Ben, a judgmental remark plastered on his face. “Prove it.” He muttered through clenched teeth.
By now the whole episode had lasted far too long, and gathered behind them stood many people, all in their Sunday Best, looking intolerant to wait. Groaning Ben delved through his pockets, fumbling over aged receipts and bus tickets to try and find some sort of identification. Eventually he came upon his bus pass, pulling it out he showed it to the waiter. Reluctantly the waiter nodded, wrote down Ben’s name and led them into the seating area.
“Smoking or non smoking?” he said slowly.
“No smoking please.” Ben said.
“Hey wait I have a part in this too, I want to sit in the smoking area!” Hayleigh piped up.
Ben’s enthusiasm for the night all having dried up, a scowl set to curd cream formed on his lips. An acrid glare enveloping both the waiter and Hayleigh he agreed to her terms.
“Sure whatever, like the date isn’t ruined enough already.”
The pair was led to a seating area enveloped in cigarette fumes. Ben couldn’t stand smoking and this was worse then he could possibly imagine. Despite the smoke the table looked pretty with a white tablecloth, smart china vase and a single red rose in its helm. A candle burned brightly by the vase; perfect for lighting your fags with he thought dryly.
Despite the bad start Ben decided to be a gentleman and pulled out Hayleigh’s seat for her. She sat down almost as quickly as he pulled the chair out, staring at him as if to wonder why he was still standing there. Trying to not let it bother him Ben sat down and quickly glanced over the menu. This kind of eatery wouldn’t have been his normal choice and much of the menu didn’t sound too appetising. Frogs legs anyone? Deciding the best option was a lasagne with a unique twist he wondered what Hayleigh would decide to order. The answer arrived fifteen minutes later in the form of a simple salad that looked so unappetising even a rabbit might turn its nose up. Sighing Ben decided he had to make something of the date and tried striking conversation.
“So Hayleigh, what sort of things do you like doing?”
“Erm Ben, if that’s what your name is; how could you embarrass me like that? Standing for 20 minutes as you try to sort your stupid name out, and why have a bloody name like that anyway? And I’m stressed enough as it is without that to back it up!”
Ben was gob smacked, could the night get any worse?
Sniffing slightly Hayleigh pulled out a pocket mirror from her handbag and peered cautiously at her reflection, every now and again she would purse her lips, lift her eyes and then frown, cursing at the image.
“Umm Hayleigh?” Ben said. “Yeah what?”
“Could you please put the mirror down?”
She glanced up, her eyes narrowed—from her expression it was clear she was not impressed. “You think I’m a ugly goon don’t you!” she accused.
“No, no I don’t you’re lovely, in fact I never got the chance to say it tonight but you look beautiful.”
It was clear Hayleigh didn’t believe a word of it, in her disillusioned state of mind any positive comment meant the opposite.
Rifling through her bag she took out two packets of pills and put them on the table. She took two of each before washing them down with a glass of wine. Ben looked curiously at the pill bottles trying to read what the writing said on them. All he could make out was some sort of medical jargon that didn’t make any sense to him. Glancing up Hayleigh caught him staring at her, he quickly averted his eyes but she knew he had been looking.
“What are you looking at? These are my sweeties if you’re interested.” She said proudly. “Sweeties? What do you mean they look like medicine to me.” Ben muttered.
She looked at Ben as if he was stupid.
“Of course it’s medicine, it keeps my mood swings under control but I prefer to call them my sweets because I don’t like taking medicine too much. I was supposed to take two earlier in MacDonald’s but I didn’t want to.”
A sense of uneasiness rose up Ben’s spine. Did Hayleigh have some sort of mental issues?
“Erm not to state the obvious but if you were supposed to take your pills to keep you happy why didn’t you.”
She shrugged, her gaze suggesting she was bored.
“I don’t know, just doesn’t go so well with my food I guess. So at least if I take them now I’ll still be getting my proper dose.”
Not wanting to argue Ben nodded weakly. He looked around him trying to find the nearest exit but in the end his courteous manners meant he decided to stay. He smiled, racking his brains to think of something interesting to say.
“So… this is nice isn’t it?”
Glancing up he saw she was more interested in staring at the couple next door.
He could sense their embarrassment as she sat and watched them eat their food, her mouth watering as they started on their Italian delicacies. Just witnessing such an act made him feel uncomfortable and desperate to leave. At this rate Ben would be able to write a book on some of the world’s worst dates imaginable.
“Err Hayleigh… I don’t mean to interrupt but I think they’re trying to eat in peace.”
Her head turned quickly, her eyes as sharp as a vultures trained on Ben’s face taking in his features. She was silent for a moment, almost as if she was contemplating what action to take next.
“Have you got a problem with me?” She said quietly, her voice drowned in anger.
“No I just don’t think you should be looking at people when they’re eating.” He said calmly. The couple glanced over, their gaze both sympathetic and thankful.
“I was just interested okay.” She said finally. “Okay.” Ben muttered.
As time went on he wished he had a back up plan but he was always too nice for his own good. Even if Hayleigh was a crazy mare it was only right to pay the bill and see her home, or even into the nearest taxi. Glancing at their empty plates Ben decided it was time to signal the waiter.
As Ben glanced around the room trying to catch the eye of the nearest waiter available Hayleigh began to fidget nervously in her chair. Hearing a loud clattering noise Ben turned around to see the table’s vase had been knocked violently onto the floor. The single red rose lay pitifully on the floor, like the symbol of oncoming danger.
Clearly Ben should have paid more attention to it as his gaze rose from the flower to Hayleigh’s face. An appalled look seemed to eat away at her; it was like she wanted to rip the flesh of anyone who came in her way. It was obvious the chemical balance in Hayleigh’s brain had gone drastically wrong, as she seemed set to cause a scene. Pushing the table away from her, straight into Ben’s belly, she picked up her glass and waved it about dangerously. Meanwhile Ben looked on, a cagey expression transforming his face. Her behaviour was questionable, what was she going to do?
“Hayleigh…please what’s wrong?” he started.
“How dare you ruin my night out like this Ben, all I was looking for was a bit of companionship and you wreck it all with your pathetic acts and dumb comments. I hope you know what an upset you’ve given me, and when I’m already depressed too! If I ever see you again it’d be too soon, good riddance!” she yelled, throwing the contents of her glass at Ben before storming off.
Without a single look back she threw the now empty glass onto the floor. The sound of the glass shattering shocked the restaurant into silence as the chaos created the wake of calm.