Chapter Three

Trudging along the damp, leafy sidewalk of Waterhope Street, Greenway in Sheffield, Lacey makes her way to 'Aagrah Crystal Peaks.' An Indian styled vegan and vegetarian restaurant. Oli phoned Lacey earlier that day to invite her to join him and some of the boys for the evening. And of course she said yes.

Wrapping her leather jacket tightly around her small frame, to protect her from the slight chill in the air from the rain, she looks up to the brightly light shop signs to see how far she is from the restaurant. "Only five shops away." She thinks to herself, speeding up and splashing in a puddle or two.

Stepping into Aagrah, Lacey shrugs off her jacket now that she is welcomed by the warm, toasty air that of the restaurants heaters. Lacey scans the restaurant to see if she can spot Oli's table, only to see that Oli has spotted her first and is making his way around tables and staff to get to her.

"Hey Lacey!" Oli greets, whipping Lacey into his tight embrace.

"Thanks for inviting me." Lacey mumbles, as she hugs him back. Oli moves back slightly, still keeping her in his arms and stares into her icy blue eyes.

"Thank you for coming! Now let's go." Oli cups Lacey's hand in his, weaving through the restaurant, and leading her to his table.

Lacey looks around the restaurant, the walls are painted black with floor to ceiling windows that run along two walls meeting in the corner. The windows have red fabric blinds, and overlooks the beautifully lit up city of Sheffield. One section of the room is dedicated to the bar, which has yellow neon light across the counter and above it is a black and white world map hanging on the black wall in contrast. The rest of the restaurant has dark wooden tables with steel legs, and black curved chairs surrounding them. On the tables there are cutlery, menus and neon light that divide the restaurant into sections. Some tables with blue neon lights, some with purple and some with green.

Lacey loves that the restaurant is elegant, yet comfortable and homey, as she hears the buzzing of people chatting and the clinking of metal knives and forks on porcelain plates. "This place is stunning." Lacey sighs, with her head still tilted up, looking around. Oli squeezes Lacey's hand, smiling happily knowing that she likes it here.

Oli leads Lacey to an isolated looking area, with two tables pushed together making it big enough for eight people to be seated, and a blue neon light on each table. It is also situated next to a window, which has the restaurants best view of Sheffield.

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Lacey Ladd, and Lace' this is my brother Tom and his girlfriend Eleanor. That is Matt Nicholls and his date Brandy. And they are Matt Kean and well you already met Lee Malia." Oli points out everyone respectfully.

"Hey guys." Lacey greets, giving a small wave.

"I see you're trying to score some brownie points." Tom smirks, gesturing to Lacey's outfit.

Lacey is wearing white 'Miss Me' jeans, turquoise vans with a black dream catcher printed across them and a turquoise 'Drop Dead' jersey that revels just enough flesh to reveal a dangling dream catcher naval ring that matches her ear cuff and necklace. Her hair is slightly plaited on one side into a high ponytail and her makeup is fairly light except for her dark painted eyelashes and plum coloured lips.

Lacey looks down to see what Tom is referring to, and turns crimson when she remembers that the jersey she is wearing comes from Oli's "Drop Dead" clothing line as it has Drop Dead written across the front.

Well...uh... I happen to love 'Drop Dead' clothing and have a few items in my cupboard." Lacey reveals, trying her best to sound confident and unphased.

"Wow, I was just so happy to see you, I didn't even notice." Oli chuckles and shifts to face Lacey, scanning her body. "You look fucking amazing! You should model for 'Drop Dead'" Oli teases with a hint of seriousness, as he runs his fore finger and thumb along the hem of the jersey, brushing her silky skin underneath.

"Oli! Don't tease me!" Lacey chuckles in embarrassment.

"No seriously, Oli is right. You're so fucking hot; every fucking girl will buy the cloths wanting to look more like you!" Lee chirps.

"Yeah! Yeah Lee! We already know you have it bad for Lacey and that she is your shot of whiskey or whatever, but she is Oli's girl so stop flirting." Eleanor smirks and the whole table erupts in laughter, except for Lee, whose cheeks turn a rosy pink and chuckles along awkwardly.

"Here take a seat." Oli pulls out a chair for Lacey next to Tom and then takes his seat on the other side of her. Oli drags his chair a short distance closer to Lacey and rest his arm on the back of her chair.

The evening continues with everyone chatting unreservedly, treating Lacey as if they have known her for years. Oli never removes his arm from behind Lacey, except for when their mean come, but immediately places it right back after they eat.

Finishing the last of their drinks and waiting to pay, Lacey chats to Tom and Eleanor, who are praising her on her work of the tattoo she did on Oli, while Oli jokes around with Lee and Matt K. Lacey is so content with Oli gently stroking his fingertips across the top of her arm, and every now and then, rubbing the palm of his hand around her back as a reminder that he still acknowledges her presence.

"I have an awesome idea!" Lee slurs, being as he is slightly tipsy.

"And what is that?" Eleanor speaks up.

"We should go to the Karaoke Bar just down the road after this."

"Fuck No!" Tom groans.

"Aww come on baby. It will be fun." Eleanor says, placing her hand on Tom's knee. "And if you really hate it, we can have even extra fun when we get home to make it up to you." She whispers in his ear, sliding her hand up his thigh and cupping him. Tom swallows hard and nods in submission. "Good boy!"

"Well it's settled then, we will go after we have paid." Eleanor says loud enough for everyone to her, smiling smugly.

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At the karaoke bar, the group managed to get a private room due to their celebrity status. So they didn't have to join the drunk, sweaty and loud group in the main room. Their room was black from ceiling to floor and had neon lights tubed along the wall in a pattern of a city skyline, and little lights dotted around to look like twinkling stars. Leather couches lined the walls and a large TV screen hanss on the wall above them. The mikes facing the couches and TV.

Lacey sits down right at the end of the couches and Oli sits beside her, with the other filing in next to him.

"Ok let's get this started!" Lee cheered. "You guys set up here, and I will go get the drinks. Then we can start picking songs!" Lee orders and leaves the room.

Lee returns moments later with a rather large tray of beers and a couple brightly coloured shots. After downing the many lots of shots, those who were tipsy are very drunk and those were sober are between tipsy and drunk. After all, Lee did get the most potent stuff the place has to offer.

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Lee and Matt K were just finishing of their turn, singing "The Shoop Shoop Song." By Cher, while Lacey and Oli where looking through the songs available for Oli to sing.

"OH! This one is perfect for you." Lacey pats Oli's arm and points to the song.

"Huh? That's because it's our song. That's Chelsea Smile. They really have that on a karaoke song list?" Oli questions, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Please sing it Oli!" Lacey sweetly asks, slightly begging. She looks at him with a bright white smile, so how could he deny?

"Of course!" Oli smiles back at her. Once Lee and Matt K finish singing with much applause and drunken bowing to their adoring fans, Oli steps up to the mike and ready's himself. The instrumental starts playing through the surround sound and the lyrics appear on the screen, not that Oli needs them. The room vibrates to the loud sound of Oli's 'false cord' vocals, which have Lacey hypnotised.

"I've got a secret.It's on the tip of my tongue; it's on the back of my lungs.And I'm gonna keep it.I know something you don't know."

Lacey watches Oli in amazement, and even if they are only in a karaoke bar, Oli sings as if he is on stage in front of thousands of fans, doing it all to impress Lacey. Lacey is still finding it hard to believe that she is watching Oli live in the privacy of his friends and family. How many can say that have experienced that! Oli watches Lacey smile dance and sing along with the others. Her lips moving perfectly word for word with him. It is a beautiful sight and a memory he hopes to cherish forever.

"We all carry these things inside that no one else can see.They hold us down like anchors. They drown us out at sea.I look up to the sky; there may be nothing there to see.But if I don't believe in him, why would he believe in me?Why would he believe in me?Why would he believe in me?Why would he believe in me?Why would he believe in me?"

As Oli comes to the end, everyone stands up, applauding and laughing. Oli lets go of the mike and moves back to Lacey. Placing his hands on her waist Oli leans in to whisper in her ear. "How was that?"

"Fucking brilliant!" Lacey beams, placing her hands on his shoulders. Oli sways with her ever so slightly, staring at her intently as he listens to her praise and talk endlessly of his excellence.

"Is that so?" Oli asks, quirking an eyebrow. "Well, I think it's your turn now."

"Me? Nah!" Lacey refuses, falling back onto the couch. Oli lowers himself to crotch between her legs.

"Oh yes! You Must! I wana hear you sing!" Oli begs, looking at her big eyed, and stroking the outside of her thighs.

"Ok fine! You win!" Lacey gives in, smiling. She walks over to the mike, with a song already in mind. Flipping through songs on the screen, she finds the one she wants and hits play.

'Ooooo yeah!' Lacey whips her ponytail around.

"You got me down on the floorSo what'd you bring me down here for?You got me down on the floorSo what'd you bring me down here for?"

Lacey begins the song and with each passing word, her confidence grows. She moves her body in tune with the song as Oli watches her, absolutely stunned by the raw beauty of her voice he never knew she had. But why would he? They have only known each other for a very short time.

Suddenly, Oli thinks karaoke was an amazing idea and makes a mental note to thank Lee later, as he watches Lacey sway her body down to the floor, going with the lyrics of the song. Her seductive movements go perfectly with the song. Oli knows that he has heard this song before, but right he can't remember it.

"If I was a man I'd make my moveIf I was a blade I'd shave you smoothIf I was a judge I'd break the lawAnd if I was from ParisIf I was from ParisI would sayOoh la la la la la la la [4x]"

Paris (Ooh la la) by Grace potter and the Nocturnals, Oli remembers now. He's gaze is fixed on Lacey's swaying body as he watches her finger slowly run up the length of her body. It runs up her exposed skin, past her breast, along her neck and over her hair as she whips her ponytail again. Oli's eye's finally make contact with hers. The alcohol is the only reason for Lacey's seductive movements in front of Oli, as if she were sober, she might have never had the courage to go as far as she has.

The song ends and everyone claps and whistles. Lacey does a mini bow and laughs at their nonsense.

"WOW!" Brandy is the first to speak. "That was fucking amazing!"

"And fucking sexy!" Lee slurs, again causing laughter at his obvious attraction to Lacey.

"You can sing!?" Oli finally speaks once Lacey is sitting next to him again.

"Yeah a little, I guess." Lacey taps her fore finger to her chin pretending to think about it, then simply shrugs.

"You guess?" Oli mumbles.

"Well yeah I can sing, but it has never been something I have wanted to peruse. I'm much more passionate about my art." Lacey shrugs again.

"I see, I guess I can understand that, but I'm hoping you will still sing to me?" Oli cheekily asks.

"Uh... sure, if you'd like me too." Lacey chuckles.

"We're up next." Brandy and Eleanor announce grabbing everyone's attention.

The evening continues with singing, laughing and drinking. Every now and then Oli and Lacey would get caught in a conversation, and Oli becomes more comfortable with being affectionate with Lacey as the minutes pass by. Playing with her hair and fingers, and sitting so close that Lacey might as well be in Oli's lap; they just can't get enough of each other.

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Standing outside the karaoke bar, everyone is saying their goodbyes. "Guys, I'm going to walk Lacey home quickly, I'll see you in a bit." Oli speaks up; wrapping one of his extra jackets around Lacey's shivering shoulders.

"Ok see you in a bit?" Tom repeats skeptically, unsure if they will.

"Yup!" Oli says, turning Lacey in the direction they need to go in and slinging his arm around her shoulder.

"It's such a beautiful night." Lacey sighs

"Really? But it's so cold!" Oli says with an over exaggerated shiver.

"Yeah, but just look at the lights against the dark backdrop of the night sky." Lacey looks at the row of street lights as the light from them stretch out in Lacey's slightly blurry vision.

"You're such a romantic!" Oli mocks, batting his eyelashes.

"Oh shut up!" Lacey chuckles, swatting Oli's chest.

Lacey climbs onto a half wall, arms stretched out, balancing, as she walks along it. Oli looks up to her tiny and beautiful silhouette with the lights shining behind her. Oli smiles contently at the sight. Once she comes to the end of the half wall, Oli reaches out his hand for Lacey to take and assists her in jumping down. When her feet are firmly on the ground, Oli can't resist but to twirl her around and bring her flush against him.

"You're so beautiful!" Oli whispers under his breath, looking into the depths of her eyes that are shining from the light reflecting in them. "Can I kiss you?" Oli asks. Lacey simply nods.

Oli leans in slowly, his thumb gently stroking her pink tinged cheek. He presses his lips against hers as he entwines his other hand with hers. He presses his lips a little harder on hers, but has no intention to push his limits in taking the kiss any further.

Oli breaks the kiss to stare into her stunning blue eyes again. "I know it may seem fast, but I really like you and I feel such a strong link between us." Oli sweeps her hair out of her face and wraps an arm tightly around her waist. "Please be my girlfriend." Oli asks softly.

Lacey looks deep into Oli's eyes, seeing all his sincerity, she nods her head to his proposal. Her lips split into a huge smile.

Oli places both hands on the side of her face, pressing his lips to hers again. Lacey fists the top of Oli's shirt as he ghosts his fingers on the edge of her face. Oli is elated that Lacey is all his and Lacey feels the same about him.