Heartaches Knocking on Her Door

She walked next to him on the sandy beach as a cool spring breeze whipped her hair around her face, shoes in hand. The sound of children playing and the dull whoosh of waves lapping against the shore filled the air. Liv still couldn’t quite grasp how the day had turned out. After leaving his home, Ville had taken her to all his favorite shops within the city. One of which was an old used bookstore from which Liv had ended up truly enjoying, buying 10 books, to Ville’s amusement. The two had eaten at a small restaurant owned by a friend of Ville’s dad. Liv couldn’t help but compare the day she had had with Ville to the one she had had with Jarno. With Ville she couldn’t help but be enthralled by every word he said, by his charming chuckle, his smirk, his deep voice, his taste in music.

They were walking in silence, sand between their toes, enjoying the sun on their face. After lunch Liv had asked if Ville could take her down to the beach and from then on the two had been strolling along carelessly, not a word shared between them, in comfortable silence.

Liv snuck a peak at him, catching him smiling down at her.

While they had been out a few fans had approached for autographs and Liv couldn’t help but think back with a small ounce of jealousy. The way they had looked at him, pure admiration and wanting. Yet he had been so humble, asking them about their day, even introducing Liv. One of the fans had even recognized her name from a photo she had submitted to one of the fan websites.

Liv’s phone’s shrill ring suddenly filled the air. Ville motioned his head for Liv, who had been hesitating, to pick it up.

“Hello?”

“Hi Liv, it’s Jarno. I was wondering if you were free tonight” Came Jarno’s accented voice from the other line.

“Oh, um, I’m not too sure. Let me see” She covered her cell and turned to Ville who looked down curiously.

“Um, it’s Jarno. He wants to know if I’m free tonight.”

“You are if you want to be. Please don’t let me get in the way of a blossoming romance.” He smiled, though his eyes hardened.

Liv narrowed her eyes, looking up at Ville who had stopped walking. “I’m not sure what it is yet, but whatever it is, it’s not some blossoming whatever. Ville if you had something in mind tonight let me know.” She knew he was being insincere. She hoped however that he did have something in mind, and that he admitted it so she could turn down Jarno.

Ville slowly took out a Marlboro from his pocket, lit it, inhaling deeply, than finally answered. “I was going to take you out to a pub.” He slowly answered, looking away.

Liv rolled her eyes, he was being dramatic, trying to feign disinterest all of a sudden.

“I’m actually busy tonight Jarno, but I’ll make sure to let you know when I am free next.” She turned to look out at the ocean as she spoke.

“Oh. Alright. Well as long as I get to see you before you leave for Poland, I found out I’m not going.” He replied, dejected.

“I promise. Bye.” She tucked her phone away.

Ville came up beside her. “You should have said you were free”

Liv knew he was trying to make her admit it, admit that she would rather spend time with him than Jarno, but she wasn’t going to, even if it was true.

“Yeah well I didn’t, so sue me.”

Ville chuckled next to her.

“So I thought you didn’t drink?” Liv asked as they slowly turned and began walking back the way they came, the sun begging to set.

“Oh darling, I’m Scandinavian, of course I drink. Just not excessively before and after shows anymore.” He placed a hand around Liv’s small shoulders as they walked back into town.

Liv couldn’t help but think of the way Ville’s arm around her made her feel. Warm, comforting. It just felt very natural.

After catching a cab the two stepped out into the now dark street, in front of a pub called Molly Malone’s.

“My lady” Ville smirked, helping Liv out of the cab.

She looked around. For some reason she had expected Ville to show off with his choice of pub, pick some place with a line, stage, and packed with other famous Finns. She chastised herself, happy to be wrong. From the outside Liv could tell that the pub stretched up a few floors and she could hear music coming from inside, live music.

With his hand on the small of her back Ville led her inside. It was crowded, so no one paid them particular notice. There were small booths and tables lining the walls with a huge bar taking up the majority of the space. Liv was about to stop to look for a place to sit down, but Ville gently pushed her onwards through the crowd, and up a set of stairs. The upstairs area was even more crowded. There was a small stage at the far end of the room with a band playing rock music. Pulling her along Ville brought Liv to a small empty table in the corner of the crowded bar.

“Of all the bars in Helsinki, why here?” Liv asked curiously, taking a seat.

“Because my dear, I would prefer not to be noticed out tonight, plus the Irish have the best beer, and you are part Irish are you not. Next time I’ll take you to Bakkari and Tavastia, promise.” He winked than left to bring over a pitcher.

Liv shrugged off her crimson sweater, hoping that what Ville meant by not being noticed was because of his fame, and not because he was ashamed to be seen with her. You are being silly Liv, she scolded herself, don’t think like that.

Ville came back with two glasses and a pitcher, placing them on the table. “Now I can handle my beer, though I have yet to see how you fare”

Liv smirked and held out her glass to be filled, downing half the cup in a few seconds. She’d heard Mige tell stories of Ville’s hard drinking back in the day. If he was drinking tonight, she wanted to keep up.

The two were slowly making their way through the pitcher, Liv could already feel the alcohol clouding her head. Ville seemed perfectly fine as he talked with Liv, telling her about his family.

“You said one of your parents was Hungarian right?” He curiously asked. Liv looked down at the table as she felt his fingers brush the back of her hand which rested on the table. Ville began to mindlessly stroke the back of her hand.

Shivers ran up her arm as she attempted to focus enough to answer the question. “Yeah, my mother. She moved to America with her dad when she was young.”

“Ah, my mother is part Hungarian, she knows a few words, perhaps if you ever meet her you could speak with her, if you know any Hungarian that is.” His fingers still gently traced circles on the back of her hand, as he looked into her eyes.

Before Liv could respond a woman ran up to the table. “Ville is that you!” She was utterly beautiful and looked to be in her early thirties. She had shiny auburn hair flowing down her back, which was partially bare in a backless dress that also showed off her lean legs. She looked like a super model.

Ville quickly retracted his hand from Liv’s. “Sandra, I apologize, I meant to call as soon as I returned but, you know how forlorn of a bastard I can be.”

The woman laughed, flirtatiously placing her hand on his shoulder, than she suddenly noticed Liv who wanted to leave, leave Ville and this gorgeous woman alone. Liv wasn’t just being jealous, she could tell that Ville and this woman, Sandra, were more than friends, and by the way Sandra was scrutinizing Liv as if she were competition, Liv could feel butterflies being set loose within her stomach.

“Sandra this is Liv Manning, the bands new photographer. Liv this is my friend Sandra Mittica” Liv could see it on Ville’s face, he could sense the awkwardness too.

Liv tried to brave up and kindly extended her hand in greeting, though her nerves began to take over her. Sandra lazily took it, then immediately turned to Ville, chattering about something.

Liv heaved a sigh. Logically she should stay. There was no reason for her to be jealous. She was only a friend and colleague of Ville’s, nothing more. Nothing more… But inside she was drawing conclusions, conclusions which made her feet want to take her back to her hotel room to wallow in self-pity.

“Ville, I think I’ll go now” She got up, pulling her crimson sweater on, suddenly becoming all too aware of the drastic difference between what she wore and what Sandra wore.

Ville hopped off his seat. “But Liv, we’ve been here less than an hour.”

“I uh, I have to wake up early, a lot of stuff to do tomorrow. Thanks for a lovely day. Nice meeting you Sandra. Bye.” She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol in her or if it was all her that made her over react in such a way. She pushed through the crowd, almost running down the stairs when she was sure Ville couldn’t see her anymore, and out the door.

She stood out in the street, rummaging around her purse for her cell phone, when she heard the pub door abruptly swing open. Ville ran up beside her.

“What the hell was that? Why were you so rude back there? And don’t say you have work shit to do tomorrow cause I don’t believe a word of it.” He stood looking down at her with a mixed expression of confusion and anger.

“I don’t know. I’m sorry. It’s just that, well she isn’t just your friend is she?” What are you even saying Liv, stop now before you embarrass yourself, she told herself.

“If you must know, no she isn’t just my friend, we have been casually seeing each other. Why that matters, and why you reacted in such a childish way is beyond me Liv.” He crossed his arms. He was pushing her, pushing her to admit it.

“Fine! I got jealous, but that’s only cause you have been confusing the hell out of me. Ignoring me, being my friend, doing little things that, that just…” She was utterly frustrated and wanted to drop the conversation, leave him.

“Look Liv, I explained to you already that I don’t feel that way.” Liar! Liv thought. “I’d like for us to remain friends however, so would you please come back inside and come chat with my friend Sandra.” He looked at her earnestly.

“Fine alright. Again sorry for the way I acted.” Liv finally managed to say after a short deliberation.

The two returned back to their table, where a slightly smug looking Sandra waited. The rest of the evening went by slow. Without drinking any more, Liv had tried to be polite and social with Sandra, but she still couldn’t help but shake the feeling of wanting to bolt for the door. Eventually Sandra had received a call inviting her over to a party, to which Ville had declined to accompany her, promising her his undivided attention the next day. She had left and without a word Ville had called a cab to take first Liv back to the hotel and then him back home. Liv was grateful.

The cab ride was relatively spent in silence until it pulled up in front of Liv’s hotel.

“Odota tässä, kiitos” (wait here, please) Ville said to the driver. Liv heard him follow her out of the cab but didn’t turn, she was tired, frustrated, embarrassed, still nursing a bruised ego. She wanted to be alone.

Suddenly Ville stood in front of Liv, blocking her entrance into the hotel, had had caught up with her. She could see in his eyes that he knew she was mad. She crossed her arms as she saw him smirk. And then suddenly he took a step closer to her and placed both hands gently on either side of her face. He leant down and placed a soft kiss upon Liv’s forehead, lips lingering, smirking the entire time. Liv stood still, in confusion.

Ville slowly retracted his hands and turned back to the cab. “Good night” He called over his shoulder.

Liv shook herself of the lingering chills from having Ville so close to her and walked to the entrance of her hotel. She wished he had just kissed her, kissed her like Jarno had the night before. But he hadn’t.

Before going in Liv stopped.

Turning, she called out “Ville” He paused in the act of entering the cab.

“Don’t forget to call Seppo!”