Fine Dining

Fine Dining

Sebastian approached the doorman nervously straightening the cuffs of his suit even though they were perfectly straight. 

“Can I help you sir?” Said the doorman raising his hands to handle height

Sebastian’s fingers slipped on one of his buttons “Um yes, I’m uh, here for lunch” he fumbled within his pocket for a paper form.

“No need for identification sir, but may I take your name?”

Sebastian quoted his full name, whilst the doorman checked his computer inside the lobby. His moustache curled.

“I’m sorry sir, but we have no reservations under that name.”

“My grandfather Corey… Leviton? Left me a reservation… in his will?”

A great sadness played across his face as he said sombrely “Yes… Corey was a regular here, he will be missed, a very entertaining man, used to put smiles on all the staff’s faces” he typed away at his keyboard and pulled up a new display Sebastian couldn’t see.

“Yes, we’ve got you checked in, your Grandfather has given you this dining opportunity free of charge, if you could wait here for a server to seat you at your table.”

While he waited Sebastian noticed how the restaurant was well lit and overlooked most of the city, he watched a couple of birds fly past the window and did his best to relax… at least they were expecting him.

A female server approached and called his name softly “Right this way please” he nodded but followed her without speaking. He was trying to take in the atmosphere and enjoy it as much as possible; he’d never been anywhere like this. She led him through many tables to a two seater table by the window. He thanked her and took his seat, in fact, now he looked around the dining area was surrounded by windows; realising how much of a nightmare this would be for those scared of heights. Sebastian checked his watch for some reason, the time was unimportant, the server ‘Emily’ had left him with a menu and an envelope with his name on. He had never heard of most of these foods or the astronomical prices; the cheapest champagne alone was a hundred and forty a bottle… so glad his grandfather was paying. 

Many of the fellow diners appeared to be in posh suits, pocket squares that looked like they had come back into fashion. Laptops on some tables and- Sebastian withdrew his eyes quickly as though they had been burned. He had just seen, or thought he had seen, somebody from the Royal Family and certainly didn’t want to let them see him looking; he felt unclean, unworthy to be in their presence. He gazed at himself upside-down in the back of a teaspoon…

He was fine… no, really… he was going to be, okay… he let his heart settle and picked up the menu again to order a suitable starter when or rather if, somebody came back to take his order. He looked round again careful not to gaze in the direction he thought he had seen the royal diner. There was an open kitchen in the middle of the room; diners could see their orders being completed and every mistake chefs made… if and when it ever happened. 

A well dressed lady sat a short way around the corner seemingly checking her watch just as he himself had done. Her bag (heavily jewelled) sat on the seat next to her, she caught Sebastian’s eye and looked away quickly, he looked away almost as quickly. Great, hadn’t he just managed to control his heart rate? He took a glass of champagne from the bottle Emily had supplied and was surprised to see her standing beside him.

“Bon appetite, remember this spoon is for the Caviar and this one if for the soup, can I get you anything else?”

“I’m good.” he thanked her and she collected the starter menu. He had no idea what Caviar was, but he wanted to try the most expensive starter on the list and pair it with something that sounded more familiar to him. The spoon felt lighter than steel, he tapped it with his finger and then his forehead and heard a quiet laugh that more or less carried from the table that lady had been sitting. 

Despite his idea not to give her another look he was already doing so, she was looking at him again blushing. He then did something he never thought he’d do; he nodded to the seat opposite himself and quickly turned back to his caviar. He carefully positioned some onto his spoon and sampled the salty yet delicate taste, he looked down at his soup and wondered whether it would overpower the taste of-

His thoughts were interrupted by the sweet smelling girl, she was obviously wearing a perfume more potent than his grandfather’s gift of Hedione formula solution. The air definitely got warmer as she took the seat opposite him. The sun poured onto the table between them.

“So, you’re here alone huh?”

“I was, this is my very first time.”

“Yes, I can see that, you haven’t really paired your foods very well.”

“I just picked something from different sections, one I’m familiar with and one that I’m not, I’ve never had Caviar before, what exactly is it?” He felt embarrassed to be confiding in this complete stranger but that she hadn’t already left was something of an achievement.

“Picked fish eggs.” she smiled “And I saw you tapping your spoon made of bone against your forehead which, would be the first time I’ve seen anyone do that.” she smiled and then asked the thing she ought to have asked before she even sat down “What is your name by the way.”

“Sebastian.” 

“Nice to meet you Sebastian.” they shook hands. Sebastian made a note of two things, she was left handed and had never actually told him her name.

“Forgive me, but I… what should I call you?”

She raised her eyebrows and removed her shades… but Sebastian still looked confused so she lifted her wig slightly to show a line of blonde blue hair before covering it again with the wig.

“I’m surprised you don’t already know, but I like to keep my identity hidden from most people… she sighed deeply but her smile became more pronounced.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” 

“No.” Sebastian stated simply “and I get the feeling you’re not going to tell me, are you, I’ll probably leave after the meal not knowing what name to put against your number” he cleared his throat and looked down at his caviar taking another mouthful.

The lady took a deep breath and said “Ever heard of the band Ambition?” 

“Okay, so we’re changing the subject, I was listening to their music on the way over.”

“So you have a favourite track, or an adoration for one of the female singers?”

“Snowdrop Sunday, if you must know, its melody strikes the right chord with how I feel… life may be hard but times will get better, the storms that rage will only refresh ya…” 

The mystery woman was positively beaming with delight “You know, that might just be my favourite song too! Particularly those lyrics.”

Sebastian laughed “Okay, now you’re just repeating everything I’ve said!”

“No, I’m serious, the track was written by the female singer Snowdrop and joined by Sunshine in the chorus, Dew-petal and Moon-wolf are working on releasing a new track called Moonlit Sunrise next month.”

“Okay, how did you get access to that information? It’s not even available on the fan page.” He wore an identical smirk, she was obviously trying to make out she knew more than she did, such a terrible liar.

She laughed and said “I could interview you all day.”

“Who said anything about an interview? I thought this was just a conversation.”

“Force of habit, you keep getting interviews and suddenly you forget they’re not formal conversations.” She made to rest her hand onto Sebastian’s when she caught the eye of one of the other diners approaching her table and withdrew it quickly “Hang on a moment.”

“Hey… I thought I recognised you.” Urgh this pompous looking man was not seriously going to talk his date away from him? He’d begun to like her. For some reason he presented a poster of the band Ambition “If I could trouble you for an autograph, I’m sure my son would love it.”

She pulled a pen from her bag and signed the bottom of the poster under Snowdrop herself. Whoever this mystery woman was, he’d be able to read her name upside down ‘Make life your Ambition and walk the path to reach your dreams - Tara Turner’

Sebastian’s heart jolted, he knew exactly who she was now, and had many questions. He waited for the man to leave and return to his table before addressing Tara.

“So, your name is Tara Turner. That explains why you’d say Snowdrop is your favourite.”

She laughed again and said “I was wondering whether you would read my name upside down, but how do you know that I didn’t just sign a name that doesn’t belong to me?”

“Because your signature loops the same way as this girl I had a crush on back in high school.” 

Tara began coughing on a mouthful of her main course and grabbed a glass of water. “You had a crush on someone at high school?”

If she was trying to be mysterious, her coughing fit had already ruined the opportunity.

“So, John Douglas is Moon-wolf?” 

She nodded and quickly spoke “Were you that shy boy, the one who couldn’t talk to girls?”

He wasn’t, she’d got him confused with somebody else but if she knew who he’d been at school would she be put off? He felt the best way to be honest was to introduce these mysterious details later in their relationship so they wouldn’t seem as odd.

“I was one of those hard working students that didn’t have time for girls, never knew how to socialise with them until l went to college and had to complete a work project in a group.” Good, this answer was evasive but honest.

“So, how did you form the band?”

“Remember those after school singing lessons? I took part in a competition and became noticed by a talent scout, my three other best friends joined me on the journey and finally the day came for us to make our debut, we were nervous singing the opening act in front of five thousand people but, it’s crazy, you perform in front of five people and you’re so nervous that you read every facial expression… but in front of five thousand, you don’t know or care and it becomes easier to perform. This crowd wanted an encore but they had a show to run, we were allocated the final slot when the show finished early and we’ve seen signings for more deals, contracts, shows, adrenaline, fame, the euphoria you get from the crowd, knowing that all of them are there for your band, you have no idea!” She paused to take a long drink of water wiping tears from her eyes with her free hand. “To think I almost listened to this boy, he used to bully me each chance he got. Saying I used to sing like a scowling cat, that I was wasting my time and would never amount to anything.”

“That’s horrible, but look at you now, all of your proud achievements. Makes you wonder if you were determined to give it your best to prove that boy wrong?”

“Actually, as young as I was, I let his words get to me and quit the band twice; if it weren’t for the support of my best friends I wouldn’t have dealt with my depression undergone therapy or any of it… I took the name Ambition from a poster in her office… our music is designed to uplift the feelings of those going through similar troubles and give them hope.”

They switched to normal conversation for the remainder of the meal. Tara flagged down the confused waiter to indicate she had swapped tables.

“So, I feel like we’re on some kind of dating show here, but, would you like to see me again?” Asked Sebastian

“Of course!” Said Tara enthusiastically, let me write down my… she changed her mind however as she snatched his phone and keyed in her own number pranked her phone then gave it back to him. 

She smiled broadly at Sebastian and whispered “Thanks for being the best first date of my life.” He turned to face her but she had already pulled his face towards hers, they kissed passionately “Call me in three days, I’m on the set until then.”

Sebastian walked home his heart lighter than air, not only had he had such a great dining experience but he had actually bumped into an old classmate, that shy girl was now a celebrity, he remembered she would never sing for anyone and was now entertaining thousands! 

Three days later he tried calling Tara to catch up but it went to voicemail, he left her a message and waited for her to call back, but she did not; perhaps she was busier than she’d expected? She wouldn’t have forgotten him so quickly. Just before bed that night he got a text from an unknown number it read “remember that envelope you were holding at the restaurant? Time to open it.”

Confused Sebastian wondered how they knew, there was an envelope; he’d forgotten all about it in the excitement of their date, it had gone so well. He ripped open the envelope and pulled out the letter within.

“From Corey Leviton 

To Sebastian 

I hope you enjoyed your dining experience and have learned what true success can get you every day if you work for it. 

I have also met Tara Turner, she was in your class. We have had many conversations and in depth, I wanted to give you the chance to meet her once again. She remembers you, and in ways I find most disappointing. I wish you had shown her more support and it pains me to hear of the ways you used to bully she and her friends. 

I believe she may try to jog your memory to try and get you to apologise which I sincerely hope you do; for if you do not, she will have her answer and you will be left with the memories of a false date who will block your contact.

If you let things go this far, I hope it teaches you a lesson about how you treat and respect others in the future.”