ALICIA AITKEN - CLEAR SIGNS

Alicia Aitken lives in Essex and is an avid reader, coffee addict, paddle boarder and traveller. Alicia enjoys writing short stories and recently started writing her first novel. You can follow Alicia on twitter @aliciaaitken01

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Clear Signs
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​Danny. His energy and zeal make me think he’s early 20s but he assures me he is late 40s, he has never confirmed whether that is 47, 48 or 49. I don’t push this. We’ve talked online for months, I feel I know everything else about him.
I step along the narrow-cobbled street and scan the restaurant where I’m meeting him. It’s hideous! ‘La casa del filete’ is lit up in neon yellow and looks out of place next to the quaint shops and cafes surrounding it. The fillet house. Original I think. Danny promised this was the best steak in town, I’ve serious doubts about his bold statement. First date in 2 years, go with it I order myself.
I’m slightly nervous as I approach the waiter. He does not greet me warmly, he eyes me up and down and I immediately resolve he will get no tip tonight. I hope Danny is not a disappointment like this place.
“This way,” he says and shows me to a small table in the middle.
The tables are packed close together, all have red tablecloths with little green reading lamps, they want you to think cosy, I think cramped. I ask the waiter in clipped tones if I could sit near the window but I’m informed all other tables are reserved. 
“Yes, you’re very busy!” I state trying to make a joke, the waiter gives me a small smile and I sit down. The restaurant is empty.
The waiter saunters off allowing me to study the menu, they’ve tried to make them classy but the gold lettering on the front is frayed and I would only need to run my nail over the words to make them disappear. I close the menu and decide to wait for Danny, he’ll know what’s good here, if anything.
I start to feel awkward and fidget in my seat.
Something touches and flies by my ear and I whip my head to locate it. A house fly, ugly things. It’s had the audacity to sit on the menu in front of me.
“Go away!” I say and wave my hands around. My voice echoes in the silence, my shooing does nothing, the fly sits comfortably on the letter a.
The waiter reappears, I observe his shirt is off-white and grimy, he has too much gel in his slick-back hair, it shines even in this dim light. He doesn’t look clean, I worry about the state of the kitchen.
“Would you like a drink while you wait?” he asks as he stares past my shoulder.
“Yes, a glass of house red please and some water.” He has a name badge that reads Nathaniel, it rhymes with Daniel I chuckle to myself.
I can’t see the fly but I can hear it buzzing and then quiet. It’s settled on the green lamp facing me.
“What do you want?” I try to swat it hard with the napkin. I’m talking to a fly, the nerves are getting to me. Play a game, I think. I make up games when I’m agitated, it passes the time and occupies my mind. The fly can be my subject, word games are my favourite. A from the menu, g for green lamp.  Keep going I telepathically tell the fly.
 
 
The waiter comes back with my glass of red, the fly sits twitching between his eyebrows but he doesn't even flinch or notice and I wonder if the fly is in my imagination. N for Nathaniel.
I take a sip of my wine and immediately spit it back, it’s warm and watery, Danny clearly has no taste. I should make a run for it but I hear low murmuring voices and glance over, Danny and the waiter are talking intently to one another. He looks a little like his photo. He smiles at me and I give a little wave.
“I’m sorry for being late, traffic was awful. You’re beautiful,” Danny says and he’s almost forgiven for choosing this place.
“Thanks.” I blush and sit back down in my chair. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Usual please.” Danny says to the waiter like they’re old friends and opens his menu. He bends his head down slightly, I see the fly on his head, roaming slowly across. How does he not sense that? D for Danny. I use my napkin again to wave it away but neither Danny or the waiter see.
“It’s quiet in here,” I say to make conversation and also to take my mind off the strange aura around us.
“It’ll liven up.” Danny grins confidently and looks back down.
I smile and pick my menu up again for something to do, I don’t really know how to act, I’m uncomfortable. The pesky fly is humming, it pierces through the restaurant and I locate it on the lit-up exit sign. It’s goading me, I want to lob my menu at it. E for Exit. I wish.
“What do you recommend?” I ask, there is a sheen of sweat on his forehead and his eyes are darting around, maybe he’s seen the fly too.
“Everything is good, the meat is juicy and bloody.” He replies seriously, no smiles. “How’s the wine?”
“It’s lovely.” I lie and I glance over at the vulgar red liquid. Danny’s stare makes me shift in my seat, he’s not how I imagined.
I search for my water but remember the stupid waiter did not bring it. I pick up my wine, it’s better than nothing and as the glass reaches my lips, it catches my eye. R for red, the fly is dead.
The air becomes hard to breath, the lights lower and not in a romantic way, the silence is oppressive. I can feel eyes burning into me, I daren’t look up. Danger. The letters spell danger.
I whisper to the fly.  “How do I escape?”  Knowing I will never receive the answer.