Awakening
5
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5.
As
they stepped out of his car in the parking lot of a club he knew and liked, Shaun
could sense that Kelly was simply putting a brave face on things for his
benefit. Part of him wished he hadn't suggested this, wondering if he should
just have bought her a big tub of her favourite ice-cream and let her cry on
his shoulder like he usually did. However, another part of him was hoping this
would break through the daze she seemed to be in - she had been let down too
badly this time for self-pity to do her any favours. And a tiny little part of
him, which he tried to deny, was simply loving the
fact that she was here with him - of course, he wished it was under different
circumstances, but any chance to spend time with her was all right by him.
"Shall we?" he grinned lightly, offering
her his arm and nodding reassuringly as she slipped her hand through it. "
With
a reluctant smile, she allowed him to lead her across the dusky car-park and up
the short flight of steps to the front door of the club. Bright lights and
thumping music spilled out into the evening air as he pushed the door open and
ushered her through in front of him, one hand resting easily at the small of
her back. She was already regretting having agreed to this - everywhere she
turned, the place seemed to be full of happy couples, dancing, laughing, kissing
…
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Maybe this wasn't such a good idea
…
thought Shaun, noticing the downcast look on Kelly's face.
"
home …" he said aloud, practically having to shout to be heard over the
music.
"No,"
she shouted back, "We're here now - I just … need a drink."
"That
I can manage!" he grinned, taking her hand to keep them from getting
separated as they wound their way through the throngs of people to the bar.
"Better
make it a double …"
*
After
just a couple of hours, Kelly was exhausted. Shaun had been determined to give
her as little time to think things over as was physically possible, having kept
her dancing, either by asking her himself or somehow talking her into accepting
invitations from anyone who approached her. Her high-heeled boots were starting
to hurt her feet and she had probably had more than a little too much to drink,
leading her to plead for mercy and beg Shaun to let her sit down for a while.
She had to admit, she could see what he was doing and it had certainly worked.
He had prevented her from going over and over everything in her mind, although
she was always aware of it as a distant thought which she was willing to deny.
Now, however, sitting opposite Shaun in a corner booth and toying with a
half-empty pint glass, those thoughts they were both so keen to ignore came
rushing back to her.
"I
just don' get it …" she said suddenly, her voice slurring just a little,
"Why don' he just ditch me an' get it over with? Why's he
"
…" said Shaun slowly, propping his head up with one hand as he looked at
her across the table.
"But
he don' want me!" she said, despair trying to break through in her voice.
"If he did … he'd be
here!"
"Know
what I say? Fuck 'im!" declared Shaun, before
pausing and adding with a grin, "No, wait - that's part of the problem,
fuck 'im - ditch
'im!"
He
could see her struggling for a moment to remain in control of her emotions in
spite of his little attempt at a joke and was about to try to reassure her when
she shook her head firmly and sighed.
"Forget
it - not now." she said, determined to get through this night without the
waterworks turning on again. "I could do with another drink …Or maybe we
should cool it a bit …"
"Nah,
the night is still young!" protested Shaun, clambering to his feet,
"I'll get them in."
"
"Would
it get me anywhere?" he grinned in response as he headed off on his
well-trod path to the bar.
*
It
was late. Very late. And Shaun was nowhere to be seen.
Last she had heard, he was going to get another round
of drinks before they started to call last orders, but that had been ages ago.
Not that she needed - or even wanted - anything
more to drink. In fact, Kelly had definitely reached the stage where she just
wanted to go home - but she couldn't do that until she had found Shaun. Of
course, she wouldn't be letting him drive them back - she was drunk, but she
didn't have a death wish. She wasn't dependent on Shaun for a lift as she would
only have to call a cab, but she couldn't just leave him there. She had to find
him … Unfortunately easier said than done …
Pushing
through crowds of people, she made her way to the bar and scanned along its
length for her friend, wishing she hadn't had so much to drink.
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This would be soooo
much easier if the goddamn room would stop spinning!
already knowing she was going to be suffering in the morning.
Suddenly,
she spotted n ann and grinned as she saw why he had been held up - a girl.
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Bloody typical!
She
might have known – Shaun had always been the type to attract attention of the
female variety and she had to admit he looked pretty hot tonight with his usual
jeans teamed with a crisp white shirt and black pin-stripe suit jacket. Plus,
girlfriend or no girlfriend, he wasn’t usually one to pass up on the chance to
be “friendly” – not that he had ever cheated on her; not that she knew of.
However, as she drew closer, she saw that for once he was an unwilling
participant in such flirtations.
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>And no wonder - even Shaun has
standards!
she thought with uncustomary bitchiness and a laugh as
she watched the tall brunette's attempts to get him off his bar stool and onto
the dance floor. He was having none of it, but the girl was not to be so easily
dissuaded - she seemed to have no qualms about simply dancing anyway,
practically giving him a somewhat drunken lap dance as she tossed her waist
length dark hair in time to the music, pouted seductively in his direction and
tried to ensure he got an eyeful of her impressive cleavage. Which
wasn't hard, given the skimpy strapless top she was wearing …
While
it was tempting to leave him to get out of this one himself, Kelly recognised
that hd spd spent the evening trying to cheer her up (although this was
undoubtedly the best laugh she'd had all night), she did owe him one. Feeling
the influence of the alcohol herself, she tried to straighten up and fluffed
her hair a little before heading towards the bar, sashaying her hips and
somehow avoiding falling over her own feet.
"There
you are!" she declared loudly in Shaun's direction, making sure she caught
the attention of his would-be suitor before letting her voice drop to a low,
sultry tone, "I've been looking for you … lover …"
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lover!
shrieked with glee, Where the hell did
that one come from?! And the phrase “it’s the drink talking” suddenly makes
sense …
Fighting
the urge to give way to inane giggles or howls of laughter, she reached out and
ran a hand up Shaun's chest, playing with the buttons of his shirt as she
tilted her head to the side playfully.
"Did
you miss me, baby?" she practically purred, blatantly ignoring the evil
glare she was getting from the brunette and smiling at the baffled look on
Shaun's face.
“Play
along, idiot!” she hissed in his ear.
She
told herself that what happened next was simply to get rid of the other girl;
that it was because of the excess alcohol and just getting caught up in the
act. But whatever it was … it took them all by surprise …
Leaning
in to Shaun, Kelly looked up into his slightly confused blue eyes, licked her
lips suggestively and then brushed them against his, tugging gently at his
lower lip with her teeth and slipping her tongue into his mouth in an overtly
passionate kiss. Once the initial shock (which for a second he thought would be
enough to stop his heart) passed and he started to catch on, Shaun shot the
brunette a cheeky grin, shrugging helplessly at her as he responded willingly (
sliding to her hips to haul her against him and continue the kiss. He was
almost sorry when the girl whose unwanted attention he
had gained clocked his hands on Kelly's ass and, finally getting the message,
shot him a filthy look and headed off in search of another likely victim.
"Is
she gone?" asked Kelly, her cheeks flushed as the thought of what she had
done finally caught up with her.
"Uh,
yeah," he replied, finally remembering to let go of her. "You got her
good - thanks … lover …" he
added with a teasing grin, wincing as she socked him in the arm. "Hey! My
head's gonna be pain enough in the morning - I don't
need you beatin' the shit outta
me as well!"
"Get
used to it!" she shot back, heading in the direction of the door and
trying not to stumble too much, "Now come on, we still need to find a taxi
- you try driving now and we'll end up wrapped round the nearest tree!"
For
a moment, Shaun merely watched her leave with a lopsided little grin on his
face.
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>That girl never fails to amaze me …
*