by H P Steven
“Yeah man you never know, anyway I’m gonna head off,” Mike replied.
“Yeah have a good night bro,”
As Mike said good bye to everyone and heads off, just as Audrey got back to the table.
“So do you want this?” Audrey asked.
Putting her hand into her purse and handing me another check,
“Yeah that’ll be great,” I replied.
“Should have another one for you next week so everything’s going really-well with your novel, at the moment,” Audrey commented.
“Thanks Audrey,” I replied.
“So douchebag, what do we do?” Hannah asked again.
“I’m not sure, but I had a great time travelling around, so I need to chill and get some more work sorted, while the ideas are floating around my head,” I insisted, trying to change the subject.
“Cool, then no more excuses, let’s get into this jug and bottle of wine and settle in,” Audrey said.
“Ha nice one Audrey,” I said
As Audrey smiled back, indeed looking forward to another fun night out.
“Well I thought you guys were having a great time together in China,” Hannah remarked.
“We were Hannah, so stoked you could join us,” I insisted.
“So what happened?” Hannah asked.
“We came home and the reality of her condition hit her all at once,” I replied.
“Thanks for putting the bag on my bed,” I added.
“Yeah no worries,” Hannah said.
Still looking for a reason, I leaned over.
“Hey, let’s have some fun tonight and look at it in the morning, I just need a big night.”
Knowing full well I’d regret it in the morning, for all the wrong reasons.
“Done, then we will talk tomorrow morning, I heard from Anna last week as well,” Hannah mentioned.
“Holy shit Hannah not a good time to bring her up.”
“Yeah, she needs to talk to you,” Hannah insisted.
“Well, I guess I’ll be dealing with that tomorrow also, won’t I,” I remarked.
“Far out, at least it will give me a tonne of information, I could possibly twist into a book,” I added, briefly.
As Audrey wandered back over and took her seat after ducking into the ladies room.
“Twisted into a book, did I hear.”
Sitting down and refilling both mine and Hannah’s drinks.
“Hey if you both want to get something to eat, you should probably do it now, as we will be going big at the boathouse,” I remarked.
“Yeah, I’ll get a menu,” Hannah insisted, getting up and walking over to the bar.
“So, how’s Karen, I’ve been talking to her mum the last few weeks, we didn’t know if you were ever gonna come back till I heard from Hannah last week,” Audrey said.
“I think she’s sicker than she’s letting on, but still has a lot of strength,” I replied.
“Yeah I bet, how are you holding up?” Audrey asked.
Looking over the table straight into my eyes, she must have known I couldn’t just answer that.
“I’m okay, a little lost, but it’s not the first time I’ve felt this way,” I said.
“Well, I’m here, as is everyone else,” Audrey insisted.
“Thanks Audrey, that means a lot,” I replied.
Just as Hannah came back having ordered a bunch of finger food for the table.
“Hey guys, I just ordered a bunch of finger food, hope you don’t mind Audrey?” Hannah asked.
“Oh that sounds good, thanks Hannah,”
“Hannah can you do me a favour?” I asked.
“Yeah sure what is it?”
Standing up from the table I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone and hand it to Hannah, after switching it off,
“Can you just hold on to this and give it back to me in the morning.”
“Yeah no worries,” Hannah said. Shrugging while she took my phone and see’s the look Audrey gives her.
Just about twenty minutes later our tables full of food and drinks and the other two people we were expecting to meet at, the Boathouse walked in.
Getting up to greet them both.
“Hey bro,” I said, as I go to shake Greg’s hand.
“Hey Meredith,” I added, leaning in and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey bro, going well man, Iva misses you heaps. How’s it going with you?” Greg asked.
“I could be better, but we’ve got a table full of beer and wine so come and join in the fun,” I insisted.
“Ha, sounds good Phil, lead the way,” Meredith laughed.
As I turned back and walked back over to Audrey and Hannah, both getting up to welcoming the newcomers.
“Oh yeah and food,” I quickly added.
As we all sat down and tucked into everything. Greg cut to the chase.
“So, did she scream and run out of the room bro?” Greg asked.
“Wow, really bro, really,” I said.
“Yeah, she might have snuck out like a ninja,” Meredith commented.
That had Greg laughing he nearly had a bit of beer coming out of his nose.
“Ha, that serves you right for that call mate,” I remarked, shaking my head.
“To be fair Phil, I laughed as well, sorry,” Hannah commented, still chuckling away to herself.
“Wow, anyway let’s get drunk and do stupid stuff,” I added.
Holding up a pint, while everyone grabbed a glass and we all clinked.
“Yeah first night out in a while man,” Greg said.
“Well with calls like that one bro, maybe your last for a while,” I remarked.
Leaving the table quickly to refill a couple of jugs.
“So what really happened Phil?” Hannah asked. When she came up to the bar.
“She didn’t want to feel like she had to keep fighting for me, Hannah,” I said.
“Wow, what do you say to that?” Hannah asked.
“I’m not sure, I don’t know what to do?” I replied.
“Well, let’s have a fun night tonight, when you’ve crossed the line I’ll let you know and send you home,” Hannah said, smiling at me.
“Ha, well I’m not gonna say, that’s not a stupid idea tonight,”
Laughing we headed back to the table, while everyone’s drinking away and eating we re-joined them.
“So what’s the plan tonight anyway bro?” Greg asked.
“Depends I guess bro,” I replied.
“Oh yeah, on what?” Meredith asked. Keeping an eye on Audrey.
“Well it depends on how good your robot dancing moves are,” I commented.
Greg started laughing, soon joined by the others.
“Sounds like a plan, bro I’m down for a robot dance comp,” Greg insisted.
“Yeah count us in Phil,” Audrey said. While Meredith just laughed.
“I’m gonna kick your ass!” Hannah remarked.
“Okay, then let’s finish this off,” I commented. Staring at all the food and drinks in front of us.
“Yeah, sounds good bro,” Greg replied.
“Should we head off to the Boathouse after this?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah sounds good Hannah,”
“So where’s this dance off happening?” Audrey asked.
“Only the one place, it can take place,” I replied.
“The Fez Club!” Hannah said laughing.
“Oh awesome, on the coloured squared light dance floor?” Greg asked.
Audrey and Meredith just laughed, but they were up for a big night out. Linda was gonna drop Rupert off in the afternoon the next day so they were more than happy to have a huge one.
Finally finishing off, we got up and started to head over to the boathouse.
“Hey do we want to go a few bottles of Champagne?” Audrey asked.
“Oh hell no,” I said laughing.
“That’s a yes,” Hannah remarked.
As Audrey went up to the bar carrying ba
ck a glass for us each and closely followed by a staff member holding onto two Bottles of champagne. Meredith and Greg had scored a table, while Hannah popped outside to use the phone.
Only coming back once we had finished the first bottle.
“Hey you okay?” I asked Hannah.
“Yeah good thanks, I’ll tell you later,” Hannah replied.
“Yeah no worries,”
“Take this,” I added, handing her a glass of Champagne.
“So Audrey tells me your latest pages are looking pretty good, will I get an interview soon?” Meredith asked.
“Um, no and everything said here tonight is completely off the record,” I insisted laughing.
“Yeah absolutely,” Meredith joked.
“Wait and see what happens babe,” Audrey said to Meredith.
“Oh try and change my mind will you, Audrey?” I asked.
“Yeah, might help if we need to move more books,” Audrey commented.
“Ha, talking about work scull,” Hannah said.
Both Audrey and Meredith just laughed and finished their glasses. Starting on the next bottle.
As Greg comes back with two ice buckets, both with another bottle of Champagne in them each.
“Ha, this is gonna hurt in the morning,” I remarked.
“Yeah, you might get a phone call from Linda,” Meredith joked.
As we all laughed.
“I don’t think she was joking bro, I’m totally blaming you for tonight, massive bad influence,” Greg laughed.
As we all started laughing again.
“Well, I guess it’s okay for everyone to blame Phil,” I remarked.
“Yes agreed,” the others said, all clinking their glasses again.
Finishing the fourth and final bottle for the boat house we all staggered over to Thai Square, where we thought it would be best to just have a few waters, still laughing it didn’t take us long to get a few bottles of wine, it took a little longer for a table to become available but my bouncer mate sorted us out with that luckily.
“Do you know all the bouncers in Putney?” Audrey asked.
“Yeah, I always go up to them and tell them, I’m the one they have to look out for, on any given night,” I said.
“Oh okay, tough guy,” Greg remarked laughing.
Just then Kalliope walked in with Bruce.
Hannah noticed her, but no one else really-knew who she was.
Hannah got up to say hello, strangely looking back to me as she sees, Brett walk in, closely followed by Anne-Marie. I just started laughing.
“The girl Hannah’s talking to works with her, as does her boyfriend Bruce the guy next to her that looks like Barney Rubble, the guy behind her, Brett got knocked out by Drew when we got back from, Susan’s funeral, it’s all a little bit blah, but it did happen, not a cool night,” I whispered in Audrey’s ear.
“Well, us lesbian’s will smash them,” Audrey remarked.
As I spat out a mouth full of wine trying not to laugh.
“Take it easy,” I said laughing
“What’s the go?” Greg and Meredith asked. As Audrey told Meredith who started laughing, then told Greg.
Who went all quiet and started laughing after a while as well.
“Well, the night had to end at some stage,” Greg mentioned.
“Hey, we aren’t fighting,” I insisted.
Getting up as the three at the table watched me as I walked over to say hello.
“Hey guys how’s it going,” I declared. As I shock Bruce’s hand.
“Brett, Anne-Marie, hope your both well,” I added.
“Yeah good,” Brett said.
“Fine thanks Phil,” Anne-Marie added.
“Hey Hannah, I’m just gonna grab another bottle of wine and head back to the table, Hey Kalliope hope your well?” I added.
“She is mate!” Brett remarked.
As I didn’t say much after Brett’s comment, turning and heading up to the bar.
Followed by Kalliope,
“Hey Phil, how have you been? Hannah told us you were away on a trip, have you been gone a while?” Kalliope asked.
“Yeah just got back today,” I replied.
“Oh cool, how was it?” Kalliope asked.
“Yeah really-good, caught up with Devin and Hannah in China, which was awesome,”
“Oh how’s Devin doing?” Kalliope asked.
“Yeah really-well, dudes really-lucky, anyway have a great night good to see you again,” I said.
Grabbing the bottle the bartender had put in an ice bucket on the bar.
As Kalliope said, “good to see you as well Phil.”
I turned away and headed back to the table, followed closely by Hannah.
“Alright guys lets finish this, then head up to the Fez Club,” I declared.
“Deal,” the other’s said laughing.
Slowly but surely we made our way through the last bottle feeling a little worse for wear we made it up to the fez club and had a quick shot of tequila, though we all refused to let Greg teach us how to snort the stuff, especially Hannah. Then we eventually made it to the dance floor.
19
Once We Danced I Caught You in a Dream
We stayed and had a great deal of fun and laughter, or so I thought. Waking up naked with an arm around my waist, and someone pressed up behind me, having no idea who it was, I slowly started to open my eyes and made my way to the edge of the bed. With a silent “Hmm,” the person behind me let me go and I was relieved to find myself back in my room, unfortunately with what looked like a used condom on my thigh.
‘What the hell happened last night?’ I thought to myself.
As I slowly turned around and saw both, Audrey and Meredith in my bed. I grabbed some clothes and a towel and headed straight to the bathroom, to try and remember what the hell we did after the Fez club last night.
Only waking up Hannah up in the process.
“Hey ranch dick!” Hannah remarked, with a massive smile on her face as she opened her bedroom door to see if it was me.
“Not now Hannah, I need a shower and some blue powerade to sort out the massive hang over I’ve got,”
“What hang on, what did you call me?” I added.
“Ranch dick, from the ranch dressing we put in the condom before Meredith put it on your dick,” Hannah said, bursting into laughter.
“Wow, anyway I’m gonna go a have a shower,” I replied, shaking my head as I turned the shower on and jumped into clear my head.
“Hey, I’m gonna sort out some breakfast and get the coffee on,” Hannah quickly mentioned.
“Cool, I won’t be long,”
Cleaning off the what had to be ranch dressing on my thigh.
Finally heading back to my room to wake up Audrey and Meredith who luckily had felt me get up and were changed and talking to Hannah in the kitchen,
“Hey sleeping beauty,” Meredith declared.
“It took us ages to get you up the hill and into bed last night,” Meredith added.
“Well, you had some fun,” I said, smiling trying not to laugh.
“So what the hell happened last night?” I asked.
“Well after a while you and Greg started snorting tequila, I guess you felt sorry for him,” Audrey added.
Before they all burst into laughter,
“It was our fault we stripped you, but Meredith put the rubber on, but in our defence, you had thrown up on yourself,” Audrey commented.
“I should have known better to snort tequila with Greg, never again, but fully naked?” I said
“Ha yeah. Well that one’s our bad,” Audrey said, with a big smile on her face, not going unnoticed by anyone, which had them all in fits of laughter again.
“So how bout we head down to the main street for breakfast, on us,” Meredith declared.
“Yeah, that’s the least we can do for letting us crash here,” Audrey added.
“Yeah well I’m ready, Ranch dick?” Hannah asked, as she turned to m
e with tears in her eyes, as the other ladies in the kitchen started to hold back their own laughter.
“How long is this gonna last for?” I asked.
“Not long, maybe just till we head down for breakfast,” Hannah replied.
“Well, with that let me get some shoes on and we can head off,” I declared.
Walking to my room, grabbing my shoes quickly putting them on and grabbing my keys and wallet, heading back out to the kitchen,
“Hey Hannah do you still have my phone?” I asked.
“Yeah you had a couple of missed calls last night from Karen, I spoke to her and she may be popping over today at some point,” Hannah said.
Standing there dumbfounded,
“Oh wow, anyway let’s go grab something to eat, I’m sure I’ll feel better after a sneaky English breakfast and a coffee.” I said.
As we began to walk out and turned to walk down the hill, Audrey asked me, “How’s it all going with all of that?
“Um, I’m not too sure at this stage, can I get back to you?” I asked.
“Yeah, well we’ll see her later today,” Hannah added.
As Meredith just looked on.
“Yeah good luck with it all Phil,” Meredith insisted.
As we all headed down to the Railway bar, for breakfast. Finally, grabbing a seat and ordering feeling a little rougher than I was hoping to feel. We must have been there for a few hours laughing as the girls were reminding me what I got up last night. Was great to cut loose after what had happened and drown my sorrows, with the fact Hannah had my phone I was happy I didn’t do to many stupid things. As for Meredith putting a condom on my dick, I still wasn’t sure about that. I’m sure at the time though it must have been funny, in one way or another.
“Sorry, we have to get going,” Audrey declared.
“But thank you both for last night and I’ll see you in a few days Phil,” Audrey added.
“Yeah great of you both to come out last night, I’m sure I’ll start to have flash backs in the next few days,” I replied.
Making those around the table burst out into the laughter again, some of the other tables around us, stopped and looked over towards us.
“Yeah well we can talk about that later,” Audrey remarked, with a massive smile on her face.
“Yeah lets head home and sort out the rest of the day,” Hannah said.
“Yeah all right,”
“We can walk these two to the taxi rank,” I added.