On the way there, Lucy tried to fill her in on everything she knew about the place. She knew the owners doormen and bartenders.
As they got to the entrance, Lucy stepped up to the Main entrance pass the huge cue of people standing, waiting to get in. She popped up the few steps acknowledging the doormen each by name and flashing one of her fabulous smiles that held them captivated.
Rebecca followed closely behind her. They were guided in by one of the huge doormen, a tall bald black guy wearing shades; the mere height of him was intimidating.
He opened the door to the venue, rock music blaring as he swung the huge metal doors apart allowing them to enter. They passed the pay booth and the long line of people who were waiting to pay and gain entry themselves.
As she passed, the huge doorman tilted his sunglasses, giving her a wink saying ‘have a great night ladies’ and in they went.
“That’s Dave. He’s lovely, a real pussycat. Don’t worry this place is all right just don’t show weakness. Pretend you’re fabulous. Honestly, it really works if you think you’re the ‘bomb diggity; you’ll be it. Just do what I do, you’ll be cool” she laughed as she cut through the crowd.
The place was packed and the music was thumping. There was a ‘Nickleback’ cover band playing the place was electric.
Rebecca didn’t know what to do with herself and stuck to Lucy like glue, as they made their way to the top bar. When they got there, they were served by an Australian bartender who thought he was gods gift to ‘woman kind’ and flirted outrageously with them.
Lucy shouted her order of two ‘Flugal’s’ (Vodka, strawberry syrup and red bull which was served in a wine glasses with one ice cube floating in the mixture).
The flirty bartender wouldn’t take any money nodding that ‘flugal virgins’ had the first one free looking directly at Rebecca making her blush.
“How do you know I’m a ‘flugal virgin?” She asked looking into his eyes from her side of the bar.
“That’s easy,” came the reply “I’d have remembered you, believe me.” As he flashed her a cheesy smile.
Rebecca was quite taken back by his cockiness. Lucy whispered into her ear, “This fucker is a slut and will stick it in anything.”
“Got it!” Rebecca said smiling still having the bar man transfixed on her, who didn’t flinch even when he raised his glass in the air to toast.
Lucy leaned in telling her it was a tradition with every flugal drink.
They too in unison raised their glasses meeting his in the air
“Here’s to the hole that never heals, the more you rub it the better it feels.”
He clinked their glasses, putting his glass to his lips while still gazed at Rebecca swallowing the liquid contents leaving the ice-cube still remaining in the glass. He then flicked the ice cube from the glass over their heads sending it hurtling to the other side of the room.
The girls copied him and flicked theirs in the same direction. When Rebecca had spun back round, he was still looking at her, eyeing her up. Lucy ordered two J.D’s and cokes. The flashy barman refused the money, saying they were on him.
It was Lucy’s turn to flash a smile of her own to Rebecca as they walked away from the bar. The bands were in top form knocking out song after song. There were people on the dance floor; it was like a mini concert while the audience jumped or swayed to the music.
The place was packed, where Lucy had stationed them was a prime spot, not too close or far from the bar, pointing out the drinks being spilled upon departing the steady surface of the bar counter.
They could see everything that was going on there and they had all angles covered. It was a brilliant night; Lucy totally ignored the countless guys that came up from the footie team, to try.
It was like a ritual for them. Bless them, she laughed, they never gave up. Rebecca had her fair share too. They had drinks bought for them most of the night, from the same first bartender who seemed to have only eyes for Rebecca.
“Come on,” Lucy said. “We’re going for a walkthrough,” and they set off around the balcony that overviewed the dance floor.
As they walked Rebecca was amazed at the amount of male attention they were getting. She found herself mimicking Lucy, standing tall, confident.
Rebecca was looking around, when she caught the eye of a group of lad’s one of them approached.
Rebecca played nice trying to make idle chit chat, trying to be polite.
The guy must have used his best moves and lines which failed miserably, undeterred he hung round for ages still vying for their attention, then his friends joined him.
“Oh God Rebecca, now they’re all going to have a go. See this is what happens when you talk to drongo’s.” Lucy moved them to another spot.
“You see Rebecca,” she said leaning gracefully on the balustrade, “Think ...If you give these guys even the slightest hint that they may have a chance, they seize it and won’t let go or GO trust me. Men are hunters by nature”.
Rebecca nodded her head at Lucy’s statement
“You’ve been out of the ‘Game’ for a good while, so you’re an easy target remember Lions. They always go for the weak or sick. They’re easy to catch and won’t put up a fight; it’s the same with blokes. You talking to that guy gives him the idea that he has a chance, does he?” She asked.
“Goodness NO, no chance at all,” laughed Rebecca shocked at the thought.
“You may think I was rude, but I was just setting his expectations of ‘No chance whatsoever’. Think of what you learned, don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed. But have high standards, I believe in ‘start as you mean to go on’. I have standards and they don’t drop believe me. Look at George, liar. He was married, I think that’s an important thing to tell someone you’re seeing, don’t you?” Rebecca agreed.
A succession of men approached them over the course of the night. Lucy ignored them all not even glancing in their direction.
The evening ended all too quickly and it was time to go. As they made their way out the door, Dave the doorman stopped Rebecca, smiling nicely at her before asking, “What’s your name sweetheart?” His voice was deep, but friendly.
“Rebecca,” she replied smiling.
“Lucy, Rebecca hope to see you ladies soon,” he said, having now removed his sunglasses giving them another playfully wink.
The girls walked home to Rebecca’s, laughing and joking all the way, both full of merriment.
“God those ‘flugal’s were lovely,” Rebecca said. “I can still taste them.” She giggled.
“Yes they can be very dangerous though, one too many of them and you’d be on your arse all right or the porcelain queen,” roared Lucy as they fell into Rebecca’s flat door.
“Shit, we have shopping in the morning,” she laughed.
It was just as they were going upstairs that the doorbell went startling them both,
“Who the fuck could that be, at this time.” Rebecca said as white as a sheet the colour having drained fast from her face.
They both backed down the stairs heading to the sitting room window, peering through the curtain, as the view they had looked directly at the front door. There was no-one there. Rebecca looked again at her watch, it was 1:30 a.m. She understood if that was the day, yes it could be kid’s messing around ringing doorbells but at this time of night?
Lucy could see this was freaking her out, she suggested that they go to bed and to forget about it. “It could be a drunk ringing the wrong doorbell.” she shrugged.
Both girls had sobered up now with the shock of the doorbell ringing, Rebecca knew bed was the best place for them and nodded heading up the stairs again with Lucy in tow.
It was 7am when the girls were awoken by the un-necessarily long doorbell ring, making them both bolt upright in the bed with fright.
“What the hell!” Rebecca yelled throwing on her dressing gown and heading down the stairs, somewhat boggy eyed. It was a few minutes before she returned ranting that there was no-o
ne there, and what the hell is going on?
Rebecca climbed back under the covers, trying to block out the morning sun. It was 9am when the doorbell went off again making a poor hung over Rebecca grabbed her dressing gown again, and head down the stairs.
When she returned this time she was spitting obscenities, climbing back into her warm patch and trying to fall back asleep. It was no use she was awake now, grabbing her dressing gown she headed down the stairs to make coffee. The aroma wafting upstairs awaking Lucy from her slumber.
Lucy trudged down the stairs to Rebecca as Rebecca poured both of them a cup of coffee, both girls stood leaning against the kitchen counter sipping their cups.
Lucy spoke first. “So where do you want to go shopping?” she asked.
“I haven’t a clue,” laughed Rebecca. “As you know, I have no problem with buying suits. It’s the civilian clothes I have a problem with,” as they both burst out laughing.
They showered and dressed and off they went clothes shopping for the day to Muse on the infamous ‘Kings Road’.
When they returned just after 6pm, they were weighed down with bags full of clothes, as they girls emptied the contents onto Rebecca’s bed.
“Ohh love this!” Rebecca said hold up a long evening dress.
“I would never have bought these if it was left to me, and I love this top, and this one,” holding up a succession of tops.
Tired after their day of shopping, they settled in for the evening. Lucy produced a bottle Jack Daniels which was going to be their poison for the rest of the night.
Rebecca checked her phone...
”Nothing,” she said throwing it down on the couch beside her, looking rather forlorn. “He didn’t even call,” she protested.
Lucy sat down beside Rebecca and gave her a big hug. “Hun you said a really shitty thing. Once you say it, you can’t take it back. It’s out there forever.”
They lay back against the backrest of the couch, Rebecca’s head leaning on her shoulder.“I knew it was wrong as soon as I said it.” Rebecca slumped further into the couch. “I just can’t believe he did that,” she said.
Lucy looked at her. “What if you were pregnant? What would you have done?” she asked.
Rebecca thought for a moment before answering.
“I can’t even think like that Lucy. Everything about that situation is complicated. He’s my ex’s, ex best friend.” She groaned throwing her eyes up to heaven. “It’s all a horrible mess. I just can’t think about it.” Rebecca sighed starring into her glass.
“From what you told me, he seemed pretty happy with the idea of it,” said Lucy.
“Don’t Lucy, I can’t think like that. I mean, when you break it down I’ve only actually had a week single and Jason is only the second person I’ve ever slept with. I really don’t want to talk about it I have to keep strong just so I don’t start drunk dialing him,” she laughed.
“Don’t worry” Lucy said grabbing Rebecca’s hand “I’ll keep you busy,” Lucy said as she chucked her phone over onto the table.
It was nearly the end of the month, when they were out again on one of their frequent Saturday shopping trips. They were at a trendy bistro, having lunch sharing a small bottle of wine between them.
During lunch they chatted away about what they could be doing in the coming weeks. They had some brilliantly crazy nights, ranging from gig’s to clubs; now that they both were ‘Young Free and Single’.
The discussion came up about holidays. Rebecca had only ever been with her family or with David.
“Right that’s it, we’re doing Ibiza. There’s a new club opening up and I can get us in there. There are a few places we can stay at that are connected with my company that I can get dirty cheap for us.
It will only be flights and spends that we need really?” Lucy said.
“Hmmm that’s a great idea, when?” An eager Rebecca replied, nearly knocking the glass over as she clapped her hands.
“Oppsie,” they both laughed.
“Right,” said Lucy. “Monday, I’ll get the schedule for Ibiza and we can book it straight away. What do you say? Yes?”
“Yes, let’s do it,” squealed Rebecca. “A girl’s holiday, can’t wait!”
They paid the bill and left full of plans on the new venture.
They headed back to the row of boutiques they had passed earlier on their way to the bistro. That’s when Rebecca stopped. She was looking at something. It was a jeweler’s who bought gold.
“Hold on a minute, I need to do something. You coming?” She asked having walked ahead of Lucy in the direction of the jewelers.
“What are you doing?” Lucy asked puzzled.
She hadn’t a clue what she was up to; she was left with no choice but to follow her into the store. As Rebecca opened the door the chimes went off, alerting the middle-aged man behind the counter, who suddenly stood up straight and greeted them with;
“And how can I help you lovely ladies today?”
Rebecca made for the counter, lifting her handbag on top of its glass display cabinet. She fished around in her bag and pulled out her purse, opening it, pulling out her engagement ring.
She looked at it, remembering the day five years ago when David had bought it and placed it on her finger. It hadn’t cost hundreds, or thousands, but she wore it with pride as though it did. She remembered the day all so well.
David didn’t have enough money on him at that time to buy it for her there and then; Jason had lent him the money. Her heart lurched; Jason again.
It could have cost four million for all she cared, it was given with love, and at that time she had really wanted to marry him. She had taken it off when she had her shower like she did a thousand times over, but this day was different. She had not put it back on since.
That was the day she first slept with Jason. It had not been on her finger since that day. She had put it in her purse for safe keeping. She held the ring out to the man, “I would like to sell this please.” He took the ring from her.
He put his jewelers monocle that was hung around his neck dangling from a gold chain, to his eye and moved the ring around underneath it, before pulling out the eye glass and letting it fall to his chest. “I’ll give you two hundred pound,” he said.
Rebecca extended her hand replying “DONE!” She shook hands to confirm the deal.
The jeweler made his way to the cash register and pressed a few buttons before they heard the ping of the cash draw being opened. He counted out two hundred pounds in a mixture of notes, she held out her hand and he proceeded to count out the money into her hand.
Rebecca thanked him, putting the money in the back of her purse, and walked out he jewelers beaming like a Cheshire cat, telling Lucy, “I have two hundred pounds for the Ibiza kitty. Ibiza is SO ON.”
Rebecca found it a very long month without Jason, despite all the going out accompanied by the extremely hectic social calendar she had with Lucy. The month Jason and she had spent together, had been the happiest she had known. How sad, that she had wasted so many years, with David. And now she had pushed Jason away.
“Well if he doesn’t want me then I don’t want him,” she declared as she blocked Jason’s number on her phone and she dropped it into her bag.
Chapter 13
‘Time to say Goodbye’
Jason walked out Rebecca’s. He was hurt and it showed. The scene replayed over and over in his head. He couldn’t believe what she had said to him. He was unworried about the results of the pregnancy test. He would have been happy if she had been. He knew how he felt about her; he had known her as long as she had started dating David.
How to Catch Butterflies Page 12