“Yes we did, but you seemed to be enjoying yourself so much, I didn’t want to stop,” he explained, “however, now I think you are starting to turn blue,” he chuckled. He pulled his arm from around her waist and took her hand, leading her through the crowded doorway into the bar. The music was loud, but not too loud. The crowd was an interesting mix of all ages and genres. They found a space at the bar and Jonny ordered some drinks.
“Large vodka and coke for the lady, and one of those alcohol free beers for me, is it too late for food?” he asked the barman.
“We can do you some chips.” he answered.
“You hungry Lotty?” Jonny asked, and she nodded, she hadn’t eaten that evening.
A few moments later they were onto their second drink and Lotty was eating fries, carefully so she didn’t mess up her pink lipstick. Conversation was difficult, due to the music, but they managed. Jonny told Lotty how good she looked and she said she didn’t believe him, but loved hearing him say it.
“You know your about the hottest girl in here right now don’t you?” he asked.
“You mean the most slutty looking?” Lotty giggled.
“Same thing,” he replied laughing. Then he stood up straight, stretched his shoulders and declared, Well I need a piss.”
“Oh my god, so do I,” Lotty shouted in his ear “what do I do?”
“Go to the ladies of course.” he answered with a grin, then picked up the bag and walked off to the gents. Lotty stood for a moment, thinking about it, then joined the queue for the ladies feeling every bit as uncomfortable as she looked, glancing around nervously at the crowd around her. Some of the other girls were nice and smiled at her, and some looked her up and down and clearly judged her a slut. But most didn’t really notice her. At last she made it into a cubicle and had a pee, then tucked herself in carefully, adjusted her dress and went back outside. Their spot at the bar had been taken, and though she scanned the room carefully, Lotty couldn’t see Jonny anywhere. A man appeared in front of her.
“Hey babe, you can stop looking now, I’m here.” he said loudly. Feeling a little scared and not sure how to handle this, Lotty replied. “But it’s not you I’m looking for.”
“Aww c’mon,” he answered, swaying slightly, “you know what they say, a bird in the hand nall that.” She could smell the booze on his breath, and while feeling flattered, realized he was past noticing anything about her other than she was wearing a very short dress.
“I’m sorry, I’m meeting someone, have fun, good night.” she said and quickly slipped by him into the crowd. She scanned the packed bar for Mr Parkes’ bald suntanned head, but still couldn’t see him anywhere. Across the room another man returned her gaze and when Jay paused momentarily wondering what he was looking at, he smiled and winked at her. A noisy group of people pushed by her and Lotty turned away, stepping forward so they could get past behind her. As they went by Jay felt a hand sliding across her bottom, then definite cupping and squeezing. Instinctively she moved to one side and swung her arm back to brush away the strangers hand. She looked over her shoulder at the group as they left the bar and the guy at the back, with one hand around the waist of the girl in front of him, looked back at her grinning and winked. She turned away and only then did Lotty realize she had stepped sideways into a group of lads who were all stood looking at her.
“You alright love?” one of them asked.
Lotty looked at them feeling flustered and totally out of her depth, they could see the discomfort in her face and could tell she wasn’t alright. She couldn’t think of anything to say, so simply blurted out the truth.
“That guy just grabbed my bum.”
They seemed incensed, “What them that just left?” one asked, “the wanker,” another one said, then two of them set off to confront the man.
“No please, I don’t want any trouble,” Lotty said, catching one of them by the arm, “please.”
“Well… OK,” he said calling his friend back. “Are you OK, can we get you a drink, are you here alone?” they fired questions at her. But right then, all Lotty really wanted was a drink.
“I think I do need a drink yes.” she said timidly.
“What you drinkin?”
“Vodka and coke… please.” The lads introduced themselves and asked her name and all about her as they waited for her drink. Lotty answered as truthfully as she could. Telling them her name was Lotty and that her friend was in the bar, somewhere. She didn’t tell them anything about Mr Parkes. And they told her about themselves in return, chatting easily and freely as they drank and Lotty started to relax, partly thanks to the alcohol, but also because the lads were so nice. It seemed to come naturally to her and she even started to flirt with one of them who she caught eyeing up her legs, he was very handsome with piercing blue eyes. She took her time drinking while keeping an eye out for Jonny, but eventually finished her drink.
“Well, thank you for the drink, and for looking after me,” she said, “But I better go find my friend.”
“Oh we’ll come with you, help you look,” they offered.
“No that’s alright thank you,” Lotty said “I’ll be OK, thanks again.”
“Where are you going from here?” the guy she had flirted with asked her, taking hold of her hand as she squeezed by him.
“Ummm, I have no idea,” she answered honestly.
“Well we’re going to the club over the road, perhaps we’ll see you in there?”
“Yeah maybe,” she said continuing past him without letting go of his hand, “I’d like that,” she said and kissed his cheek before walking away.
“wwwooooah.” she heard the group of lads cheering their friends success as she weaved her way through the crowd. The bar, like the shop, was a lot bigger inside than it looked and was one dark corner after another, making it almost impossible to find anyone who didn’t want to be found. And Lotty knew Mr Parkes well enough to know, that was just the sort of trick he’d play. He was probably watching her right now. Lotty made her way through the crowd, fed up with looking.
“If he wants to play hide and seek, let him,” she thought to herself, “he can find me when he’s ready.” Lotty wanted another drink, but had no money, she stood in the crowd near a second bar further back in the building. At one end of the bar there were three middle aged guys, they all looked like they had come straight from the office. One of them was sat on a tall stool by the bar watching her through the crowd. He reminded her of Colin, one of Mr Parkes’ “friends”, they were about the same age, 50ish, and he was a little overweight with receding hair. He even had the same expression on his face that Colin had when he looked at her. Lotty knew that look and knew what he was thinking, it excited her. Feeling a little drunk and wanting more, Lotty walked over to him.
“Hi,” she said leaning close, with her mouth by his ear so she didn’t have to shout.
“Hello,” he replied, a slightly confused expression on his face as he tried to work out why this incredibly hot young woman was approaching him.