The
bottle twisted as it flew through the air. Everything moved in slow-motion.
Lacy could see the lights dance across its surface, her brain had time to
register the brand, and she even noticed there was still beer inside. Despite
all these things, she couldn’t make her body move to one side, or put up a hand
to deflect it, or anything to stop serious injury from coming her way. When the
bottle was only inches from her face, a hand appeared and snatched it from the
air. She didn’t understand what had happened, which is why her mouth hung open
like a dullard.
His
smile was magical. His eyes were crystal blue and filled with fun. He looked up
at the balcony where a drunk girl stared down. He tilted the bottle in his hand
slightly, asking the question, are you going to say something? The
drunk girl waved and vanished. The man placed the bottle on a table as Lacy
tried to make the words, Thank You, come out. He just winked
and walked away.
As
he vanished, Lacy turned to her friend, Tracy, and said, “OMG did you see him!”
"He
like, TOTALLY, saved your life!” she said, squealing and yelling over the music
in in the club.
“You
should so go after him!”
“You
think?”
“Totally!”
“I
don’t even know his name. I can’t,” Lacy said, hiding her blushing face in her
hands but she really wanted to. She would have, if she could see, him but the
club was too packed. God, she had butterflies in her stomach and her heart was
racing. He hadn’t even said a word and he had her melting. She’d never felt
anything like it before and she was sure she never would again.
“You’re
so prissy, if you don’t want him, I’ll have him,” said Tracy, pretending to go
after the man. Lacy grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“Don’t
you dare,” she cried, dragging her friend away to get a drink at the bar.
***
All
week, that guy was in her thoughts. The way he smiled, his eyes, the air of
adventure that surrounded him, the way he saved her. Every day the feeling grew
stronger. One day, she munched dreamily at her lunch and thought of him…of
them. Her phone rang and she had to rummage through the junk in her bag to find
the damn thing, and when she did, it was only Jason.
“Hi,”
she said, not excited, not annoyed. After all, they were dating, of sorts.
"Hi,
baby. How’s your day going?” He sounded bubbly, like a puppy ready to jump up
and lick her.
“Same
old same old. What about you?”
As
he yammered on about some boring work stuff, she let her mind wander. She
rested her chin in her hand and drifted. At first, she thought she was dreaming
him, but there he was, walking down far side of the road. Her savour, carrying
four Starbuck’s coffees in those paper containers they give out.
"Jason,
I got to run, call you later,” she said cutting cross him mid-sentence and
hanging up. She quickly gathered up her belongings and dashed out into the
street before she had a chance to change her mind. She had to wait for a break
in the traffic to cross the road, and by the time she had, she saw her dream
man climb into a silver Audi and pull away.
“Fuck
it, fuck it, fuck it,” she said, stamping her feet and spinning on the spot.
She had to get to know him. Then it hit her. Starbucks! She turned and dashed
down the street to that familiar white and green circle floating above the shop
on the corner. She ran inside, and thank God, it was nearly empty.
“Hi.
What can I get you?” asked the girl behind the counter.
“This
is weird, but a guy just left here. A tall guy, floppy hair, blue eyes, really
well dressed. Did you see him?”
“Yea,
I think I know who you mean,” said the girl stroking her chin. Lacy didn’t
think this chick was the sharpest tool in the box.
“Can
you tell me his name?” asked Lacy, feeling she was on the verge of a
life-changing event.
“Bob,”
the clerk said.
Shit.
Bob! Not at all what she had in mind.
“Or
it might be John, or Simon, or Ethan. He always gets four coffees and those are
the names. I think he works in a law office on the far side of town.”
“Do
you know where it is?” Lacy asked.
“Look,
lady, they just come and order coffee. Do you want something or not?” asked the
girl, clearly losing interest in this game.
“No,
thanks,” she said, and left the shop. She had a lead on him, of sorts. As the
door closed behind her, her phone rang, again, and it was Jason, again. God,
what did he want now?
“Hello,”
she said and rolled her eyes as she walked away.
***
Over
the next week, Lacy spent every lunchtime sitting in Starbucks, waiting for
Bob, John, Simon, or Ethan to arrive. On Friday he did. Her heart jumped into
her mouth as he opened the door and looked directly at her. She smiled and he
walked toward, but then continued past to the counter. She followed and stood
behind him while he placed his order. When he was done, she tapped him on the
shoulder.
“Hello?”
he said, clearly, he had no idea who she was.
“Do
you remember me?” she asked.
“You
might have to give me a hint,” he said, but flashed her a dazzling smile with
an accompanying wink. He was flirting with her.
“You
saved me from a bottle, in the club, the other night,” she said, tilting her
head back and giving her hair a flick.
“That
was you?”
“Yep.
I wanted to say thanks,” she said holding out her hand and he took it in his.
It was a big hand, but soft. He rolled her fingers in his, as if massaging her,
and it was an incredibly intimate feeling.
“I’m
Lacy,” she said.
“Ethan,”
he said.
“I
knew you would be,” she said, before she could stop herself.
“Sorry?”
“Nothing.
Its… Well… nothing,” she said, getting tongue-tied. Behind them, the girl
landed a tray-load of coffees on the counter.
“That
will be twelve ninety,” the girl said and Ethan flipped her a credit card,
which she tapped against the machine. Lacy could see her chance to make an
impression drawing quickly to a close, so she panicked.
"Do
you want to come to a party?” she asked, and was amazed to hear the words come
out of her mouth because she had no party to invite him too.
"Sure,
when?” he said, surprising her.
“Give
me your number and I'll text you the details,” she said. He called out his
number and she typed it into her phone. On the way out the door, he stopped and
turned.
“Can
I bring some friends?”
"The
more the merrier,” she said, getting herself deeper into the lie. As soon as he
was out the door, she was on the phone to Tracy.
"Tracy,
we have to have a party, tomorrow!” she yelled. The girl behind the counter to
glared across at her. The squeals of delight on the end of the line were all
the encouragement she needed. This plan was going to work.
The
following day was a whirlwind of preparation. Lacy all but emptied her bank
account buying drink, food, and decorations. It was her first party and she was
determined to make it one to remember. She called friends and extended
invitations. When anyone asked the reason for the get-together, she said, for
the crack. At six, she was stringing fairy lights around the sitting room when
someone knocked on the door. Tracy answered it and when she came back in, Jason
was right behind her. Tracy gave a lip-biting grimace at the awkward situation
that was about to unfold.
"Hi,
Lace. What's all the lights for?
"Jason...
I meant to give you a call. You see…there is a bit of a thing happening
tonight."
"Cool,
a party."
"It's
not a party."
"Oh?"
he said, clearly not believing her.
"Just
the girls coming around for a few drinks."
"Sounds
great," he said, not giving up. This guy was alike a terrier with a bone.
"Only
the girls," she said, feeling a little like a bitch, but only a little.
"Oh.
I see," he said, rejection written all over his face. "I better leave
you to it, so," he said, walking toward the door. At the door,
he said, "Enjoy the night. I'll call you tomorrow," like a kicked
puppy, which made her feel like a complete bitch.
"Ok,"
was all she said.
When
he was gone Tracy turned to her and said, "Well, that was crushing."
"And
what was I supposed to say?"
"I
don't know, but I don't think you should keep stringing him along like this."
"I'm
not stringing him along. We're not exclusive or anything."
"Whatever,
girl. Just saying," said Tracy, tottering away with more beer to squeeze
into the fridge.
***
The
party had been going for two hours, and the flat was full of people, but no
sign of Ethan. Lacy was wearing her slinkiest outfit; the one with the slit up
to the hip, and everyone said how hot she looked, but she was miserable. Every
time the doorbell rang, she rushed to answer it, but it was never him. When she
given up hope, he arrived. She pulled the door open and his blue eyes made her
knees go weak.
"Sorry
we're late," he said, and Lacy noticed the three other people standing
behind him. Two were stunning looking girls and Lacy wanted to murder the two
of them.
"No
problem, it's only starting," she said standing to one side. She watched
with horror as Ethan placed a hand low on one of the girl’s back, to guide her
in. It was like being stabbed in the heart. As he disappeared into the flat,
she stood rooted to the spot. She couldn't make herself let go of the door.
Tracy
appeared beside her and asked, "Are you ok?"
"No,
I'm not. Nothing’s ok," she said, and slammed the door. For the rest of
the night, she stayed in the kitchen swilling wine. Ethan appeared a few times,
and glanced in her direction, but his lady was never far away. By the time the
party was winding up, Lacy was plastered. Ethan appeared and said, "We're
heading. Thanks so much, for the invite."
"No
problem. I'll let you out," she slurred, walking to the front door and
opening it for them. Ethan's friends left, but he lingered.
"Sorry we
didn't get to talk more. I really wanted to," he said.
"Yea,
whatever," she said, and watched him take a step outside, but he paused
again, then leaned into her ear.
"Meet
me tomorrow," he whispered, his warm breath playing across her ear.
"What
about your girlfriend?"
"Don't
mind her. Come on, meet me tomorrow."
Inside,
her heart lept in her chest, and before she knew what she was doing, she’d
agreed. With a wink, he was gone. So was her bad mood, her drunken state and
every dire thought she had entertained during the night. He wanted her, he
really wanted her.
***
The
morning came, but not half fast enough and eventually she did meet him. They
sat and shared drink after drink, while he explained how much of a cow his
girlfriend was. Afternoon turned to evening, and before that turned into night,
they found themselves in bed. Lacy gave Ethan every inch of her body and would
have done so twice if she could. It was magical. The only distraction was her phone
and the incessant beeping, each one another message from Jason. She had no
intention of answering any of them. Ethan was the man for her, filling her mind
and her body in all the ways that counted.
The
days passed and Ethan was a constant presence. He whispered everything she ever
wanted to hear, he fulfilled every desire she ever held, he was the man she
always wanted to have. Nothing would be the same again. A week turned into two,
and lust turned into love, but things don't always go to plan.
Meetings
had to be cancelled, outings abandoned, and long leisurely nights in bed cut
short by his work commitments. True to his word, Ethan did abandon his
girlfriend, but still he was always rushing off at a minute’s notice. Lacy was
beginning to spend as much time alone as she did with him.
Weeks
turned into months, and Lacy started to realise that something was wrong. Ethan
never took her to his place; he never introduced her to his friends, the only
time they spent together was in bed. She got used to the calls cancelling dates
and nights out. She got used to the excuses as he left her bed, his sweat still
moist on her body. Although she refused to admit it, in her heart, she knew he
was leaving her. She nearly never saw Tracy anymore, or any of her girlfriends,
Ethan didn’t like them. She was alone, and drifting further from the rest of
the world by the day.
One
night, she was sitting in the club, in the same spot Ethan had saved her,
waiting for him to arrive, but she knew he wasn’t coming. The call had not come,
but still she knew. He was somewhere else, with someone else, doing what she
wished he was doing with her.
Across
the room she saw a figure standing at the bar. It was Jason. He was smiling and
laughing with a group of friends. She watched him and he seemed to be bigger
than she remembered, taller, or perhaps it was just the way he was carrying
himself. He nearly looked like a different person. She picked up her drink and
walked across to him, to spend a few minutes catching up, to share a few
moments.
As she neared, he saw
her. His face flickered and she saw the hint of dread in his eyes. Jesus, you
would swear she were a monster or something. He held up his hand, as if warding
her off, and started to put down his bottle. His eyes held a lifetime of hurt,
a sea of anguish, and a universe of pain: and she knew all of that was her
fault. He turned from her and walked away, abandoning her as she had abandoned
him. The bottle teetered on the edge of the counter before falling outward;
twisting in mid-air, reflecting the light of the club off its surface before
smashing on the ground, smashing like all her dreams had been smashed. Smashed
at the hands of Ethan, and more disastrously, smashed by herself.
