Language of Love

Chapter 37 - Never Have I Ever

Training done, they'd all bundled down to the Bucket List, claimed seats outside and ordered burgers and beers. Abi found herself wedged between Troy and Whippet with Maxi, Jake and Max A opposite.

Troy slipped his arm over her shoulder and drew her closer to him as they shared a large bowl of fries.

Abi let the guys chatter wash over her and snuggled even closer to Troy. She still felt a little out of sorts after her flashback and panic attack earlier. It was comforting to be able to lean into Troy's warmth and have the guys just let her be whilst she processed the flashback. It was such a tiny unclear memory, no more than a few seconds. Nothing else had come back to her, and she was annoyed with herself for having a panic attack.

When the burgers arrived Abi discovered she was famished and dug in. A few beers helped her relax and she was soon joining in with the banter again.

Sam turned up with her girlfriend Jazz. Abi jumped up and greeted the two of them with a hug before encouraging them to squish onto the sofa with her and Troy. Jazz was clearly nervous but the guys were their usual friendly selves and quickly dragged her into conversation.

Whippet returned from getting the next round of drinks and rolled his eyes when he saw he'd lost his seat. Abi stuck her tongue out at him. He placed the tray of beers on the table, then lifted her and dumped her on Troy's lap before squeezing into the gap he'd created on the sofa. Troy chuckled softly and snaked his arm around her, pulling her in close to his chest and resting his chin on her shoulder to continue his conversation with Maxi.

Somehow Maxi convinced their table to play Never have I ever.
"Never have I ever slept with a lifeguard."
Abi drank and so did Sam. Maxi raised his eyebrows questioningly at Sam.
"Pool lifeguard. Rocked a bikini. Never have I ever had sex with a man."
Abi drank again. "This doesn't seem fair." She muttered. "Never have I ever damaged someone else's surfboard."
Maxi glared at her and drank but he was joined by Jake, Troy and Whippet.
"Never have I ever fallen for someone after just 3 dates." Whippet said with a grin.
"Whip." Abi whined as she drank but Troy reached around her and drank as well. "Awww." She said and it was echoed by Maxi.
"Nauseating." Mocked Sam and winced as someone kicked her under the table.
"Leave the lovebirds be. It's romantic." Maxi ordered.
"Never have I ever been on Home and Away."
"Bambi." Whippet growled. "Aren't we supposed to go round the circle?"
Abi shrugged unapologetically. "Drink." She demanded and he took a long gulp of beer.
"Never have I ever burnt a turkey." Jake said, looking pointedly at Maxi.
"I didn't burn the turkey! They swapped it for a chicken! The chicken burnt! It was Gonz that burnt the actual turkey!"
Troy took a drink.
"Never have I ever fallen off a jetski." He said. Jake, Maxi, Jazz and Whippet drank.

Chairs scrapped as Reidy, Bacon and Chappo joined them.
"Never have I ever had a fin chop." Reidy stated. All the other lifeguards drank. Reidy gave Abi a look.
"It wasn't a fin." Abi said, not drinking.
"Never have I ever been to England." Chappo announced. Sam and Abi drank.
"Never have I ever failed a lifeguard tryout." Max A joined in. Bacon frowned and drank.
"Never have I ever visited the Opera house." Said Abi. All the others drank.
"How have you not been? We'll have to fix that Abs." Troy murmured.
"Date?" She asked.
"Date." He affirmed.
"Never have I ever fallen on flat rock." Jazz said. The lifeguards drank again and Sam joined them.
"Still got the scars on my leg."
"Never have I ever spoken multiple languages." Maxi said. Sam and Abi rolled their eyes at him and drank.

Abi wasn't sure how many beers she'd gotten through whilst they played. It was enough that she enthusiastically leapt to her feet when Maxi suggested moving on to a club. The older lifeguards waved them off as the young 'uns and the girls left.

Perks of fame meant they jumped the queue and went straight into the club. Pounding house music filled the room as bodies danced, packed tight on the dance floor. Bacon, Reidy and Chappo headed for the bar. Sam and Jazz disappeared onto the dance floor as did Maxi, Jake and Max A. Abi grabbed Troy's hand and led him onto the dance floor, squeezing between the dancers until they found a small space of their own. Troy pulled her close and they moved to the music together.

It wasn't long before Maxi barreled into them, dragging Jake and Max A with him. Maxi stole Abi and twirled her about, then Jake did the same. She was laughing as she stumbled back into Troy's arms, dizzy, drunk and happy. His grin matched hers as he pulled her close again.

Breaking away from the dancing Abi
elbowed her way to the bar.
"2 beers." She shouted over the music, holding 2 fingers up.
Someone leant close to her, brushing against her side as she leant on the bar. She turned expecting it to be one of the guys only to find a tall, athletic blonde haired man leering down at her. He leaned in closer.
"Buy you a drink?" He said, his accent American.
Abi slid away from him a little at the packed bar.
"No thanks." She responded as the barman placed 2 beers in front of her. She turned to leave, but the tall American blocked her way.
"Come on. 1 drink."
"I've got a drink and a drink for my boyfriend. Move out of my way."
"No need to be like that." The man said and stepped aside a little. Abi squeezed past him and returned to the dance floor, beers in hand.

The music throbbed around them as they danced. Abi was enjoying the buzz of alcohol, music and dancing with Troy. Reidy and Chappo had disappeared off home awhile ago. Abi hadn't seen Sam and Jazz since they'd arrived. Maxi pointed out Max A dancing with a pretty brunette and Abi spotted Bacon dancing with a scantily clad blonde.
"You 2 not going to find a dance partner." She shouted.
"Got a girlfriend." Jake replied.
"What?! When?! How did I not know?! I need to meet her Jake!" Abi exclaimed. Jake chuckled fondly at the drunk girls excitement.
"Then you Maxi. You need to get a girl. That one keeps glancing at you."
"Love, don't think Maxi needs you to play match maker." Troy chuckled, his chest vibrating against her back as he laughed.
"But he's so lovely. He deserves a girlfriend." Abi drunkenly declared as she pulled Maxi into a hug.
"I love drunk Bambi." Jake laughed.
"Drunk Bambi needs a wee." She declared, planting a kiss on Troy's cheek and breaking away from the boys to make her way to the toilets. 

Coming out of the toilets, Abi collided with someone. Strong hands landed on her hips to steady her as she apologised. She looked up into the face of the American from the bar earlier. He grinned down at her.
"See its fate." He said, stepping closer and not removing his hands.
"I'm not interested." He stepped closer and she stepped backwards, her back hitting the corridor wall.
"Let go of me."
He leant in even closer. Abi tried to push him away. He didn't budge.
"Get your hands off her." Troy's voice came from behind the American, fiercer, angrier and more assertive than Abi had ever heard him. At the same time she brought her knee up hard and the man crumpled, groaning in pain.
"Bitch." He groaned.
Abi stepped around him and saw Troy stood in the corridor looking as if he was about to do the American some serious harm. She stepped between the man and Troy.
"Leave it Troy. Let's go home yeah?" She placed a gentle hand on his torso.

Jake and Maxi appeared behind them, quickly taking in the American hunched over, holding his crotch and Troy's tense figure.
"You okay Bambs?"
"All good. Let's go." She stepped into Troy's space and pressed into him but he didn't move.
"Troy." She pleaded softly.
"Mate he's not worth it." Jake said, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Troy wrapped an arm tightly around Abi, took one final look at the American and turned with her to make their way out of the club.

"Did you knee him in the balls Bambs?" Maxi asked. Abi nodded, her arm wrapped firmly around Troy's as she continued to half pull him along.
"Yeewwww!" He crowed. "No one messes with our girl!"
He managed to produce a small laugh from Troy and Abi felt him physically relax as they stepped out of the club into the street. He pulled her to one side and ran his fingers down her cheek.
"You sweet?"
"He didn't hurt me." She reassured him. "He was just a drunken prick."
Troy studied her intensely, then gave a little nod, seemingly satisfied. A small smile crept across his face.
"Don't think he'll be able to get laid tonight. Proud of you Abs." He kissed her softly then tucked her back into his side.
"Never have I ever kneed a man in the balls!" Maxi shouted and passed the beer bottle he was still holding to Abi. She saluted him with it and downed the remaining contents.