Chasing Happy

Part 2 - Prologue #SYTYCW15

Copyright © 2014 Laurene Bobb-Semple

All rights reserved.

"Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it eludes you, but if you pay attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder...." Henry David Thoreux

PROLOGUE

Kieran examined her reflection in the mirror. Sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks expelled a glow that emphasised her growing excitement. It had been a long time since she looked so alive, so happy.

God I'm going to get myself into trouble. She thought and giggled like a schoolgirl.

If she gave in it would make everything Darren had accused her of true; she didn't want to give him that satisfaction. Did she really care what he thought anymore? He had accused her of cheating so many times that going through with it would be self-fulfilling prophecy on his part and maybe then he would let her go. She raised an eyebrow. Who was she kidding? Darren would never let her go. Not without a fight.

Sighing, she squirted toothpaste onto the toothbrush and began brushing her teeth, at the same time she heard her phone vibrating in her bag. Instinct told her it was one of her friends. She ignored it. What would she tell them? There was nothing to tell, at least not at that moment. She rinsed her mouth, grateful for the fresh feeling. There was nothing worse than a drunken furry mouth, especially after throwing up.

Kieran cringed as she remembered her embarrassment after vomiting in his presence. She covered her face with her hand wondering how he could still be interested in her after witnessing such an unladylike spectacle. If it was the other way round, she would have made her excuses and run a mile. Still, there was something about him she couldn't resist, hence her standing in his hotel bathroom debating whether to cheat, or not to cheat on her boyfriend. It was obvious she wanted him. He knew it and so, too, did her friends. The question was would she be able to live with the guilt?

This scenario was new territory for her since she had never had a one-night-stand and she had no idea how to behave. All she knew was that there was something she couldn't explain going on between them and something she had never felt before. Was there any meaning to the something, or was it because she was intoxicated from consuming too much alcohol and now her senses were liquefied and she was incapable of being rational?

Kieran sighed. Her life was complicated. She should be strong and walk away. It was the best thing to do. With a steely look into the mirror she told her reflection;

You will behave yourself. Go out there and ask him to walk you to your hotel!

But the gleam in her eye and the heat she was feeling all over her body at the thought of the man waiting for her told her different. She was sure that all he wanted was a bit of meaningless fun. Who went on holiday to fall in love? A one night stand was all it would be, it was all it could be.

This sudden clarification cleared her mind and she felt empowered. Not only would she regret a one night stand, she knew a one night stand with him would torture her. Deep down she knew that she wouldn't want it to end there, no matter how many times she told herself it was just a bit of fun.

She needed to get back to her hotel, before she made a big mistake. Rummaging in her bag, she took out a hairbrush, brushed her hair, added a new coat of lip gloss and inspected her image in the mirror.