Tripping the Night Fantastic

Chapter 6

Jane was looking at herself in her bathroom mirror. She had a towel wrapped around her freshly showered body and her wet hair caressed her bare shoulders. She wiped her hand over the steamed glass of the mirror and picked up her glass of wine. She felt nervous. How ridiculous, she thought to herself, nervous at my age. She finished her wine and put the glass down. Right, she thought, you can do this.

Amelia lay under Jane's duvet and stared at the ceiling. The room was slowly spinning around her and her body tingled with nerves. The duvet felt heavy against her naked body. The mixture of alcohol and sexual anxiety caused her to practically buzz with anticipation. She heard Jane come out of the bathroom but didn't look. The weight of the duvet lifted and she felt the cool air rush in. She felt the mattress move as Jane climbed into bed. The softness of Jane's smooth, clean skin brushed against Amelia's and two coy and loving bodies became entangled.

Keep entered Jane's phone number into his phone and was about to dial when Simon came stumbling back from the toilet.

'Right then!' said Simon, 'Are we going to do this or what?!'

'Yes, let's go,' said Keep, hiding the phone.

Charlie picked up the full bottle of whisky and stuffed it in his inside jacket pocket.

'Keep, you grab the other bottle and we'll sneak it out without the bouncer seeing.'

'You fucking idiot, I own the pub!'

Charlie laughed, 'Fucking hell, I, fine sir, am completely, and irrevocably, drunk!'

'But you can still say irvacu... ira voc ab. Err... you can still say... irre... voca... bly. Ha!' said Simon.

Keep laughed.

'Ok,' said Charlie, 'this is the plan.'

Charlie stood in front of Keep and Simon while Keep and Simon tried to stand still in front of Charlie.

'We go to Simon's house and see if Jane is fucking Sarah.'

'Amelia,' said Simon, raising his hand.

'Oh yes, Amelia, and then... err, that's it really. We'll take it from there!'

Charlie turned on his heel and marched down the stairs and out of the pub. Simon and Keep followed suit.

The doorman grabbed Charlie by the collar as he marched past.

'Ere!' shouted the doorman, 'Next time you come ere don't think I'm gonna' let you in so easy, you can join the back of the queue like the rest...'

Keep tapped the doorman on the shoulder.

'Like the rest of what?' asked Keep patiently.

'Err... I was just sayin,' began the doorman.

'Yes?' said Keep.

'Err... that he needn't queue when he next comes by. Err... he can just come straight in. What with him bein personal friends of yours and such.'

'Good. We'll be back shortly, make sure nothing goes wrong while I'm gone,' said Keep.

'Yes sir, of course.'

'Oh, to be friends with the king,' said Charlie, as he removed the doorman's hands from his collar.

'You know, I'm a bit nervous about all this,' said Simon.