The Ten Year First Date

Kiss And Tell

I didn't even bother trying to negotiate the Tube. Not only was it frosty, icy and all the other things that December was famously evil for, but the pain in my neck and back was starting to throb in time with the bass line coming from the nearby nightclubs. A taxi it was. I needed to get home and quick. There as a very possible chance that I could end up in traction for the rest of my life and that was a chance I wasn't willing to take. The taxi driver made the most inane conversation on the drive back to Greenwich, which made the pain worse and allowed it to travel to my head also. I wondered whether paracetamol on top of two pints would be considered a sound night out for Greenwich, but right now I really didn't care.

Twenty-seven minutes and a head full of paid and mindless celebrity gossip I was back at home and ten pounds in cash lighter. I really should learn not to give tips out so readily just to shut people up. Sneaking into the house quietly wasn't an option either as I noticed the light shining through the living room window. It was past midnight, so there were only two options. The easy-going conversation with Ollie who would fetch me another beer and an ice pack, or the lecture from Imogen who would beat me into submission for even going out and then lock me in the garden shed. As I turned the key into the lock, I realised that I couldn't face either of them. Despite the pain, which thankfully due to the numbing cold was slightly subsiding, I decided that I wanted to take a walk. I needed to get away from the house, from everything.

I didn't walk far when I found that I was outside an all too familiar place. I knew that it was well past chucking out time, but I took a chance anyway. I pushed the door slightly and was both happy and terrified that it opened with ease. Inside, the pub was quiet, but all the lights were still on. I could hear rustling and chinking of glass coming from behind the bar, so I knew someone was in residence. I took a bar stool and slid myself painfully onto it, letting an 'oh fuck' escape from my mouth before I had the chance to stop it.

'Anyone in here?' said a voice from the back of the bar.

'Hi Cass,' I said, apparently having been busted. 'It's only me.' A bright shining smile attached to an equally attractive body came around to the front of the bar with a glass in one hand and a tea-towel in the other.

'Hello, stranger.' She said, putting the glass down and throwing the tea-towel over her shoulder. 'What are you doing here?'

'Bad night, give 'is a drink.' I answered, rubbing my back.

'Well, the bar is technically closed.' Cassie sighed. 'Could offer you a soft drink?'

'That will do as long as they come with paracetamol.' I answered, with an equal exhalation.

'You know you can't have painkillers if you've been drinking.' Cassie lectured while handing me a Cola. 'And what do you need them for anyway?'

'Long story involving ice.' I explained, not wanting to elaborate any further, especially not to Cassie.

'So, I take it, it didn't go that well then.' Cassie could already read me like a book. She was leaning across the bar, in a rather baggy t-shirt that was falling forward just the right amount. I had to remind myself and my little friend, on more than one occasion that I had just come from the worst date ever with my wife and now was not the time to start thinking thoughts about another woman. Although soft drinks were not healing anything and if I couldn't have painkillers, I might as well have nature's anaesthetic, if Cassie could be persuaded.

'Cass, if painkillers are out then at least let me have a whiskey or something please.' Cassie looked me up and down with a slight smirk on her face before turning around to the optics and filling up a shot glass. She placed it in front of me with a raised eyebrow.