How to Catch Butterflies (17 page)

Rebecca had now distanced herself from him to the other side of the room. Jason walked to her with open arms to take her into an embrace. She shrugged him off and stormed away from him, into the living room still shouting.

“I feel like I’ve been violated! You took a choice from me ...YOU... You through caution into the wind when you did that. I can’t believe you did that, Jason.” She looked at him disgusted.

Although he didn’t like what she was shouting at him, he knew she was right. Before she knew she had said it, she screamed, “Well I can see I’ve had a close escape from you. Is that why Jane your ex had did it? Did you trick her too?”

Jason’s face dropped at her words, she knew instantly she shouldn’t have gone there. Anger had overcome her beautiful blue eyes.

Jason stood there looking very wounded at her cruel words. She knew she had hit him where it hurt, but she stood tall, indignant.

She abruptly folded her arms defiantly, “I think you should go Jason” she said, as her eyes averted to the direction of the door, “and don’t let it hit you on the way out.”

Jason stared at her in disbelief.

“How could you say that to me?” Jason grabbed his suit jacket from the arm of the couch, where he had left it just earlier.

Jason took a final look at her; she had really hurt him and it showed. He grabbed his keys and left closing the door behind him, leaving Rebecca still standing there defiantly tapping her foot.

“Fuck it,” she said and picked up her phone. She pressed the call button...

”Lucy...have you had dinner yet?...Good...I have fillet steak. What have you got planned for us tonight lets go out and PLAY.”

She started to try to reassure herself that she had done the right thing, and then she copped herself on thinking ‘
Sod that for a game of solders...she’d done the Good Girl thing for too long and where did that get her?...A Drunken Woman Basher and a Guy who wants to sow his seed like old Mac Donald...Nah...She was going to do what Lucy was doing...And that was to start living for her and not because of a man. And the sooner she started the better…

Chapter 12

‘Coming around again’

Lucy sat on the edge of Rebecca’s bed shocked,

”You said what to him,” her mouth dropping with every word that fell out of Rebecca’s mouth.

“Oh Rebecca that was a bit harsh,” Lucy scolded, “Rebecca Keane, that was low…like really low Rebecca,” Lucy said shaking her head with disapproval.

“What did he say?” She waited for Rebecca’s answer.

“He didn’t,” she said. “He just left and when he did, he looked like I stabbed him through the heart.”

Rebecca felt her heart lurch. She was already missing him and it must have shown on her face.

Lucy knew it wasn’t the time to tell her what she thought.
Rebecca had handled this wrong. Jason was the guy she should have been with all along. She had never understood when she had dropped his hand and went off with that plank David.
She hated David with a passion and she had her reasons
. But Jason was lovely, perfect in every way she couldn’t fault him at all.
She thought that

Rebecca had made a huge mistake,
but now was not the time When Lucy piped up

“I have my name down in all the clubs. Where do you fancy going or better still, we can club hop if you’re up for that. Or we can go to a gig? There’s a fantastic old soul eight piece blues band. Or do you fancy a bit of rock? I can cater for all your needs.” She purred.

“We need music to get us in the mood.” Her fingers slowly spinning round the disc of Rebecca’s IPod.

“Ahhh, here we go,” and with that Tempole Tudors ‘Swords of a thousand men’ started pumping out as the two girls started to get ready.

“We should really be standing in front of your wardrobes.” Rebecca laughed at her humble offerings.

“That will tell you, look all bloody suits for work,” running her hands through the endless stream of work clothes. “See proof I didn’t have a life. We really need to go shopping. Let’s go tomorrow.”

“Ok, “Lucy replied. “Then let’s stay local. There’s a Pub that has live music. It’s a bit of a shit hole. It even has a sticky carpet, but it’s a great night out and it’s near to you and we can wear our jeans and T’s and we’re sorted. Plus they have some great bands I promise you it will be a fantastic night.” She smiled a big cheesy grin.

Before they went out Lucy wanted to put some ground rules in. She poured them a glass each of J.D. and cokes ,as they sat and discussed the rules they thought were compulsory no matter what they would have these to protect themselves.

Basically, they were like code words for getting out of a situation. There were different words for different things. Such as, if getting bored with the company they were with.

If you can get your drinks bought for you, why not? Just don’t forget your buddy, and that’s the most important
‘
Never forget your buddy’
we go
everywhere together
;
you go...I go
etc.

No going off with strangers. Even when you make dates, your buddy knows where you’re going and
always
protect yourself.

There was never a rule for coveting a bloke.
That had always
been an unspoken rule they both took seriously. No man was ever worth their friendship especially now.

Before they went out the door, Lucy turned to Rebecca. “Remember this is not a place where you’re going to meet Mr. Right. You’re only going to meet Mr. Right Now. These guys travel. They have itchy feet and eventually they go home. So, ‘Don’t!’ fall for
any
of them. They are only playthings. They are NOT for keeps. They will promise you the moon for a night with you. They have an Aussey rules football team and I’ve seen stupid girls be passed around them like the ball, if you know what I’m saying. You’re going to meet some really great, hot looking men, and some with great personalities.
But
always remember they
go home
! I’m probably bringing you into the Lion’s Den but if you can handle this young lady, you can handle anything. It’s like a meat market in there. It’s a great practice arena,” she laughed. “You up for it?” As Rebecca nodded, she began wondering what the hell she was getting herself into.

And with that they were gone.

Rules
for ‘Partners in crime’

1.
We stay together
–
Not matter what!

2.
If someone wants’ to buy you a drink –
Let them, and they must buy one for your buddy!

3.
Buddy’s
first

4.
No judgment - just have fun

Their destination was not far from Rebecca. She was surprised she’d hadn’t heard of it before. But then again she was more than happy to have stayed in, waiting at home for David to come in.

She had been off the market for so many years…it was a different world now.

On the way there, Lucy tried to fill her in on everything she knew about the place. She knew the owners doormen and bartenders.

As they got to the entrance, Lucy stepped up to the Main entrance pass the huge cue of people standing, waiting to get in. She popped up the few steps acknowledging the doormen each by name and flashing one of her fabulous smiles that held them captivated.

Rebecca followed closely behind her. They were guided in by one of the huge doormen, a tall bald black guy wearing shades; the mere height of him was intimidating.

He opened the door to the venue, rock music blaring as he swung the huge metal doors apart allowing them to enter. They passed the pay booth and the long line of people who were waiting to pay and gain entry themselves.

As she passed, the huge doorman tilted his sunglasses, giving her a wink saying ‘
have a great night ladies’
and in they went.

“That’s Dave. He’s lovely, a real pussycat. Don’t worry this place is all right just don’t show weakness. Pretend you’re fabulous. Honestly, it really works if you think you’re the ‘bomb diggity; you’ll be it. Just do what I do, you’ll be cool” she laughed as she cut through the crowd.

The place was packed and the music was thumping. There was a ‘Nickleback’ cover band playing the place was electric.

Rebecca didn’t know what to do with herself and stuck to Lucy like glue, as they made their way to the top bar. When they got there, they were served by an Australian bartender who thought he was gods gift to ‘woman kind’ and flirted outrageously with them.

Lucy shouted her order of two ‘Flugal’s’ (Vodka, strawberry syrup and red bull which was served in a wine glasses with one ice cube floating in the mixture).

The flirty bartender wouldn’t take any money nodding that ‘flugal virgins’ had the first one free looking directly at Rebecca making her blush.

“How do you know I’m a ‘flugal virgin?” She asked looking into his eyes from her side of the bar.

“That’s easy,” came the reply “I’d have remembered you, believe me.” As he flashed her a cheesy smile.

Rebecca was quite taken back by his cockiness. Lucy whispered into her ear, “This fucker is a slut and will stick it in anything.”

“Got it!” Rebecca said smiling still having the bar man transfixed on her, who didn’t flinch even when he raised his glass in the air to toast.

Lucy leaned in telling her
it was a tradition with every flugal drink.

They too in unison raised their glasses meeting his in the air

“Here’s to the hole that never heals, the more you rub it the better it feels.”

He clinked their glasses, putting his glass to his lips while still gazed at Rebecca swallowing the liquid contents leaving the ice-cube still remaining in the glass. He then flicked the ice cube from the glass over their heads sending it hurtling to the other side of the room.

The girls copied him and flicked theirs in the same direction. When Rebecca had spun back round, he was still looking at her, eyeing her up. Lucy ordered
two J.D’s and cokes.
The flashy barman refused the money, saying they were on him.

It was Lucy’s turn to flash a smile of her own to Rebecca as they walked away from the bar. The bands were in top form knocking out song after song. There were people on the dance floor; it was like a mini concert while the audience jumped or swayed to the music.