The Desire to Touch (5 page)

Meagan xx

17 Sep 2012  21:14

OMG!! Mr Plush asked for your number!!! :)

And I gave it :p  xxx

Oh no, I prop my elbows on the marble surface and hold my head in my hands. I’m way too drunk for this and why on earth would Trey want my number after my little ‘shat myself’ show?!

My phone buzzes again I look down at it and read,

555-4219-326

17 Sep 2012 21:16

You look gorgeous tonight x

I walk over and sit on the blue floral chaise lounge in the corner, reply now or leave him hanging? Angel girl has appeared and is whispering to be careful, devil girl is shouting to leave him hanging.

Right, sod this, I want to go back and continue drinking, he probably only wants me to reply so he can take the piss out of me anyway.

I gather my bag and put my phone away for the moment and make my way back to the table. Trey is at the table whispering something into Meagan’s ear, she spots me coming and smiles at me. Nodding at him she points to me and he looks up and smiles then leaves. So it’s a case of cute friend – go through me to get to her, great one.

Taking my seat and feeling slightly pissed off I look at Meagan and say. “So what was that little tête-à-tête about?”

She seems to look a bit flustered, I nudge her, “Come on.”

“Nothing,” Meagan stops to think
, then continues, “But it may be a good idea not to text Mr. Plush. I shouldn’t have given him your number.”

I bloody knew it, he did just want to take the piss out of me.

“Oh, ok.” What else am I supposed to say?

“I’m sorry Ellie I just thought maybe…I could get you ….over you know…what happened. I want to get the old Ellie back, the one who laughs all the time, who doesn’t worry or use sarcasm and humor to get by. It’s like you’re always having some sort of inner battle with yourself to let go and have fun”

I smile at her and grab her hand, “Don’t worry, I thought it was too good to be true,” I squeeze her hand, “I don’t use sarcasm
all
the time.” I poke my tongue out at her.

Yep I am now in the ‘cute friend’ remit, what am I saying cute – ‘special friend’ at best generally the tag along. Oh well, put it down to one of life’s experience’s. I grab the last bottle from the table and fill up the glasses, I just want to forget the whole of today. I grab my drink and down it, I don’t think it even touched the sides.

Looking around the restaurant seems to be emptying now, its probably time we should move onto the club, Mondays aren’t heaving there but the drinks are a hell of a lot cheaper.

I look to Meagan to ask about leaving but she’s on her feet before I can open my mouth. Lacey is absolutely hammered and she’s loudly flirting with any passing waiter, her chair is moving as she tries to grab one waiter and her leather mini skirt rises up so far her knickers are on show. Meagan is pulling her chair back on all fours and pulling her skirt down, somehow I don’t think we’re going to make it to a club and more annoyingly I feel I may have sobered up.

“So are we stopping here for the remainder of the night?” I ask.

“Yeah I think so,” Meagan giggles looking at Lacey, returning to her seat and slumps into it. Her little camisole top is barely clinging to her bulging breasts, she sees my wide-eyed expression and looks down and snorts
, pulling it back up.

“I’m so glad you m
oved over here Ellie,” She looks to me turning all gushy. We can safely say the drunken night has now turned to mushiness.

Meagan continues lunging her arms around me but landing on the arms of my chair, “I wish you’d not had to go through that horrific experience. I would kill that fuck if I ever laid my eyes on him.”

Lacey raises her glass, “Join the queue,” her glass sloshes back on the table, wine spilling all over the tablecloth.

“What he did, what happened…” Meagan hiccups, “I tried to come for the court case but Dad said it was better for him to come and I was to prepare the apartment for you. What happened to Ri-?”

“It’s ok!” I interject, even hearing his name makes my stomach coil and my skin crawl. I know her attentions will move to another subject faster than lightening.

I signal for the waiter to bring another bottle over, my phone buzzes again and I fish it out of my purse. Meagan is now on Lacey’s lap and they are taking posing pictures for their Facebook page, I laugh because those pictures will not look as good as they think.

I look at my phone.

*** 1 New Message ***

555-4219-362

I tap the screen to read it,

555-4219-326

17 Sep 2012 21:57

:(  Not talking? x

Before my brain has got into gear I’ve hit reply and typed

Wtf? You’ve changed your tune!

I’m not sure whether to press send or delete, I don’t have the mental capacity to play mind games. As I lean back in my chair I hear Lacey squeal and Meagan is flying off her lap onto mine, as she lands she crushes my hand and phone. She puts the camera in front of us and takes a couple of pictures.

“Oh Meagan please no!” I plead

“Don’t worry I won’t post them online, these are for me!” She winks and jumps back to her seat.

I smooth the wrinkles out of my dress and lean back in my chair again, looking back at my phone – SHIT!

Where Meagan landed on my hand I must’ve pressed send and I can see he’s replying, the little symbol disappears and my heart stops waiting for the buzz. Then it buzzes and I read,

555-4219-326

17 Sep 2012 22:12

?? Confused, meet me? Please x

I hear Lacey scream so I look up to see Meagan is back by Lacey’s side, Lacey has managed to pour the entire contents of the fresh wine bottle over herself. I laugh because it is quite nice to see it happening to someone else rather than me.

I go back to my phone, its time to stop this. I can’t physically handle this shit right now. To text me all this and then to be whispering to my cousin warning me off, none of it makes sense and all seems a bit fishy.

I hit reply,

I don’t think so don’t text me again please!

I look up and see Trey walking past our table towards the bar, he’s smiling at me again, and I can’t bring myself to smile back, so I look through him.

This prick is sending me more mixed signals than a Morse code operator on speed!

Meagan has resumed her seat and Lacey is laughing in some high pitch squeal that makes the remaining diners and staff turn to stare. It’s only because some poor waiter is on his hands and knees trying to clear up the wine on the hard wood flooring. Unfortunately the poor sod has to work around Lacey’s legs and he keeps brushing past them causing her to squeal. I look back at my phone on the table and it buzzes again,

555-4219-326

17 Sep 2012 22:17

I can’t, meet me! x

“Ell’s, Babe we’re too drunk, I’m going to have to take Lacey back now,” She staggers up to help Lacey out of her chair.

“Lacey, stop,” I laugh, jumping out of my chair, reaching for her.

“No….Listen you prick, you want me! You need me!” She coos into her phone

“Lacey hang up now you dick,” Meagan shouts at her as she tries to pull her to her feet.

I make an attempt to grab her phone from her but she sees me coming and swings her hand back so quick to avoid me, that she swings it straight into Meagan’s face full whack.

“Ahhhhhh,” Meagan screams.

“Oh my God! Shit, Meagan I am so sorry!” Lacey cries nearly in tears.

“It
’s fine, Get the fuck up now!” Meagan orders, she rarely swears only if she is really not happy.

I
pick up my bag and leave $90 on the table for the waiter, if it’s not enough they know who we are and that I live there, so it’s not like I can do a runner.

I help Meagan and Lacey to the lobby and wait with them while we call for the lift, uncle Brendan’s working nights due to staff shortage so they won’t disturb him. The lift arrives and they step in. Meagan turns and looks at me.

“I’ll be up in a bit, it’s been one of those days and I’m going for a cigarette.”

Meagan tut’s at me.

“Like I said, one of those days, I won’t be long,” I smile sweetly at her and she smiles back at me whilst re-propping Lacey, who appears to be asleep, on her shoulder.

I laugh and walk over to the reception to see if one of the bellboys has got a spare cigarette I can sponge. Luckily one of them does and I head out the front, I know we’re not allowed to smoke under or near the entrance so I head out and turn left around the building. I can feel a presence with me so I turn to see if anyone’s there and there doesn’t seem to be, so I dive into my handbag to see if I can find my emergency lighter I usually keep in there but it’s nowhere in sight. Shit!

Suddenly there’s a body next to me and a flame appears from the darkness, I look to the hand attached to the lighter then to the body and face. It’s Guy - Mr. Cringe himself. I lean in and light my cigarette and take a very welcome drag on it. I offer him a thank you smile, holding his stare I grasp my phone in my hand and walk further from the entrance into the dark alley to the side of the hotel. There’s only a very dim light above the door that is unused and locked since they installed a trash chute for the restaurant. I want to stay by the entrance but I’ll get shouted at again and I just want to enjoy this cigarette. As I walk I can feel him behind me step for step, I stop in the alley and turn to him,

“You ok?” What does he want and why is he following me?

“I knew you’d give in,” He steps closer towards me.

“Excuse me?” I’m confused.

“I knew you’d meet me!”

“Meet you? But I -,” It hits me like a wrecking ball to the gut. I feel the blood drain from my face and my skin starts to tingle. He is Mr. Plush, that’s who Meagan gave my number to. Oh shit!

“Oh,” that’s all I can assimilate. How the fuck do I get out of this, I may have accidentally walked myself into a dodgy situation. I grip my phone tighter.

“Don’t deny it
, you know there’s a spark between us. Ah, I get it you like the chase, you
want
me to take control and you can play little Miss innocent.” He lifts his hand to stroke my arm.

I glance quickly to the entrance of the alley and I didn’t realise how far down I’d walked, there’s no one walking past on the street
, not a soul. The bar staff won’t be leaving until midnight so I’m here in this alley alone. I’m truly fucked.

He’s closing in on me, I’m pinned between him and the wall. I could scream but looking up the air conditioning unit is above my head and I don’t know if I’ll be heard over the buzzing of it.

“Guy look, there seems to be some confusion here,” Why the hell am I being polite to him tell-him to bugger off!

“Now you listen here, after you showed off your pretty tits earlier I knew I was going to have you. Stop pissing me around you slut.” His face is in mine and he’s leaning down sniffing my neck. I feel physically sick, my skin hurts and I want to cry, I drop my cigarette. I grab his face and push it away scratching his cheek as I do it.

“Little bitch, I’m going to enjoy this more than you know,” He growls holding his face, his evil eyes narrowed and staring at me.

He grabs my wrists and slams them into the wall above my head, my phone and purse smash to the floor.

“Ow! Guy you’re hurting me!” I s
hout as loud as I can. “Get the
fuck
off of me
now
!” I am screaming loud just praying someone can hear me above the air-conditioning unit. I’m struggling to get out of his hold, it’s hurting my wrist but screw the pain. I try to bring my leg up to kick him in the privates but he’s too quick and he blocks my kick by catching my leg with his knees.

“Get the fuck off me! You bastard!” I scream so loud and I thrash my body any way possible just to get free.

“You want me, you bitch,” he hisses and goes to kiss me. The next thing I see Guy get airlifted and launched across to the other side of the alley.

“Is she ok?” One voice shouts

“Yeh I think so. Hey, you ok?” another voice, a kind voice says to me

“Right you fuck!”

Everything is happening in slow motion I can see Trey shouting at Guy, he’s kicking and punching ten tons of shit out of him. Guy is rolling around on the floor trying to protect himself but Trey is hailing down on him.

“Get her back inside,” Trey shouts

“Hey, come on
, let’s get you back inside,” The kind voice says to me.

I want to leave, I want to curl up in my room, I want to hide away from it all but my feet are stuck. I’m frozen.