Resolution (Saviour) (9 page)

“
Who are this lot?” She asks.

“
No idea, I think they just escaped from the local nursing home. You wanna stay here or go somewhere else?” I ask.

Stella
, obviously already feeling the effects of the alcohol, must have heard me.

“
I wanna dance; please can we go somewhere we can dance?”

One of the blokes she is talking to says something in her ear and she smiles, nods and in turn says something to Jo, who rolls her eyes, shakes her head and looks at me.

“If that bloke has asked her back to his, she is not going Lauren, the boys will kill me, and he must be at least fifty” Sam looks at me as she speaks. Deadly serious.

“
Bloody hell, fifty, that old? Well I'm not her keeper Sam, she's thirty one, how can we stop her?”

“
I'll phone Zac and tell him to come get us if she plays up. I knew this would happen. I don't care what she does any other night but tonight she's with me and I won't lie to her brothers if I have to go home without her”

“
Okay, okay” Fucking hell.

I thought I
was done with babysitting.

Jo moves around to where we sit saying
, “These blokes have invited us all back to one of theirs for a party, he told Stella she can dance there.”

“
Nup... Not gonna happen Jo, she's going nowhere with this four. If you wanna go, that's up to you but she stays with us.”

Jo looks at me and shakes her head
, “I'm not going. I'm on a girl’s night out. Besides, they're too bloody old for me.”

We laugh and turn back towards Stella.
Jemma has gone off to the ladies so now Stella has the attention of all four of the men.

Emboldened by the wine and vodka I have consumed I shout
: “Oi! One Direction’s Granddads! Jog, she's going nowhere with any of you.”

Stella gives me an absolute evil. So I give one back
, but she becomes distracted when one of the blokes asks for her number and they do the exchange.

“
I don't believe that,” Sam says.

“
If I had said that, we would still be arguing about it come Sunday, must be that funny accent of yours Lauren.”

Stella walks over to where we are sitting as the group of blokes leave
, “One Directions Granddads. Really Lauren? They weren't that old. And anyway, I'm thirty one; I can do what I like.”

“
Yeah you can Stell, but I will be calling Zac and Coop and letting them know you’re doing it. Just so you know.”

She
knocks back her drink and flits off to the ladies just as Jemma comes back, looking as though she’s already swaying. God what is it with everyone tonight, all pissed after only a few drinks.

“
We gonna go dance somewhere? Girl in the toilets just said there's a good band on next door.”

I look at Jemma, confused.
“Jem, how'd you get pissed so quick? Come and sit down love before you fall down.”

She giggles as she slides in beside me
, “I had a couple of vodkas with Max before I came out. Fuck, I didn't realise I was so pissed. Come on, let’s go dance.”

“
Okay, let me nip to the loo and find Stella, then we'll go.”

“
We'll meet you outside Loz. Think she needs some air.”

I nod at Jo as her and Sam help Jemma to her feet. As I head for the ladies I see Stella up ahead. With Jarrod standing far too close to her.

“Hey Stell, we're going next door for a dance, the girls are waiting outside, come on.”

“
Hey Lauren, this is my friend, Jarrod. He was just…”

“
Stell... Go and wait outside with the rest, I'll meet you out there when I've been to the loo.”

I don't want to stand and talk to Jarrod. I need a wee badly. Then I need to get Stella away from the dickhead and out of here. Not that next door will be much better, it will be an older crowd, who will just love the look of sweet little Stella. I contemplate all of this as I hover over the toilet seat and have a much needed wee.
And decide that I will stop drinking tonight. Seeing as everyone else is determined to get shit faced. Just for a change, I will be the designated sober person; I'm not really enjoying my drink anyway. I feel quite sick in fact, I think its nerves. Thinking about what tomorrow will bring my belly does back flips, all teenage girl with a crush stylie. I'm gonna rip his clothes off and fuck him senseless for the rest of the weekend. I actually shudder and squeeze my legs together as I think this. I smile at myself in the mirror as I wash my hands, touch up my lippy, smooth down my hair and leave the loos, trying to touch as little as possible on my way out. Yuk. I hate pub toilets. When I get outside everyone is waiting, including Jarrod.

“
Say goodbye to your little friend Stell... We're off.”

“
Noooo Lauren, Jarrod's coming with us.”

Like fuck he is
. I look across to Sam and shake my head. Hoping for some support.

“
Come on Stell. Get his number and see him another time, this is a girls night remember?”

“
Ohhhh but I…”

I really can't be arsed with this.
Drunk people are annoying when you’re sober. Ha, who knew?

“
Stell, we're going, say goodbye, get his number or not, I don't care. He's a fucking idiot anyway.”

Jarrod turns and glares at me
, “Oh I know you, it’s Lauren, Lauren East. You. Ha, I know what you've done. I know your boys and I know your husband. Your house is up for sale with us, because you, you fucking slut, left him for some kid, for some young bloke. Yeah, I fucking know all about you, you fucking whore.”

He's right in my face now. His revolting breath on me.
My house is up for sale?

“
Hey mate. That's my sister in law. Don't you fucking dare talk to her like that!”

Stella pulls him away from me before I get a chance to say anything.
He looks from me to her and says: “Sorry baby, just kidding. You go with the girls, I'll come next door and find you later and get your number.”

Stella goes all puppy dog eyed and nods her ok
ay to him and we leave for the bar next door. Finally, I think to myself. Next time I see Ryder I will ask him to knock that little prick out. Not gonna win mother of the year award for encouraging my son to fight. But hey, I think that ship sailed long ago.

We walk into the spit and saw dust joint next door and the band are already in full swing and the dance floor is packed. I look around at the tattoos and missing teeth. And that's just the women. This nights just getting better and better. Jo is straight to the bar and ordering a round of shots for everyone. I decline and ask for lemonade.
Why does everyone look at me with amazement at that request?

“
What? I feel a bit sick. I want to be on top form tomorrow when I go and see Gabe and throw him around the bedroom,” I say with a smile.

My stomach lurching at the thought.

“Eeeewwwwwww Lauren! TMI, TMI. That's my brother you're talking about.”

“
Fuck off Stella, I've seen you in action tonight. Don't try and come the sweet and innocent with me now.”

“
Yeah well I don't want to hear about what you're gonna do to my brother.”

“
Tough,” I reply. “Don't listen then, and stay away from Jarrod White. The blokes a complete loser, your brothers would kill me and Sam if they knew we let you hook up with a prick like that. He's a spoilt little rich kid whose been in trouble most of his life.”

She says nothing in return, just pouts. I know I sound mean
, but the bloke really is bad news.

We find a table as Jo looks around and shakes her head, turns to me and says
, “There's no one in here under thirty five. How am I supposed to pull?”

“
You’re not,” I reply.

“
I need you focused on fighting off the weirdo’s she's gonna attract.”

I nod my head towards Stella
, who is gyrating around a wooden pole. We all look in her direction and laugh.

“
Come on let's dance,” Jemma shouts.

We drag Stella from her pole and strut our stuff on the dance floor. We are approached by men of all ages. Some we have a little dance and a bit of banter with
others we turn our back on and ignore. Despite my reservations and lack of alcohol, I'm really enjoying myself. I am back with my girls, on a loud night out. Just what I needed. And tomorrow I will be back with Gabe. And I can't wait. I get the queasy feeling in my stomach again and step out to the garden of the bar for some air.

I
decide to text Gabe. What's the point in making him suffer any longer? I might as well let him know I want to see him tomorrow.

I miss u baby

My reply comes just a few seconds later

Fuck Lauren, I miss u too. Plz come home, now! I'll come and get you

Without hesitating I reply.

Ok I'm at Beaches with the girls

Wot the fuck r u doing in beaches?

Dancing mostly

U took Stell into Beaches

Beaches was the safest option... She's a fuckin liability your sister

Plz don't tell me things like that Lauren. I'm on my way. I Luv u. Will u marry me? x

I head back inside with the biggest grin on my face. Shit Jarrod is here. On the dance floor, with his tongue rammed down Stella's throat. Great!

“
Sam! Could you not have stopped this?”

“
She tried Loz. Stella told her to mind her own business,” Jemma informs me.

Sam shrugs
, “Let her get on with it Lauren, I'm sick of telling her.”

I leave them to it for a few minutes but when they fail to come up for air, I start to panic, Gabe will be here soon and I can’t just leave Stella with someone like
Jarrod. I look around.

“
Where's Jo?” I ask.

“
Over there talking to those blokes,” Jem indicates with a nod toward Jo standing in the corner talking to two blokes who must be in their twenties.

Well if Jo's on the prowl, Sam and Jemma are half cut and not interested and Lu has gone home. That leaves me trying to pry Stella out of
Jarrod's clutches before her brother gets here. This should be interesting. I walk over to where they are dancing/dry humping on the dance floor.

“
Stell.”

I tap her on the shoulder.
“Stella.... Come on, we're going.”

“
Fuck off Lauren,” comes the reply from Jarrod.

“
Fuck you White. Her brother will be here in ten minutes. He will rip your head off and shit in your neck if he sees what you're doing to his little sister, now fuck off while you still have chan...”

His hand is around my throat before I finish speaking.
He uses so much force, my feet lift off the ground, for a few seconds all I can hear is my blood rushing through my ears. Then I hear Stella shout my name and try to pull Jarrod's arm away. The noise from the bar hits me and people seem to move forward in slow motion. Then I am flying backwards. Jo and Jemma have hold of me and I gasp for breath. I feel sick and dizzy as adrenalin pumps through me. My legs buckle slightly. Then anger takes over. That mouthy little prick. I will fucking kill him! I try to pull free from the girls but as I look up I see him. Gabriel is on Jarrod's chest. Punching the shit out of him. Zac appears from nowhere and tries pulling Gabe off. Then the bouncer joins him. Both shouting his name and telling him to stop. I look around at my girls.

“
Let me go, I need to stop this!” I shout.

They do exactly as I request.

I take a step forward and shout
, “Gabriel... Stop... Now.”

His fist is in the air ready to land another blow.

“For fucks sake Gabe, you'll kill him. He's not worth doing time for.”

Gabe turns his head and his eyes meet mine. They scare the shit out of me. They aren't the beautiful blue that I have missed so badly. They don't look like his eyes at all. They are a dark blue, not the bright denim colour I love so much. He shakes his hand and stands up. As soon as he does, the bouncers pick
Jarrod off the floor and run him out of the doors. Gabe walks towards me. He's back. My Gabe. My blue eyed boy is back.

“
Baby,” is all that he says and I throw myself at him.

My arms around his neck, my mouth on his
, he pulls away and looks at me.