Chapter 6: Drunken encounter
The bar was loud.
Music thumbed through the walls, the floor beneath them reverberating as a few people danced around.
Florence sat by the bar, Lucia sitting across from her as she twirled the golden liquid in her hand.
"You should have shut me down when I brought up the idea of buying him a gift" Florence groaned rubbing her face with her palm frustratedly.
Lucia brought her glass to her lips before taking a sip from her cocktail. "I told you to stop thinking about it. He might have even forgotten about any of that"
Florence sighed, still not able to get over the embarrassment of being rejected.
"You had to be there Lu. He looked like I had just thrown mud to his face. Like I'm so unworthy to give him a gift."
Lucia reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Im not listening to you anymore,Flo. We came here to relax. Seriously. We don't know when you're get a free day again so please... forget about him. For me"
Florence shook her head. "Its not as easy as you think it is. I have to see him next week. The humiliation,Lu. The humiliation"
"You're way over your head. He didn't want your gift" Lucia said bluntly. "Which means he's not worth ruining your night over"
Florence finally let out a small laugh.
"You know what... you're right. You're right"
"I'm always right." Lucia said with a cocky smile playing on her lips as she lifted her glass. "So tonight we drink till we puke"
"Tonight we drink," Florence agreed, raising her glass to her lips to take a sip.
Just then, the bartender walked over and placed two fresh glasses in front of them.
A frown settled on Florence's face as she stared at the bartender.
"Ummm... I'm sorry but we didn't order these" she said.
The bartender nodded toward the other side of the bar, a bored look on his face as if he was already tired of dealing with customers. "Those gentlemen over there sent them"
Florence and Lucia both turned.
They noticed two very handsome men sitting at a table nearby. One of them had sandy blond hair, an easy smile playing on his lips while the other had night dark and sharp features. The moment they noticed that Florence and Lucia were looking at them,they both winked.
Lucia chuckled.
"Well," she murmured, lifting her glass. "How sweet of them, right? This night is already going so well"
Florence smiled awkwardly and gave them a small wave. Lucia waved back more confidently.
They both took a sip of the drinks.
A little while later, Florence stood up.
"I'll be right back. I need to go to the restroom." She told Lucia.
"Sure," Lucia replied. "Don't stay too long though"
Florence chuckled lightly and with a shake of her head,she made her way through the crowded bar.
The hallway leading to the restrooms was much quieter than the main room as it was located at the very back of the bar's building. The pounding music quietened down into a soft vibration as she entered the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she came back out but was stopped when she collided into someone.
"Oh...sorry! I didn't mean to" she said quickly rubbing her nose.
She raised her head up to see that it was one of the men that had just bought Lucia and her drinks.
"Oh... it's you." Florence acknowledged with a polite smile. "My friend and I are really grateful for the drink. Thank you very much for that."
Saying that she moved to walk past him as she wasn't ready to have any conversation with him but before she could take a step,his hand clamped around her arm stopping her.
Florence froze.
With a sharp tug,he pulled her back towards him. Her eyes scanned around but there was no one around.
Her stomach tightened.
"What are you doing? I have to go. My friend is waiting for me" she said carefully, trying to break free.
The man leaned closer, his smile changing into something far less friendly.
"I hate bitches like you. Trying to act oblivious. Did you really think I bought you a drink for free, you slut?" He spat out angrily.
Florence's pulse started racing as different thoughts raced through her head.
"What?"
"You didn't come over to our table even after we bought you a drink. You and your little friend" he continued,his voice low. "Acting all innocent"
Before she could process what was happening,he leaned down and pressed his lips against her neck.
A wave of disgust washed through her. It reminded her of those days when she couldn't do anything to protect herself from him.
"Leave me alone! Stop!" She screamed, shoving against his chest.
But he was much stronger than she was so he didn't move an inch.
His grip tightened around her wrist as he pushed her against the bathroom door,his warm breath fanning against her cheek.
"Stop acting all innocent now pretty lady" he murmured into her ear. "Everyone knows that girls like you come to places like this for attention. You want men to look at you. To touch you."
"I said let me go!" She cried,tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to kick at him.
He barely moved. She hadn't realised how big he was inside the bar.
Instead, he laughed quietly and started whispering crude things into her ear that made her stomach twist.
The harder she tried to break free the tighter his grip around her tightened.
The music from the bar was so loud that it drowned out the sound of her own voice.
"Somebody Help! Please!"she shouted.
No one came.
His fingers moved to the buttons of her blouse while he held her hands over her head with the other hand.
Florence's panic exploded.
She screamed again as the first button snapped open.
Then another.
"No!" she cried desperately. "Please stop this!"
And suddenly...
The weight pinning her against the door was lifted off her.
Florence stumbled forward in shock, her heart pounding erratically against her ribcage.
The next thing she heard was the sickening sound of a fist connecting with flesh.
