Chapter Two – Sara's POV

I don't know why I don't go out more often. It could be down to the fuck-knows-how-many beers I've had, and the vodka shots, but regardless, I'm having fun. Admittedly at first I didn't enjoy it at all, the music seemed too loud and I kept getting hit on by loads of different guys, but after a while and a few beers, I relaxed and began to enjoy the attention. Guys have been lining up to buy me drinks all night, I've barely paid for any myself, and all they ask for in payment is a dance. Sometimes it's more of a grope than a dance, but never mind. It's nice to be around people who are interested in me.

I take another swig of my beer, and then get up to dance again. Well, I try to get up, but stumble. I'm not sure how much I've drunk, except that it's a lot. Who cares? I'm having fun.

I start dancing, alone, but not for long. One of the guys from earlier puts his hands on my hips and pulls me closer.

"Can I buy you another drink?"

His hands are all over me, and his breath stinks of beer, but I'm sure mine does too, so I smile, nod, and allow him to lead me over to the bar.

One drink turns into three, but then he asks for more than a dance as payment so I lose myself in the crowd of dancers. I stumble and my head starts to spin, so I move to the back of the club where it's darker and quieter. I collapse on a couch, fighting the nausea, then someone crouches down in front of me.

"Are you alright?"

Good. A woman. Already I'm sick of the sight of men. I try to lift my head up to reply, but bile rises in my throat so I give up.

"Shall I call you a cab?"

I nod, unable to do anything else. I manage to lift my head up and open my eyes so I can study her. She's blonde, slender, and slightly shorter than me. She has a strong but pretty face, and she looks remarkably like….well like Catherine. I almost wish it was Catherine, but then realise I'd hate Catherine to see me in this state. She'd probably laugh at me. The woman ends the call and turns to face me. She smiles slightly.

"Lets get you outside then."

I mumble thanks, wrap my arm round her shoulder, and allow her to guide me through the crowds of people to the entrance of the club. The cold air hits me and I fight another wave of nausea. I can't remember the last time I was this drunk, but I feel like a stupid teenager who can't handle her drink.

I expected her to leave me once we got outside, but she stays and waits for the cab with me. I manage to hold my head up long enough to catch her eye.

She smiles and I smile back. Holding my head up makes the world start to spin again and I almost fall, but she catches me, hugging me to her.

"I never did catch your name," I mumble into her shoulder.

She laughs.

"That's because you never asked."

I slip again, and fall into a heap on the sidewalk.

"No, come on, you have to get up. Please Sara, get up."

I laugh, still not moving.

"I'll get up if you tell me your name."

"Ok, deal. My names Nancy."

I try to stand up, and my legs buckle, so Nancy grabs both my arms and hauls me up. Standing up brings back the nausea and I go to sit down again, but Nancy grabs me.

"Sara, please, you need to stay standing."

Something cut through the fog in my brain.

"H-hold on. I didn't tell you my name. How do you know my name?"

She laughs.

"Maybe I should have introduced myself earlier. I'm Nancy, Catherine's younger sister. We met a couple of times when I dropped Lindsey off at the lab."

I nod, her resemblance to Catherine suddenly making sense. She's about to say something else, but then a cab pulls up, and she pushes me towards it.

"Take care of yourself, ok Sara?"

God, she even sounds like Catherine.

"Th-thanks," I reply, before falling into the back of the cab.

I give the driver my address, having to repeat it three times because I keep slurring my words. He smiles then drives, and we pull up outside my apartment ten minutes later. As I reach into my purse to pay, I spot my cell phone and an idea forms in my mind. I'll show Catherine…I shove some money into the drivers hand, then stagger off to my apartment building.

Somehow, I make it upstairs and into my apartment safely, then I collapse on the couch and dial Catherine's number on my cell. It's late, very late, but who cares? She doesn't pick up but her answer machine does so I leave her a message. I feel pleased with myself for about five seconds, and then I start feeling sick again so I drag myself out to the bathroom.


Catherine's POV

I smile as I get up, after having what feels like the best night's sleep ever. I feel a lot better than yesterday. I can't remember the last time I took a night off I sit down to have breakfast with Linds and we talk all the way through. I can tell she appreciates how awake I am. Often, when I get home from work, I'm too tired to even speak, let alone eat breakfast, so this is a rare treat for her. I'm tempted to call her school and tell them she's sick, just so we can spend the day together, but I know better. Lindsey's education is important.

I drive her to school, talking all the way. I'd like to kiss her goodbye, but I don't want to embarrass her, I know she feels she's too old for it.

"Bye sweetie, I'll pick you up later," I tell her as she gets out the car.

"Bye mom!" She calls, before running off to join her friends.

I turn the radio up as I drive home, humming along with it. When I get in I see the answer machine light blinking, indicating a message. I assume someone called while I was dropping Lindsey off, but when I hit play, the machine tells me the message was left at 3am last night.

"Catherine, its Sa-Sara. I just………wanted you to know that I…I don't want you anymore. There. So there."

I play the message again, feeling a mixture of confusion, amusement, irritation and concern.

Sara didn't want me? When did Sara want me? She had definitely been drunk when she'd left the message, in fact she'd sounded very very drunk? What if Sara hadn't got home alright? What if she had crashed her car and…..I'm pulled out of my thoughts by the shrill sound of the phone ringing.

I grab it.

"Sara?"

The person on the end of the phone chuckles.

"I guess I'm not the only one concerned about her."

"Oh, hey Nance. Hold on, what do you mean by not being the only one concerned about Sara?"

Nancy laughs again, but now I can also hear concern in her voice.

"You know I went out to that new club last night? Sara was there too. I saw her a few times but by the time I actually got round to talking to her, she was in a bit of a state, she could barely stand up, talk, you know. Anyway, I put her into a cab, but then realised I hadn't got her number so I could call to make sure she was ok. That was why I called you, because I knew you'd have her number."

"Ah."

"And why are you concerned about Sara?"

"Because Sara phoned last night after I'd gone to bed. She sounded drunk."

"No surprise there. Anyway, I'd talk for longer, but I need to get to work. And you need to call Sara. Bye Cath."

She'd hung up before I had had the chance to protest. Wasting no time, I dial Sara's number.

It rings for a while but finally she picks up

"Sidle?" She sounds tired and annoyed.

"Hey, it's Catherine. I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"Yeah you did. Not trying to be rude, but why are you calling?"

I breathe deeply for a few moments. I don't want to embarrass Sara, but I know it's pretty much unavoidable. I take another deep breath.

"Um, Sara, you called me last night."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for what seemed like ages, then Sara sighs.

"I did?" She responds.

"You did," I confirm. "I was asleep so you left a message."

"What did I say?"

God. I know how embarrassing this must be for Sara already, and now I'm about to make it even worse. I could lie, but…no, I need to clear this up.

"Uh, you said um…you said that you didn't want me anymore," I can't stop myself as I continue "but that insinuates at one point you did want me. When did you want me Sara?"

There's a sharp intake of breath, then a click as Sara hangs up the phone.

"Fuck," I growl, then put the phone down, feeling more confused than I did before I phoned her.


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