Chapter Fifty-Five

Kim was with Al in the pub a few hours later, just waiting while sharing a wine bottle between each other. She really was expecting Henrietta to bring Cain (after all, he was her only friend as far as she knew; it was bound to happen). She was dressed up slightly for they were going to a rather nice bar in Hotten. Al has been there before so he knew what to expect, it was just a bar that sold expensive wine. More time have passed and the door opened, Pearl's loud voice could be heard talking about how she hasn't worn her pearl necklace for a long time as she entered with Henrietta, both of them slightly more dressed up than usual.

"I haven't been out for a long time either as it happens!" Pearl remarked. Kim just staring at them both like they were aliens from outer space.

Al almost burst into laughter, that was the funniest thing; to see Kim Tate look so disappointed. Pearl sorting out her white scarf in the meantime, barely noticing the glaring in her direction. Henrietta just sitting down opposite Kim. What was the problem now she thought.

"Henrietta...When I said bring a friend, I meant a male friend" Kim spoke to her in a quiet tone.

"Oh"

"Yes...Oh" Kim paused slightly before looking up at Pearl and stating..."You know Pearl, I don't think you're going to be allowed in"

"Nonsense! These are my best clothes and I got my pearl necklace on...Don't worry, I won't breathe a word to Rhona about you because that's what you're worried about isn't it?" Pearl began.

Well that was another reason Kim thought to herself. Though she was mostly just annoyed by her presence as a whole. Though she was hardly going to make a fuss about it, no; it wasn't worth it. So she just leaned back and took another sip of her wine, some of the villagers looking over and smirking.

"I don't think you're going to be up for it Pearl, there's no bingo or anything" Kim further exclaimed.

"I will be alright" Pearl answered back.

"You're a lot older than us though"

"Listen to me Kim, I am quite capable of going to a wine bar for a few hours...As long as I get a taxi back"

"A taxi back? Now that's really pushing it" Kim mumbled.

Taking another sip from her wine, this was going to be a long few hours. She had no time to listen to what Pearl had to say. Henrietta just giving them both a smile, she was fine with them not getting along. Kim was only her client (while Pearl was somebody she could talk to). Them not getting along didn't affect her.

"Well we can all be civil" Henrietta managed to speak up.

"Did they teach you that in lawyer school?" Pearl asked her.

"Yes"

Kim gave another long sigh. A very long few hours indeed.

...

Another night out was planning to take place meanwhile. Though this one wasn't going to be filled with awkward small talk. David was planning to go on the pull, he just wanted to get having sex out of his system. For Maya was the last woman he had sex with and he felt dirty because of it. So he didn't really care what woman he picked up, he just wanted a one-night stand. Tracy stating that she couldn't do it again made him decide this, he just smothered himself in aftershave. He made his way into the pub as well, he was going to get a few drinks and then get the bus. Kim, Al, Henrietta and Pearl were planning on going soon for they had ordered a taxi by this point. David walked over to Henrietta when he spotted her, she just gave him a slight nod.

"Where you all going? Anywhere exciting?" David asked; only half-interested.

"A wine bar" Henrietta nervously answered.

Hoping her daughter's ex-boyfriend wouldn't make a scene. The man though just laughed, he was already slightly drunk. He held onto the side of the chairs she and Pearl were sat on for some balance. He would regret this tomorrow, they had no doubt about that. He always did have to have one bad drunken stupor after something bad took place. People will never forget him wearing what would have been Leyla's wedding dress after their first proper break-up in 2011.

"Oh great...I should come!" David exclaimed.

"I don't think you should do that, David" Henrietta replied.

"Oh come on, it be a laugh...Pearl wants me to come, don't you?!"

She for once was rather speechless as she just gave a nervous chuckle. So the man turned his attention to Kim as he moved his hand to her chair. Making the woman look towards him as she asked in a slightly amused tone,

"Yes?"

"I should come with you and we can have a laugh! Go on Kim, you're always up for a bit of fun you" David slurred.

"Well I would try anything once...but you are drunk David and so you should go home" Kim told him firmly.

"Fine! Be like that...I'm going to play the field elsewhere"

And with that, the man left the pub before anyone could stop him.

...

The next ten odd hours felt like a blur to David, he did go to a nightclub in the end. He just remembered this black-haired woman and not much afterwards. It was just like a blackout, he woke up and found himself lying next to a woman. Though to his surprise, he was in his own bed. He must have invited her back to his place and just forgotten. The banging on his front door made the woman next to him finally wake up, he didn't know who she was. She was just some random woman he picked up. They did have sex but he barely remembered it. Though he knew he did it (but it didn't make him feel better, he just felt worse). Though at least Maya was no longer the last woman he thought to himself, the banging on the front door carried on.

"Answer it" came the muffled demand from the woman.

With a slight confused look on his face and a banging headache to boot. David got up, putting on his clothes quickly. Opening his bedroom door and making his way downstairs, he found Tracy there.

"David! I been worried about you!" Tracy exclaimed.

"Sorry?"

"You didn't answer my texts and Pearl said something about you being drunk in the pub last night"

"Sorry" David repeated.

Tracy giving him a sad look, she really did regret what she said the other day. For what Leyla said just got to her. She panicked and that resulted in her quick U-turn however once again, David took that as meaning 'Go away'. Though the woman he slept with this time was truly a one night stand.

"It's okay...Why don't I make us a cup of tea? We can discuss things properly this time" Tracy suggested.

About to walk over to the kitchen however David quickly shouted.."No!", making her look at him with slight confusion. Tracy gave a slight laugh as she stated...

"It's just a cup of tea"

"I know but things-"

Almost on point, the woman from upstairs came downstairs. She did in fact have black hair, she looked in her early forties and was dressed in some short purple dress. Tracy just gave a slight scoff as she watched her put on her high heels. Not bad looking at all, rather slim looking. The woman just looking over at them as she finally said...

"Bye David"

"Bye" David managed to reply.

She gave him a small smile before making her way out the house; she knew his name then however he didn't recall hers. Something like Amanda maybe. David felt so ashamed. When the stranger was gone, Tracy turned back towards David. This confirmed to her that she made the right choice, it felt like déjà vu all over again though. They have been here before and it was exhausting by this point, he didn't even wait a day from her rejection.

"Wow...You never learn, do ya? It took you even less time this time!" Tracy yelled. Hitting him across his back with her handbag.

Storming out the house and slamming his door shut. That was the last time she would ever give him a chance. The woman was still outside she noticed, she had one heel pressed against David's stone fence while she rooted through her handbag. That was only a one night stand on her behalf as well. Tracy just looked at her and shook her head, making her way home across the road.

...

"He's not even worth it" Leyla stated to Tracy.

The two have patched things up quite quickly. She told her all about David's one night stand and how much of a mug she felt. Of cause they understood he was hurting over Maya but even before that, he jumped from one woman to another. Tracy just giving a slight nod, she was never going back there.

"I just thought things would be different this time...I know I shouldn't have said those things but I didn't think he would have sex with somebody else the day after. Not even a day...I'm so stupid!" Tracy lamented.

"I don't know what's going through his head at the minute but he's not cut out for a relationship right now, not a proper one anyway"

"Maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on him cause I still love him, I wish I didn't but I do" Tracy cried.

Leyla giving her friend a much needed hug. It was obvious for months that Tracy had feelings for him but he didn't feel the same anymore. He proved it many times in the past by cheating on her with Leyla and Maya. Then moving on so quickly afterwards, he wasn't hurting then either so he couldn't use that as an excuse. Their relationship was pretty much over now. She doesn't even think she can be close friends with him again, their friendship was another thing Maya had damaged in her wake.

"I know you do but you got to move on" Leyla reminded her (as if she didn't know).

"I tried to with Billy and Pete but it didn't feel the same you know...Don't worry though, I won't be going back to David now; not ever"

"David has always been unable to keep it in his pants; maybe this will be his wake-up call though"

"Fat chance! He will find some other woman tonight I bet"

Alicia came downstairs by this point as she overheard this. David has messed up again then, he had a talent for it. His ex-girlfriends were all in agreement that he was not worth going back to now. They felt a bit sorry for Priya for she was stuck with him for life because of Amba. Cruel as it was, he was no longer exactly a man the women of the village would clamber for anymore.

"He needs to sort himself out" Alicia spoke up with a sigh.

"Slight understatement! Seriously Tracy, don't cry over him" Leyla spoke.

Still with one arm around her for comfort.

...

TBC