A/N - So here it is -either the penultimate chapter or the third from last,
I don't know yet. Back to the story, to recap - Mark has phoned Trish and
agreed to meet up with her. We start when Trish is getting ready to go and
meet him.
The blonde staring at me gave an encouraging smile and turned to pick up her lipgloss. "eduN ylraeN" read the silver writing on the side. She pulled out the sponge applicator and ran it over her lips, blotting, reapplying, and pursing. There was that encouraging smile again and she turned away. I walked over to the bathroom door, casting one final glance to the mirror. I looked at myself muttered "Here we go" and flickered the light.
I reached for my bag and shuffled my shoes on, and grabbed a long black coat. It had been a present to myself when I won the women's title, ankle length knitted, with a rich red lining. I was meeting Mark in half hour, at a bar 15 mins away max, but I was so nervous about being late I didn't care. I pulled the coat on and cast yet another anxious glance to the mirror in the hall. I took a deep shaky breath and flattened down my coat. I took three steps towards the front door, then spun round and sat down, putting my head in my hands. My stomach was a tight knot of nerves, and I was fighting the feeling to be sick. Over reacting you may think but to me this was judgment day. Ever since he phoned I kept replaying the conversation in my mind, analysing the words, his tone. Trying to see what it gave away. However much I tried though I couldn't find anything to tell me what he could be about to say. I looked at my watch, "Dammit" I cursed I had only twenty minutes now. I ducked my head and almost ran out the door, shaking my head in an effort to keep it clear from the worries. I was so involved in my mind that I didn't notice the man walking towards me, bumping into him.
He groaned and I fell backwards, losing my grip on my bag, and sending it skidding across the floor the contents spilling out with soft thuds. "I'm so sorry" He muttered bending down to pick up my things, "S'kay" I replied, unable to summon up the strength to smile. Instead I dipped my head and ferreted around, collecting the stuff from my bag. When it was all retrieved I rose again. The man handed me my lipgloss and grinned "Nearly Nude' Huh?" I just snatched it back.
"I'm sorry bout that, maybe I can make it up to you with a drink later" "No, I mean sorry but." I looked at my watch, 13 minutes to go "I gotta go" I ran off down the corridor and to the stairs, taking two at a time. I reached the bottom and broke into a run, out onto the sidewalk and across the road. It was raining heavily and as I dashed across the road I slid, almost over. I stood a second shocked but began my run again. I was halfway across the road when the loud shrill screech of tires skidding filled my ears.
The car stopped a hairs breadth from me, and I looked at driver, who seemed less shaken and more angry. "Stupid Bitch" he yelled at me "Watch where your going you dumb blonde" I cast him a shocked glance then ran off, "8 mins" I muttered but I was close, I could see the road where the bar was, and I slowed to a walk, taking a sharp intake of breath when I thought of what I was about to do. I took one last glance behind me before turning onto the side street, on which the bar was located. I strode to the door, ready to met with a loud raucous bunch of drunken biker's or worse but instead I was greeted by an almost deserted bar, empty but for the bartender and a lone man sat on a stall both of whom looked at me as I entered. I calmly walked over, as both men gave me the once over. I took their silence to mean that what they saw didn't bother them. "What's your poison" rasped the tender making this question a statement with his steady drone. "Err." I looked at my surroundings and quickly remembered a priceless pearly of wisdom from Steve "Where ever you are can't go wrong asking for a bud"
"A bottle of Bud" I replied, taking it over to a table in the corner. I checked my watch I was exactly on time. I put the bottle down, removed my jacket and lay it on the seat beside me. I settled into the seat not expecting to wait for long. I took the time to study my surroundings. Trust Mark to find a deserted hovel, where ever he goes. This place seemed deserted for a reason though. It was your typical dive, dimly lit smoky and there where a few neon lights as the only adornments to the wall. I shifted in my seat and it creaked, causing the man at the bar to look at me. He turned back to the tender after a beat, said something to the him and they both laughed, a deep hollow sound, that echoed around the empty room. 'Come on Mark' I thought, 'this place gives me the creeps'.
15 minutes later I was still sat, nursing the same bottle, waiting for him to show. I checked my watch to be sure that the clock behind the bar was right, and it was. It was almost unheard of for Mark to be late to anything, and if he was it could normally be attributed to me or Sara making demands on his time. But I was here and Sara in Texas, Glen had said that he was sharing a room with Mark just up the road from this place, So where was he?
The door creaked and my eyes shot up, but it swung open to reveal a man not unlike the man at the bar. Bout 6"2 and quite well built, with a substantial beer belly. Both wore jeans, but not he flattering type Mark and Glen love so much. Horrible old things that were discoloured and bulged in all the wrong places. Another thing the bar prop shared with his companion was the style of jacket, short tight and unflattering. One was tan suede with a fringe, the other black leather. Both had long greasy grey hair, one's down the other's in a limp ponytail. The man who had just entered saw me looking and gave a cocky half wave. Cue more sniggering followed by bellowing. I shuddered. 30 mins late, where was Mark?
I returned to my hotel room after an hour deciding he hadn't even deigned to dump me, feeling I wasn't worth it. "how dare he forgive Sara and not me, What was so special about her anyway? Or was I just the bimbo he played around with, spewing that rubbish to keep me interested?' At this point I hated him, treating me like it was my fault, not giving me the time to explain. I went straight over to the mini bar, pulling out a bottle of vodka. I opened it and was about to pour when I heard the ring of my mobile. Dropping the bottle in my hurry I ran over desperate for it to be Mark apologising. However caller ID exposed it to be Glen not Mark who was ringing. I looked at a beat and nearly diverted the call, but I gave in and pressed accept instead. "Hello?" I asked. This was the first time I'd spoken since I asked for my drink and I was surprised to hear my voice waver and shake as I spoke "Glen what is it?"
"Trish I'm so sorry" 'Huh?' I thought, had Mark told him that we were through, without even telling me? But wait Glen sounded more upset then..
"Trish? Do you know?"
"What" I asked haltingly scared at the one of Glen's voice
"About Mark?" Ahh so he had stood me up well I'll show him but..Glen's voice..
"Trish? I'm so sorry"
"Yeah you said that already. Its his fault not yours!"
"What?"
"Mark, he's the one who stood me up, it isn't your fault"
"No Trish you've got the wrong idea, Mark has..was."
"Glen your scaring me.what's wrong?"
"Its Mark, He's." To my horror Glen began to cry he finally said "Mark's been in an accident, he's he's.Oh god Trish he was killed instantly"
The blonde staring at me gave an encouraging smile and turned to pick up her lipgloss. "eduN ylraeN" read the silver writing on the side. She pulled out the sponge applicator and ran it over her lips, blotting, reapplying, and pursing. There was that encouraging smile again and she turned away. I walked over to the bathroom door, casting one final glance to the mirror. I looked at myself muttered "Here we go" and flickered the light.
I reached for my bag and shuffled my shoes on, and grabbed a long black coat. It had been a present to myself when I won the women's title, ankle length knitted, with a rich red lining. I was meeting Mark in half hour, at a bar 15 mins away max, but I was so nervous about being late I didn't care. I pulled the coat on and cast yet another anxious glance to the mirror in the hall. I took a deep shaky breath and flattened down my coat. I took three steps towards the front door, then spun round and sat down, putting my head in my hands. My stomach was a tight knot of nerves, and I was fighting the feeling to be sick. Over reacting you may think but to me this was judgment day. Ever since he phoned I kept replaying the conversation in my mind, analysing the words, his tone. Trying to see what it gave away. However much I tried though I couldn't find anything to tell me what he could be about to say. I looked at my watch, "Dammit" I cursed I had only twenty minutes now. I ducked my head and almost ran out the door, shaking my head in an effort to keep it clear from the worries. I was so involved in my mind that I didn't notice the man walking towards me, bumping into him.
He groaned and I fell backwards, losing my grip on my bag, and sending it skidding across the floor the contents spilling out with soft thuds. "I'm so sorry" He muttered bending down to pick up my things, "S'kay" I replied, unable to summon up the strength to smile. Instead I dipped my head and ferreted around, collecting the stuff from my bag. When it was all retrieved I rose again. The man handed me my lipgloss and grinned "Nearly Nude' Huh?" I just snatched it back.
"I'm sorry bout that, maybe I can make it up to you with a drink later" "No, I mean sorry but." I looked at my watch, 13 minutes to go "I gotta go" I ran off down the corridor and to the stairs, taking two at a time. I reached the bottom and broke into a run, out onto the sidewalk and across the road. It was raining heavily and as I dashed across the road I slid, almost over. I stood a second shocked but began my run again. I was halfway across the road when the loud shrill screech of tires skidding filled my ears.
The car stopped a hairs breadth from me, and I looked at driver, who seemed less shaken and more angry. "Stupid Bitch" he yelled at me "Watch where your going you dumb blonde" I cast him a shocked glance then ran off, "8 mins" I muttered but I was close, I could see the road where the bar was, and I slowed to a walk, taking a sharp intake of breath when I thought of what I was about to do. I took one last glance behind me before turning onto the side street, on which the bar was located. I strode to the door, ready to met with a loud raucous bunch of drunken biker's or worse but instead I was greeted by an almost deserted bar, empty but for the bartender and a lone man sat on a stall both of whom looked at me as I entered. I calmly walked over, as both men gave me the once over. I took their silence to mean that what they saw didn't bother them. "What's your poison" rasped the tender making this question a statement with his steady drone. "Err." I looked at my surroundings and quickly remembered a priceless pearly of wisdom from Steve "Where ever you are can't go wrong asking for a bud"
"A bottle of Bud" I replied, taking it over to a table in the corner. I checked my watch I was exactly on time. I put the bottle down, removed my jacket and lay it on the seat beside me. I settled into the seat not expecting to wait for long. I took the time to study my surroundings. Trust Mark to find a deserted hovel, where ever he goes. This place seemed deserted for a reason though. It was your typical dive, dimly lit smoky and there where a few neon lights as the only adornments to the wall. I shifted in my seat and it creaked, causing the man at the bar to look at me. He turned back to the tender after a beat, said something to the him and they both laughed, a deep hollow sound, that echoed around the empty room. 'Come on Mark' I thought, 'this place gives me the creeps'.
15 minutes later I was still sat, nursing the same bottle, waiting for him to show. I checked my watch to be sure that the clock behind the bar was right, and it was. It was almost unheard of for Mark to be late to anything, and if he was it could normally be attributed to me or Sara making demands on his time. But I was here and Sara in Texas, Glen had said that he was sharing a room with Mark just up the road from this place, So where was he?
The door creaked and my eyes shot up, but it swung open to reveal a man not unlike the man at the bar. Bout 6"2 and quite well built, with a substantial beer belly. Both wore jeans, but not he flattering type Mark and Glen love so much. Horrible old things that were discoloured and bulged in all the wrong places. Another thing the bar prop shared with his companion was the style of jacket, short tight and unflattering. One was tan suede with a fringe, the other black leather. Both had long greasy grey hair, one's down the other's in a limp ponytail. The man who had just entered saw me looking and gave a cocky half wave. Cue more sniggering followed by bellowing. I shuddered. 30 mins late, where was Mark?
I returned to my hotel room after an hour deciding he hadn't even deigned to dump me, feeling I wasn't worth it. "how dare he forgive Sara and not me, What was so special about her anyway? Or was I just the bimbo he played around with, spewing that rubbish to keep me interested?' At this point I hated him, treating me like it was my fault, not giving me the time to explain. I went straight over to the mini bar, pulling out a bottle of vodka. I opened it and was about to pour when I heard the ring of my mobile. Dropping the bottle in my hurry I ran over desperate for it to be Mark apologising. However caller ID exposed it to be Glen not Mark who was ringing. I looked at a beat and nearly diverted the call, but I gave in and pressed accept instead. "Hello?" I asked. This was the first time I'd spoken since I asked for my drink and I was surprised to hear my voice waver and shake as I spoke "Glen what is it?"
"Trish I'm so sorry" 'Huh?' I thought, had Mark told him that we were through, without even telling me? But wait Glen sounded more upset then..
"Trish? Do you know?"
"What" I asked haltingly scared at the one of Glen's voice
"About Mark?" Ahh so he had stood me up well I'll show him but..Glen's voice..
"Trish? I'm so sorry"
"Yeah you said that already. Its his fault not yours!"
"What?"
"Mark, he's the one who stood me up, it isn't your fault"
"No Trish you've got the wrong idea, Mark has..was."
"Glen your scaring me.what's wrong?"
"Its Mark, He's." To my horror Glen began to cry he finally said "Mark's been in an accident, he's he's.Oh god Trish he was killed instantly"