Fly Away



'Go, go, go, go, go, go, go...Yea!' Satine triumphantly held the empty glass above her head. The pub erupted into a huge cheer.

'Take that you horrible little illness!' Satine shouted out. She had just been told that the consumption had gone away. She only wished Christian could have been there to hear the news but he had gone away on business. He was due back the next morning. Satine looked at her cousin and Livvie and grinned wickedly.

'Another one!' She shouted to the bar tender. He produced the drinks quickly. 'One, two, three!' They tilted their heads back and tipped the liquid down their throats. It tasted horrible, vile and disgusting. But to Satine it tasted wonderful. She hadn't had any alcohol in eight months and she was enjoying the taste. She knew she would savour this moment forever.

Christian glanced at the station clock. It was nearly midnight. Where was the train? It was supposed to leave bang on midnight. He could make out a light in the distance. At last, he thought. Finally he was going back to Satine.

He settled down quickly and tried to get comfortable, hoping to get some sleep. It felt strange without Satine being there. Almost as if he felt guilty about not sleeping with her in his arms. He wondered if she felt the same way too.

Satine blearily opened her eyes. She squinted at the clock and groaned, flopping back onto the bed.

'Wakey, wakey!' A cheery voice came into the room and opened the curtains, flooding the room with light.

'Ow!' Satine moaned covering her eyes. Livvie sat down on the end of the bed and shook her.

'Come on, wake up! Christian's train gets here in twenty minutes.' Satine sat up. How could she have forgotten. Slowly she stumbled out of the bed and into the bathroom.

'I can't remember anything of last night.' She said as she slipped into her corset. Her head was throbbing like anything.

'Maybe that's a good thing.' Livvie said, helping her on with her dress.

'Did I do anything embarassing?'

'No more than usual.'

'Ok...Hey!' Satine shouted indignantly to Livvie as they went down the stairs. Livvie laughed.

'Sorry. Want breakfast?'

'Probably couldn't handle it.'

'Well, let's go.'

New York station was busy. It was filled with the hustle and bustle of people going into work. Christian put his suitcase down and surveyed the scene.

'Christian! Christian!' He looked around and saw Livvie making her way towards him with Satine trailing slowly behind.

'Hey!' He said embracing first Livvie and then Satine when she reached him. 'Darling, you look terrible.'

'Mmm.' Satine murmured. She couldn't answer. Her stomach was churning around inside her.

'Are you alright?' He asked stepping closer towards her. That's when it happened. She vomited. No warning. Just threw up.

'Had a bit too much to drink.' Livvie explained putting her arm around Satine and leading her outside.

'By the way, Christian,' said Satine as he trailed behind, trying to wipe the sick off his trousers, 'I'm clear. Th-that's why I was...drinking. To celebrate. Mmm.' Satine nodded her head, smiling. Christian shook his head, grinning. He would never understand women.

'Livvie, why is everyone grinning and winking at me?' Satine asked, her head in her hands. She, Livvie and Christian were sitting in a cafe and that was the third time that someone had smiled at her.

'Well, it might have something to do with last night.'

'Oh, God.' She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. 'What did I do?'

'Um...you gave someone a lap dance.'

'What?' Satine yelped. Then she looked around and lowered her voice. 'Who?'

'You know that really cute one with the blond hair?'

'Yea....'

'Him.'

'Oh no!' Satine put her head down on the table. Then she looked up. 'Christian?' Christian was sitting there, shaking. 'What is it?' He couldn't hold it in any longer. He let out a laugh. 'I'm glad you think it's funny.' She said, playfully hitting his arm.

'Sorry, it's just....just...' He laughed again and Livvie joined in. Satine rolled her eyes and closed them again. She was too tired to argue with them.

'Hey, sweetie. You feeling better?'

'A bit.' Satine yawned sleepily and crossed over to where Christian was sitting at his type writer. She leant over his shoulder. He stopped writing and watched her reactions. 'Good. It's coming on well.'

'Do you really think so?'

'Of course I do. Have I ever...?' She trailed off. They both knew what the answer was. She moved away from him guiltily.

'Hey. That's in the past.' He said following her and sitting down next to her on the sofa. 'You've let that part of your life go.'

'I know.' Satine turned and smiled at him. 'Thank you.' She leaned foward and hugged him.

'What for?' He asked.

'For setting me free.'

It was three days later. Christian, Satine, Oliver, Livvie and Kep were playing with a frisbee in the park. Well, the humans were playing. Kep kept on jumping up and intercepting it.

'Kep!' Satine sounded exasperated as he did it for the fourth time.

'Throw it higher next time.' Livvie suggested. Oliver flung it in the air. Unfortunately it went too high and went into the road.

'Ill go.' Satine said, running across the grass. She ran down the stone steps and through the iron gates. Along the road were parked lots of cars and carriages. Satine looked left and then right. Nothing was coming. She slowly walked out into the middle of the road and bent down to pick up the frisbee.

'Satine! Satine!' She looked up to see the other three screaming frantically at her. She couldn't quite understand why. Then she turned around. Her eyes widened as a car came towards her. It was only for a split second. They both knew what was going to happen. She made eye contact with the driver. He shook his head sadly and mouthed, 'I'm sorry.' Satine closed her eyes and waited.