Apologies for delay in posting anything. I've had a serious case of writer's block but time away has been good. Still working on Witness Protection but this story popped in to my head and I had to get it down. I hope you enjoy
PC Kate Fleming sighed heavily as she leant against the inside of her flat door, shutting herself off from the madness of the world that lay beyond. She had just finished a really tough shift and was now looking forward to treating herself to a nice bubble bath with a bottle of red wine for company. It probably wasn't the healthiest way to deal with the trauma of the day, but it was what she wanted to do. She'd told her Sergeant she was fine at the debrief and she was going to prove him right.
"There you are," her flat mate, Jayne Wilson said, as she appeared at her bedroom door dressed in her dressing gown, disturbing Kate from her thoughts. Jayne was a PC like Kate. They had hit it off at Ryton Training College and remained friends ever since. Getting a place together seemed the right thing to do after graduating. They could get a much nicer flat with their combined salaries than living alone. "You're cutting it a bit fine aren't you?".
"Cutting it a bit fine for what?" Kate asked puzzled as she feared her plans for the evening becoming a little more distant.
"The football disco," Jayne reminded Kate. "Rich has been playing in a charity football match all day remember?" She continued.
Rich was PC Richard Akers and the third member of the trio. He was Jayne's fiancé after he had proposed soon after leaving Ryton. They were getting married in a couple of months and Kate was going to be a bridesmaid. She was happy for her friends but it would mean big changes. Jayne was going to be moving in to Richard's place after they were married and Kate would have to find a new flat mate.
"Oh shit," Kate said. "Is that tonight?". Rich had been playing in a charity football match for the Police Benevolent Fund, which helped serving and retired officers and their dependents in time of need. Police officers from all over the country had participated and the day would be rounded off by a disco. Being in the centre of the country, it had been held in the city.
"Yes," Jayne said as she looked at her watch. "Rich will be here in about ten minutes which gives you just enough time to get changed,".
"I'm not sure, Jayne," Kate said as she pushed off the front door and headed to her bedroom. "I've just had a really crappy shift. I'm not really in a party mood,".
"Rubbish," replied Jayne, brushing off Kate's excuse. "All the more reason to come. It'll cheer you up,".
"Spending the night with drunk, off duty police officers?" Kate reported. "I don't think so,".
"Oh come on, Kate," Jayne persisted as she followed Kate in to her bedroom. "It might prove to be a really good night. You need to let your hair down once in a while," she added.
Kate took her role as a member of the police force very seriously, much more than Jayne, who tried to get her friend to lighten up every once in a while.
"You're not going to leave me alone until I say I'll go, are you?" Kate asked her friend.
"Nope," Jayne said.
"Fine. I'll go," Kate backed down and was soon hugged by Jayne who was happy she'd got her way. "But I'll probably leave early," she pointed out.
The doorbell sounded, announcing the arrival of Rich.
"What's the dress code?" Kate shouted after Jayne.
"Casual," Jayne answered back over her shoulder as she headed to answer the door.
"Casual," Kate murmured to herself as she opened her wardrobe and surveyed her clothes. In the mood she was in nothing inspired her, but eventually she settled for jeans and a black t shirt which she felt most comfortable in. A pair of Adidas shoes on her feet.
"You ready, Kate?" Jayne hollered from the living room.
"Two minutes," Kate replied as she quickly released her hair from the bun at the nape of her neck and gave it a quick brush before removing the regulatory stud earrings she had to wear for work and replaced them with silver hoops. "Ready," she announced as she entered the living room but neither Jayne nor Rich was paying attention as they were wrapped around each other engaged in a heavy make out session.
Kate rolled her eyes. After them waiting for her she was now waiting for them. The engaged pair were very loved up and it wasn't an unfamiliar sight. She cleared her throat loudly in an effort to stop them. It seemed to work and the two lovers broke apart.
Jayne looked at Kate. "You're wearing that?" she said disappointedly.
"You said casual," Kate retorted.
"Yeah but you should still try and make an effort," Jayne replied.
"I'm wearing this or I'm not going," Kate snapped angrily.
"Fine," replied Jayne and Kate saw her give Rich an unimpressed look but before Kate could say anything, the sound of a car horn outside the flat was heard.
"That'll be the taxi," Rich said a little relieved that the brewing cat fight between his fiancée and her flat mate was halted.
The trio headed off, Kate bringing up the rear as she locked up the flat before following Jayne and Rich in to the taxi. The two lovers were in the back so Kate took the front passenger seat.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"The Irish please, mate," Rich replied from the back seat. The Irish was a cheesy club in the middle of the city that had been hired for the party.
The driver put his indicator on before pulling away. Kate was silent during the journey with Jayne and Rich being the chatty passengers.
"How did the football go?" Jayne enquired.
"Alright," Rich replied. "We got to the quarters,".
"Well done, Hon," Jayne said before giving her fiancée her brief kiss.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood was singing about Relaxing as the friends arrived at the club.The DJ was obviously in the obligatory 80's part of his repertoire.
The trio headed to the bar, the wooden floor tacky under their feet from years of spilt beer on it. The dark room illuminated with the different coloured disco lights spinning around. They ordered a drink each before finding some friends to talk to but after a while, Kate drifted off to the bar by herself as she didn't feel very sociable.
She ordered herself another drink and took a seat in a vacant booth as she watched everyone else having a lovely time and wished she was as well.
"Alright, Luv?" a man slurred as he waited at the bar to be served.
"Yes thanks," Kate replied, hoping she would be left alone.
"What's a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?" the drunk continued, thinking he was being funny using such an old chat up line.
"Probably the same as you," Kate retorted.
"Can I buy you another drink?".
"I'm good thanks," Kate answered in a clipped tone.
"Just trying to be friendly, Luv," the stranger replied affronted by Kate's demeanour.
"I'm not really in the mood," Kate warned.
"Jeez," the stranger said. "Cheer up," he advised. "It might never happen, you know," he advised Kate.
"Do you mind just leaving me alone?" Kate retorted half thinking of throwing her drink over the annoying twat.
"Bloody hell. What exactly is your problem you moody cow?".
"I think she asked you to go away but you are still pestering her," another male replied who had made it to the bar and had overheard a bit of the conversation before Kate could answer.
The drunk man looked at the newcomer and sized him up. "She's all yours, mate," he said before sauntering off.
"Thanks," said Kate to her rescuer.
"You're welcome," he replied. "You need a top up?" he asked Kate as the barman approached him.
"I'm good, thanks," Kate repeated, hoping this guy wasn't going to be as annoying as the previous one.
The second man bought his drink but stayed at the bar to drink it. "You look as excited as me to be here," he told Kate.
"This wasn't quite what I had planned for this evening," Kate admitted.
"What did you have planned?".
"A bubble bath and a glass of red,".
"A bit different to this then," the stranger surmised.
"Just a bit," Kate agreed.
"So how come you're here?".
"My flat mate persuaded me,".
"Oh," the man replied. "Where are they now?".
"She's with her fiancé mingling with friends somewhere," Kate informed him.
The man picked up his drink and approached Kate. "Can I share your table or would you like me to leave you alone?" He asked.
Kate looked at the man. He wasn't as annoying as the previous guy. "Sure," she said.
The man took a seat opposite Kate. "I'm. Steve by the way," he introduced himself as he held his hand out.
"Kate," Kate said as she shook his hand.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you are a cop?" Steve said and Kate smiled. Being at a police event gave it away. "Local?". Kate nodded.
"You?".
"London. Well South London to be more accurate,".
"How did you go at the football?".
"Average," Steve said. "Crashed out in the Quarters,".
"Is that why you're having a bad evening?".
"No," replied Steve. "That would be because I found out my girlfriend was cheating on me about two days ago," he revealed. "I'm not really in a very charitable mood. My mates thought it would be good for me to participate to take my mind off it,".
"I'm sorry," replied Kate.
"What about you?" Steve asked. "Why would you rather be having a bubble bath than be here?".
"Shitty shift,".
"You been working today?".
"Yeah," replied Kate.
"What happened?".
"Umm," answered Kate hesitantly.
"Sorry," said Steve aware of Kate's reluctance to talk. "You might not want to talk about it,".
"No it's ok," Kate ventured. "A young man committed suicide in front of me today,".
"Shit!" replied Steve. "That puts my problem in to perspective," he said. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he continued as he leant forward and placed a hand on her arm. "I think you should go and have that bath," he advised.
Kate wasn't sure exactly why it was, but she burst in to tears.
"Hey," Steve said as he stood and moved around the table to take a seat next to Kate.
"Sorry," apologised Kate as she wiped her eyes. "It wasn't you. I just….," she tailed off as she shrugged her shoulders at a loss to explain why she was crying.
"It's ok," Steve said as he waited for Kate to compose herself. "It's always the young ones that get you isn't it?" he said.
"You've had a similar thing happen?" Kate asked and Steve nodded.
"You wanna get out of here and talk about it somewhere quieter?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, ok," Kate agreed. "Thanks,".
"No problem," Steve replied. "You'll be doing me a favour as well," he told her as Take That started singing about Relighting Fires. He could do without the cheesy pop this evening.
Kate smiled. "I'll just let my flat mate know I'm leaving," she said as she stood and left the table. She found Jayne and Ruch talking to the same group of people as when she had left the conversation. "I'm gonna go," Kate told Jayne.
"You sure?" Jayne asked.
Kate nodded. "I'm just not in the mood. Sorry,".
"It's ok," Jayne said. "Will you be ok getting back to the flat?".
Kate nodded. She decided against telling her flatmate she was leaving with Steve.
"I'll see you in the morning," Jayne said as she hugged her friend farewell. "Hope you're feeling better tomorrow,".
Kate headed back to the table and found Steve waiting for her. "Alright?" he asked.
"Yeah," Kate said as they headed outside.
"So where to?" Steve asked once they were in the fresh air.