Finally

Chapter 19 - No More Drama

I enter the Tapas bar on the High Street at around 7:29pm dressed in a simple short black dress and heels.  I see Sam getting seated at a table for two in the corner and I wave when he sees me.  I'm shown to the same table and he pulls the wooden chair out for me, being a gentleman.  

"You look beautiful," he tells me with a smile.  

"Thank you," I blush.

He hands me a menu and I suggest the few dishes on there I will actually eat and he orders them along with a bottle of wine.  

"So Zara, what do you do?"  

"I'm a journalist usually, but I'm still working out what area I'd like to focus on so I've just got a new job at an accountants to fill the gap.  I start tomorrow actually so I will have to drink very little." I explain.

"Wow, a journalist, that's impressive.  I'm a trainee electrician trying to get qualified so I'll have some sort of a career instead of being someone's donkey," he jokes.

"That's a great trade to learn," I reply encouragingly.  

The wine arrives and Sam pours me a small glass, I take a sip and then excuse myself to go to the bathroom. 

I check my makeup in the mirror, brushing a little extra loose powder on my slightly shiny forehead and fixing my hair.  I look good considering all I've been through, life definitely hasn't beaten me yet.  

Sam smiles and watches me as I walk back to the table, he has the look of a predator watching his prey walk right into his lap.  He looks like he wants to bend me over the small wooden table for two.  I'm glad I've got his interest, but he might need to cool it while we eat.

The food arrives and we help ourselves, I manage to try almost everything and it happens to be really tasty.  It's no wonder this place is always full, the paella rice is really hitting the spot and I'm even managing the patatas bravas.

We finish the food and wine and laugh while reminiscing about the soup in the supermarket incident, then Sam insists we have a drink at the bar next door.  It's a pretty new, but achingly cool venue filled with quirky lights made of various colourful jars and there are bizarre sculptures dotted around.  I know this is probably the only chance I'll get to experience it so I agree with only slight reservations.  I'll be ok I just won't drink and I'll leave early so I can still get up for work tomorrow.

He asks what he can get me and I try to shout out over the loud music that I'd like a Diet Coke, but I don't know if he can even tell what I'm saying.  He leans over the bar to shout at the barman, but I can't even get close to him and I'm crushed on all sides in this sea of people.  There must have been some success though because he hands me a glass of brown fizzy liquid with three ice cubes floating on the top.  We smile at each other and take a sip simultaneously.  It definitely tastes like diet coke, but with a hint of something else, vodka maybe?  

We dance together and he gets closer, wrapping an arm around my waist and grinding his hips into mine, it's quite forward for someone I've only just met, but he's confident I'll give him that.  We end up having great fun dancing and laughing and another couple we saw briefly in the line outside when coming in join us and the four of us are all acting like old friends.  

I head to the bar to grab another drink, a Diet Coke minus the vodka this time and a beer for Sam.  I finish it pretty quickly because I'm thirsty after the wine and vodka and then I excuse myself and head to the bathroom.  

The girl dancing with us follows and as we arrive at the ladies I learn her name is Maria, she tells me her and Josh have been together for two years and that Sam and I make a lovely couple.  I'm about to correct her and tell her we're actually on a first date, but she carries on saying Sam told her how much he adores me and the last six months together have flown by.  I'm really confused by this, but decide not to cause a scene, I'll just ask Sam about it later.  There must be some explanation for this misunderstanding I'm sure.  I just smile and nod at Maria as she waffles on and I'm relieved when a cubicle becomes empty and I can escape the awkward conversation.  

As we dance some more I suddenly realise I'm quite drunk, I've no idea how it happened since I've reduced my meds a great deal now and I only had 2 small glasses of wine and the vodka.  I feel everything moving slower and there's a trail of light coming off the glass jar lanterns as I try to sway in time with the music.  

I hear Sam saying something to Maria and Martin that I can't quite make out and then he holds my arm and leads me out of the bar.  I am vaguely aware of a taxi, then nothing.

I open my eyes and everything around me is blurry, I can't quite make out where I am or any of the things in the room.  I realise I'm in a bed, but it isn't mine.  I'm still wearing my pink satin bra, but my panties are looped around one ankle and I'm otherwise naked.  Panic sets in as I try to remember what happened, but I only have a couple of flashes of memories after the bar.  A taxi and Sam telling me things will be ok, my dress being removed and me trying to say no, Sam moving on top of me very fast.  I suddenly feel like I'm going to be sick and I can barely move.  The room is empty but my phone is nearby, it shows 8am, I have exactly 1 hour to get my ass to my new job for my first day.  I desperately wanted to make a good first impression, but I'm not sure how that is at all possible now.  

All I know for sure is whether I was drugged at some point or Sam just didn't hear me saying no, I can't tell anyone.  I promised them all there would be no more drama.