Siren

Ninety-Nine Percent

I couldn't breathe. My mind was spinning and I felt like the room was closing in on me. The conversation that Mel and my parents were having, seemed to wither down to a low rumbling echo, that was reaching me from underwater. I felt Evan's hand squeeze my own. He was my anchor in that moment, keeping me from slipping down into darkness.

"Rox?"

I heard his whisper in my ear, and I jolted slightly, turning to face him. My eyes stung as tears threatened to spill. All surrounding sound seemed to rush back to me at once. Along with the pounding of my heart and the pain of a breath that I hadn't allowed to come.

"Rox?"

I saw the overjoyed expressions on my sister and my parent's faces as she twirled in her dress and they supplied her with accessories from neighbouring shelves. The heartache and sadness within me began to be pushed aside by a burning fury. I tightened my grip on Evan's hand and faced him once more.

"Ninety-nine percent."

He looked bemused for all of a second before leaping to his feet and pulling me with him, shouting behind him to Mel.

"Just remembered I've got to go, you look great by the way, really pulling off that 'loo roll lady' look," We got nearer to the door, Evan shoved me through it, turning around fully, to look at them, "And the Christmas wedding, great idea, everyone puts on some extra weight around then, you'll fit right in with that! See ya!"

Out on the street he reappeared at my side, his parting shot at Mel's dress had made me laugh. A low blow and semi childish sure, but he cared that I was hurt, and with Mel's smugness he wanted to ensure that someone got a small kick in there on my behalf. Anyway, with her huge ego, such a comment wouldn't even make a dent.

"Come here Rox." He pulled me against him once we'd put enough distance between us and the store, wrapping me in his arms and squeezing me tight.

A few tears rolled down my cheek. I knew the wedding would be coming, I knew that meant there would have to be a date. But the date being just a few months away, it just made it a hundred times more real.

"Right, that's it, we are going out and we are going to get plastered."

I choked out a small laugh, that was still half a sob.

"Ev, we've both got work tomorrow."

He picked up his phone and tapped out a text, then took mine and did the same.

"Not anymore." He smirked, tucking his phone back into his pocket and handing mine back. "So, lets go get drunk."

He didn't even wait for me to reply, grabbing hold of my hand and pulling me along the street.

We found a bar away from our usual haunts. The outside looked like a simple place, black signs with simple white lettering. As we entered it was entirely different, like rock meets dive bar kind of atmosphere. It was lively, loud rock music blared from the jukebox in the corner, and a group of men were drinking and cheering whilst they played pool on the other side of the room. Me and Evan went straight for the bar, and he ordered in a round of shots, we downed them right away.

"Keep 'em coming." Evan said to the barman.

The guy nodded and lined up another round.

Many, many drinks later, and I'd forgotten all about the wedding crap. I was sitting on Evan's lap whilst we chatted away to the group of men playing pool. We laughed and joked and set up a new game, me and Ev against them. As the drinks kept flowing and we kept playing, we got steadily worse for wear. I was enjoying the time with Evan, it was unusual for us both to ignore the idea of finding someone to spend the night with but tonight, there was no temptation. Tonight he was here for me only.