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;}\f14\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0 \fi-360\li6480\jclisttab\tx6480 }{\listname ;}\listid626861858}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid-119\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid-125\listoverridecount0\ls2}
{\listoverride\listid-126\listoverridecount0\ls3}{\listoverride\listid-127\listoverridecount0\ls4}{\listoverride\listid-128\listoverridecount0\ls5}{\listoverride\listid-120\listoverridecount0\ls6}{\listoverride\listid-129\listoverridecount0\ls7}
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{\author steveh11}{\operator steveh11}{\creatim\yr2007\mo11\dy20\hr22\min31}{\revtim\yr2007\mo11\dy20\hr22\min36}{\printim\yr2006\mo10\dy29\hr13\min12}{\version3}{\edmins0}{\nofpages13}{\nofwords4261}{\nofchars24290}{\*\company -}{\nofcharsws29829}
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Chapter 10{\*\bkmkend _Toc183361101}
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\par Caroline breathed a satisfied sigh as she put down her empty coffee cup. Pearl eyed her over the rim of her own one as she drained it.
\par 
\par \'93Are you going to go and find Simon, Caroline?\'94 she asked the young brunette.
\par 
\par \'93That\rquote s the idea,\'94 Caroline replied, \'93but I have no idea how.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Ask him?\'94 Pearl suggested, pointing out the doorman nearby.
\par 
\par \'93Yeah\'85 good idea, Pearl.\'94 Caroline was clearly psyching herself up, she wasn\rquote t normally this forward.
\par 
\par \'93Excuse me?\'94 she asked the big man, looking up what seemed a long way, passed an impressively expansive chest.
\par 
\par \'93Can I help you?\'94 he rumbled back to her, but he was smiling as he asked.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote m looking for a friend. He\rquote s about this tall, curly blonde hair. He might have been with the lead guitarist for }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Rocksette}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .\'94
\par 
\par \'93Ah, I know Alison. Sugar, if he\rquote s with her, they\rquote ll likely be, how can I put this delicately? They\rquote ll likely be }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof engaged}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , if you get my drift.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline felt herself colouring up.
\par 
\par \'93I\'85 I need to find him. Please?\'94
\par 
\par He looked at her for a long moment.
\par 
\par Just then \lquote }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Rocksette}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \rquote s lead singer, Shaun, came up.
\par 
\par \'93Hi, Dan. Alison back there?\'94 he asked the doorman.
\par 
\par \'93Yah, she is, but like I was telling this young lady here, she\rquote s likely to be }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof engaged}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , if you get my drift.\'94 The doorman, obviously \lquote Dan\rquote , told him.
\par 
\par \'93Well, she\rquote ll have to disengage. Feargal, from the record company, wants to talk to us all, and he\rquote s fretting. Which room?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Okay, man. Third on the left. Miss, you might as well see if you can find your young man, too. Go with Shaun, here.\'94 He opened the door he was guarding and waved them through.
\par 
\par They went through the door into the corridor beyond. Shaun said to her, \'93Looking for your boyfriend?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline decided to keep it simple. \'93Er, yeah.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, doll, just remember that at parties like this all sorts of things happen. Don\rquote t take it personal, like. Alison don\rquote t mean anything by it, she\rquote s just being, well, being herself. Your young man, well, he\rquote ll\'85\'94
 Shaun tapered off, unsure how to continue.
\par 
\par Caroline helped him out by just saying, \'93I know,\'94 and surprising the singer with a peck on the cheek. \'93Thanks for trying. Simon and I, well, we\rquote ll have to talk.\'94
\par 
\par \lquote Will we ever,\rquote  she thought. \lquote Can I really }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof do}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  this?\rquote 
\par 
\par Shaun knocked on Alison\rquote s door. \'93Alison? Are you in there?\'94 he called.
\par 
\par After a pause came a giggle and a reply of \'93Just a minute!\'94
\par 
\par Shortly after, the door opened. Alison was wearing her bath robe and Simon was sitting on the bed in his trousers, just pulling his shirt on.
\par 
\par Alison spoke as the door came fully open, \'93Hi, Shaun, what did \endash  who\rquote re you!?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline and Shaun spoke at once.
\par 
\par \'93Hello, Alison, I\rquote m looking for Simon.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Alison, Feargal\rquote s having a fit back in there, he wants to speak to all of us about something!\'94
\par 
\par Alison looked at Caroline for a moment, then at Shaun. She told him, \'93Give me a moment, Shaun,\'94 and sniffed. \'93I need to get dressed and blow my nose.\'94
\par 
\par Shaun pushed his way into the room, and Caroline followed him. She went to Simon, who was looking very sheepish, but also, strangely, relieved. Caroline herself felt quite numb, almost as if it were someone else in the room, not her.
\par 
\par \'93That better be }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof all}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  you\rquote re doing to your nose, Alison,\'94 Shaun warned. He sounded annoyed. \'93You do too much of that stuff,\'94 he
 told her, shouldering his way into the bathroom. He shut the door behind him.
\par 
\par Caroline heard the brittle, taut answer, \'93I can handle it!\'94 from behind the door, but wasn\rquote t paying attention. Instead, she took Simon\rquote s hand and pulled, gently. \'93Come on, Simon. You don\rquote t belong here.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Caroline?\'94 Simon said. \'93You don\rquote t know how right you are. Where\rquote s Marianne?\'94
\par 
\par \'93We\rquote ll talk about that in a moment. Let\rquote s get you out of here first.\'94
\par 
\par Simon nodded and followed Caroline out of the room, hearing raised voices from the bathroom before he shut the door behind him. He did it slowly, with a certain amount of regret, but also finality.
\par 
\par \'93Sorry,\'94 Simon apologised to Caroline.
\par 
\par \'93What for?\'94 she answered.
\par 
\par \'93Dunno, really. It just seemed something that needed to be said,\'94 he told her. She realised that he looked stone cold sober, and a little frightened.
\par 
\par \'93Whatever\rquote s the matter, Simon? You look like you\rquote ve seen a ghost!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Alison offered me cocaine. I nearly accepted. I might still have done, if you hadn\rquote t come knocking.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline didn\rquote t really know what to say. \'93Oops.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yeah,\'94 was Simon\rquote s only comment.
\par 
\par Caroline took Simon\rquote s hand and started walking towards the door back into the restaurant, where the party was still going on. Before they got there another room door opened in front of them. Chris came out, trailing Marianne by }{
\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof his}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  hand.
\par 
\par The four saw each other and stopped.
\par 
\par Chris hesitated a moment, but Marianne simply said, \'93Hi, Simon, Caroline. Enjoying yourselves? This room\rquote s free if you want it.\'94 She winked at Caroline before changing hands so that she was leading Chris, and going back into the party.
\par 
\par Simon stood and watched the pair of them leave together. Caroline squeezed his hand.
\par 
\par \'93I guess that\rquote s it, then, Simon,\'94 Caroline told him, quietly.
\par 
\par \'93No, Marianne told me at the start of the party that we should go and enjoy ourselves,\'94 he told her. \'93It hurts, mind, it really does, but I\rquote m in no position to complain.\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, Simon, you\rquote ve misunderstood. She\rquote s told us we can use the room \endash  together. You see, we\rquote ve got this rule between us\'85\'94
\par 
\par \'93Rule?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline wondered how to put this. She also hesitated because she wasn\rquote t completely }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof sure}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , even now. Marianne had signalled to her that she was free to move in on Simon, hadn\rquote 
t she? That must have been what she\rquote d meant. Mustn\rquote t it?
\par 
\par Caroline had always been the diffident one, while Marianne had always been assertive. As a result she\rquote 
d always seen her sister get in first, whether it be clothes, or boys, or such mundane things as what to watch on the telly. Even now, Caroline had held back and hadn\rquote t gone looking for \lquote her fireman\rquote , as she\rquote 
d thought of him. Quite by chance, Marianne had got him instead, and Carline hadn\rquote t known how to react. But her mother had told her to stand up for herself more.
\par 
\par If Marianne }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof hadn\rquote t}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  meant what Caroline was almost sure she\rquote d indicated, then this could end up in a blazing row. But if Caroline was right, and didn\rquote 
t act, she could watch her man disappear.
\par 
\par Caroline was fed up with missing out. She\rquote d had enough of seeing opportunities, and being too afraid of things going wrong to take them until it was too late, and the chance had gone.
\par 
\par She reached for Simon, and kissed him.
\par 
\par It was just a light kiss, a gentle one, almost just a brush of her lips over his. But it was the start. They felt it, both of them. This wasn\rquote t just an ordinary kiss, this was a }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof kiss}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
, and she wanted to repeat it.
\par 
\par So she did. This time he responded, placing a hand lightly behind her back, then gradually drawing her in until she was pressed closely against him, her breasts crushed against his chest, their lips moving against their counterparts with almost bruising f
orce. She opened her mouth and felt Simon\rquote s tongue introduce itself to hers.
\par 
\par Caroline wasn\rquote t inexperienced, she\rquote d had boyfriends before. Most of them had been with Marianne before her, and of late they\rquote d expected to pick up with her where they\rquote d left off w
ith her sister. Caroline had just about decided not to accept Marianne\rquote s \lquote cast-offs\rquote  as she\rquote d had to point out to these young men, somewhat forcefully, that she wasn\rquote t her sister, and there were some things she didn
\rquote t do on a first date. Some things she didn\rquote t do on }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof any}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  date.
\par 
\par But Simon wasn\rquote t pushing. The tongue kiss was there, yes, but it was tentative, inviting a denial. She felt his hands, yes, but again, their touch was passionate but not pressing. Caroline felt safe, safe that she could refuse or go s
lower at any point, but didn\rquote t want to.
\par 
\par Simon pulled back from the kiss. \'93Caroline, I\'85 I\rquote m sorry.\'94 He said. She put a finger over his lips.
\par 
\par \'93Ssshhh. Simon, something happened then. Let\rquote s take it slow, and see what happens, okay?\'94
\par 
\par He smiled, tentatively. \'93That sounds like a good idea. }{\f1\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Um}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , you mentioned a rule? You and Marianne?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline nodded. \'93I think\'85 I think you need to talk to Marianne, and soon. }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Very}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  soon.\'94
\par 
\par }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof How}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  could she make him understand? If she just said, \'93Simon, she just told me she\rquote d dumped you!\'94 he\rquote d be angry, and deny it \endash 
 he already had. No, this time she had to get Marianne to make it clear to Simon that the relationship was over, and Marianne had moved on. So Caroline could move }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof in}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .
\par 
\par But she couldn\rquote t do it now. Not until Marianne had settled things with Simon, properly.
\par 
\par She also couldn\rquote t }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof dream}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  of intruding on whatever Marianne and Chris were up to.
\par 
\par She needed to slow things down.
\par 
\par \'93Lets\'85 lets go back out to the party, see what\rquote s happening. It\rquote s probably winding down by now.\'94
\par 
\par Simon looked thoughtful. \'93That\rquote s probably a good idea,\'94 he said, slowly. \'93I doubt if the party\rquote s finished though, not if what I\rquote ve heard of these things is right.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, I doubt if it\rquote s an orgy out there, Simon!\'94
\par 
\par He grinned and took her hand. \'93Okay, let\rquote s go!\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
\par Back in the hotel restaurant the party was still going, though the music was softer, slower, and the lights were turned down. Some people were sat in a circle on the floor, talking and passing a joint around, while others chatted in pa
irs or threes. The bar was still running \endash  unofficially, Caroline thought, as it was well after closing time. She grinned to herself. Drinking after hours was the least problem they\rquote 
d have if the police called, with the drugs in open use around her.
\par 
\par She was surprised to see Pearl walking towards them, looking relieved.
\par 
\par \'93Hi, Pearl!\'94 she called.
\par 
\par \'93Hi yourself, Caroline. Chris has just left, with Marianne.\'94
\par 
\par \lquote Just like that,\rquote  Caroline thought.
\par 
\par \'93Just like that?\'94 Simon asked, \'93I mean\'85 Marianne\rquote s gone off with him, and\'85\'94
\par 
\par He ground to a halt, mouth opening and closing like a gaffed fish, unable to process what had happened. \'93It was supposed to have been just a night, just tonight.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline linked her arm into his, and Pearl looked at him with an expression of pained understanding.
\par 
\par \'93Come and sit down a minute,\'94 she told him. Caroline went with them as they sat down near the bar. Around them the party was noticeably thinning. There were few \lquote suits\rquote  in evidence, more women, and the aroma of more than just tobacc
o smoke permeated the air.
\par 
\par \'93Chris is normally a perfect gentleman with his models,\'94 Pearl began, \'93he doesn\rquote t screw them, or screw them around. But he\rquote s single, goodish looking, successful and he makes the girls look }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof wonderful}
{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  in his photos. So he has opportunity, he has a good rep for not messing around, and\'85 sometimes it happens.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Like it happened to you?\'94 Simon asked. Beside him, Caroline nodded to herself \endash  it was a simple thing to work out.
\par 
\par \'93Like it happened to me,\'94 Pearl nodded. \'93I actually thought we\rquote d fallen in love, but it wasn\rquote t to be. We }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof are}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  very good friends, mind. I still love his photos of me!\'94

\par 
\par \'93And Marianne\'85?\'94 Simon asked.
\par 
\par \'93I don\rquote t know who\rquote s under who\rquote s spell, there, but there\rquote s }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof something}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  going on, Simon. }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof You}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
 must have noticed, Caroline?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline hadn\rquote t, not really. She hadn\rquote t been paying attention to Chris and Marianne when they\rquote d been in the studio, she\rquote d been too wrapped up in her own shyness and trying to shake it off. She shook her head.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, well. }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof I}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  did. Sorry, I would have warned you. Simon, I don\rquote t know if this will be a one-time thing or not, but I think\'85\'94 she bit her lip. \'93I\rquote 
m very sorry, I think you ought to be prepared.\'94
\par 
\par Simon swallowed. \'93Okay,\'94 he managed, \'93it\rquote s, it\rquote s unexpected, that\rquote s all.\'94 He shook his head. \'93What do I mean, that\rquote s }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof all?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94
\par 
\par Simon was pale, shocked, even a little feverish. Caroline rubbed his arm, soothingly.
\par 
\par \'93Look, I\rquote ve got to get a taxi back to my hotel,\'94 Pearl said, \'93Chris told me to look after you \endash  can I offer you a ride?\'94
\par 
\par Simon said nothing, but Caroline nodded and said, \'93Yes, thank you,\'94 for them both. Pearl went to arrange for the taxi.
\par 
\par Caroline was torn between her desire for Simon and his clear emotional discomfort. It was clear to her, though, that she\rquote d have to go slower, tread more softly than she wanted to.
\par 
\par \lquote Patience, Caroline,\rquote  she told herself.
\par 
\par Pearl reappeared and told them, \'93The taxi will be here in about twenty minutes. It\rquote s probably best if we wait in the lobby.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline followed Pearl out of the hotel restaurant where the party was in the process of winding down, or more likely, splitting off into smaller rooms. She took Simon\rquote s arm as she sat, waiting for the cab to arrive.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
\par Simon woke up with someone shaking his arm. Fuzzily he opened one eye and mumbled something that sounded like \'93Wozzatgerroffahtovit,\'94 before he saw Marianne\rquote 
s out-of-focus face looking down at him. He shook his head, disoriented, sat up, rubbed his eyes and looked again.
\par 
\par It wasn\rquote t Marianne, it was Caroline, he realised.
\par 
\par \'93Morning, Simon. If you\rquote re feeling like I\rquote m feeling, you\rquote ll want these,\'94 she told him, handing over a glass of water and some aspirin.
\par 
\par \'93Er, ta Caroline,\'94 he responded, taking the small white tablets and gulping enough water to swallow them.
\par 
\par 
\par They sat together for a little while, quietly. Simon felt his hangover, gauged it, decided that he\rquote d had worse, and thought back to the previous day.
\par 
\par What a day. He seemed to have lost Marianne, though, and that coloured }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof everything}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof . Just as he was about to turn to Caroline he heard a door open. In bustled Jennifer.
\par 
\par \'93Good morning, you two. Ah, I see. A good evening, then?\'94 she grinned at Caroline. \'93Where\rquote s the other one?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Marianne\rquote s not here, Auntie. She\rquote s\'85 she\rquote s staying over with a friend.\'94
\par 
\par That was never going to be enough for Jennifer, and Caroline knew it. So did Simon, who looked up at the older lady mournfully.
\par 
\par \'93She went off with Chris, the photographer she\rquote s been working with.\'94
\par 
\par Jennifer clearly didn\rquote t quite know how to respond to this. After a moment, she settled for, \'93Well. Can I fetch you some breakfast?\'94
\par 
\par Simon }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof really}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  didn\rquote t feel hungry, and evidently Caroline didn\rquote 
t feel like eating either. They accepted the offer of a cup of tea instead, and fell silent once more. Simon barely felt Caroline\rquote s fingers stroking his arm as she told him, \'93It\rquote ll be all right, Simon.\'94
\par 
\par \'93}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof How}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  will it be all right?\'94 he ground out, \'93Marianne\rquote s not }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof here}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , is she?\'94
\par 
\par The fingers were withdrawn. He heard a small voice tell him, \'93You\rquote ll feel better once the hangover\rquote s gone, Simon. You\rquote ll see.\'94
\par 
\par The morning wore on, and as his hangover improved so did Simon\rquote s mood, up to a point. He still believed that Marianne had left him unceremoniously for Chris, while he was himself feeling guilty about Alison \endash  and Jennifer. More and mor
e, he couldn\rquote t bring himself to look her in the eye. Jennifer noticed, and sat down carefully next to him, after sending Caroline into the kitchen to make a cuppa.
\par 
\par \'93Okay, Simon. You\rquote ve hardly said boo to a goose all morning, and now you\rquote re avoiding looking at me. Is this about the night before last?\'94
\par 
\par Simon flushed, but then felt his anger rise.
\par 
\par \'93Yes! Yes, it\rquote s the night when you sucked me off without asking permission! How\rquote d you feel if I\rquote d come in and had sex with you without asking first?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote d feel upset, of course,\'94 she answered. \'93I thought we\rquote d dealt with this, or at least that you and Marianne were going to talk about it.\'94
\par 
\par \'93We, we never really got around to that,\'94 Simon admitted.
\par 
\par \'93And now she\rquote s disappeared, and you can\rquote t talk about it, can you? I think I\rquote ll be having words with that young lady,\'94 Jennifer replied, hardness setting in to her eyes.
\par 
\par \'93Mmmmhmm. Me too,\'94 Simon said, thoughtfully. Then, more clearly as he saw things better, \'93I\rquote m sorry, Jennifer. You thought it had been sorted out, didn\rquote t you \endash  cleared beforehand?\'94
\par 
\par \'93That\rquote s what I told you,\'94 she answered.
\par 
\par \'93Well, then. You did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong. Let\rquote s lay the blame where it belongs. Marianne could have done things much better.\'94
\par 
\par \'93She meant well, you know,\'94 Jennifer told him, \'93but yes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I\rquote m not blameless, I could and should have made sure you knew what was happening and agreed. I didn\rquote t.\'94
\par 
\par Self-honesty prompted Simon to reply, \'93I guess I was enjoying having my, er, well, you know, it was too much to say anything.\'94
\par 
\par That prompted a lopsided smile from Jennifer. \'93Am I that good, then?\'94
\par 
\par Simon blushed even more, and Jennifer laughed, a good, honest-to-God laugh, just as Caroline came in with the tea on a tray.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, good, that\rquote s better!\'94 she declared as she set the tray down on the coffee table. \'93It\rquote s been like a church in here all morning \endash  solemn and heavy.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Simon just paid me a compliment, but it\rquote s something we\rquote ll keep to ourselves,\'94 Jennifer told her niece with a wink. 
Simon was still blushing bright red, but was now smiling broadly as well. They sat together on the sofa, drinking their tea. Jennifer asked about the music they\rquote d heard. \'93I could hear quite a lot in the garden, but couldn\rquote 
t make it all out properly \endash  mainly just the \lquote thump, thump\rquote  of the bass,\'94 she told them.
\par 
\par Simon told her about the bands, and Caroline gave her impressions as well. He felt better again, even when they got to \lquote }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Rocksette\rquote }{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .
\par 
\par \'93They played a really good set,\'94 he remembered, \'93I like them a lot.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline bit down hard on the catty comment she was about to make.
\par 
\par \'93Who was on after them?\'94 Jennifer asked, and as quickly as that the moment was past. Simon skipped quickly through the other bands and concentrated on telling Jennifer all about Pink Fl
oyd. Jennifer tried to be interested, but it was obvious that it wasn\rquote t really her \lquote thing\rquote .
\par 
\par The day wore on, and the telephone remained stubbornly silent. They were all, for slightly different reasons, waiting to hear from Marianne.
\par 
\par Finally the phone did ring, and of course all three of them jumped in surprise. Jennifer got up to answer it.
\par 
\par \'93Hello? Marianne? Oh, goodness, we\rquote ve been worried about you, love. You\rquote re where? Oh, okay. You want to speak to Simon? Okay, I\rquote ll get him.\'94 She beckoned Simon to the phone.
\par 
\par \'93Hello, Marianne?\'94 he said, and heard her slightly scratchy, \'93Hello, Simon. Are you okay?\'94 in response.
\par 
\par \'93Yeah, fine. I had a nasty hangover, but it\rquote s mostly gone. I\rquote ve had a pair of wonderful nurses looking after me this morning,\'94 he teased. Marianne chuckled from the other end of the line. \'93I\rquote ll bet you have,\'94 she told him.

\par 
\par \'93I\rquote m still at Chris\rquote  place, Simon,\'94 she told him. \'93Is Caroline there with you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, she\rquote s here, do you want to speak to her?\'94
\par 
\par \'93In a minute. I need to speak to you, first, Simon. Did you have fun at the party?\'94
\par 
\par \lquote Oh, shit,\rquote  thought Simon, \lquote here it comes.\rquote 
\par 
\par \'93I had a great time, Marianne. From what I could tell, you enjoyed yourself too?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, I did, thanks.\'94
\par 
\par \'93What did you enjoy most, Mari?\'94 he asked her. The words came out before he could consider their possible ramifications.
\par 
\par \'93Well, I did what I said I wanted to do. I got drunk, got high and got laid. You?\'94
\par 
\par Honesty versus Embarrassment. Honesty won, along with a little payback, especially since he was needled that Marianne was }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof there}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  instead of }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof here}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , and had plainly had a good time \endash  and had sex. With someone other than him.
\par 
\par \'93Simon?\'94 Marianne prompted. He realised that he\rquote d fallen quiet.
\par 
\par \'93The same, to all three. Do we want to share details?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I don\rquote t think so, not over the phone, anyway,\'94 she laughed. \'93It might make my Aunt\rquote s hair go white, hearing your description!\'94 Now it was Marianne\rquote s turn to go quiet.
\par 
\par \'93Simon? Er, look. You\rquote ve got Chris\rquote  number, haven\rquote t you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93At home, yes, but not with me here,\'94 he replied, uneasily. She gave it to him, and he wrote it down on the pad that Jennifer kept next to the phone. Then he heard Marianne hesitate. He thought it was unlike her, she was normally so self-assured.

\par 
\par \'93Simon, you know how, when the dawn comes, and you don\rquote t want the day to end? Well, erm \endash  why don\rquote t we consider the party to be going on for the rest of the week?\'94
\par 
\par  \'93You\rquote re joking, of course!\'94 he told her, instantly. \'93I\rquote ll drive me and Caroline back and come and pick you up\'85\'94
\par 
\par Marianne interrupted him, though.
\par 
\par \'93No, Simon, I\rquote m serious. I\rquote m having fun, and you could too. Chris is going to take me out tonight, and we\rquote ll have a drink, and smoke a bit \endash  you know \endash  and probably we\rquote ll, well, you know that as well. But it
\rquote s just fun, Simon. Look, I know Caroline would }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof love}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  to \endash \'94
\par 
\par \'93Stop right there, Marianne. Just stop! You can\rquote t mean this. It\rquote s not right!\'94 Simon\rquote s voice was raised, he could feel his blood singing in his veins.
\par 
\par \'93Don\rquote t you tell }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof me}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  what I can and can\rquote t do, Simon Cook!\'94 she shouted back.
\par 
\par Simon tried to control his temper. \'93Look. I know you\rquote re just testing me, right? Just winding me up? But it\rquote s not a nice thing to do, Marianne, it\rquote s not, and bringing your sister into it is }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof not on}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof . I\rquote m coming back, and we\rquote ll sort this out over a drink, and go to bed, and cuddle afterwards. That always makes you feel better!\'94 He finished that sentence sounding far more confident than he felt.
\par 
\par \'93NO, Simon. Stay there, or at least, don\rquote t come here. I have plans for tonight.\'94 Marianne was quiet for a moment, then she carried on in a calmer voice, \'93But tomorrow\'85 well, I guess tomorrow we should meet up. What you said sounds nice,
\'94 she finished.
\par 
\par \lquote One more day. It can\rquote t make }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof that}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  much difference, can it?\rquote  he told himself, trying to convince that part of him that was shouting \lquote Danger! Danger!\rquote 
 He failed.
\par 
\par \'93Okay than, Simon, I\rquote ll see you tomorrow. I\rquote ll meet you at your place and we can go and have a drink. All right?\'94
\par 
\par Simon grunted his acceptance, if not his agreement.
\par 
\par \'93Could you put Caroline on, please?\'94 Marianne asked. Simon put his hand over the microphone and called her sister over, relinquishing the handset to her. He went to the sofa and sat heavi
ly. He looked at Jennifer and caught the sympathetic eyes of Marianne\rquote s Aunt on him. He looked away, angry and also embarrassed that he\rquote d been shouting at her niece like that.
\par 
\par He tuned out the rest of the conversation, replaying his call with Marianne over and over. One moment he was certain she\rquote 
d broken up with him, the next he was sure she wanted to get back together, and then again, she probably only wanted to see him in order to break up with him face-to-face. Then he\rquote d go around again.
\par 
\par He finally noticed that someone was poking his arm.
\par 
\par \'93Simon? Hello, Houston calling Simon!\'94
\par 
\par \'93}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof What!?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94 he snarled, annoyed at being interrupted.
\par 
\par Caroline recoiled. \'93Well! I }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof was}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  going to tell you that Marianne asked me what happened last night, and I told her. Yes, I told her about you and that singer.\'94 (\'93Alison\'94
, Simon contributed, but Caroline didn\rquote t let him interrupt her.) She asked if you\rquote d slept with me. I told her, no, I wouldn\rquote t, couldn\rquote t do that, and neither would you, and I also told her straight that she shouldn\rquote 
t do this to you.\'94
\par 
\par Her voice softened, and she continued, \'93She won\rquote t be swayed, Simon. I\rquote m sorry. So I told her that I\rquote d look after you tonight. We can go home, or stay here, we can go out, or not, it\rquote s entirely up to you. But Mari doesn
\rquote t want you left alone, she cares about you, she really does. So do I, Simon.\'94 She leant forward and quickly pecked him on the forehead, catching him by surprise. \'93A lot.\'94
\par 
\par Simon was confused, but the thought of getting home and avoiding another night on the couch was appealing. Besides, he wasn\rquote t entirely sure he trusted Jennifer. Or Marianne.
\par 
\par Or Caroline, come to that. Suddenly Simon knew he }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof had}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  to get home, get back to familiar, safe surroundings. He gathered up his wits and asked Jennifer, \'93
Would you mind if I went home? You wouldn\rquote t be offended?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Good Lord, no, Simon. Of course I\rquote m not offended.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Good!\'94 Simon climbed to his feet, and watched Caroline pull herself up as well. \'93I\rquote ll go get my stuff together,\'94 she told him. Simon wasn\rquote 
t entirely sure he wanted to take her back with him, but knew it would be churlish to say she couldn\rquote t come \endash  how else was she to get home to her family?
\par 
\par \'93Okay,\'94 he said, on an explosive expulsion of breath. \'93I\rquote ll get my kit together as well. There\rquote s not much }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof to}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  that, actually.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ll make some tea,\'94 Jennifer told them both, \'93you can have a cuppa before you leave.\'94 Simon started to object, but Jennifer merely rode over that, saying, \'93No, you\rquote ll need a hot drink before you go. You\rquote 
re still not really over the drinking from last night!\'94 Since Jennifer was likely to be right, Simon shut up.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
\par Simon was quiet as he drove home with Caroline. He didn\rquote t what to think, let alone say. So he contented himself with driving the Mini as quickly as possible back home.
\par 
\par Caroline sat next to him, also quiet. She\rquote d resolved to take her chance, but then she\rquote d decided to slow things down. Had she missed out again? Simon was acting as if she wasn\rquote t there at }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof all}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .
\par 
\par It had begun to rain, a light drizzle of the kind that gets people soaked even though it doesn\rquote t seem to be raining hard. It was early evening and the oncoming traffic had their headlights on.
\par 
\par They reached the coast road, and the familiar outskirts of home. Caroline\rquote s opportunity was slipping away from her, she was sure. Again. She was going to end up lonely }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof again}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .
\par 
\par \'93Do you think I\rquote m pretty?\'94 she blurted out. \lquote Huh? Where did }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof that}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  come from?\rquote  she thought.
\par 
\par \'93Pardon me?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Do you think I\rquote m pretty?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ve been going out with your }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof identical sister}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  for quite a while \endash  of }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof course}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  I think you\rquote re pretty!
\'94 Simon answered.
\par 
\par \'93It\rquote s just that boys always flock around Mari, but not me. I know we look the same, but I always feel }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof less}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  than her, somehow.\'94
\par 
\par Simon looked across at his passenger. \'93You\rquote re every bit as pretty as your sister. Right now, I think you\rquote re nicer than she is, too.\'94 Simon ended that sentence sounding very, }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof very}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  down.
\par 
\par Caroline slipped the catch on her seatbelt and leant over to him \endash  not a long way in a Mini. She kissed his cheek, then pulled away.
\par 
\par \'93Thanks, Simon. You\rquote re a nice guy, you don\rquote t deserve what Mari\rquote s done to you.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I expect we\rquote ll sort it out tomorrow, Caroline. Marianne and me. Oh, and better do that belt up again, please.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Looking after me again, Simon,\'94 Caroline said, shyly grinning at him from under her lashes as she did as she was told. \'93But\'85 I shouldn\rquote t say this. Not really. But I will.\'94 She turned in her seat to look directly at him. \'93
I never did tell you about our Rule, did I Simon?\'94
\par 
\par Simon was concentrating more on driving here in the town. But he heard something in Caroline\rquote s voice that made him look over at her.
\par 
\par \'93Before you take me home, can we talk for a minute?\'94 she asked. Simon nodded after a moment, turned off and after a while parked along the seafront. \'93Fancy a coffee and a sandwich?\'94
\par 
\par \'93That\rquote ll be good, Simon. Thanks!\'94
\par 
\par A short while later they were sitting at a table in a seafront caf\'e9, each with a coffee in front of them. Simon had a sandwich, Caroline had declared herself not hungry.
\par 
\par \'93Okay,\'94 Simon said, \'93you\rquote ve been mentioning this }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof rule}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  but haven\rquote t said what it is.\'94
\par 
\par \'93That\rquote s right, Simon. You\rquote ll understand when I tell you.\'94 She took a deep, deep breath. \'93Marianne and I never poach each other\rquote s boyfriends.\'94 She sat back, pleased to have got }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof that }{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof out.
\par 
\par Simon waited a moment before saying, \'93That\rquote s }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof it?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94
\par 
\par \'93You don\rquote t understand, yet, do you? I want you, Simon, I have done for a long time. It was }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof you}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  who rescued me from a fire, you see. It was the fire at Ronnie\rquote 
s, over a year ago. You took off your helmet, and I kissed you. I knew }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof then}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , Simon, all that long, long time ago. But I couldn\rquote t make myself come forward. I c
ried myself to sleep, Simon, I did, for }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof ages}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , until I thought I\rquote d got over it. Over you. But I hadn\rquote 
t, and that became clear when you arrived at the door one day asking for Marianne. She\rquote d got to you }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof first}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , and we have this Rule, like I said. So now I knew
 who you were, where to find you \endash  and it was }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof no good}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , because}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  she\rquote d}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  got to you first, and she\rquote s }{
\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof not GOOD ENOUGH!}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  Not for you, Simon.\'94
\par 
\par Through this amazing tirade Simon sat in increasing amazement. He remembered her, now! He remembered the rescue quite well \endash  it was one of the first shouts he\rquote d been on, and his actual first time doing anything he\rquote d call }{
\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof brave}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof . He stifled a grin at the thought that John would have called it, did call it }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof foolhardy}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
, but he also got a slap on the back for it.
\par 
\par He also remembered the girl, remembered the kiss. That was Caroline?
\par 
\par \'93I didn\rquote t really see you, not properly, you know,\'94 he said, a note of wonder in his voice. But then he sat back. \'93So, now you\rquote re breaking the rule you sisters have? You\rquote re trying to make a play for me, while I\rquote 
m going out with Marianne?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, God, Simon.\'94 Caroline didn\rquote t want to tell him that Marianne had already dumped him, that she\rquote d decided Chris was better for her now. But\'85
\par 
\par \'93What?\'94 Simon asked, a little testily now.
\par 
\par Caroline held her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking a little. She lifted her head, and Simon could see tear tracks before she impatiently wiped them away with the back of her hand.
\par 
\par \'93Nothing. Have your meeting tomorrow with Marianne. Just\'85 just don\rquote t think we\rquote re both alike, we\rquote re }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof not}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof . And please, please, don\rquote 
t say anything to her about me, about this. I don\rquote t know what I\rquote m doing, really. I just, just don\rquote t want you to, to\'85 forget me.
\par 
\par Simon leaned forward again and traced the side of her face with his forefinger, gently. She leaned into the touch a little.
\par 
\par \'93I couldn\rquote t forget you, Caroline. But I need to get things sorted out with Marianne.\'94
\par 
\par \'93O \endash  okay,\'94 she answered.
\par 
\par Simon drove her home and watched as she ran up the path to her front door. There was no goodbye kiss, but she did turn at the door and give him a wave and a shaky smile, visible in the hall light, before shutting the door.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {
\par }}