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}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid-119\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid-125\listoverridecount0\ls2}{\listoverride\listid-126\listoverridecount0\ls3}{\listoverride\listid-127\listoverridecount0\ls4}{\listoverride\listid-128
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\listoverridecount0\ls10}{\listoverride\listid626861858\listoverridecount0\ls11}}{\info{\title Winter Fires - Chapter 11}{\author steveh11}{\operator steveh11}{\creatim\yr2007\mo11\dy27\hr20\min45}{\revtim\yr2007\mo11\dy27\hr20\min45}
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Chapter 11{\*\bkmkend _Toc183361102}
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\par It was the next morning. Caroline heard her sister\rquote s voice from the front door, \'93Hi, Mum! Hi, Cari!\'94
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\par Caroline got up and stomped into the hallway.
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\par \'93You }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof BITCH!}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94 she shouted.
\par 
\par \'93Huh?\'94 was Marianne\rquote s response, coming at the same time as her mother\rquote s reprimand, \'93Caroline! Language!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Do you know what you\rquote ve }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof done?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94 she shouted at Marianne. \'93You blithely went off with your new fella, assuming Simon would just pick up with me, }{
\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof didn\rquote t you!?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94
\par 
\par Marianne was looking at her sister in shock, her mother had her hand in front of her mouth. Neither had seen Caroline in such a fury for a long, long time.
\par 
\par \'93Cari,\'94 Marianne began, but Caroline wasn\rquote t about to let her sister get a word in edgeways.
\par 
\par \'93Shuttup! Listen to me, for a change! Simon took me home yesterday, ignoring me for almost the whole trip back! He dropped me off outside here and told me to tell you that he\rquote ll see you tomorrow. Now, tell }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof me}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , plain and clear: Are you going to try to make up with him, or is it over?\'94
\par 
\par \'93It\rquote s not that simple, Cari,\'94
\par 
\par \'93}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof YES IT IS!}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94 Caroline shouted at Marianne, before suddenly bursting into tears. 
\par 
\par Tina moved to place an arm around her daughter. \'93What\rquote s happened, you two?\'94 Both Marianne and Caroline began to talk at once, but Tina stopped them. \'93Quiet! One at a time, please. Marianne, you first.\'94
\par 
\par \'93We went to a party after the show. Simon and I agreed that we\rquote d enjoy whatever opportunities came up. I saw him going off with the lead singer of one of the bands \endash  she\rquote s a bit of a dish \endash 
 and I went with Chris, the photographer. That\rquote s it.\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, that\rquote s not all of it, is it, Marianne?\'94 countered Caroline. \'93You stayed with Chris last night as well! Also, when we met at the party, you gave me the go-ahead. Didn\rquote t you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, yes. Kinda. But that was at the party, and last night was, was\'85 well. It was just last night. At least, that was the plan.\'94 Marianne looked down at her shoes. \'93I\rquote m a bit embarrassed to say this, but, well, Chris and I got on }{
\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof really}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  well.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Just sort it out with young Simon, Marianne. He deserves better than to have you stringing him along, if that\rquote s the way this is going!\'94 Tina told her daughter.
\par 
\par Marianne looked like she\rquote d swallowed something that }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof really}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  didn\rquote t agree with her. \'93I love Simon,\'94 she began, then tailed off. \'93I\rquote 
m going up to my room, to have a sleep on it. Wake me at half past eleven, please, Mum? Cari, I\'85 I don\rquote t know what to say. I did give you the go-ahead, as you put it, but I meant just for the party. But since then\'85 I\rquote 
ll talk to you before I see Simon. Please, give me the chance to get some sleep first?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline stood, arms folded in front of her and gave her sister a look that would have frozen the Thames. \'93All right. Eleven thirty, then. Marianne.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s41\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 At eleven thirty }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof precisely}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  Caroline knocked on her sister\rquote s door. She heard Marianne\rquote s voice, \'93Cari? Come in.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline walked into the bedroom and closed the door. Her sister was sting on her bed, legs folded under her.
\par 
\par \'93I thought you were going to get an hour or two of kip?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I was, but I just couldn\rquote t get to sleep. Sit down, please, Cari.\'94 Caroline stood stubbornly in front of her sister, arms crossed in front of her chest. \'93Please, Cari?\'94 Marianne asked again, almost pleading.
\par 
\par \'93Okay!\'94 Caroline answered, and sat stiffly on the edge of the bed.
\par 
\par Marianne began.
\par 
\par \'93I thought about what to say for a long time, Cari. I know I could have done things better, and I\rquote m sorry about that.
\par 
\par \'93At the party, I just went a little crazy, I guess. I\rquote ve never had the chance to actually be at one like that, and the possibilities \endash  well, I go
t carried away with the ideas, I guess. I told Simon I wanted to get high, get drunk and get laid, and strongly implied that I wanted him to do the same. And he did, didn\rquote t he?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, he did,\'94 Caroline answered. \'93If I hadn\rquote t got to him, he says he\rquote d probably have done some cocaine, he\rquote d already had at least one spliff that I noticed, he\rquote d been drinking \endash  and yes, he\rquote 
d got laid. By that guitarist woman, the blonde.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Hmm. Shall I tell you what happened to me, Cari? I got propositioned all over the place, but mostly by guys I didn\rquote t want to touch me }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof at all}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
. I ended up hardly drinking at all for fear of my glass being tampered with. I smoked a little weed, yes \endash  but that\rquote s all. I got offered cocaine, and more. One guy even tried really, really hard to persuad
e me to give it a try. I was going to give in, but then Chris came on the scene and took over so smoothly you wouldn\rquote t believe it. He just took my arm, chatted to me as if nothing was going on at all and steered me out of there.\'94
\par 
\par \'93So you thought you\rquote d pay him back by screwing him.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, yes, at first that\rquote s what it was. When we met you and Simon in the corridor that\rquote s what we\rquote d been doing. But\'85 Chris did something. To me, I mean.\'94
\par 
\par Now Caroline\rquote s face grew }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof really}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  hard.
\par 
\par \'93No, no, Cari, not like that, he didn\rquote t hurt me, or anything. He\'85 woke something up in me, I guess. That\rquote s why I went with him last night, and let him bring me home. We stayed at his place last night.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote d worked }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof that}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  out!\'94 spat her sister.
\par 
\par \'93Cari! Calm down, please, sis. I think.. I think Chris might be The One. You know?\'94
\par 
\par For the first time, Caroline\rquote s face cleared. \'93Really?\'94 she asked, voice slightly hushed.
\par 
\par \'93Uh-huh. I felt close to Simon, but Chris\'85 I tell you I get goose bumps at his name already.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Mari! You can\rquote t be sure this quickly!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, we }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof have}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  known each other for months, and he }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof has}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  seen all of me there is to see. Well, pretty much. We don\rquote 
t do \lquote pink bits\rquote  as you know. But he saw them all right last night\'85\'94
\par 
\par Caroline couldn\rquote t help it, she giggled!
\par 
\par \'93So yes, it\rquote s quick, but not really that quick. So now I have to let Simon down, I guess.\'94 Marianne looked sad when she said this. Caroline saw that her sister really didn\rquote t want to hurt her boyfriend \endash  well, former boyfriend.

\par 
\par \'93Mari, in the corridor \endash  you expected me to take Simon into that room, didn\rquote t you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, I hoped, but then again, I know you. I expected you to be unable to make your mind up. I rather hoped that Simon would have taken the hint, actually.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I think he was oblivious. That blonde \endash \'94
\par 
\par \'93Alison\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yeah, her, she really wore him out, I think. That\rquote s why she was trying to get him to do the drug.
\par 
\par \'93Coke\rquote s supposed to be good for that,\'94 mused Marianne.
\par 
\par \'93Mari!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, shush! Mum\rquote ll hear you! No, I didn\rquote t do any, I\rquote m just left wondering what it would be like.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Anyhow, no, we didn\rquote t get it on together. I think he was too shell-shocked by Allison, and really didn\rquote t seem to want to hit a room with me \endash  but I tell you, I made up my mind right then. I wanted him. I just couldn\rquote 
t find a way of getting him into bed at the party.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Marianne smiled at her sister. \'93Did you think of just asking?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I thought about it, yes, but I couldn\rquote t say the words, and then Simon wanted to get back to Aunt Jen\rquote s place. I couldn\rquote t find the right time to say anything. And then I }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof did}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'85 and it didn\rquote t go too well.\'94 Caroline\rquote s voice got very quiet as she finished that sentence, almost dying to a whisper.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, Cari. What happened?\'94
\par 
\par \'93He \endash  he got the idea I was making a play for him while he was still going out with you. It was after the party, you see, we\rquote d stopped off at the caf\'e9 on the seafront, and I started to explain\'85
 and he told me off for trying to get him while he was still going out with you.\'94
\par 
\par Marianne held her face in her hands for a moment. \'93I\rquote ve really screwed this up,\'94 Caroline heard her sob before she lifted her face again and said, \'93I\rquote ll tell him, Cari. I will. I\rquote m really sorry. You haven\rquote 
t done anything wrong, it\rquote s me.\'94 She sat up straighter on the bed. \'93I\rquote ll sort this out, Cari. You still want to go out with him, don\rquote t you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, yes!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Then I\rquote ll let him down as gently as I can, and let him know that you\rquote re more than interested, too. Okay?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline stood up. \'93Okay, Marianne.\'94 Her sister stood up too, and they embraced before Caroline turned, gave Marianne a quick, bright smile over her shoulder, and left.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s41\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 heard the doorbell ring, and was in the doorway of his room when his mother opened the front door and said, \'93Oh, hello Marianne. Lovely to see you. He\rquote s upstairs, dear.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Coming!\'94 he called and ran down the stairs. Marianne greeted him with a hug and a smile, but Simon saw that there was something wrong. He didn\rquote t quite know how }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof he}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  felt, either.

\par 
\par \'93Shall we go for a walk, Simon?\'94 she asked him. \'93Sure,\'94 he replied, grabbing his coat. She turned, twining her arm in his, and they walked off.
\par 
\par \'93Friendship Path?\'94 he asked her, and she nodded. They walked in near-silence for a few minutes.
\par 
\par Eventually, Simon stopped, sat on the grass and pulled Marianne down to sit next to him. She sighed, looked at Simon, looked down at her feet and then away into the distance. Finally, she looked him in the eye.
\par 
\par \'93Simon, we need to talk about that party.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, I know. We, er, we weren\rquote t very responsible, were we?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Marianne gave him a tired smile. \'93No, not very. Well, we weren\rquote 
t completely off the rails, either. As things go, what we did was very mild. But we hurt each other, and I especially hurt you, I think. So I need to tell you what happened, and you need to tell me your side, and then we can decide where we go from here.
\'94
\par 
\par Simon }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof really}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  didn\rquote t like the way this was sounding, but he didn\rquote t think he really had a choice. He nodded, and told Marianne, \'93Okay. You going to go first?\'94
\par 
\par Marianne took a deep breath before agreeing, \'93Okay.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I railroaded you into agreeing to that as we arrived at the party, Simon. I\rquote m sorry, I shouldn\rquote t have. I wanted to see how the other half partied, and in the end I chickened out, really.\'94 She told him what she\rquote 
d told Caroline earlier. \'93I\rquote d been expecting to be knee-deep in rock \lquote n roll types, all hair and attitude and }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof sex}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
, but what I found was just a bunch of overweight oafs and boring guys in suits, who were just there trying to get their end away after scoring some easy drugs.
\par 
\par \'93I didn\rquote t want anything to do with them, really. But I was drinking, and my resolve was weakening about the drugs. I think if I\rquote d taken more weed, or tried the cocaine, I\rquote d have ended up as a party favour. I\rquote 
m on the Pill, Simon, but some of those guys looked less than clean, okay? }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Not}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  what I want!
\par 
\par \'93And then, just as I\rquote m about to give in, Chris comes along and gets me out of there. He\rquote s a nice guy, we know each other a bit, and\'85 well, he\rquote s there, and I\rquote 
m grateful. One thing led to another, and then you found us in that corridor.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, I remember,\'94 Simon told her. \'93But \endash \'94
\par 
\par \'93Let me finish, please Simon, there\rquote s more. That first fuck I let him have because I was grateful, and I was drunk, and a bit high. But\'85 There was a spark. So I stayed with him, and went home with him. I got back to Mum\rquote 
s this morning, late, had a row with Cari \endash  well, you\rquote ll find out later about that, I expect.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Huh?\'94 Simon said, but it didn\rquote t stop Marianne.
\par 
\par \'93Quiet. While I was with Chris\'85 it was different from when he was the photographer, I was the model. Simon, I\rquote m really, really sorry, but I\rquote ve fallen for him.\'94
\par 
\par \'93}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof CHRIS?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94
\par 
\par \'93Please don\rquote t get angry, Simon. Please?\'94
\par 
\par Simon jumped up. \'93Don\rquote t get angry? When you say you\rquote re sorry, but you\rquote re not going to be my girlfriend anymore because you\rquote ve decided to take up with an old man?\'94
\par 
\par \'93He\rquote s not old! And besides, you went with the blonde!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, but I didn\rquote t }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof fall}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  for her!\'94 Simon shouted, shoving the thought that he so }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof nearly}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
 had way, way back into the back of his mind.
\par 
\par Marianne crumpled, sobbing, \'93I know, Simon. I\rquote m sorry, but I }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof did}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  fall for Chris. I didn\rquote t want to lie to you, so I wanted to tell you straight away. And I didn\rquote 
t mean it to happen, but it did. Please don\rquote t hate me, Simon.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Hate you? That\rquote s too good for you, Marianne!\'94 shouted Simon, storming off. He walked resolutely away down the pat
h, hearing nothing and caring less about what was happening behind him. His anger was a live thing, burning inside him that he fed for a while, adding small pieces of hurt, of betrayal to it to keep it white-hot.
\par 
\par His body stiff, his back straight, Simon walked away from Marianne.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s41\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 \'93Simon? Simon! Come to the phone! It\rquote s Marianne!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Tell her I\rquote m not in!\'94 Simon yelled to his mother, then he slammed the door shut and threw himself on his bed.
\par 
\par He heard a knock on his door. \'93}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof What?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94 he snarled.
\par 
\par \'93Can I come in?\'94 he heard his mother ask.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, okay,\'94 he told her. She walked in and sat on his bed, while Simon watched her through sullen eyes.
\par 
\par \'93Simon Cook, I\rquote m surprised at you! You\rquote ve obviously had some sort of falling out with Marianne, but that\rquote s no reason to shout at me, or to be rude to her. This, this\'85\'94 she waved her hands in some indistinct gesture. \'93This 
}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof act}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  of yours is silly and juvenile, not like you at all! You\rquote re a responsible young man, not a young teenager! }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Behave}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
 like it!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yeah, yeah,\'94 Simon answered, but he did sit up and regard his mother with more respect. \'93I\rquote m sorry, Mum, it\rquote s just\'85 I feel }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof used}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .\'94
\par 
\par \'93By Marianne? How? Why?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Good questions, Mum.\'94 He proceeded to lay out the story of the party, starting briefly with the concert, leaving out only the details, but making plain his own involvement with Alison. \'93I guess in that respect I\rquote m to blame as well,\'94
 he said, \'93I went along with Marianne because I saw a possibility, and went for it. But Alison was, well, she was a bit false, I guess. No that\rquote s not right,\'94 Simon was trying to tell what happened without bringing up the drugs. \'93
I guess she was only interested in the sex,\'94 he told his mother, \'93and that just wasn\rquote t what I wanted.\'94
\par 
\par \'93What happened then?\'94 asked Jackie, quietly.
\par 
\par \'93Caroline found me, and we were just going back to the party when we bumped into Marianne. With Chris. She more or less tried to throw me to Caroline and waltzed off with the bloke.\'94
\par 
\par His mother winced.
\par 
\par \'93Yeah. But y\rquote know, I could get over that, because of what we agreed \endash  and I }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof did}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  agree \endash 
 before the party started. But she stayed with him overnight, and then she blithely tells me she\rquote s \lquote fallen for him\rquote  this afternoon. As good as gave me my marching orders, she did.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Did you and Caroline\'85\'94
\par 
\par \'93No. No, we didn\rquote t. To be honest, I wasn\rquote t in the mood even if she\rquote d paraded in front of me, naked, with her Aunt.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Her }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Aunt?}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \'94
\par 
\par Simon tried to cover his slip. \'93Well, she looks like her nieces, just a few years older.
\par 
\par \'93Oh. Okay.\'94 His mother gave him a shrewd look. \'93But Simon, if all that\rquote s true, }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof why}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  would Marianne now want to talk to you?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Just to twist the knife, I guess,\'94 he answered darkly. But it was a thought, wasn\rquote t it?
\par 
\par \'93If she rings again, }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof talk}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  to her. If she doesn\rquote t, well, she doesn\rquote t. You\rquote ll get over it, Simon. You will.\'94 She tousled her son\rquote 
s hair, then tried unsuccessfully to make it lie flat again. \'93Oops.\'94
\par 
\par He interposed his hand and arm, ducking out of the way. \'93Mum!\'94
\par 
\par But he was grinning, and Jackie decided to retire and accept the small victory. \'93All right, I\rquote ll leave you alone. But think about what I said, Simon.\'94
\par 
\par Think about it he did. \lquote I\rquote ve not been terribly grown up, have I?\'94 he mused. \lquote Best thing is to make a clean break of it.\'94 If Marianne called, he was going to tell her it was over. That was it, no 
more of Marianne Simmons for Simon!\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s41\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 But the next night, the doorbell rang, and Simon\rquote s mother opened it. \'93Marianne?\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, it\rquote s Caroline. Um, can I see Simon please?\'94
\par 
\par Caroline was surprised by the glare that she\rquote d got from Simon\rquote s mother, but it faded after she\rquote d identified herself. She was ushered in to the house and led to the sitting room. Jackie called up to her son, \'93Simon? Visitor!\'94

\par 
\par After a pause Simon came into the room. \'93Oh. Caroline?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, it\rquote s me. I gather you don\rquote t want to talk to my sister, Simon.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, no. I think it\rquote s best we draw a line. Let\rquote s face it, it\rquote s over between us,\'94 he responded, sitting next to her on the sofa.
\par 
\par Caroline nodded. \'93Okay, I\rquote ll pass that on,\'94 she told him in a small, quiet voice. \'93Or maybe you\rquote d prefer to tell her yourself?\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, I think she made it clear how she felt, Caroline. I hope she\rquote ll be happy with Chris, I really do. I liked her a lot.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline laid her head at an angle onto her shoulder. \'93You sure it wasn\rquote t more than that?\'94
\par 
\par Simon was quiet for a moment. \'93It may have been,\'94 he allowed, \'93but that\rquote s in the past. I have to get over it.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline moved closer to him. \'93You don\rquote t have to get over it alone, Simon. \'93I can help you.\'94 Caroline was blushing furiously and she looked down, then away from him to hide it.
\par 
\par \'93Caroline?\'94 she heard him say after a moment. \'93What do you mean?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I mean \endash  I mean I\rquote m not Marianne. I know it\rquote ll be a problem because I look like her and all, but we\rquote re different, }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof inside}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof . I wouldn\rquote 
t hurt you like she did.\'94
\par 
\par \'93You want me to go out with you.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes,\'94 she replied on a breath, turning to face him once more. \'93Yes.\'94
\par 
\par \'93So I was right, before.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, but\'85 But Simon, please? Give it a try, at least. Give }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof me}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  a try?\'94 Caroline was determined not to cry, not to use tears as a weapon, but it was }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
hard}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , so hard. Her throat was thick with emotion and her eyes stung, but she held herself together. She bit her lip, waiting for Simon to say something. She really didn\rquote t want to beg\'85
\par 
\par \'93Let\rquote s try a date. Let\rquote s say that it\rquote s new, that we\rquote d not met, or at least that }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof she}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  hadn\rquote t happened, We could try that, couldn\rquote t we, Simon?\'94

\par 
\par Finally, he nodded. \'93Yes, we could try that, Caroline. Okay. Where shall we go?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Can you take me dancing tonight, please? No-one ever takes me dancing?\'94
\par 
\par Simon gave her a look that plainly said he didn\rquote t believe her, but answered, \'93Fine, Caroline. We\rquote ll go for a drink first, then dancing at \lquote }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Sundowners}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \rquote . Okay?
\'94
\par 
\par \'93More than okay, Simon! Thank you!\'94
\par 
\par Caroline leant into him and kissed his cheek. 
\par }\pard\plain \s41\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 By unspoken assent they avoided the \lquote }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Cross Keys}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \rquote  and went to a pub that Simon hadn\rquote 
t taken Marianne to. Simon bought a pint, while Caroline asked for a Southern Comfort and lemonade. He led her to a quiet table away from the bar area and they sat. They both looked at their drinks, neither able to start the conversation at first.
\par 
\par Simon was looking her over her, she saw. She saw his eyes track from her hair, tonight pulled up on top of her head, to her suit jacket, a smart pale grey jacket over the shee
r, semi see-through blouse, and on down to her trousers, fitted closely to her body. Her red patent leather shoes matched her finger and toenail varnish. Her makeup was understated, enhancing rather than concealing. This date meant a }{
\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof lot}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  to Caroline. Her s
ister and mother had spent a long time with her, comparing outfits, helping with her hair and makeup and building her up when her natural shyness made her threaten to pull out altogether.
\par 
\par The dress code for \lquote }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Sundowners}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \rquote  was what they called \lquote smart casual\rquote ; T-shirts and jeans wouldn\rquote 
t work, neither would running shoes or workboots. Simon was wearing a jacket and tie both in navy blue, his shirt was a paler shade while his trousers were darker. His natural blonde locks went well with it, and he\rquote d even manage
d to partially tame them into semi-submission.
\par 
\par They sat together, neither saying anything, each taking the other in.
\par 
\par \lquote Oh, God, this is a disaster!\rquote  worried Caroline. She forced herself to ask something, to get things going again.
\par 
\par \'93It was my old bosses\rquote  wife that introduced me to drinking these,\'94 she said, lifting her glass.
\par 
\par \'93Hmm? Really?\'94 responded Simon, \'93Southern Comfort?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes. It was a couple of years ago, nearly. Ronnie and Kathy, his wife, took all us girls out for a drink. I think it was to celebrate them being open for ten years, something like that. Kathy bought me one of these, and I found I liked it.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ve never tried it,\'94 Simon said, and Caroline held her glass to him. He took a sip, and gave it obvious thought. \'93It\rquote s kinda sweet, but I can see how you could like it.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I like sweet things,\'94 Caroline smiled. \'93I prefer sweet wine to dry, I prefer desserts to starters, and I love the sweet counter! I have to be careful, though, else I would pile on the weight!\'94
\par 
\par \'93I can\rquote t see that you\rquote ve had a problem with it, Caroline. You\rquote ve a lovely figure.\'94 For a moment Caroline thought he was going to compare her to her sister, but he didn\rquote t.
\par 
\par \'93How about you? Are you a sweet or savoury person?\'94 she asked after a moment.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, savoury, I think, yes, savoury. But I do like a sweet, too.  Guess I just like food!\'94 he grinned. Caroline couldn\rquote t get enough of that grin, it lit up his face, and he looked }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof so}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  handsome, she thought.
\par 
\par They chatted on about this and that, keeping it light, sticking to safe topics, just gently getting to know each other. Caroline was impatient, wanting to move things along much faster, but }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof knew}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  she couldn\rquote t musn\rquote t do that.
\par 
\par Simon was loosening up, she thought. She glanced at her wrist, where her dainty little watch told her it was already nearly ten o\rquote clock.
\par 
\par Simon saw. \'93Oh! Sorry, Caroline. You want to go dancing, don\rquote t you. What time is it already?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Nearly ten,\'94 she told him, hopefully.
\par 
\par \'93Okay.\'94 He glanced at her glass. He\rquote d kept it refilled while they were in the pub, but it was empty now. \'93I\rquote ll just finish this,\'94 he told her, draining his beer, \'93and we can go shake a leg!\'94
\par 
\par Caroline couldn\rquote t quite stifle the giggle at his phrasing. \'93What?\'94 he asked her, a self-aware smile threatening to burst over his face.
\par 
\par \'93You!\'94 she exclaimed, \'93Have you been dancing with your parents or something? \lquote Shake a leg\rquote , huh?\'94 He laughed, a God\rquote 
s-honest real laugh, for the first time that night, as he stood up. He was still laughing as he crooked his arm for her, and they left the pub on that high note.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s41\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 Not long after the couple arrived at \lquote }{\cs25\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Sundowners}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof \rquote  Simon found out something he\rquote d not noticed before:
\par 
\par Caroline could dance. She could really }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof dance}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .
\par 
\par They were dancing to a fast track, some sort of generic disco music that normally would 
have had Simon running for cover, but he was ensorcelled by her movement and enthusiasm. This was a whole new Caroline; she would, Simon was sure, have outshone her sister had she been present too. A couple of tracks later and mercifully the DJ played a s
lower track, and he was able to pull her in close and talk to her without yelling.
\par 
\par \'93Wow! I never knew you could dance like that!\'94 he told her.
\par 
\par \'93Oh! I\rquote ve always enjoyed dancing,\'94 she said, directly into his ear.
\par 
\par \'93It\rquote s like seeing a whole new you,\'94 Simon said, \'93like a third twin.\'94 When Caroline laughed at him, he laughed as well when he worked out what he\rquote d said. \'93Well, you know what I mean.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I guess so, Simon. I just feel different when I\rquote m moving to music.\'94
\par 
\par \'93I wonder why you can\rquote t feel as free when posing?\'94 wondered Simon. He felt Caroline stiffen, realised he\rquote d compared her to Marianne and immediately apologised, \'93I\rquote m sorry, I shouldn\rquote t have said that.\'94
\par 
\par She relaxed again. \'93It\rquote s okay, Simon. We\rquote re twins, but we\rquote re different. She\rquote s better than me at some things, perhaps most things \endash 
 but I can dance better than her any day of the week, and she knows it! So what if she can pose \endash  I need music, and }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof movement}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .\'94
 On saying that she pulled away from Simon, holding his arm away from him, up high, and twirled under it, returning to him in a close embrace.
\par 
\par They danced, and danced, and danced. Caroline had him loosening up, throwing his inhibitions away and dancing with her, enthusiastically if not with her skill and grace. She laughed }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof with}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
 him, not at him, when he messed up, she held him close during the slower songs and dared him to keep up with her on the faster ones. The night flew by, and when they finally had to leave the club at closing time Simon couldn\rquote t believe it.
\par 
\par They were outside the club, waiting for a cab, when Simon remembered something she\rquote d said.
\par 
\par \'93You said earlier that no-one took you dancing?\'94
\par 
\par Her laugh had a bitter tone to it. \'93That\rquote s right. You see, most of the men I\rquote ve been out with have been out with Marianne before, then they meet me \endash  the slightly awkward, shy, }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof lesser}{
\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  sister, and what do they see? What do they want? They just want to get me into bed and take up where they left of with }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof her}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof .\'94
\par 
\par Simon stood behind her, put his arms around her and nuzzled her hair.
\par 
\par \'93None of them wanted to spend a night finding out about }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof me}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , Simon. I worked that out. I\rquote 
d more-or-less decided not ever to go out with one of her ex-boyfriends again, you know. But then the ex-boyfriend turned out to be you.\'94
\par 
\par She turned in his arms and looked him in the eye. \'93And you turned out to be more of a gentleman than all of the others, and you took me dancing. }{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Thank you}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof , Simon.\'94
\par 
\par Then she kissed him. He kissed her back. They never noticed the cab until he honked his horn at them.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ll take you home, Caroline,\'94 he told her.
\par 
\par \'93}{\i\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof Your}{\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof  home,\'94 whispered into his ear. He looked at her again, saw that she meant it. It wasn\rquote t too fast \endash  not for her, and a bit to his surprise, not for him.
\par 
\par He told the cabbie where to go, sat back in the seat, and asked her, \'93Kiss me again?\'94
\par 
\par She did.
\par 
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\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof 
\par }{
\par }}