GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

“God you are such a bitch!” she cackled as the whole group fell about laughing.  Ruth always seemed to have this power over the rest of the girls which saw them instantly react on her every foul-mouthed rant and Bethany always seemed to be at the receiving end.

“Leave her alone Ruth, she was only commenting on what the girl was wearing for god’s sake!”  Pleading to her ‘better nature’ was perhaps not the best reasoning with Ruth; I’m not sure she even possessed one. 

“Don’t worry Sarah,” Bethany murmured quietly in my ear, “I’m used to it!”  Bethany’s face fell and her eyes welled with tears of humiliation and defeat.  Slowly moving along with the crowd I grabbed her satin clad arm in a show of solidarity; and we forged ahead with the growing throng of Saturday night revellers. 

The ‘Ratpit’ was a hive of activity; buzzing with excitement and anticipation for the night ahead.  Everyone soon found their place at the bar and the hoards of equally desperate dehydrated and alcohol hungry punters jostled around us to try and reach pole position!  Ruth was in charge of the ‘magic kitty’ as usual and stood at the front to order the drinks!  She fluttered her long dark lashes; wiggled her bright pink lurex bottom and heaved her ample bosom over in the direction of the young barman!

Soon we were all quenching our thirst with what was apparently called ‘bombshakers;’ and believe me it definitely lived up to its name!  My eyeballs nearly did a triple somersault and my head felt like it had left my body! “Bloody hell, that is one strong drink, I can’t feel my mouth”, giggled Bethany as we both fell about laughing. 

Thank god for ‘bombshakers’ it had blown all bad feeling out of the water; with the music pumping and everybody now in good spirits it appeared like we were all in for a good night!

Many ‘bombshakers’ later and feeling slightly worse for wear I managed to stupor off the dance-floor in the direction of the toilets.  The club was filled to the rafters with partygoers and it was a battle to make much headway; nevertheless, I still managed to shuffle along cross-legged; and breathed a huge sigh of relief as I swung open the door.

“Hi Bethany!” I giggled as I stumbled through the doorway.  

Bethany turned quickly and smiled at me looking slightly flushed and a little flustered by my sudden appearance. A rather plump blonde girl wearing a pair of tight fitting leather trousers was stood next to her; she was scowling in my direction, her face contorted, making her look even more repugnant!  I didn’t recognise her but she gave me a strange, almost eerie smile that sent a shudder down my spine! 

I could have sworn Bethany was talking to the girl as I came in, but she didn’t introduce us and now appeared to be oblivious to her presence! The girl squeezed past me and stormed full force out of the door!  “Wouldn’t like to bump into her on a dark night!” I joked but Bethany wasn’t listening; or perhaps she just wasn’t answering!  Sometimes I should just shut my mouth; wasn’t exactly a tactful thing to say to a girl who herself gets jibes for her larger frame and auburn hair!  With no reference to my observation of this ‘strange’ girl Bethany ushered me into the toilet.

“Well get a move on then slow coach, don’t know about you but I need another drink,” she slurred.  Another drink!  I think if I had one more liquid refreshment I’d be confined to the realms of the cubicle all night; with my head down the bowl!  However, predictably, it didn’t take much persuasion once I was back in the throng, to relent, and dutifully I slowly slurped on my umpteenth drink of the evening; besides it was good to see Bethany in such high spirits!

The music in the club was pounding and so was my head!  “Have you seen Ruth and the rest of the girls?” I yelled, but Bethany looked at me vacantly!  She grabbed my arm and gestured towards the sign directing to the smoking area outside.  As we approached the doorway a woman came charging past; hysterically screaming and crying, waving her hands around and making movements to convey something, but was obviously in too much of a state to make any sense at all.

I pushed past a group of men and lying, twisted on the wet floor was a body still and lifeless.   It was hard to see anything but as I pushed towards the exit I caught a glimpse of the pink lurex leg lying motionless on the ground.  My heart started to race and my head was now pounding; not through the alcohol but of what I knew. 

“My god that’s Ruth!” yelled Bethany as she frantically tried to get through the crowd that was now swelling with morbid curiosity.  Her scream of anguish awoke me from my shocked daze. 

“Oh my god ... Ruth!” I cried. 

There was a man leaning over her holding a shirt over her stomach; it was drenched in crimson liquid.  Everywhere I looked there was this dark red stream of oozing fluid; seeping into the cracks in the concrete; into the flesh of those so frantically trying to stop this constant flow of red thick goo.   My head was now whirring and I couldn’t focus, everything was becoming a blur; I could hear gasps of horror all around me and in the distance; I think it was the distance; a faint sound of a siren, coming closer and closer and closer ......

........  Someone tried to grab my limp body as I fell towards the ground. The shock of the cold hard floor aroused my senses and I looked up to see a large burly man dressed in a yellow and green jacket leaning over Ruth, her limp pathetic body scrunched up like a piece of old rubbish.  No matter how much he counted 1, 2, 3, 4..........,  and breathed into that pretty pink mouth of hers she still refused to move.  It was no good, our Ruth was gone!  Our pretty nasty Ruth was gone!

 At the edge of the crowd there was a girl; a plump blonde girl wearing tight fitting leather trousers.  As I leant against the wall heaving myself up from the hideous cold concrete floor my gaze was attracted to a glint of light flashing from beneath her jacket. It glistened for a moment and then disappeared as the object was swiftly shunted up the arm of her jacket. Next to her was another girl, they looked at each other and the fat girl smirked.  The other girl smiled; a smile of satisfaction; a smile of contentment and joyous revenge; a smile that chilled me to my very soul.

She then turned to me and Bethany gave me a sly grin.  As she approached she whispered ever so calmly in my ear, “don’t worry Sarah ....... I’m used to it”, and with that she swung her jacket round her shoulders and sobbed like a baby ..........