Apart From The Crowd

The dark was shocking in its abruptness and Katie jumped, spilling her drink. A second ago, she’d been staring into the crowd, bored out of her mind and debating whether to go home. The bar had been empty of interesting people, devoid of anyone with even a trace of individuality and Katie had been stifling yawns at potential suitors. Then, the next moment, shadows had enveloped the bar, as quickly as someone turning on a dark switch, and the room had suddenly become a very different place.

Even the tacky neon lights above the bar had gone out and Katie shivered. Faint shapes moved in the gloom, the hint of an outline, the vague mist of a body shape. No-one seemed willing to raise their voice above a whisper in the absence of the jukebox’s roar and, all around her, Katie could hear the uncertain shuffling of feet as people meandered, lost in the darkness.

She closed her eyes, trying to control the icy surge of panic that threatened to consume her. ‘It’s just a power-cut, it’s nothing to be scared of,’ she told herself. ‘For fucks sake Henderson, it’s just a power cut.’ She wanted to press herself back against the wall, but she wasn’t even sure which direction the wall was anymore. The cloying blackness stole all of her bearings and Katie felt a tremble roll through her.

Someone brushed past her, fingertips trailing familiarly over her shoulder and Katie shied away. Who was that, where had they gone?

There was a breath on her ear and Katie froze as a voice murmured to her, “I’ve been watching you, standing aloof, standing so beautiful apart from the crowd.”

The paralysis left her and she twisted, but the figure had moved away silently. A shiver rolled down her back as she stared into the all-encompassing blackness, trying to find who’d spoken to her. Who’d been watching her? Katie hadn’t noticed anyone of interest in the bar, let alone someone with the audacity and front to try this.

Fingers slid up her arm and the voice spoke once more. “My god you are so sexy.” Katie turned her head, trying to catch a glimpse of her admirer, but he’d disappeared again.

Who did this guy think he was, playing the cat and mouse stalking game? Sure it was flattering and more than a little intriguing…

The warm brush of his lips to hers came before she was even aware he was there. Heat washed through her and Katie closed her eyes, feeling his hands in her hair, brushing against the soft skin of her neck. His tongue caressed her lower lip and Katie felt her body press against his, her every logical thought overthrown by the delicious warmth of the kiss.

Then he was gone, as though magicked away. Katie kept her eyes closed, wanting to preserve the feeling. The taste of his lips still tingled on her tongue and she could still feel his hands on her hair.

She opened her eyes just as the lights flickered back into life. The crowd shuffled around aimlessly, still not sure what to do with itself and the hubbub of murmur grew as people discussed anodyne plans with their friends. The jukebox kicked back into live and the entire room was suddenly alive with life once again.

Katie searched the faces, looking for her man. There would be one guy apart from the mundane throng, one with style, one with courage, one with such effortless élan. She would be able to spot him, she was certain.

The crowd looked just as it had before.

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