For those not aware of the TV series Normal People, it was a twelve part series that charted the lives of two young people Marianne and Connell through their last year at High School and their time in university. I have selected particular scenes from selected episodes (not all episodes) where I have imagined what might have happened if things had gone a little differently.
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Episode 3 -- Imagine what might have happened if Marianne and Karen had gone to the Ladies restroom in the Night Club, rather than outside.
Marianne had never been to a Night Club before. She'd never been out on a date or anything like that, and even though Connell hadn't invited her as a date, he was going to be there. She had been 'reluctantly' invited onto the Debs Committee and therefore was going to attend whether anyone else liked it or not.
Her only disappointment was that she wouldn't be spending the evening together with Connell, as no-one actually knew that they were together, fucking when ever they could. Marianne smiled; she was sure that most of the other girls in school would be stunned if they knew that they were.
She had dressed to impress, not just Connell, but the other girls who had always made fun of her. She knew she was as pretty as them, although in her dowdy school uniform she never flaunted her figure or attractiveness like they did.
Her low-cut, figure-hugging black dress had been a new purchase, and it showed off plenty of flesh. Although, she laughed, as she knew she had nothing like the amount of flesh that Lisa had, nor the long blonde hair like Rachel, but she did have her long brown hair waved, and flowing down over her shoulders, rather than up in her usual pleat.
And, Connell said that she was pretty, and that was an amazing compliment from him.
The boys, Connell, Eric, Rob and Kiernan had been late as usual, they'd been in the pub already, building up some Dutch courage, although Connell was driving.
But on their arrival, Marianne had received her fair share of attention, no-one having seen her all glammed up, and she felt empowered. Even Connell had given her an imperceptible nod of approval, and she had felt her heart soar.
But she didn't want to stay and talk pleasantries. Taking Karen by the arm, she had asked her out onto the dance floor, and she had agreed. Out there, Marianne didn't need to hide, and couldn't hear what the others might be saying about her, she didn't care, she had made her mark, and was loving it.
She let the beat, and the rhythm of the music take over her body, as she swayed and shimmied.
For a couple of dances, she and Karen had strutted their stuff on the dance floor.
Karen even commented that Connell had never taken his eyes off her, and Marianne knew it would be true, she had felt his eyes undressing her, just as he would have done in the privacy of their bedrooms, but tonight, until they could get away at the end, he would just be able to look.
She would tease him rotten, then he would fuck her hard.
Marianne and Karen returned from the dance floor to a few snide comments from Rachel and Lisa, but Marianne didn't really care.
Their little group was then disturbed by the appearance of another, older male, someone that Marianne didn't recognise from School. From the introductions being made, Marianne learned that his name was Pat, and he was well-known to the others.
Marianne thought nothing of it when he happened to slot into the circle of friends to stand next to her. She wasn't that keen on his over-powering aftershave. However, what she hadn't expected was that he would pay any interest in her, but having greeted the rest he then asked who she was.
It was Eric who introduced her, explaining that she was Alan's sister, which drew an acknowledgement from Pat.
However, that wasn't the end of it, and when Pat discovered that Marianne was selling raffle tickets for the Debs Fundraiser, he cheekily suggested that he would buy ten tickets if Marianne had a dance with him.
The thought repulsed Marianne, and she literally recoiled away from him as he passed an arm around her waist to pull her closer to him. As Marianne continued to vocally reject his suggestion for a dance, Pat suddenly made a violent grasp for her breasts with his other hand.
Marianne cried out in pain and shock at this molestation, and breaking free from Pat she ran towards the Ladies restroom, down the end of a dark corridor. Karen took off after her, having called Pat all sorts of names, and he, trying to joke his way out of the situation wandered off in the opposite direction.
Connell was desperate to follow Karen and find out how Marianne was. He knew he should have done more, but that would have exposed his actual feelings for Marianne to the others, and that he knew he couldn't do. As the rest of the group also voiced their concern, Lisa and Rachel assured them that Karen would look after her.
That was exactly what Karen was going to do.
Marianne had rushed into the restroom, tears streaming down her face and her mascara running, from the humiliation and pain that she felt. Grasping onto the edges of a sink, she looked up into the mirror in front of her. 'What a fool' she thought, as she looked at herself, she should never have believed that she might be accepted in this group.
Suddenly, the door was flung open, and Marianne squealed in shock as she turned, only to feel relief to see Karen standing there, moving over towards her.
"Are you okay Marianne?" she asked quietly, "I'm really sorry that happened, Pat's a real stupid bastard!"
"It wasn't your fault," replied Marianne, still sobbing quietly, but surprised at the vehemence of Karen's comment.
"Did he hurt you?" consoled Karen, knowing full well that Marianne's breast would be throbbing and possibly already beginning to bruise.
Marianne just nodded, too embarrassed to let Karen know just how painful her breast was, but she wasn't prepared for Karen's next query.
"Let me see," the red-haired beauty asked, "Can I see how bruised it is?" she added.
