She lives on a busy inner city street in an apartment that looks over one of the more bohemian places in the area. Her second floor home is close to everything a mid-twenties modern woman would want; good takeaway food, good coffee from the many cafes and bars and nightclubs galore (some good, some dire). She had a few friends close by and many more in the surrounding suburbs but she'd become much more of a hermit in recent years due to studying for university and didn't really go out much anymore. Even when coaxed with the offer of good company and fun she would usually crumble to the desire to remain inside the confines of her personal compound, keeping her safe from the outside world.
"Tonight is not going to be one of those nights!" she yells inside her head as she tries to motivate herself for the 50 metre walk across the road to see a friend's band play at one of the more 'indie' bars in her vicinity. No, tonight she'd promised she would go. Although, she has promised in the past and not turned up, sometimes even after her friend had put her name on the door-list using his one guest name allowance, just for her not to show up and then apologise via social networking the next day. No. Tonight is going to be different.
She showers longer than usual, making sure to clean every delicate curve of her svelte body, the steaming hot water caressing her beautifully porcelain skin a mild shade of rose. "I could stay in here forever," she whispers to herself almost succumbing to the urge to plan another night in with her laptop browsing liberal politics and porn. "No. I have to go, I must." And with that thought she turns the shower tap fully cold to invigorate her placid senses. She squeals quietly as she endures the seemingly arctic water, turning the subtle rose tint of her skin back to the usual soft white and the nipples on her large yet perky breasts rock hard. "Argh, that's enough!" She reaches from the shower for the soft warm towel hanging from the rail on the opposite wall and with haste blots as much of the remaining chilling liquid from her skin.
She's clean, she's dressed, and she looks amazing! Not dressing as many other woman her age to go out, in heels and a short dress and smothered in makeup, she's casually wearing Chuck Taylor's, skinny jeans, a Fred Perry polo shirt and her trademark black-rimmed glasses that offset her already stunning face with perfection giving her a look that would melt most right-minded people. As she approvingly checks herself out in the mirror she's suddenly stuck with the horror that she's almost ready to leave her house, her safety, her compound. As if heroically, she summons the courage to get her needed possessions in order: bank card, cigarettes, lighter; check, check, check, and out the door she goes.
It's raining outside, but the only stretch uncovered on her way to the bar is the breadth of a two lane road separating her apartment block from the businesses on the other side, directly under which tonight's venue is located. Her dark hair gets a little wet as she runs to cross the street and as the rain runs from the top of her head across her face, her fringe becomes stuck to her forehead. She bumps into him, almost as if it were setup as a shot in a Hollywood movie. In her hurry to cross the street, while looking at the ground to make sure she didn't land in a puddle, she hadn't noticed him standing directly in her path. She sheepishly laughs and apologises at the same time, all the while her cheeks are turning that same warm rose colour she gets in a hot shower.
"Shit, sorry man. I didn't wanna get wet."
"Nah, it's ok. I'm glad you made it out this time though. I thought you might not show up again."
"Yeah well, you thought wrong coz I'm here."
She nervously fumbles at her tobacco pouch for a paper and a filter and rolls a cigarette.
"What time are you guys on?" she asks.
"Last, so I guess around 1am or so? You know what this place is like."
She does know what this place is like. Probably the closest thing in this city to what would be called a 'dive-bar'. Shitty old decor that has passed the point of being removed to it's now ironic status, kitsch yet amusing gig posters for events that were held years before many of the patrons were born, cheap alcohol and a sea of post-punk, post-goth, post-hardcore, post-{insert genre here} hipster kids. All cynicism aside, the atmosphere in the bar is rather friendly, hosting everything from rock'n'roll to death metal shows, regulars mixing with the rabble that have turned up just to see whatever act is billed that night. Tonight is a punk rock show.
A couple of drinks down, a couple of bands finished, a few acquaintances conversed with, she's content and wondering why she doesn't come out more. She's also been watching him flit backwards and forwards between different members of the other bands, probably talking about who's using whose equipment (due to the lack of space in the bar itself, let alone the performance area, bands usually pool their gear for gigs here). Her eyes watch him with a playful hunger as he sets up his amp for the performance, she's a little tipsy and wanting some fun.
The band entertains her for the 40-odd minutes they play but she's focused on what is now shaping up in her head as tonight's conquest. The show is over and many of the crowd migrate outside to smoke cigarettes or breathe fresh air. She is outside, smoking and a little drunk now. She turns to see him walking towards her, exiting the club's dimly lit doorway into the arcade area where people have congregated.
"How'd you enjoy that?" he asked.
"Yeah, it was cool. You have fun?"
"Totally...I'm glad you made it this time."
She blushes a little and tries to wipe the grin off her face so as not to seem too keen but she's really struggling to not just jump him now, right here in front of the club.
"Yeah well, I can't miss all of the shows all of the time." she retorts.
"I better go pack my shit up before someone steals it."
"Oh, I'll help," she blurts. "I mean, if you need me to."
"Sure, that'd be awesome thanks."
And with that they both descend back into the gloom, leaving the throng smoking and chattering behind them. The bar is a lot emptier now with a few barflys clutching the last of their drinks and a smattering of people through the nooks and crannies of the bar. His car is parked behind the venue in an open-air carpark accessed from the bar via a narrow hallway-cum-alley that is as dirty and dodgy as the come. Holding as much as they can possibly carry, they shuffle out the bar's back door and down the long poorly lit rear passage. He unlocks his car and the cases are unceremoniously shoved inside and as he closes the door he turns to find her standing surprisingly close to him; staring into his eyes with a lustful hunger. She grabs him by the shoulders and kisses him passionately rubbing her wanton body against his. Slightly taken aback he flinches which causes the embrace to cease. She would normally feel rejected by this but tonight her soul is on fire and she stares into his eyes once more with a naughty smile and a desire to grind his body to dust.
"Haha, wow! I wasn't quite ready for that," he chuckles embarrassed.
"What's going to help you get ready then?" she cheekily replies.
"Well, to be honest I have to get one last thing from inside."
She huffs despondently like air leaving a deflating balloon. She thought this was going to be the moment, up against his car, under the amber lights of the carpark. Obviously not.
"I'll only be a minute," he says in an effort to keep the feeling of the situation alight.