Elizabeth Derry (Lizzy) and Leah Wellington were lifelong friends. Growing up they were inseparable, always in each other and everything they did was when they were together. It all started to change for them though when the results from the six form exams took them onto different paths.
Leah excelled in the exams and was accepted into a university at the other end of the country a course that would take her away from the little fishing port they lived in and away from her best friend for the best part of four years.
Lizzy on the other hand had not got the grades required and would have to rethink her plans devastated by not being able to go to uni with her friend, she asked to retake the exams but was told even if she was successful there would be no place for her at the same university.
Leah left in September with teary farewell at the local railway station and promises to text and call. Lizzy went home to ponder life without her best friend.
Lazing around later that same week her father shouted to her to come and see him "What's up dad?"
"Lizzy you can't keep moping about the house; I know you have had a setback. Life's full of them." He frowns at her, forehead wrinkling. "You need to get off your arse and find a job." Lizzy just looked at her dad speechless. "Look princess it's for your own good," he shrugs.
"I know Dad, but I don't know where to find a job, there isn't much work around here." Her dad smiled and said "The town is full of cafe's and bars. Why not ask around and get a waitressing job, it's always worth a try."
'Waitressing? Jesus, can my life get any worse' she thought. Later on a bubbly phone call from Leah about how well she was settling in didn't help her mood any either, jealousy was seeping in to her mind.
Taking her dads advice for once, she trekked around town. Down by the fish market, she saw in the window of the Herring Gull public house, 'staff required' apply within.
After taking a sharp deep breath, Lizzy nervously headed inside while looking around the spacious bar her thoughts were interrupted by "Can I help you love?"
"Oh, I came in about the job." She stammered to the Landlady behind the counter. "Take a seat and I'll come and have a chat to you." She smiled.
After what seemed an eternity the Landlady sat down and introduced herself as Rachel "Hi Rachel, Elizabeth but call me Lizzy."
"I must ask how old are you? And have you any experience in bar work?" "I'm 18 and no I haven't done any bar work I thought you would want a waitress."
"Ok not a problem. Lizzy I can teach you the bar work, if you want"
Rachel then explained what she might be doing, and that if she came down tomorrow at 11, that she'd show Lizzy what to do when it was nice and quiet.
Being right next to the fish market and the quay the Herring Gull pub was a favourite haven for the local fishermen. Brawls and drunkenness were the name of the game at weekends. Anything could and did go on.
Rachel managed her young trainee well the next say, keeping her on the day shifts where the trade was mainly coach parties and nothing outrageous. Lizzy picked the job up quickly and before she knew it, it was time to start working the evening shift. Lizzy was shown the new roster and realized that she had never met any of the other staff at the pub. Wednesday she was working with someone called Amber, and Thursday with Zoë.
Wednesday evening Rachel introduced them and went upstairs leaving them to it. Amber dressed in a style that Lizzy could only describe as slutty. She was wearing a very short skirt which showed off Amber's long legs and a low cut top which instantly drew eyes to her breasts.
"If you want to get the lads interested and buy you drinks you need to vamp it up, girl." Amber told her "when they have a good trip they buy you loads of drinks." Lizzy watched as Amber played around with some of the guys in the room. Sure enough her tip jar soon began to fill whilst hers was nearly empty.
"Lizzy you have got to show some skin to get the tips." She laughed and put out for them as well she thought but didn't say it.
The next night followed a similar vein Zoë this time dressed like a slut, raking in loads more tips than her. "Hey Lizzy, don't stress you're a pretty girl. They will get used to you in a bit. But meet em' halfway, dress it up a bit, you are not in the library now!" she's scolds playfully.
Slowly with Amber and Zoë's coaxing, Lizzy changed her dress sense as the pub took over her life. Working with the two girls it wasn't long before she was joining them on their wild nights out, her old best friend forgotten.
Witnessing first-hand how they kept the fishing boys at their fingertips it seemed that for free drinks, their behaviour knew no bounds. On one raucous night she found herself on her knees giving a blow job to a deck hand in the toilet, well that was that, she was one of the gang now.
It was on a Saturday night that Lizzy saw the pub at its worst. A trawler crew had arrived at the port from Fleetwood and soon the good natured banter between the local fishermen and the visitors had turned ugly. Lizzy and Amber tried to calm it down but the lads were not listening, fighting erupted and soon some spilled out onto the street.
In the bar Lizzy saw one of the Fleetwood lads pull a knife and make towards one of the local men. Using strength and speed she never knew she had, Lizzy grabbed a chair and hit him square on the back of the head sending him crashing to the floor. The knife skitters across the floor, coming to a rest at the local lads feet.
The uproar suddenly stopped the local fisherman who was the intended target for the knife calmly picked up the shiny dagger. The Fleetwood boys departed, running for their boats, dragging their dazed thug with them.
Amber dusted her short skirt down and stared at Lizzy, the spell was broken by a booming voice "Amber introduce me to my guardian angel." "Skipper this is Lizzy, our new bar maid," Amber grins, tilting her head to the side in a bird like manner.
"Thank you, Lizzy. That was brave and quick thinking." With that he grabbed her and kissed her full on the mouth, pulling away from the stunned girl. It was a ridiculous gesture, but Lizzy couldn't help feel flattered.
"Right lad's, drinks are on me, pour them up girls!" As they started pouring the lager, Amber said "Nice move girl, you will have no problem now your skipper's favourite." Skipper paid for the round and then the next. "You two are coming out with me and the crew tomorrow, on me. I'll sort your shifts out with Rachel." Adding they'll meet here at four o'clock, he left the pub.
Lizzy and Amber arrived at the pub just before four to be greeted by Rachel behind the bar "Ah girls, Skipper tells me the drinks are on him today, so here you go." Putting down two vodka and coke's on the counter she winks then walks away, moving to an impatient guest down the bar. Rachel looks over her shoulder at them and calls, "Oh and enjoy yourselves, but be careful you know how wild he gets."
"Oh we'll be ok, Lizzy here is his favourite." Amber laughs.
Skipper and his first mate arrived shortly after "Drink up girls, taxi here in five minutes." They drank and all piled into the taxi. It was then it occurred to Lizzy there were no crew present. They arrived at a restaurant in Torquay and after a surprisingly pleasant meal; Skipper dragged them to a night club.
As the drinks flowed and the night got later, Lizzy was aware that Amber and Dave, the first mate, had disappeared, leaving her alone with Skipper.
Skipper, for his part, had planned it that way Lizzy was his. Buzzed from all the drinks, she didn't protest as he led her to the dance floor just as the slow songs started. Despite his reputation, Skipper behaved like a perfect gent, holding her tight as they danced he whispered in her ear "Promise me you will join the girls in looking after my crew when they come in." "Of course I will." She replied, not really knowing what he meant.
"That's my girl, I knew I could rely on you. I like my boys taken care of. In return I will look after you like I do Amber and Zoë." He pulled away with a wink and led her back to the table.
Skipper was a wealthy man, and he financed his crew's leisure time buying beer, and as long as his lads were looked after, he would make sure the girls had some cash as well. 'Put out for my boys I'll pay out for you' was his motto.
With Amber's coaching Lizzy soon found that being a 'trawlerette' as they called themselves was a lucrative occupation and as time passed she had slept with all of the crew apart from Skipper who never got involved in the action.
The text and phone calls decreased as the year went on, Leah couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her best friend. Why had she stopped replying to her messages? Stranded miles away, she would have to wait until Christmas when she came home to find out.
Arriving home she was greeted by her brother "Good to see you sis." "Nice to be home. I need to get hold of Elizabeth, Any idea where I can find her?"
"Oh she has changed, Leah, a right slut. She has had more pricks than a second hand dart board."
"What?" Leah asks, unsure she's heard her brother correctly. "She has slept with half of the fishing fleet."
"James that's not nice!" She gasped.
"Sorry sis, its true." He huffs, flicking a crumb across the table he was positioned in front of. "Check into the Herring Gull if you don't believe me she works there."
Later that week, Lizzy answered the phone and was surprised to hear Leah on the other end. "Leah hi, oh you're home? Yes we do need a catch up, I'm off on Friday, want to meet me for a drink?" The arrangement made Lizzy put down the phone.
The next call was from Skipper, telling her that the Ann-Marie would be back in port on Friday and the boys would need some fun, as they had been on a long twelve day trip. She called Amber and agreed to meet her, totally forgetting about Leah.
Dressed in smart casual clothes Leah entered the pub 'Oh my god what are you wearing' she thought as she spotted Elizabeth, wearing what her dad would describe as a belt. "Leah! Hi come on over." Lizzy shouted "This is Amber and Zoë, and girls I would like you to meet my friend Leah." After saying hi, Leah took in the way they were dressed 'bloody hell James was right. They all look like tarts'.
After some small talk and a round of drinks the atmosphere changed as the crew of the Ann-Marie crashed through the doors. The drinks started flowing as the crew flocked around the girls.
