My course work in grad school was very light and I find myself spending time in a lot of "extra-curricular" activities that made my stay in the UK truly unique and "satisfying." This was the 90s and group study then was not virtual which meant physical meetups...and then more.
I once had a coursemate named Charlotte. She's petite, pretty, with blonde hair and always had a smile on her face. We girls, there were five of us, decided one day to hang out at Charlotte's place for a kind of group study. It was more of a mini lecture on my end as I had to teach them database table dependencies. We were classmates in the laboratory class and when an exercise was given, I was the only one who could answer it. They said they needed to pass the subject and so they really sought me for help.
So, we went to the house one afternoon after the laboratory class. The house was a bus ride away from the university in the direction that was going away from Hove. The girls were a little crazy, laughing and chatting all the way.
We arrived at the place and started to get on with studying as we needed to be out of there when Charlotte's parents came back. Tea and biscuits were served and we all dug in, tea and studying.
I was in the middle of explaining something when a guy came in through the door. He was good looking and of good build. Not old. We all turned our eyes on him and Charlotte introduced him as her dad. I am sure some of us, if not most, widened our eyes visibly.
Charlotte clarified and said, "Stepdad." Then, she introduced each of us in turn.
The stepdad informed Charlotte that her mom won't be coming home for the night as she's stopping over at a friend or family member's place and he asked if Charlotte could fix her own dinner as he will be busy in the den with his work.
We resumed our studying, or they resumed and I had to do mini lectures some more. The girls were still mostly laughing and smiling throughout this session and Charlotte kept going in and out of the lounge where we were and the kitchen to get crisps, juice, and whatever snacks she could grab.
After a bit, the girls started getting ready to leave, and I was too, but Charlotte asked if I could stay for dinner as that is the least she can do for my help with the lesson. And that if I did not mind yesterday's roast and some new Yorkshire pudding she just popped into the oven. I love Yorkshire pudding and it was still a bit early so I agreed. She also promised a bottle of white or red to go with the roast. So then, I could no longer say no as I love drinking wine. She sort of invited the other girls as well but they already said their goodbyes and were already out of the door when she told them.
So, I stayed. Charlotte and I went into the kitchen to get dinner ready.
"My stepdad will join us for dinner, I hope you don't mind," she told me.
After getting everything on the table, we sat down to eat. The conversation was general stuff about school, life, and my home country, how things are back home, etc. The roast was good even if it's a day old and the Yorkshire puds, which I love, were great! Two more bottles of sparkling white wine were opened after the red. We had it with the pavlova dessert.
I got tipsy while drinking so Charlotte's stepdad told me to have coffee or tea first before going home. Charlotte was to prepare it and clear up the kitchen so her stepdad and I went to the lounge.
He came in a bit after me with a different drink in his hand and said, "this is my special drink, would you like to try some?"
I said, "I'm not sure if I should."
"Just a bit of sip should be okay," he replied.
He handed me the glass and I took a sip. It was the first time I tasted such strong alcohol. There was intense warmth that spread from my throat and down my body.
I liked it.
I said, "It's different but it's okay." He told me to take another but bigger sip.
I did and the warmth was greater. I think I smiled, and he moved closer to where I was standing. He held my hand that held the glass, pulled me close to him and guided the glass to my mouth.
"You can have all of it," he said and made me drink what was left in the glass.
I think I fainted or something. I remember feeling heat spread over my body and the room being too bright. I could see myself moving to the settee but I was not walking. I think I was lifted or dragged toward it. I landed with my back on the settee.
The stepdad asked, "Are you okay?"
He was seated on the floor beside the settee.
"I think I am okay, but the light is too bright," I answered.
He stood up to dim it and went back on the floor to be beside me.
"Is that better?" he asked.