Katie Ch. 03: Band Night

(Welcome to my story. If you haven't read the others leading up to this, you should; it will help explain things.)

The club doorman eyes Dave suspiciously, as he gives him a visual once-over and performs a cursory frisk. But Dave knows there is not much chance of hiding anything in a T-shirt and jeans, and for once, he's wearing trainers... not motorcycle boots.

So there should be no problems with the dress code tonight.

And there's certainly no need to check Dave's ID to confirm "I'm over 18," he muses.

"You're good," he says, waving Dave on, then the doorman's attention shifts to the next customer.

"That's what your girlfriend tells me," Dave cheekily replies, laughing.

The doorman just scowls... too busy with the next customer to care.

Moving through the entrance, Dave fumbles with his phone, flicking through the screen icons until the ticket appears on screen. The scanner pings its confirmation, and the woman holding it smiles as he says, "Thanks."

The support band is already playing. A deep bass beat reverberates along the curved corridor, distorted and growing increasingly oppressive... Until Dave pushes open the double swinging doors into the auditorium.

Instantly, the sound clarity improves. He looks around. The place is half full.

Most people are packed tightly near the stage, swaying to the music. Further back, it thins out; a few are dancing in the open spaces.

It's the usual crowd: old guys, music aficionados and younger 'alternative' students, all out to enjoy themselves.

Heading toward the long bar at the rear of the room, Dave spots his friends. Of course, he's the last to arrive and, in fact, late... As always.

"Hi guys!" Dave shouts over the music, raising his Grey pork pie hat in a friendly greeting.

Smiling, he instinctively turns to Colette, opening his arms for a deep hug. She instead reaches up, sharply tugs at his bushy beard, and says, "Boop."

Colette snuggles in warmly, and he enjoys the moment.

Hug complete, he hands her back to her husband, who's standing close by.

"What a wonderful wife you have, Mike," Dave says, winking at 'Collie' while shaking his hand.

"Hi Dave. You well?" Mike asks.

"Yeah, all good. The feeling in my toes came back after the bike accident."

As he explains about his leg, he holds out his foot and wiggles it... demonstrating that it's still attached and... well, mostly functional.

Mike laughs and launches into his own tale, about how lucky Dave is not to have smashed up his arm as he did.

He holds it out, his skin exposed below the arms of his T-shirt. Showing Dave the long red scars from where the titanium rods were implanted.

Dave is reminded of the scars Katie had left him with during their last meeting, but decides that Mike's are far more impressive.

And it's probably best not to mention his.

Collie just rolls her eyes as they chat. She's been around bikers long enough to have heard these kinds of war stories at least a thousand times before.

As Mike and Dave talk, Dave glances at Collie, momentarily reminiscing...

She's in her forties now, but still gorgeous... a little plumper and weather-lined, but then, we all are these days. Those of us still alive.

It's been fifteen years or so since they dated, and he still fondly remembers how they used to go out clubbing... and their little regular trick.

Once inside a club, she'd drift away and start chatting to random guys. A small, pretty goth chick, with elaborate eye makeup. It wasn't exactly difficult for her!

When the random guys asked what she wanted to drink, she'd say, "A Vodka and Coke... and a pint of bitter."

They would always ask why she wanted two drinks... but almost always bought them anyway.

She'd then leave the pint at the end of the bar and head to the dance floor with the guy. That's when Dave would quietly swoop in and swipe it.

This little routine would go on all night.

By closing time, the guy... or guys... would inevitably want her number, a kiss, or something more significant.

And that's when Dave would magically appear, hand her her leather jacket and helmet, lead her out, and plonk her onto the back of his bike, and take her home.

Sometimes they'd get angry. But they usually backed down, once they saw the rest of the bike gang waiting outside.

Nil points for them. Free drinks for Colette and him. The random guys, the... Mugs.

Dave smiles at the memory.

Christ, she'd looked sexy... sitting behind him in black pixie boots, fishnets, and that short, dark green, plaid, pleated skirt stretched across her lap.

Dave ponders... Why on earth did he let her go? He honestly couldn't remember anymore... age, huh?

"Sorry, Mike... sort of... drifted off there. What were you saying?

Anyway, what are you drinking?"

Dave takes a drink order from Mike, Collie, and the others, and heads to the bar.

Reaching back to retrieve his chained wallet from his back jeans pocket, as he walks.

..............................

Returning with a full tray, Dave distributes the drinks and listens to the warm-up band... an '80s covers act... while chatting intermittently.

They're not bad. Versatile, playing pretty decent versions of:

* Blondie -- Heart of Glass.

* Deee-Lite -- Groove Is in the Heart.

* Prince -- Raspberry Beret.

They close their set with the B-52s' Love Shack, then run through the usual end-of-gig routine; "Johnny Ellis on drums! Tim Smith on bass!" etc. etc.

As the stagehands appear to reset for the main band, the resident DJ starts pumping out contemporary dance and R&B hits. The students take to the floor, jiggling and throwing shapes, while Dave and his friends stand back by the bar, downing yet more drinks.

Watching, amused, he remarks, "Oh, I remember when we were that flexible," and they all laugh at their aged inadequacies.

Four drinks in and Dave is feeling very cheerful... looser, swaying to the music.

Suddenly he realizes that he needs the little boys' room. (Well... in his case the old bugger's room.)

Placing his drink on the bar, he says, "Hang on... I'll be back in five," and sets off through the crowd.

It's an obstacle course... dodging flying arms and elbows from gyrating kids, each momentarily obscured or lit up by lasers, flashing lights and fog machines.

For an older guy with a dodgy leg and slow reflexes, it's a challenge... and it doesn't help when his pork pie hat gets lifted when he is halfway across.

It takes some doing to get it back from the light-fingered emo girl who stole it. (Though Dave admits... it does look good on her.)

Nearing the end of his torturous odyssey, he scans ahead for the far wall and cloakroom door... and that's when his gaze locks onto a pair of Euro-Asian brown eyes, intently staring back.

Katie is leaning against the wall, one high heel pressed behind her, swaying her hips. Kind of dancing... but also not.

She's got thick black, over-the-knee stockings, tucked into Chelsea boots, a short, tight black sleeveless dress, seductively exposing four inches of light tan bare thigh.

A small black clutch bag hangs on a silver chain, slung across her torso, and deep red nails snap in time to the beat.

Instantly, Dave forgets what he came here for.

He has no choice... But to go to her.

"Hi Katie... What are you doing here?" he shouts over the music.

Katie flashes a plum-red-lipped smile and shouts back into his ear as he leans down, "Oh, I've been stalking you!" Then she laughs... maniacally.

Dave can smell that she's already been drinking, even though she's not presently holding a glass.

Oh fuck, he thinks, are you joking... or not?

Dave doesn't know if she's vamped up her look tonight just for him, but he LOVES it.

"In that case," he says, grabbing her, "Come here."

Insistently, he pulls her off the wall and into a dance.

As he looks down at her and she starts to move fluidly on the dance floor, the bright disco lights sweep sideways and up and down, catching the curves of her figure and the volume of her hair.

The dance beat takes hold of them instantly, and Dave spins Katie around.

Dave's heart, steady but full, pounds with quiet excitement as they come together again, even just for a moment.

Dave watches her feet move, her hips sway, and does his best to match her rhythm... Clumsy, but trying.

Katie throws a perfect hair flip, effortless.

Then she locks eyes with him and exclaims, "Oh my God, it's my favorite song!"

Without thinking, he pulls her close. Katie sings along, lost in the music... and Dave is just as lost, watching her.

The vocalist sings...

"Put your hands on my body.

Swear I've seen you before.

Cause baby tonight.

The DJ got us falling in love again."

Dave wonders how much she's had to drink. She certainly seems relaxed, much more so than at their last meeting... Happy and free-spirited, even.

But as long as the record keeps spinning, Dave's going to keep hold of her.

Taking a chance, he brushes her hair aside and leans down, cheekily licking her neck. Her skin is soft... Clean, but with a hint of salt.

It tastes like... Tears.

To his surprise, she whispers, "Don't stop dancing," and pulls him even closer.

Holding her this tight is turning him on. The beat, the booze, her scent... It's intoxicating.

But then the song ends.

And just like that, the spell breaks.

They both come back to themselves... suddenly aware of where they are, how close they are... and pull away, just enough to hesitate.

Not quite sure what happens next.

"Errrrrrrrrrr... Do you want a drink?" Dave asks, trying to cover the awkwardness.

"No milkshakes here!" he adds, with a crooked smile.

"Yeah, please... Rum and Coke," Katie replies, wide-eyed and smiling, acknowledging the reference to their first meeting.

Dave takes her hand and leads her back through the crowd, toward the bar and his friends.

Collie is the first to spot them.

"Hello... and who do we have here?" She asks, giving her a wide smile and Dave a sideways glance.

Dave places Katie between Collie and himself, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Guys, this is my friend Katie.

Katie, meet Collie, Mike, Tim, and Tony. Watch Tony... he's got wandering hands."

Tony raises both palms in mock innocence. "It was only that once, and you loved it," he laughs.

"Collie, do me a favor... look after Katie while I get the drinks. Same again for everyone?"

Nods all round.

Dave heads off to the bar, pushing through the crowd.

As he glances back, he sees Collie placing a protective arm around Katie's shoulders, gently pulling her in beside her.

........................

Once again, Dave returns with a tray of full glasses, handing them out one by one.

As the final drink leaves his hand, it suddenly hits him... why he had tried to cross the dance floor in the first place.

Dave laughs, mostly at himself, and mutters, "Excuse me, folks... nature calls. Again."

With a nod and a grin, he slips away, retracing his earlier path... this time without the music, the lights, or the unexpected reunion to distract him.

........................

Returning some time later, he can't hear what they are saying... But he can see Katie and Collie laughing loudly.

As he reaches them, the laughter stops. Both women go quiet. Collie looks sheepish... guilty, even.

Hmmmm... Dave wonders what she's been telling Katie.

"What were you talking about?" Dave asks, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.

"Oh, nothing," Katie replies, sharing a conspiratorial look with Collie.

Katie covers her mouth with one hand as she giggles.

"Colette... I trusted you!" Dave exclaims, mock-exasperated. The two women both just laugh harder.

Just then, the dance music fades, replaced by a soft, violin-heavy, instrumental overture. A hush falls over the room.

Tim... the resident music critic interrupts the moment. "Quick, they're on! Let's try and get to the front... grab your things!"

The party gather their drinks and begin to shuffle forward, but are a little too late to get very close to the stage. The overture continues, swelling gently as the crowd shifts and settles.

Dave leans in toward Katie. "You ever heard the Luvcat band before?"

"Nah," she replies, shaking her head. "I only came here because I thought it might be somewhere you'd hang out."

"Oh," he smiles. "Well, you found me, and you're in for an added treat. They're good. The songs are... deliciously odd, twisted... Like murder ballads."

The band troops onto the stage, followed by the lead singer.

She's striking... black and blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, a dusting of freckles, and deep red lips. She's wearing a red, satin babydoll outfit, sexily strutting to the front of the stage on fantastic legs.

But Dave thinks, looking down at Katie, standing close by... that she is definitely cuter.

Dave grabs her by the waist, placing Katie in front of him so she can see, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder as she sways slowly to the music.

The band launches into two good but unfamiliar songs.

The singer commands the stage, her voice rich and confident. Katie continues to sway with the rhythm, and Dave finds himself watching her more than the show.

The second song ends, and the band rolls smoothly into 'Love and Money.'

Afterward, they shift into a quieter instrumental number, and the singer disappears for a quick costume change.

That's when Sophia shows up.

A very drunk, cyberpunk girl (that Dave knows only too well) squeezes her way through the crowd and plants herself directly in front of them.

Before Dave can even greet her, she gives Katie a full once-over, obviously looking her up and down with disdain, eyes narrowed.

Then she looks Dave dead in the face, glances back at Katie, then back at Dave and loudly sneers, "What's THAT?"

Her expression instantly turns mean. "Are you going to the sperm bank for your next girlfriend?" Her voice drips with scorn.

Dave notices Katie's nose crinkle in annoyance... uh oh.

Katie responds prickly. "Wait... what?" Quickly turning to square up with Sophia.

Dave quickly pulls Katie to the side. He's not entirely sure how Katie will react, and his instinct says that there's a decent chance that she could be very 'explosive.'

He nudges Katie t

Stepping forward, he gets in Sophia's face.

"What the fuck, Sophia? Put your talons away... she's just a friend.

And if you can't be sociable, you can fuck off back to wherever you came from."

He gives her a gentle shove away with the palm of his hand, just enough to make the point.

Tim, Mike, and Tony stare on, shocked.

Sophia glares, spits, and screams, "You're a SHIT FUCK anyway!"

Then she spins and storms back into the crowd, flipping Dave the bird over her shoulder before disappearing.

Tony sighs, shakes his head, and follows after her.

Dave turns back to Katie and sees Collie with her arm protectively around her shoulders again.

He walks over, apologetic. "Sorry about that, Katie. You okay?"

"I'm fine. Who the hell was that?" Katie's arms are folded tightly across her chest, and her expression is tight-lipped.

"Err... that was Sophia. She's sort of an on-and-off... squeeze. Presently very off.

I haven't seen her in months." Dave offers a sincere smile, trying to lighten the mood.

The lead guitarist, whilst playing, had been standing above them watching the scene unfold with annoyance, and now Dave notices two security guys at the edge of the stage, eyeing their party warily.

Dave nods toward them and smiles, hoping they are not going to be ejected.

Then leans close to Katie's ear.

"We'd better keep it down, or we'll get thrown out. I'll explain more later.

She doesn't look entirely convinced by the brief explanation, but honestly, he'd rather not get into that mess right now.

The singer returns to the stage, and the attention shifts.

She climbs onto a giant, white-painted rotating music box, set up at the back of the stage.

She's now wearing a short, white dress with a corseted top, trashily revealing the dark bra beneath.

The opening notes of Luvcat's 'Lipstick' begin to play.

They all watch as she performs her mechanical doll routine, eerily evocative of the "Doll on a Music Box" scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

She sings:

"I can be your cowgirl,

Or your stewardess,

Or your bedside nurse,

Moppin' up your sweat.

Wind the key, I'll do a dance,

It's all a dream, I'm in a trance."

The performance is excellent... Katie turns around and flashes Dave a wide, approving smile. Forgetting the recent fracas.

The next song kicks in... 'Matador'.

The singer dismounts her music box, and after moving to the front of the stage, right on cue, drops to all fours as the chorus hits.

"I came crawling in on all fours..." she belts out, while literally crawling across the stage... dramatic and theatrical, in all the right ways.

In front of him, Dave sees Katie shuffle left, then right, then left again... she then rises onto her tiptoes, straining.

She then turns around with a look of despair. "I can't see!"

Dave knows there is a simple solution to that problem... "Want a piggyback on my shoulders?"

"Yeah!" Katie exclaims, eyes lighting up.

Dave bends down, and with Mike steadying her hand, she circles behind him. Clambering aboard, she settles into place as he lets out the obligatory old man's groan, "Oooooohhhhffff..." as he lifts her up.

He lifts his arms to reach up to hold her boots against his chest.

"You okay up there?" he asks.

"Uh-huh... It's great!" she says, already mesmerized by the view.

The brim of Dave's hat is shoved down over his eyes by her stomach, and he has to push it back up just to see. Katie laughs, removes the hat, and plops it on her own head.

And he feels her warm, soft hand wrap gently around his bald head, as she keeps herself steady.

Much to Dave's relief, luckily, Katie's light. Though he finds it hard to ignore the softness of her exposed thighs so close to his neck, or the slightly scratchy hem of her dress brushing against the back of it.

They both bob gently along with the music as two or three more songs play. They sway, she sings the choruses, her laughter drifting down now and then, like confetti.

Then Dave feels a finger poke into his chest.

Leaning down towards his ear, she says, "I need the loo."

Carefully, Dave crouches down and lets her slide off his shoulders.

As Katie stands and straightens her dress, Dave turns to Collie, then asks her, "Go with Katie... just in case Sophia's still lurking around."

"Don't be long," Dave calls after them as they head away. "It's nearly eleven-thirty... the band will be finishing soon."

He watches them both disappear into the crowd, knowing the venue clears out quickly after the band, to prep for the late-night LGBTQ+ disco.

Luckily, and much to Dave's surprise and delight, the two women return not long after. "Want to resume your elevated perch, m'lady?" he asks, sweeping his arms in a grand, theatrical gesture.

"Oh yes!" Katie laughs, already stepping forward.

Kneeling again, he feels one leg, then the other slip around his neck. She's fiddling with something... trying to control the hem of her dress, maybe securing it, maybe not.

As soon as he stands, he can feel something different, her hips still uncomfortable, but there's a more intense warmth...

Dave is not sure... until Katie, getting settled, wiggles tighter onto him.

The thought races through his mind... Ohh my god, she's removed her knickers!

Be cool, be cool, be cool!

His heart rate increases by a factor of ten!

As the Luvcats play "Dinner at the Brasserie Zédel," Dave breaks into a cold sweat.

The girl on stage sings...

"Hey, baby

I promise I'm not crazy, ask the others

But they're already dead

I'll do my hair up real nice

Tell you terrible things by candlelight

While the table next to us choke on their bread"

He wonders if his friends would 'choke on their bread,' if they knew what Katie was doing right now?

Dave is sure that she knows, that he knows... and feels her giggling, the vibrations being transmitted to his shoulders.

The band on stage launches into their final number, "He's My Man."

Twisting his head upwards, he shouts up at Katie. "I love this song...

How? What sounds like a straightforward love ballad slowly reveals its deliciously dark, subverted edge, if you actually listen....

Is it unspoken moral?... Never accept a cup of tea from strange women."

But tonight Dave can't focus on the lyrics. There's a hot, sticky wetness at the back of his neck... her legs pressed close, warmth lingering.

Much to his relief, the band finishes their set, and the house lights flick on.

As the crowd starts to drift away, he lowers himself carefully, letting Katie dismount with dignity.

Rising, he catches her gaze and says, "Katie!"

She just smiles sweetly back, without even blinking. "What?"

How she manages to keep such an innocent expression, Dave will never understand.

The bouncers are already ushering the crowd toward the open doors. They're all corralled along, pushed outside into the cool night air, where the majority of the crowd quickly disperses.

Out front, however, a long, four-deep line is starting to snake down the sidewalk... People queuing to get back into the late-night disco.

Mike and Collie give hugs all round, and then depart, but not before Collie kisses Katie on both cheeks... she obviously likes her.

Tim says, "Goodbye," and wanders off to chat to some girls he knows.

Dave and Katie are left alone, standing on the pavement looking at each other. "What now?" he desperately wants to hold her.

Katie remains still and silent, staring up at him.

Tentatively, Dave moves towards her, placing his hands on her shoulders, then moves closer.

She stands on tiptoes, her arms wrapping around him, as Dave tilts his head and bends down... their eyes remain fixed together.

Closing to within inches...

"Dave! Come quick!" Tony runs across the street, flailing his arms and looking flustered.

Distracted, Dave looks up, startled, and lets go of Katie. "What's wrong, Tony?"

"It's Sophia," he says, panting. "She's fallen badly and needs to be taken home.

I can't get any sense out of her.

But you know where she lives.

Can you help me get her home? She is your ex, after all."

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Tony, this is exactly the kind of shit that made her my ex.

Where is she?"

Dave can feel his life starting to spin out of control again!

But more than that, this is messing with his chances of getting closer to the girl he's had on his mind for ages.

"She's just around the corner in the subway, at the bottom of the steps," Tony points.

Dave thinks quickly... snapping into problem-solving mode.

* he can't trust Tony. He's way too flaky.

* he can't leave Katie alone on the street at night with no underwear on.

* he WANTS Katie.

* he doesn't want that shithead Sophia, but she needs help.

"Right, erm..." Dave assumes Katie needs to get home.

"Katie, what road do you live on? I'll get you an Uber.

Tony, go back to Sophia and make sure she's okay. I'll be there... as soon as I can."

Acknowledging Tony just nods, "Okay," and runs back across the street.

Katie looks up at him and gives Dave her address (but not the door number).

Then, pulling out his phone, Dave quickly orders the cab... fortunately, it is efficiently scheduled to arrive in only a few minutes.

"I'm sorry, Katie... come with me until the cab arrives."

He takes her hand and leads her walking briskly toward the subway to find Tony and Sophia. As they cross the road, they take care to dodge cars on the street.

They soon find Tony; he is crouched down on the bottom subway step, holding Sophia in his arms.

She's a complete mess. Tears are streaming down her face, her eyeliner smudged, and her tights are ripped. One shoe is missing, and there's a pile of fresh sick nearby.

She's sobbing loudly, not even acknowledging their presence.

Looking down at her, Dave knows that he is doing the right thing, but, fuck, Fuck, FUCK.

Katie's surprisingly quiet, considering the situation.

Her silence makes him worry; he does really hope that abandoning her won't screw things up.

The Uber Toyota arrives, and he holds Katie's hand as she gets into the rear seat alone.

And tells the driver, "Make sure you see her to her front door," simultaneously thrusting a fiver into his hand.

Katie looks at Dave with an unreadable expression,

"Bye, Dave." She says quietly

As the taxi pulls away... he feels a knot in his stomach, and his heart sinks... his realization:

I didn't get your number; I still have no way to contact you.

I didn't even get to kiss you.

And then realizes, to cap it all off... Katie has stolen his favorite bloody hat.

To be continued..