Six Flavours of Sin by Poppet

I cannot handle this shit.
    After a while Mishi and myself go off to a table and vegetate. We have one objective: let's get drunk.
    Mishi is adorable, very sweet and a complete geek. Together we drink cocktails as though we're dying today and voyeur in on Selene's man snatching techniques. She is shameless. (And ruthless. Yep, she lost her ruth long ago.)
    Erm......okaaaay, the ‘single’ young men at the bar where we order have noticed the pattern. So now drinks just magically arrive the minute ours are close to empty.
    (You saw this happening didn't you? I'm out of practice myself.)
    A fairly yummy dude strolls over, takes a seat and extends a hand that matches his predator smile, "Hi, I'm Stewart."
    I laugh. (I'm toasted already.)
    "Hi! Thanks for all the drinks!"
    Whoa! Fuckenhell. Never lean in to speak into a man's ear to be heard.
    He thinks this is my pick-up technique and, gaboing , he plants his lips on mine. I'm shocked and horrified. This guy is pulling in fast and I'm way too drunk. I feel like I'm cheating. I have this sick knot contorting my stomach and I feel ill, instantly, with self-disgust. I put my hand against his chest and SHOVE.
    "Sorry Stewart, I can't do this."
    Mishi is looking embarrassed and like she wants to leave. (Nooo. Stay. Don’t you dare leave me alone.)
    Na uh. ‘No’ wasn't uttered: (we have to say it right?)
    Stewy just kisses me again. Like this is somehow going to convert me and change my mind. (Nope, I'm not a believer. Conversion unsuccessful.) Mildly panicked I pull away to shoot my about-to-be-roadkill eyes to Mishi in a silent plea for heeelp . She stands, (sober as a judge my little nerd is. Wow, how come I’m drunk when no one else is?)
    "We're going!" she announces, and grabs my arm and hauls me to my feet, away from him and out the door, before I can say ‘Boo’. In the passage she examines my face with worry, "Are you okay?"
    ( Okay wait. I have to give you the vibe. Michelle manages to make you feel like she's your mother and you're about to get a scolding. She's very good at giving disapproving glares. So I'm feeling like I'm about to get a lecture here.)
    I nod. "Just scared the crap out of me."
    She scowls and states, as if it explains everything, "Men!"
    "I must tell Selene ..."
    "Selene, is too busy to notice. I'll keep you company until she gets home."
    Phew. Okay then.
    So, off we whisk up to our hill and sit together smoking, enjoying fresh air and night silence.
    Finally she hears who Gary is and I tell her why I don't particularly wish to speak to him right now.
    She stares out at the night, exhaling her cigarette smoke, "Men!"
    (Did I mention I adore this pumpkin?)

 
    Chapter 14
     
    Back in the Ring
     
     
    For two blissful weeks I was rebellious. The crowd at work ranged from eighteen to twenty-three and they were all thankfully normal and in normal relationships.
    Between Dianne, Julie, Selene and James, we had every ladies night plotted and planned. We knew up to what hour ladies could get in free, with a free drink to boot. We were booked every night of the week. I laughed, I flirted, I thrived like algae in sludge. My self-confidence just flourished, and I now knew without a doubt that I am not the ugliest girl in the room.
    Unfortunately, the side effect of bonding with colleagues, is they find out why you're suddenly single. Even some of the guys at work seemed ambitious about getting to know me. I was one of the crowd, these were my people. We worked together; we played together; on Friday nights after work, we drank together at the work bar.
    But – I can't stress this enough – one thing I knew I would never do again, is dress the way Selene dresses. We looked like wannabe prostitutes that night, and I did not like the way men just assumed that they could examine the merchandise. You know what I'm saying?
    So, I'm happy. I honestly am. I still love Gary but we're over. He phones me every day at work and every day I hang up on him. He crossed