Outsider

As the sound from the pub grew in strength, Pete and I turned the
corner of the street which led to the pub.

'If you walk any slower Pete, you are going to stop,' I moaned to him.
The sound from the pub interested me and I wanted to be at the centre
of the commotion.

'I don't know why you want to rush Theresa, the pub won't be going
anywhere and it does not shut until eleven o'clock. It is only just
turned half past seven,' he looked at his watch to check the time. 'We
have three and a half hours before stop tap.

'I would like to get there early. It is Karaoke night tonight, and I
want to get there before the crowd and give a song. You know what
people are like, like to show off and strut their stuff on the stage to
the rhythm of the beat when they are pissed,' I told him. It gave me
the excuse I always need to get out of the house.

'I hate karaoke,' he grumbled.

'Shut up moaning. Loosen said,' I shouted at him. Leaving go of his
hand as we walked into the pub, I went up to the dance floor and to
give a song.

'I wonder who will be the unlucky fella with Theresa tonight,' I heard
Michael ask his friend as they sat in the corner not far from me. I
think he said it loud enough so that I would hear. 'She is a sweet
girl, but the antics she gets up to is enough to put any man off going
with her. I know, I have been there with her.'

'Someone new again, I expect,' David, his friend, replied as he watched
the door when Pete walked in close behind me.

'You really like her, don't you?'

'Yeah, but I don't know why I am bothering. She ain't interested in me.
We used to be such good friends in school, but that has died. I should
have asked her out then, but never could pluck up the courage to. She
would never have chosen me.'

'I think she does it to gain attention half of the time. Make her feel
wanted. Anyone who does that must be lonely and desperate for any sort
of company. If you asked her out once she has finished with the fella
she is with tonight, she will jump at the chance,' Michael said as he
rose from his seat to get two more drinks.

'That will be the day,' David murmured. 'A pint of cider and pack of
crisps, please Mike,' he shouted as Mike went to the bar.

As Michael was getting the drinks, David looked at me and I could feel
myself blushing and then looked at Pete. I thought to myself, If only
he knew I was between and was using Pete. If only he would ask
me.

As MIchael bought the drinks to the table, he said to David looking at
me - she has a great taste in fashion, hasn't she.'

'Yeah, I like those velvet blazers and the green corduroy trousers,'
David smiled. 'I wonder how long this one will last?'

The same as all of the others, probably.'

Both men grinned, but Michael more than David because he knew why men
entered and left my life quickly.

Moving from the dancefloor, I moved to the bar, by the side of Pete.
'Hey com on, big boy, you can at least look happy.'

'I can't look happy, If I don't really want to be hear.'

'What is wrong with the place?'

'It only happend to be the roughest pub in town. I don't want to see
you get hurt,' he was frightened for his own safety as well as mine. He
was a coward, but he was better than most of the other men.

'Don't you mean the best pub?' I corrected him.

Pete looked around the room, 'I don't like the look of them two sat in
the corner. They look a bit rough for me and out for one think,
fights.'

'What? Michael and David? They are good friends of mine. I used to go
out with Michael, but we finished and decided it was best to remain
friends. Michael is the one with the black hair and David is the blonde
one,' I told him, waving to the boys.

Both of they reluctantly waved back as I ordered my drinks.

When the drinks were served, I dragged Pete over to introduce him to
them.

Reluctantly following, Pete sat by them.

'Hi Dave,' I said flirtily, placing my drink on the table and pulled a
chair from the next table to join them.

'Hi Theresa, enjoying yourself?'

'Of course I am. You know me, first in, last out.'

Pete huffed loudly and went to the toilet.

Michael got up and followed him into the toilet.

I knew what was going to happen to started to follow them.
I was already too late and stook by the door, listening.

'Hello mate, you are new around here, ain't you?' Michael said.

'Yes, I have been in the area about a month and I understand Theresa
said you are her friend.'

'That's right, good friends,' I started to hear Michael's menacing
voice and immediately knew what was going to happen.

'People around here look after each other,' Michael continued. 'Theresa
is a good girl. I watch her like a hawk - make sure nothing happens to
her. I am warning you not to force into doing something she does not
want to do.'

I knew I could not go in. I have been on the end of Michael's fury one
too many times and did not want to be on the wrong end again. It meant
that Pete would get hurt, but did I really like him? I could not have -
if I did, I would have been in there like a shot to save him.

As Pete came from the toilet, he was holding his lip and gave a hateful
to me and said, 'I don't want to see you again,' and left the
pub.

I ran after him, but when I went outside, there was no sign of
him.

Going back into the pub, I went to sit by Michael. 'What did you do to
him?' I asked.

'Never you mind,' he said in a secretive manner.

I left the pub. I was going to find no man at this rate. They would all
be frightened off by Michael. Maybe he is looking out for his friend
and thinks I would ask him out. But no way, that was too close to
home.

TWO WEEKS LATER

'Come on Paul, hurry up.' I shouted at my new boyfriend.

'I am walking as quick as I can Theresa. I know this lovely little
country we can go to.'

'No way, this is the best pub in town.'