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down fast, feeling its burning effect almost immediately. ‘I think I should go home,’ she said weakly. ‘I’m almost drunk, you know.’
    ‘I know.’ He pushed her toward the wall, and then leaned forward and kissed her.
    She closed her eyes as she felt the intimacy of his tongue penetrate her lips. His mouth was persistent and demanding. She felt she should push him away but didn’t have the strength, and anyway, she didn’t want to. It was a long time since she had been kissed like this. David never kissed her anymore, and she had forgotten how exciting it could be.
    ‘Oh, so here you are.’ The whiny voice was familiar, the note of anger unmistakable. Paul straightened up. Melanie was standing there, her yellow hair hanging in a straight curtain around her thin, flushed face. ‘I thought you were coming back for me.’ She glared at Linda. ‘Or have you been so busy that you couldn’t find time?’
    ‘I’m sorry, Mel, thought I said I’d see you here.’
    ‘Well, you didn’t.’ Her voice was becoming shrill. ‘And how’s Mrs. Cooper? Recovered, I see.’
    ‘Can it, Mel,’ said Paul abruptly. He steered her away from Linda and into the hall. ‘Look, I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.’
    ‘That’s the way what is?’ Her dull eyes filled with tears.
    ‘It’s been great, but we’ve been heading this way a long time now, and it’s best to forget it. I still like you and all that bit, but, well, you know…’
    ‘No, I don’t know. And anyway, what can you see in that old bag in there?’ She started to cry. ‘I hate you, Paul.’
    ‘Look, kid, you’re seventeen, there’ll be lots of other guys. You’ll soon forget me. We’re just not—’
    ‘We’re not what?’ she interrupted angrily. ‘God, I hate you!’
    He shrugged and walked away. Linda was deep in conversation with the fat man again. ‘Do you want to go?’ he asked.
    ‘No.’ Her eyes were bright. She was now very drunk. ‘Bruno’s going to teach me a new dance.’
    ‘Bruno can find a girlfriend of his own. I’ll teach you anything you want to know.’ He warned Bruno off with a look, took her into the other room where the dancing was going on, and held her very tight. ‘I want to sleep with you,’ he whispered.
    ‘I want to sleep with you too,’ she whispered back. ‘I mean, I don’t want to, but it would be nice, but I… Oh, God, I think I had better get some air.’
    He kissed her again. This time she kissed him back, and their mouths met in mutual enjoyment. They stood still among the dancers, lost in their own little world. His tongue explored her mouth, and she felt a sudden urgent desire for him. He pressed her very close and then released her.
    ‘You wait here,’ he said. ‘I’ll get your coat.’
    She stood patiently waiting, the liquor she had drunk falling over her in waves. She couldn’t think clearly at all, her head buzzed, and she wanted to be back again in the safety of Paul’s arms. There was a lot of noise coming from the hall, and she wandered out there. Two men were fighting. It was the fat man, Bruno, and the West Indian who had been playing the bongos earlier. They screamed obscenities at each other and rolled about on the floor. No one tried to stop them.
    ‘Why are they fighting?’ she asked a girl standing near her.
    ‘Oh, darling, Bruno always has to fight with someone,’ the girl said. ‘It wouldn’t be Bruno if he didn’t.’
    The West Indian’s nose began to bleed, and there was a lot of blood. Linda suddenly felt sick. She edged her way to the front door and out. The cold air had a slightly sobering effect. She went over to her car and sat in it.
    Eventually Paul arrived. ‘I was worried. I thought you’d walked out on me.’ He got in the car and put his arm around her. She pulled away. ‘What’s the matter?’ he continued.
    ‘I feel terrible. I think I’m going to be sick.’
    ‘Oh, great. Let’s go back inside and I’ll get you upstairs to the