I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twenty-Two

The guy stumbled a bit coming through the door and said to the girl, 'Mind the gap,' and began laughing hysterically at his joke.

The girl noticed us then, 'Hey, Brian, there's someone already in here.'

'What, babe?' He looked around.

She pointed at us, 'There's some people already in here.'

Brian turned and noticed us, squinting. He slurred, ''ey, there, mate! So sorry didn' mean t' buss up ya lil party up here. We were juss looking for some privacy.' He chuckled.

Robert held up a hand, 'It's all right, mate, don't worry over it. There're rooms on the first floor, if you need one.'

'Brilliant mate, thanks! Come on, babe.' Brian turned and began navigating his way back to the door and the girl followed. Before she was over the threshold, Robert whispered to her, 'You going to be all right?'

She was obviously sober and looked a bit sheepish over the guy's behaviour, 'Yeah. He gets like this when he's drinking. Don't mind him.'

'Yeah, but are you going to be all right? You don't have to go with him.'

She waved her hand and said apologetically, 'Oh, yeah, it's fine. We're together.'

They disappeared down the stairs and Brian's voiced echoed up to us, 'Hey, Rob's got some bird up there! Whooo—hoooo!!' Cheers and claps met this announcement, along with a few voices urging Robert on in his endeavour. Saying that I wanted to die is probably unnecessary. Robert rolled his eyes and looked annoyed, then gave me an apologetic look. I was impressed with what he'd said to the girl and wondered if he had a younger sister or something.

I thought it was horrible how that woman had to put up with that. And that she thought she had to because they were a couple. Even if you're with someone you shouldn't be obligated to withstand that person's bad behaviour. Maybe she was one of those women who thought she could make him change his ways. Women like that needed to understand that they weren't responsible for anyone except themselves.

If I were with someone I'd want to be on my best behaviour. God knows I'd be mortified if I found out I had ever embarrassed Alex. I'd never understood the belief that you were supposed to be nice to strangers and could be 'yourself' read: rude, to the people you were closest. The people you love, they were the ones you should be on your best behaviour with, who gave a flying rip what strangers thought of you? I didn't care what most people thought of me, but I sure as hell cared what Alex thought. Her opinion was the only one that really mattered. Robert's voice interrupted my internal monologue,

'Hey, there? Space cadet? Earth to Catherine Perfect.'

'What, huh?'

He chuckled, 'Boy, you sure were out there, what's got your attention so fully?'

I shrugged, 'Nothing. I was just...thinking.'

'Boy, there's a shocker. How's your Coke? Want another?'

'No, thanks, too much caffeine makes me jumpy.' The intrusion of the inebriated guy had ruined my peaceful mood; drunk people usually had that effect on me. 'I should probably make an appearance downstairs.' He got up and stretched, 'Seeing as how I'm one of the hosts.'

'Oh, yeah, sure.' I rather wanted him to leave me there, but I also feared another intrusion by people looking for "privacy" so I stood up as well.

'This was nice, though, you're all right when it's just us.'

'I was thinking the same thing, actually.' That realisation was a bit unnerving.

When we appeared downstairs we were greeted by hoots and catcalls. A few guys offered a thumbs up signal or leered at me. Robert shouted over the din, 'Oh, sod off, the lot of ya!' This was met with a chorus of "ooohhs" and "whoas". Robert turned back to me, 'Don't mind them.'