Sara closed the door to the storeroom, where I was starting to pack away the games from the youth club's Friday meeting. The music and sounds of the members good naturedly debating the relative merits of their favourite bands or football teams was suddenly muffled. I looked up and saw her standing, just smiling, in the doorway. For a moment, neither of us spoke, we just looked at each other. I was waiting for her to speak, perhaps to admit to some problem that was troubling her.
"It was my birthday on Tuesday," she said, "I'm eighteen now."
"Congratulations for Tuesday," I replied, "I'm sorry I hadn't realised. We'd have sung 'happy birthday to you. Did you have a nice birthday?"
Sara shook her head, " Not really, " she whispered, almost too quietly for me to hear, " Mum and Dad told me that I could have a proper party for my twenty-first, but they couldn't afford anything at the moment."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I wish we'd have known, we could have made tonight a party night." I soothed.
Sara moved closer, until I could smell the light scent of her soap. Some of the girls would drench themselves in body spray, so that they were surrounded by a cloud of perfume, almost strong enough to make my eyes water. Sara just smelt of soap and baby powder, with a hint of something else that I realised was her own excitement.
"You could always make it up to me by buying me a drink. " she whispered, standing close enough for me to feel her breathing, "I'm old enough now."
"When were you thinking of?" I asked, quietly.
"Tonight. I've told Mum and Dad that I'm staying over at Jane's, so they aren't expecting me."
I took a deep breath and nodded. Part of me felt trapped and I could not tell whether my heart was racing because of nerves or because of lust. Sara had caught my eye before with her unconscious grace and a rather sexy shyness. She always seemed to be in the shadow of her older, much plainer sister. She usually dressed in baggy jumpers and worn jeans to disguise her slender, but delicately curved figure.
It seemed to take forever to get everybody out and lock up, but it was only a quarter after nine when I finally turned out the lights and walked over to my car. Sara appeared from the shadows and walked over to stand by the passenger door. She had swapped her baggy jumper for a denim jacket, which she had left partially unbuttoned to show a black bustier.
"Well? Where are you going to take me?" She giggled, watching my eyes as I gazed at her i the light from the street lamps.
I named a busy, fairly trendy, pub on the other side of town, not far from my flat. She grinned even wider and nodded, as she slid into the passenger seat. I assume I drove as carefully as I normally do, but I can honestly say that I paid almost no attention to the drive. All I seemed to be aware of was the smell of her and the closeness of her body. I recall that I accidentally brushed the back of my hand against her thigh, just above her knee, as I changed gear. Each time she slid a little lower in her seat and let her knee relax towards my hand a little.
The pub was heavingly busy, the clientele spilling into the beer garden and the car park when we arrived. Sara just shrugged when I asked her what she would like to drink, so I brought back a wine and soda for her and a mineral water for myself. She gulped the drink as though it were soda pop and, giggling, held out her glass for a refill. I left my glass with her and returned to the bar, luckily catching the barmaid's attention and getting another drink in record time. This time, Sara sipped at the drink more slowly. I smiled and raised my glass.
"Happy Birthday!" I shouted, to make myself heard over the pounding jukebox.