It was a cold wet night; the rain had been falling persistently all evening.
The last train had been late due to an "incident" somewhere on the line. This was no surprise and had been half expected, as the trains always seemed to suffer delays at the weekend. Looking at her watch she realized that the last bus would have already gone by now as well. Not a problem she would go into the pub across the road from the station and order a taxi for the last leg of the journey home. Nothing was going to spoil her night tonight, it had already been an outstanding success and she would remember this night for years to come.
A friend had asked her to accompany her to a musical, "But on one condition, you must dress the part before you can go with me" she had said. No problem, half expecting an old time music hall or something along those lines she had agreed straight away without much thought, dreaming of being dressed up in some lovely Victorian or Edwardian costume it had come as something of a shock to realize she had been duped into going to see the Rocky horror show.
Catching her reflection in the shop windows as she made her way from the station to the pub across the road, all anyone could see was a woman in a full length raincoat holding on to an umbrella that was making a noble attempt at keeping the misty rain from her teased and heavily lacquered "big hair." The pub was almost deserted which at first was a little disconcerting, she had only been in here on weekdays on her way home form work when the town center was alive and bubbling. Weekends nobody came into town and it was a little eerie at first to walk straight up to the old oak bar.
The barman was reading a paper, looking over at her. "Vodka and coke please." He poured the drink and said nothing, she had seen him in here before and he was always unprepared to talk if he could help it, a little shy which is unusual for somebody working in a pub she thought. The phone was by the pool table and she made her way over to call a cab. Calling the free phone number she heard the taped recording telling her "all the lines are busy right now there is a delay of 1 hour, if you would like to make an advanced booking please press two now." Damn how was she going to get home now?
She sat at the nearest table to think when a voice called her "Don't you work in the office down the road?" Looking up the voice was coming from a man standing on the other side of the pool table. Taking a look at the face she saw a tall muscular guy with short-cropped hair and a black T-shirt holding a pool cue, the face was vaguely recognizable but she couldn't place it.
"Where do I know you from?" She asked.
He smiled and walked around the table, leaning over to take aim at the balls on the table "You probably don't recognize me without my suit on." He winked at her and took his shot cursing as he missed. Strolling back round to the other side of the table, he picked up his drink and took a sip. "I work on the top floor, special projects division, you are in accounts aren't you?" She nodded and then scrutinized him up and down; he was barely recognizable from the slick suited troubleshooter that she saw during working hours. "Name's Pablo, and this is Danny." Pointing at his partner, she hadn't even spotted him sitting in the corner as he waited his turn on the pool table. He got up and nodded before he carried on his game. "You are Katrina I believe?" Amazing he even knew her name, "What brings you in here tonight, not working till this time I hope?" Taking a seat on the stool next to her he gazed into her eyes before turning to look at Danny on the pool table. It seemed as if Danny was on a winning streak, by his swagger as he circled the table potting balls.
Katrina turned to Pablo and answered his question. "I have been to the theatre, train was delayed and I have missed the last bus home, came in here to call a taxi but no joy there either, so it looks like I am stuck here for the time being." Picking up her glass she swirled the dark liquid round as the ice clinked before taking another sip.
Danny had continued his winning streak and potted the black ball with a flourish before extravagantly twirling the cue above his head in mock triumph. He grinned as he jokingly interviewed himself. "Tell me Danny, what is it like to be such an underrated talent with a pool cue? He pretended to choke back mock tears of emotion at his triumph. "Well, I don't know about you Katrina, but I am not staying here to put up with this egomaniac. I am out of here. Do you want a lift home? You live south of here don't you?"