The Finest Line

by Catherine Taylor

  “Wow, I look fucking amazing,” Mairead giggled as she admired herself and enjoyed Mark’s continued approving stare. Looking at their reflections together in the mirror, Mairead knew the world would approve but it would be so wrong. It should have been James standing there next to her, ready to celebrate their love and a long happy life together. Instead she was here with this volatile stranger and the prospect of happiness seemed highly unlikely.

  Looking at Mark, she turned and smiled. “Could we do some more of your funny white powder?”

  He grinned and nodded.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The function room was decorated with balloons and streamers and banners. The lights were low and a band was playing some lively music. A crowd of strangers applauded their entry.

  Mairead was startled but found it amusing and whispered to Mark, “Do you even know these people?”

  Mark shrugged, “Probably half of them but a lot would have been invited by my father.”

  They were quickly swamped by well wishes, and with drugs in her system, Mairead found herself enjoying the attention. It was thoroughly entertaining getting to know people she would normally have no interest in. The intense desire to talk and laugh and flirt was infectious and she was endearing herself to everyone. Conversation flowed from her and each new person was given the privilege of her full attention.

  Everything seemed so much more wonderful than she expected. The decorations were stunning and the wine was the best she had ever tasted. Her senses were fined tuned to appreciate everything.

  Her excitement bubbled over when her father arrived and she hugged him tightly until he was able to extract himself from her grasp.

  Sean eyed her warily. “How much have you had to drink Mairead?”

  She giggled, “Oh not nearly enough Daddy. This is all so much fun. These people are really weird.”

  “Mairead,” his tone had become stern. “You need to settle down a bit sweetheart or you’ll be passed out before the night is half over.”

  “Stuff and nonsense Daddy,” she chided him. “I’ve never felt so energetic. I could party all night.”

  “They don’t wear out like we do Sean,” Richard Lewis came up to join them and Mairead lost some of her enthusiasm. His thin smile and intense stare made her feel nauseous.

  His eyes roamed her before looking to Sean. “Your daughter is a most magnificent creature. Our grandchildren will have a great foundation.”

  Sean smirked and embraced Mairead a little tighter as she moved closer to him. “Well I hope we have a few more years before grandchildren so that these young people can still have a bit more fun with life.”

  Richard didn’t comment further but he gave her another inspection and Mairead quickly excused herself to get away. She had barely walked a few steps when she heard her name screamed with excitement.

  Kylie, Amiri, Miranda and Diana hurried towards her and she met them with equal enthusiasm. Together they talked over each other and hugged and kissed and squealed over each other’s outfits.

  It was so wonderful to see the bright and outrageous clothes her friends had chosen to wear rather than the formal attire of her other guests. Kylie looked stunning in a long yellow sequinned gown which showed off her breasts proudly.

  Beautiful tall Amiri with his flowing dreads looked like a pirate with tight pants and a puffy white shirt revealing much of his muscular chest.

  Mairead feigned a leering stare. “Are you deliberately trying to turn me on Amiri you sexy thing, and I suppose that’s a big sword you have in your hand.” She pointed to a long cylindrical case that he was carrying.

  Amiri snorted his indifference and waved her off, “You had your chance Mairead Kavanagh and you rejected me.” His grin quickly returned as he hid the case behind his back. “And you only get to see what’s in the case when I say so.”

  She was so involved with the group that Mark had to shout her name for the third time before she noticed him. “Mark, come and meet my friends.”

  He approached but instead of greeting her friends he pulled her away. She was marched a few feet before she wrenched from his grasp and glared at him, “What the fuck’s wrong with you?”

  His face was angry. “You are making a scene. People are looking at you.”

  “Let them fucking look. I’m enjoying my party.” She glanced at the crowd and noticed that her friends were receiving curious stares. Richard’s stare was more utter disgust than curiosity.

  “Get rid of them,” Mark’s command sparked her temper.

  “Like hell I will,” She moved her face closer and smirked. “You have no idea of the scene I can make if you try and chuck my friends out.”

  He stared at her for a moment before walking away and the little fear she felt was quickly dismissed. Turning back, she was delighted to see her father standing with her friends accepting introductions from Kylie. She hurried back.

  The night flowed on with the wine. Mairead stayed with her friends, giggling whenever she caught one of Mark’s disapproving glares. She even poked her tongue at him once and burst into fits of laughter.

  They took over the dance floor and needed little encouragement to incite the band to play livelier music. Many of her more formal guests were drawn to the atmosphere of fun and soon her friends were mingling amongst them.

  Eventually the courage of the alcohol allowed her to approach Mark who also seemed a lot more relaxed.

  “You see,” She grinned ridiculously. “They all get along.”

  He had his own smile of satisfaction. “I’ve noticed one person who doesn’t look like he’s having much fun.” He steered her face toward a group that were still watching the dancers critically. Nearby her father was talking to a taller man whose back was towards her. She didn’t need any other information to know it was James.

  Mark smirked, “I almost admire his tenacity.” He patted her backside. “Don’t be impolite Mairead. Go and greet your guest.”

  Slowly she walked to them and sank a little when her father moved off leaving James alone. When he turned he saw her instantly and he soberly watched her approach.

  “Hello James,”

  He nodded a small bow. “Miss Kavanagh.”

  There was so much she wanted to say but only a simple question escaped her. “Why did you come?”

  “You invited me I believe,” His face was stony. “I was not aware that the invitation had been rescinded.”

  The temptation to blurt everything out to him hovered on the tip of her tongue. He looked so good, so handsome in his black suit and, strangely, a tie the same colour as her dress.

  “I wish I could explain some things,” Was all she could manage.

  His face grew colder. “You owe me nothing. It is good to see you happy.”

  She wanted to scream at him and tell him how terribly unhappy she was. She wanted to launch into his arms and have him hold her and never stop telling her how much he loved her completely.

  Even if had dragged her away by her hair or lashed out at her, anything would have been preferable to his harsh indifference. Tears began to roll down her face.

  Whatever she expected, it was not the hard and angry words that he spoke next. “Stop it Mairead. You are here because you want to be, the choice that you made. You don’t get to cry about it now.”

  His viciousness nearly buckled her and it was only that Mark came up behind her and held her around the waist.

  He spoke quietly to James. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  Mairead was trembling as she watched him walk away and almost thankful for Mark’s arms around her but when he kissed her neck she felt sick.

  “I want to dance.” She pulled away and hurried back to the music and the sounds of people who still enjoyed living. Maybe they would remind her what that feeling was like.

  A crowd had circled around something on the dance floor and as Mairead wandered in, she gasped in astonishment. The cylindrical case was opened and Amiri had rigged up
a chromed pole with everyone looking at it curiously.

  He grinned at her and then at the crowd. “Here she is everyone, the next champion of the International Pole Dancing Championships.”

  His announcement set off loud murmuring and camera flashes and Mairead began to laugh at Amiri’s innocence. He had no idea how much trouble he had caused her but then again, rebellion had always made her feel alive.

  As she pulled off her shoes she yelled to the band, “Something upbeat.”

  By the time Mark realised what was happening it was too late. She had already taken hold of the pole and swung herself up to freeze in a horizontal pose before swinging into action.

  Throughout the song, she entertained her audience thoroughly and received gasps, cheers and applause. Her dress proved a little unsuitable for her act but she had chosen matching blue silk panties that sat high on her hips. They covered enough and she was a little too drunk to care. Thoughts of James surged the adrenaline through her and she worked hard to keep him out.

  When the first song ended, she was still holding the pole when she noticed Mark advancing angrily. She skimmed to the top of the pole out of reach.

  Without trying to draw too much attention Mark was smiling as he asked her very politely to come down. She shook her head and there was laughter in the crowd.

  Her father came to stand next to Mark, grinning with great amusement. He patted Mark on the shoulder. “And that is your future wife.”

  Amiri was up on the stage with the band whose leader was putting a compact disk into their system.

  He called to her. “I know you’ve been practicing Mairead. You left this on our player. I want to see what you can do.”

  The tinkling lilting of harp music began to play and Mairead was not familiar with it but had hard practiced such other gentle tempos.

  As she slid down the pole, Mark was going to move in, but Sean kept a firm hand on his shoulder. “If you not ready to experience Mairead in all her defiance, I advise you to let her dance and besides, I want to see her.”

  Mark reluctantly moved back and glared at her as she began to set her body in motion.

  Sean looked on with admiration, wondering if Schubert would approve of his Ave Maria being used for such a dance and then decided Schubert would probably be equally impressed.

  Mairead moved with all the melancholy and passion that the music delivered and which stirred the sadness within her. She was barely aware of her audience as she thought of James and danced for him in her mind.

  She thought of how they had moved together in their passion, entwined in each other’s arms, of how James would only climax at the same time as her, even if she had already had many. Only when she rippled her body out from the pole did she hear the awe inspired murmurings about her.

  When the song finished she slid down the pole and discovered her audience had grown with all the hotel staff looking on. The applause was thunderous and she felt a little shy, gladly accepting her father’s embrace. Mark was staring at her incredulously.

  He moved towards her but Amiri was there claiming her first, weeping shamelessly.

  “I have nothing left to teach you. It’s so unfair.”

  Mairead hugged him tightly. He had already given her so much. Her last performance would at least be her best. She looked past him at Mark who stood by patiently and was smiling at her.

  This was the man that she was going to spend the rest of her life with, however much of that was left. She still despised so much about him but she couldn’t hate him. Releasing herself from Amiri, she walked towards him.

  He looked into her eyes. “What was the one good thing I ever did in my life to end up with someone like you?”

  Mairead smiled, knowing how much his words reflected similar feelings. For a fleeting moment, she too had experienced something beautiful in her life and then she had allowed him to walk away.

  “I need water.”

  They were about to walk to the bar when Richard loomed in front of them. He had two glasses of champagne.

  He glared at them both. “You have speeches to make. Get them done so I can get out of here.”

  Mairead took a glass, “Great idea. I certainly wouldn’t want to hold you up.”

  Richard raised his eyebrows at her and looked critically at Mark. “I hope you’re planning to give your slut some lessons in respect.”

  Mark took the other glass. “Right now I would be happy if she just learned to like me a little bit.”

  He took her hand and steered her away towards the stage. “Let’s do this and get out of here ourselves.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Just let it be enough for now to know that I don’t hate you.”

  On stage, Mark took charge of the microphone.

  “Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for coming tonight and making our evening particularly special. Like you, I am in awe over this beautiful woman who has agreed to become my wife. She never fails to surprise us with her exceptional talents.”

  There was applause of agreement before he continued. “I only hope that I can be someone that she can be proud of as well, but for now I would like you to raise your glasses and drink to my bride to be, Mairead.”

  “To Mairead,” The toast was enthusiastic and Mairead kissed Mark enough to save him any embarrassment. She raised her glass in appreciation and looked up at him.

  “To Mark and the hope of future happiness.”

  The champagne was bitter but she drank it down, resigning to make it her last and keep to water. The night was taking its toll and she felt very weary and a little nauseous.

  Mark was eager to continue the affection but she quickly told him that she was off to the toilet. It wasn’t a lie. She felt a little desperate for the solitude of a cubicle where she could escape the noise and the people.

  The party volume grew peacefully silent the further she went from the function room and wandered along a corridor. Her attention was drawn to the boldly patterned carpet which seemed to have become three dimensional. It was a little weird but quite fascinating.

  Pushing open the door, Mairead sighed happily at the wonderfully empty restroom. At the vanity she frowned at the sweaty, untidy girl who looked back at her in the mirror. Taking a paper towel, she wiped away some stray mascara but there was little she could do with her hair. The spirals were limp from perspiration.

  Her bladder reminded her it needed attention and she chose the last of five cubicles. Sitting down, she leant forward blissfully peeing and looking at the door wondering why the paint was running down off it. There was no puddle on the floor but worse was the way the tiles were moving along like a conveyor belt.

  It made her stomach lurch and she decided it was her head’s turn for the bowl, except her bum had melded into the seat and she couldn’t move. When she tried to push off with her legs, they folded up like rubber and the feeling made her giggle until the nausea grew stronger.

  She walked her cheeks off the seat bit by bit and fell down to her knees which she couldn’t decide had hurt her or not. At least she could put her head in the bowl as she did a slow turn on hands and knees.

  Her underwear was still around her ankles and she thought that might prove hazardous if she got up, which was quite funny the more she thought about it. Somehow she managed to reach back and take them off and then put them into the bowl.

  They were more entertaining than the water. They floated for a little while and then slowly sank until they disappeared under a flood of vomit. She felt a little concerned over the lack of oxygen for a few seconds but when it came back she didn’t feel quite as sick.

  She wasn’t even sure where she was. With great concentration she got to her feet and enjoyed the challenge of balancing. Opening the door was a little trickier but she did it in the end.

  There were mirrors everywhere, thousands of them and they were calling to her. She wanted to dance and twirl into everything else that was spinning.

  Miranda caught her before she crashed against the b
asin. “Mairead, are you alright?” A grin was the only reply she received and she gently lowered her to the floor. “I’m going to get help sweetie. Just sit there until I get back.”

  Mairead was sad to see the fairy woman flutter away. She sounded so sweet and she was a lot prettier than the big ogre that entered her wonderland soon after.

  She tried to be nice to him and greeted him friendly but he said nothing as he reached down and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder. It was like flying. She was up so high, bobbing along as he walked and she tried to tell him that she was pretty sure they were going the wrong way but ogres never listen.