Chapter 5
Bernie was stood still by the table not moving, Elinor buzzing around her. Elinor grabbed her own bag and swung it over her shoulder and then picked up her jacket, folding it over her arm. She quickly, grabbed Bernie's bag and put it on over Bernie's arm for her. Bernie flinched and sighed. She nodded at her. 'I'm doing this aren't I? I'm goinggg to a clubb?' Elinor halted, ceased fussing around her and stopped dead. She had a fleeting moment where she thought it was unfair to drag this out any longer. She should just let Bernie go home, but something compelled her to carry on, a curiosity about this women, a stranger, but so familiar in other ways. Bernie was an enigma and she wanted to know more.
'Yep.' She simply said. There was a warm smile. 'You'll be fine...I bbet you drinkkk thiss lot under the tablee and I will congratulate my mum on finding such a party animalll.' there was a little smirk playing along her lips. Almost a smugness that she was manipulating this Major Wolfe, into doing things because of her love for her mother. It was impressive. Bernie was impressive.
'The boys have a taxi.' Jasmine shouted over in their direction. 'You coming?'
Elinor took the bottle of now drained whiskey that they had made light work of out of Bernie's clasped hand and snorted with laughter. 'Come on we're look after you.' She grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of the door.'Just coming.' She said. Jasmine was laughing as well now.
'Miss Wolfe you suree you areee up for thiss?' Jasmine asked, still giggling like a school girl.
'Yess?' Bernie smiled at her. 'Why the helll not? Comee on!' Bernie winked at Jasmine, Elinor was still dragging her along, both a little unsteady on their feet. The taxi was outside the door waiting for them. They all jumped in the back, half falling about already, of the large black cab. Bernie somehow ended up squished between Elinor and Jasmine in the middle, the F1 lads sat opposite.
The short taxi ride over to the main street of the city, where most the night clubs were, was a relatively quick one, but it was still awkward. Bernie found herself in the affections of young Mark from one of the other wards, he kept smiling and making eyes at her, she tried to ignore it and turned to Jasmine.
'Where are we going?'
Jasmine shrugged, 'Thought maybe Temptation or Vortex? Not suree seee wheres good...busy or drink offerrss go with the flow.'
Elinor chimed in, as they went over a speed bump that threw them all about a bit, 'Yeaah go with the floww Wolfe!' She fell into Bernie's side. 'Sorry.'
Bernie huffed, 'I am more than capable of going with the floww.' Bernie suddenly heard Mark as he whispered to the F1 she hadn't yet caught the name of.
'She's beautiful.'
'Sshh dudee shess right there.' They look at Bernie awkwardly and both smile a boyish grin.
Bernie rolls her eyes and hits her face with her right hand, mix of embarrassment and amusement, you can't be serious she thinks to herself. Elinor suddenly lies half over Bernie to talk to Jasmine. Bernie is forced to sit back, 'We should go to that new placeee. Werewolves.'
They all start laughing raucously apart from Bernie. 'Alright. Maybe.' Jasmine agrees.
'This is in honour of you Major Wolfe, you'll love it.' Elinor slaps her on the leg, sits back and smiles to herself.
What have I done? Too late now Major Wolfe, might as well enjoy the party. You are going to feel this tomorrow. Good job I bloody love you 'Serena' the rest had been said in her own stream of conscious to herself, all apart from the last word she let trickle out.
'What you sayinggg about mum?'
'Nothing.' She lied, crap, she loved her. She proper loved her. Her thoughts were cut off from a shriek from Elinor.
'We're here!!'
'Great.' She said it sarcastically, but she didn't actually mind that much, it was a long time since she had been dancing, not that she really danced, more shuffled awkwardly with her long, gangly limbs like an orangutan. Thinking about Serena was lightening her mood and she thought why not embrace the night.