Very

Laurie drank and drank. She heard her voice getting louder, her conversation getting cruder.

"Did you say you were from, er, Japan right?"

"Well, my parents are from Hong Kong"

"Ahhh." Laurie caught herself glancing back at Dan, and felt another pang in her chest. Why was she being so stupid? She was in a relationship with Alex. Why did it matter what Dan did? Time for another round. And then another. She listened to the guys talking about a cartoon they liked. She knew why it mattered. She had really believed that Dan had liked her. And there he was... She looked again, and saw that Dan and the blonde had left together.

"Fuck" mumbled Laurie "I gotta get home." She stepped away from the bar, and stumbled in her heels.

"You look pretty drunk Laurie. Let me get you a cab"

"Awhh, thanks Tom. You're so sweet"

"It's Tim"

"That's what I said"

The men burst out laughing, and Tim took Laurie by the hand and walked with her to the exit. The night was warm, and the street busy with students disgorging from clubs and bars.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

"Eh? The dorms"

"Cool. I live nearby, so we can share a ride." They ambled together over to the taxi rank. Laurie glanced up at Tim as he gripped her hand. She had never paid much attention during his classes - he was a decade or so older than her, with longish, greasy hair and no chin. She wondered why he chosen to turn up at a party in an old t-shirt and jeans. But Laurie was grateful to be looked after, after the way Dan had cast her aside. She clambered into the back of the car and mumbled out the address of her flat. As the car pulled away, her head sagged against his shoulder, and she shut her eyes. She felt so foolish in her pretty dress. Why get dressed up like this only to brush Dan off? How had she let herself think he would be interested in a girl like her, when there were skinny blondes throwing themselves at him?

"We're here." Laurie sat up in the back of the cab. Tim was already paying the driver. "Let me make sure you get up to your door." Again taking Laurie's hand, he guided her into the building, and up to the stairs to her room. Laurie fumbled in her purse for the keys. Eventually, the door opened and she staggered inside. The door closed behind her, and when she looked back Laurie was surprised to realise Tim had followed her in.

"Oh... Thanks for getting me back. Nice to, uh, chat." He stood and stared at her. "D'ya want a coffee or anything?"

"How about a thank-you hug?"

"Haaah... sure" Laurie leaned forward, her arms outstretched. The assistant lecturer stepped towards her, and reached around her waist. Then in a quick movement, he mashed his face against hers, and Laurie felt his tongue pushing into her mouth.

Laurie froze. Tim was not her type at all. As he squeezed her close and slobbered over her mouth, she could smell his acrid deodorant. She remembered how Dan had abandoned her. Clumsy as the embrace was, it thrilled her to know she was sexy; that men did lust for her. Her head spinning, she felt Tim's hands sliding under her skirt, squeezing and groping and ass cheeks. A slight revulsion battled with drunken excitement.