Read Online Cinnamon Twigs by Darren Freebury-Jones - Free Book Online Page A

giggled.
                  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.
                  ‘Very drunk and hoping Michael doesn’t get into a fight.’
                  ‘Yeah, I don’t think he knows his limitations.’
                  ‘I don’t think he has any.’ I smirked.
                  I held Lisa in my arms and breathed in her sweet aroma. The club swirled around us as if the whole world were orbiting our embrace. The flashing lights cast capricious shadows across the dance floor and bodies swayed in time with the music. Through the haze I discerned Michael, arguing with a girl at the other side of the bar.
                  ‘My boyfriend’s over there!’ the girl snapped.
                  Michael had tried something he called ‘subliminal seduction,’ which involved making superficial conversation with a girl, like asking her how her night was going and then, midway through a sentence, saying something ridiculous like, ‘Touch my willy.’ He’d been caught out and made to look like an idiot as the voluptuous brunette barked at him.
                  ‘Well, ditch him and come back to my place. I’ll fix us some eggs for breakfast.’ Michael grinned.
                  ‘Piss off.’
                  I touched Michael’s arm and told him to leave her alone.
                  ‘Yeah, you’re right, mate. This one looks like she’s done a bit of boxing!’
                  A fist hurtled through the darkness, colliding with my cheek. The girl’s boyfriend, a monstrous steroid freak with arms the width of pillars, knocked Michael to the floor and kicked him in the ribs.
                  ‘Watch out.’ I gave Lisa’s hand a reassuring squeeze and charged towards the girl’s boyfriend, arms flaying. Two bouncers interrupted the tussle by knocking me to the sticky floor and dragging me outside. Michael soon followed, with Lisa in tow.
                  Michael held his nose, his hands covered in blood.
                  ‘I need to go to hospital,’ he said.
                  We caught a taxi to the hospital, promising the driver extra cash if any blood stained his car. I’d received a couple of cuts and bruises, but nothing too bad. Michael looked horrendous though, with his nose completely deflated.
                  ‘What a night.’ Lisa rested her head on my shoulder as we waited in the hospital foyer.
                  ‘Yeah, I’m really sorry for what happened,’ I said.
                  ‘What do you mean? I had a cracking night!’
                  ‘You enjoyed it?’
                  ‘Yeah. Best fight I’ve seen in a long time. But I was worried about you. I don’t want you to get hurt in some town brawl.’
                  ‘You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t know where I’d be without you,’ I murmured drunkenly.
                  ‘You’ll always care for me?’ The bright hospital lighting revealed every detail of her prettiness.
                  ‘Always,’ I whispered.
                  ‘Even when I’m a pain?’
                  ‘When are you ever a pain?’
                  ‘I think I’m high maintenance!’ She giggled.
                  I pressed her hands against my chest so she could feel its rhythmic beat. We were young but I thought we’d be together for years to come. I couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else.
                  Michael came out of the hospital ward an hour later at 3:27, looking like a mummy with his heavily bandaged face.
                  ‘I’ll keep my bloody nose out of people’s business from now on!’ He laughed.