Monica. Ch18.

Monica falls out with Alan after she finds him socialising with Jean.

Chapter 18

I thought I would go to the karate training after all. The revelation that Anne was meeting Jeff behind Dave's back after all the fuss she made about Eddie seemed contradictory to say the least. I felt I needed cheering up and thought how Alan promised me a meal at the Chinese restaurant. I decided that I didn't want to miss the chance of a romantic evening with him after all. Even though his mood swings were troubling me; one minute proposing, and the next treating me so horribly. It was the girl, Jean. It could only be because of her that he was behaving that way.

         I arrived at the hall straight from work. I was a little early and spent ten minutes stretching and warming up before walking across to pay my fee. "How come Alan's not here yet?" I said to Harry, the full contact instructor.

         "He's not coming tonight, he has a meeting. Me and John will be taking the class."

         "Great, we're supposed to be going out for a meal later."

         "Don't worry, he's asked me to drop you up at The Golden Bird later on, we're all meeting up there after training."

         "So that's his idea of a romantic meal for two." I looked around the hall. "The new girl, Jean, she's not here either. Is the meeting with her?"

         "No, er, no it's to do with the kick-boxing competition."

         "Well, then you should be there, shouldn't you?"

         "Alan can handle it and someone has to take the class."

         "Well, shouldn't the traditional instructor be taking the class and the full contact instructor be at the kick-boxing meeting? Or have I got it wrong. Is it a different type of full-contact?" I walked off.

         "Monica, wait, you haven't paid your fee."

         I carried on and got changed and was on my way out when Harry hurried after me.

         "Don't be silly, Monica, you're here now you might as well do the training. Your grading is coming up soon."

         "I've got a meeting to attend."

         "You can't go up there to the meeting."

         "The Globe, is that where they are?"

         "Shit, don't tell him I told you."

         “Don’t worry, Harry. I had already worked that out.” I bowed to him. "I'll see you, Harry. It's been great training with you, but I think I might be all finished here."

         "Wait, don't be hasty, Monica, we don't want to lose you. Please think about it and what about the youngsters, they love training with you?"

         "I'm sorry. Say goodbye to everyone for me." I looked away and walked out. Harry gave a sigh, shook his head and went back into the hall.

         As I walked out of the building a young girl came walking towards me after being dropped off by her parents. She was in her karate suit with her yellow belt neatly tied.

         "Hello, Abby, hurry up or you'll be late again."

         "Aren't you training with us tonight, Mony?"

         "No, Abby, not tonight."

         "But it won't be any good if you're not here."

         "I can't always be here, Abby." I squatted down and gave the girl a cuddle.

         "Why are you upset, Mony, has someone hurt you?"

         "Yes, someone's hurt me, but I don't want you to worry about it. I'm all right now."

         "Was it that bad man again?"

         "No, the bad man's gone away." I stood up. "Go on, get going."

         The girl walked off but called back. "I'll see you on Tuesday, Mony, if you're better."

         I walked away with watering eyes. I had a soft spot for Abby. I knew I would miss all my fellow students, all my friends both junior and senior, but I would miss little Abby the most.

         When I walked into The Globe I noticed Alan, Jean, and two high grade students, Bob and Colin, standing at the bar. They also noticed me and it was obvious I was not happy.

         "Hi, Monica," Jean said.

         "Don't you bleeding Hi me."

         "Look, I can explain," Alan said.

         "Go on then, I'd like to hear it."

         "When we were doing the full-contact training, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder."

         "So what's with the lies about the meeting?"

         "That was meant for the other students, not for you."

         "Well, that's a really good lesson for everyone, isn't it? It's all right to lie to the students. The Sensei does it all the time."

         "I may not know a lot about karate," Jean said. "But I know you should not be disrespectful to your instructor."

         "Did anyone invite you into this conversation? In fact, what the hell are you doing here anyway?"

         "Look, Monica, don't get stroppy with me. We're not in the gym now and your purple belt won't prevent you from getting a slap."

         "Turn it in you two," Alan said. "No one needs this."

         "No, I won't turn it in. You gave her a bit of personal tuition. Let her try to slap me and I'll give her some as well."

         "Don't take it out on me," Jean said. "Just because you're obsessed with your phantom heavy breather."

         I stared at her. "What did you say?"

         "Just shut up, Jean," Bob said.

         "Everyone at the club knows about your attention seeking. At least just lately you've had a real caller and not a make believe one."

         "No one knows about that; I've told no one. So how on earth do you know?"

         "How do I know? Ask Bob, go on ask him to give you one of his heavy breathing demonstrations."

         I turned to look at Bob. "Oh, God. Please don't tell me it was you. Please, please don't tell me that."

         "It just got out of hand, Monica. I'm sorry, it was just meant to be a bit of a laugh."

         "A bit of a laugh! How the hell could you do that to me?"

         "Look, not so tough now is she, Miss Teary Eyes."

         "One word. One more bloody word from you and you'll be going to Hospital."

         Jean returned a smug grin, but decided not to respond to the threat.

         I noticed Alan staring at Bob. "I think you better think about your future at the club, Bob," he said. "Because the next time you're in there, you will be having a full contact contest with me."

         I looked at Alan but did not comment on the threat he had made and I looked back at Bob. "So how did you get my new number, Bob?"

         "It's in the club contacts book."

         I turned to stare at Alan. "You put my new number in the contacts book. After all that's been going on. Are you some kind of idiot?"

         "Well!" Jean said. "Are you gonna let this bloody actress talk to you like that, Alan?"

         CRACK! The punch connected and sent Jean tumbling to the floor.

         "Whoa, calm down, Monica." Alan shouted. He stooped down to see if he could help Jean up, but she was partially stunned and he knelt by her side. "There was no need for that, Monica."

         "Are you taking her side?"

         "I'm not taking anyone's side."

         "What! Well sod you then, Alan. You look after her, don't you concern yourself about me." I turned from him and hurried off towards the exit, but Alan jumped up and came after me. He grabbed my arm before I got halfway to the door. I spun around, knocked his arm away and adopted an aggressive stance. "Don't touch me, don't you come near me or I'll hurt you as well."

         "Don't be silly."

         "I mean it, you come near me and you'll have to fight me. Black belt instructor in a bar room brawl with a female student. What would that headline do for your licence?"

         "Monica, please let's go somewhere on our own and we can talk about this. I'll make things right, I promise."

         "I'm going, don't even think about following me unless you want to fight me." I backed away from him.

         "I'll phone you when you've had time to calm down."

         "Don't you dare." I turned and looked at all the people in the bar staring at me. "It's all right everybody,” I shouted. “The show's over." I hurried out of the bar.

         I dashed along the road towards the bus stop fuming and upset at the same time. I was emotionally hurt and my eyes were watering through the pain of it all, but at the same time my hands were trembling with my anger. Let him come now, I thought. Let that bleeding crazy bloke attack me now and I'll really show him what I can do. I thought that was not likely to happen as there was nobody about, but then I heard footsteps hurrying behind me, gaining on me. I knew it was not Alan. I could tell it was not him by the sound of the metal studs in his shoes. The same sounds I heard when the man tried to attack me near the cemetery. He was almost on me and I felt I had to do it; I had to attack him before he had the chance to attack me. I spun around, took up a position and glared at the man. "Come on then," I shouted, but then I realised the man was a complete stranger. He was obviously startled by my action and forced a worried smile as he hurried past me. I carried on towards the bus stop feeling foolish.

         I heard a car pulling up behind me. I glanced back. It was a blue Ford Cortina and I quickly looked away. I became nervous when I heard the car door slam as if he had got out of the car. So this was it. This was to be the confrontation that I feared. But I was ready for him.

         Suddenly Alan’s car screeched to a halt beside me. He got out of the car and walked towards me. "Monica, wait," he called. "Please, love, just let me talk to you."

         "Piss off, Alan."

         "Please believe me, I didn't know anything about what Bob was doing."

         "Maybe you did, maybe you didn't. But you took her side, you went to her when you should have come to me."

         "I had to see if she was all right, Monica. You hit her bloody hard and you could have badly hurt her."

         "Yeah, well I was badly hurt, Alan." I decided not to wait for a bus and I put my hand out and stopped a passing taxi.

         "I'll phone you later, please talk to me."

         I looked at him as I got into the taxi and then looked past him and noticed the blue Cortina still parked a little way behind Alan's car. Could it be my tormentor? No probably not, I thought. I closed the door and the cab pulled away. I looked through the rear window as Alan got into his car and saw the Cortina pull out as if it were going to follow my taxi.

Monica. Ch19.  (18+) Anne and Dave fall out. #1997403 by Bruce.