(Dream Flashback)

It was late that night and I was walking down the steps from a small club in Liverpool. I had began playing with a new band a few months ago and I made a few bucks playing with them in a small gentlemen's club. I had just finished for the night. I sighed as I leaned against the brick building lighting a smoke. I looked up at the sky and turned when I heard some bird curse under her breath.

"Fuck."

I looked at her. It was hard to see her face clearly due to poor lighting.

"What's wrong love?" I asked as she ran a hand through her hair.

"I didn't make it on time." She said almost crying.

"Hey it's fine. It's just closed for the night."

"There you are!" I heard some bloke yell as he grabbed the girl by the arm. She winced.

"I'm sorry Will. I lost track of the time I...."

"I'll deal with you later." She looked down as he let her go. I noticed the bloke was the new singer of the band I was playing for tonight.

"Hey Ritchie go on home huh?" He said looking over at me.

"Not until I finish my smoke." I said leaning my head back against the building and looking up.

"Are you being a smartass Starkey?" He said walking over to me.

"Will, leave him alone." I heard his girl say. She sounded too nice to be with a knob head like him.

"What? Can a man not enjoy a late night smoke by himself?" I said shrugging.

The girl grabbed him by the arm pulling him away from me. "Let's go Will." She said.

"See ya around Starkey." He said walking inside.

The guys usually stuck around to get a few drinks with the dancers and hung out. I usually left when the gig was done. I sighed and looked over at the bird walking in the club. She looked back at me and gave me a faint smile. I smiled back and nodded. Then all was silent. I finished my smoke about ten minutes later when I realized I forgot my coat inside. I sighed and went back in walking back to the dressing room where I left it.

A few of the other musicians said hello and asked if I wanted a drink as I passed.

"Nah I'm just getting my coat. Then I'll be off out."

I opened the door to the dressing room and realized the room was occupied. I was about to close the door when I heard shouting.

"I told you I needed the money by tonight!"

"I tried to get it but...." I heard a slap. I walked in further and noticed the same girl from before. But now she was in tears and being held up against the wall by Will.

"Hey!" I yelled pulling him off her. She fell to the floor as he let her go.

"Hey I thought you were leaving Richard!?" He yelled pushing me back.

"Leave her alone. It's not her fault. You shouldn't be hitting on women. Especially one who puts up with your lazy arse!" I said pushing back. This got him even angrier. He took a swing at me and I ducked and punched him right in the jaw. He fell over holding his face.

I grabbed my coat from the chair and held out my hand to the girl. She looked up at me still crying. I felt bad for her. She was so beautiful. Her brown eyes were so sad. Her hair was a mess and she had a huge scratch across her face. She looked over at the bloke on the floor and grabbed my hand. Her grip told me everything. She wanted to get away. She needed someone to save her. And that person was me.

"Rosy get back here you bitch!" He yelled as we walked out of the room. I held her close to me as we exited the club.

She grabbed my arm and looked at me. "Thank you."

I gave her a warm smile. "You're welcome."

We got in my car and headed off to my small flat down the road. I took her in and I helped her clean herself up. She was a bit shaky as she sat in the kitchen. I gave her a cuppa tea and she smiled blowing in it.

"I'm sorry to be a burden. I'm sure you had plans." She said looking down.

I shook my head. "Believe me. I never have plans."

She smiled and took another sip.

"If you don't mind me asking, what was all that about back there?"

She sighed and looked at me. "Will. He's just so hot tempered. He needed some money to score some smack from some guy he was going to meet up with tonight." She shook her head.

"Smack?"

"Heroin." She said looking disgusted. "I don't understand. When I met him, he was sweet and everything I thought I could want in a guy. Once he got in my pants, things got different." She said biting her lip.

"I'm sorry." I said placing my hand on hers. She looked at me and smiled.

"I didn't love him. That I did know. He'll probably end up with one of those ill skinny dancers he's with every night. I know he cheats on me. I don't care. I know I'm not beautiful..."

"Hey." I said lifting her chin up to look at me. I got lost in her eyes. She looked into mine and blushed a little. "You're beautiful." I said softly.

She shook her head and closed her eyes setting her cup down on the table.

"You're going to think I'm crazy." She said looking at me.

"What do you mean?" I looked at her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I think I've just fallen in love."

I looked at her and smiled. "Me too."

...............................................................