There was a collective gasp, mainly from the women in the room, then everyone crowded around her and began talking at once.

"Do you want to press charges?"

"There were witnesses so-"

"You should get the glass analysed."

"He's a vet or a vet nurse or something, so it was probably GHB-"

"It's New Year's Eve, the cops aren't gonna come out now-"

"What's GHB?"

"Oh, it's horrible, you'll have to Google it."

"It's been in the news."

"This is actually freaking me out!"

"What a creep-"

"And to think I thought he was cute!"

"Oh, my God she could have been raped!"

"THANKS, EVERYONE! It's all good. Really. No damage was actually, done. Come on. This is a party." Rosemonde surprised herself. She hated being the centre of attention and yet she quickly diffused the situation, reassuring guests that she was fine and thanking them for their concern.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Max planted a chaste kiss on her forehead and Ursula gave her a quick hug.

"Yeah fine, truly. Just a bit stunned that's all."

"Greta meine liebe, I wish you had not encouraged Myrddin to throw the man out. We should have kept him here, while we called the police." Max's father Jacob shook his head. "Little Rose, I am so sorry this happened in my house."

"Oh, please Jacob, you can't blame yourself! How was anybody to know he was so ugly? Besides, I'm fine." She hugged him, warmly.

Greta rubbed her husband's back, soothingly. "Do you really think little Rose wants to spend New Year's Eve at a police station? Besides, our Myrddin rescued her before she could come to any harm."

Rosemonde looked up at the giant that had come to her aid, and blushed. "Oh, I must thank you for that."

"Anyone would have done the same thing. I'm Myrddin by the way." Rosemonde did not see Greta wink at Myrddin, nor the subtle way that she and Ursula moved the men away.

"Oh, you're Myrddin? Max is always talking about you. It's so nice to finally meet you! Cool name by the way. Do you spell it the Welsh way, with the double d pronounced as 'th'?"

"That's right. Not many people know that. You know Welsh?"

"No, but I have been to Wales. I thought it was the most magical place. I loved it and tried to pick up some of the basics of pronunciation — very basic. Although I can say Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch."

Oh God, I'm babbling! Rosemonde thought to herself. She immediately stopped talking and blushed scarlet — again. There was something dangerously alluring about him. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and he wore his hair long, very long. It almost reached to his waist. She found him insanely attractive.

As if echoing her thoughts, he looked into her eyes and said, "You're beautiful when you blush."

"I'm not. I'm-me? I'm hardly beautiful." She was suddenly sad. Why was a man this good looking talking to her anyway? What could she possibly offer him? He was a foot taller than her and was probably used to women with long legs and supermodel bodies. Not short well-read nerds with rusty hair and love handles.

"But you are, or at least you could be."

"I-what? Um, thanks. I think." Boy, that was confusing.

"Oh, no. Shit, that sounded like a backhanded compliment. Sorry sweetheart. No, no what I mean is, you don't dress to make the most of yourself and I'm not sure I understand why. Is it because you're above such things or because you're afraid of getting some male attention? Because seriously, with the right clothes and makeup you'd be a major babe."

What does one say to that? She knew he was right and maybe she was afraid. But seriously? Major babe? Did she want to be labelled like that? Rosemonde simply looked at him. Her blush intensified. She wanted to run away. She wanted to stay. She didn't know what she wanted.

"TEN!"

"NINE!"

"EIGHT!"

"SEVEN!"

"SIX!"

"FIVE!"

"FOUR!"

"THREE!"

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

"Happy new year, beautiful!" He emphasised the word. "Do you mind if I kiss you? It's traditional, after all." Myrddin willed her to say yes.

"Oh, um, I guess," Rosemonde answered shyly.

That was all the permission he needed. Myrddin's lips came crashing down on hers. She had never been kissed in this way before. The kiss was hungry, demanding. He took her breath away — literally. She didn't hate it.

"That was — n-nice," she breathed.

"It sure was Rosie."

"Um, Rosie?"

"Can't I call you that? It suits you. Particularly now, your cheeks are like two red roses," he laughed. Before she could react, he said "So Rosie, I'm taking you shopping when the stores re-open tomorrow. You really need to sex up your wardrobe."

"E-excuse me?

"Oh, um, you came with Summer, didn't you? I think you may need a ride home."

Rosemonde turned to where Myrddin was looking, to see Summer playing tonsil hockey with a swarthy Adonis. Summer looked up momentarily, shrugged and mouthed, "sorry hon." before locking lips with Adonis again.

"Oh, it's alright, I'll just drive her car back."

"Nope, that's Con. I gave him a lift here." She'll be driving her car back to his place. It's fine. I can take you home when-" The look on her face made him stop.

"Sorry, what?" She looked up at him when she realised, he was no longer talking.

"Rosie, are you afraid of me?"

Hell yeah! "Oh, don't be silly! It's just been a bit of a weird night. The thing with Jasper-" And you being too damn sexy.

"Oh, yeah of course and you don't really know me. I'm sorry. I was being insensitive... Hey, why don't you tell the Lewins when you're ready to go and get them to call you a few minutes after we leave to check that you're okay? You can stay on the phone the whole time if it'll make you more comfortable. Although, I would rather talk to you. I really want to get to know you Rosie, and I'm serious about taking you shopping."

"You're really sweet." She blushed, yet again. "Thank you for being so considerate. I'm actually ready to go, whenever you are."

Score

They said their goodbyes and Myrddin drove Rosemonde home. It was the first day of the New Year, and already she felt a change. She hated change, avoided it at all cost. The changes in her life had come too rapidly, born from tragedy. Yet Myrddin stirred something within her. It was already too late.

She felt the beginnings of a transformation. She wanted to remain her usual cautious, sensible self, but she could not stop herself from smiling. Could she really be a bolder version of herself? She was surprised to find that she was looking forward to shopping and to...how did Myrddin put it? Ah, yes, sexing up her wardrobe. 

A/N
Just for fun... why don't you have a go at saying Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch? For the ll sound put your tongue behind your front teeth as if you're going to say the word "all" but instead blow softly. You should end up with a sound that's like a cross between a soft "sss" and a "cl" as in clan... Don't believe me? Okay, lets listen to the locals.