Free Not That Easy by Radhika Sanghani

stall for a few minutes and, once JT had got the message and left, I could go home. I glanced over to the loo cubicle but then as the main bathroom door swung open, I saw the inside of the bar. I could vaguely make out JTskulking in a corner. I ran straight into the nearest cubicle and slammed the door shut.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    â€œHello? Lady?”
    I jumped in alarm. I was sitting on a toilet seat with my head in between my legs and there was someone banging on the cubicle door. Oh my God, JT. The blood. I was hiding in the loo. Had I been here all night?!
    I cautiously unbolted the loo door and peered out. The toilet attendant had her hands on her hips and looked seriously pissed off.
    â€œYou’ve been in there twenty minutes, lady. We have a no drugs policy. I’ve called the manager.”
    Drugs?? Surely I could have just had a bad stomach? I looked around the loos and realized there was still a queue of girls. The bar hadn’t closed and JT could still be outside waiting for me. The bathroom door opened and the barman from earlier was standing there.
    â€œYou again.” He grinned.
    â€œI wasn’t doing drugs I promise. I . . . fell asleep on the loo.”
    He hid a smile and I realized he was kind of attractive. Even though he was only about an inch taller than me, he had an impressively symmetrical face, three-day stubble and short blond dreadlocks.
    â€œWas that after you were cleaning blood off your face?” he asked.
    I briefly closed my eyes. Did he really have to remind me of the humiliation?
    â€œAnyway,” he said. “You know your boyfriend’s been waiting for you this entire time out there?”
    â€œOh fuck, is he still there?” I cried out. “I thought he’d have gone by now.”
    He raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re hiding from your boyfriend?”
    â€œOh, you know he’s not my boyfriend,” I snapped at him. “He’smy first ever online date and, after he nose-bled on me, I didn’t fancy seeing him again.”
    â€œOh, obviously,” he said. “That’s how all my dates go too.”
    I was about to snap at him again when I noticed he was grinning at me. “Yeah, this hasn’t been one of my best.”
    â€œHey, how about I help you sneak out of here without seeing your guy?” he offered.
    â€œOhmigod would you really? I would literally love you for life.”
    â€œOkay, calm down,” he said. “Just . . . follow me.”
    I followed him out of the toilets and through a door marked “Private.” We walked up the stairs and then found ourselves outside. I breathed a sigh of relief.
    â€œThanks so much.”
    â€œHey, don’t mention it.” He shrugged. “You’ve drastically improved my night on the comedy scales anyway.”
    â€œHopefully I’ll find it as funny tomorrow. So what’s your name?”
    â€œPete.” He grinned. “And the damsel in distress?”
    I looked at him blankly. “Ohhh, right. Ellie. I’m Ellie.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Ellie,” he said. “Well, get home safe, and feel free to bring any more of your online dates here. I’ll help you out with an escape route whenever you need one.”
    â€œWait, really? Because that would be kind of incredible.”
    He laughed. “Let’s do it. This can be your regular bar for dates and I’ll help you out when they bleed on you.”
    â€œOkay, deal.” I grinned. “Anyway, I’m sobering up and I reckon I’d better get the bus home, so . . . I’ll see you around.”
    â€œSee you.”

8
    â€œOhmigod, what the fuck is on her face?”
    â€œIt looks like . . . dried blood.”
    I pulled the duvet over my head. “What’s happening?” I groaned.
    A bright light seared through my eyes as my duvet flew off me.
    â€œAnd she’s