Ivar and the wolf

"Mara you couldn't have picked a more slutty outfit for us." I say.

"I can't possibly wear this."
"Nonsense." My friend says determined. Pulling the skirt down at the front, which almost makes my boobs fall out of that corselet.
"You look cute...we look cute."
I look at Mara who really doesn't look decent at all. To say the least.
"Come on Mara, we don't look like Snow White and Goldilocks, we look like hookers!"

"Listen, Ivar, we are going to have fun. Don't be such a tight-ass. Here. Grab another beer. You look awesome. Doesn't she, Paul?"

Paul hands Mara and me another beer. He looks at me, then at her and kisses her on the mouth. He has a naughty smirk on his face.

"You both look hot."

"Paul!" Mara cries.

"And don't call her Ivar. That's so weird." Paul laughs.

Mara, Paul and me are in the sub on our way to a fancy dress party given by some people I don't really know. Paul knows them. I think she is a model and he a photographer, or a drummer. I can't recall. They live in the financial district. Fancy indeed. We walk up an alley and a doorman checks our invitation and points to a rusty gate behind which is an elevator.
The loft apartment is already filled up with people. Almost all of them dressed as fairy tale figures. The balcony doors are open and an overwhelming fog of marihuana swirls inside. The music is loud. Someone hands me another beer.

"Here. Let me take your coat." A man says. He is green. His face, his hands, his clothes. Even his hair.

I smile.

"Goldilocks, right?" He gently pulls one of the ringlets of my blond wig.

"I'm Floyd." He smiles. "Wanna dance?"

Floyd turns out to be a very entertaining guy. Even more after a couple of drinks and the puff we had on the terrace. When he leans over to kiss me my wig falls off. I try to grab it, but somehow I hit it and it tumbles over the rail...into the deep.

"Shit." I laugh. "I'm a mess."

Floyd wants to kiss me again, but I walk past him. I just need to pee.

When I get inside again they play the Dead Kennedy's; Too drunk to fuck.

In the corridor on my way to the toilet I bump into a guy. Almost slam into the wall.

"Watch out." He says. Grabs my arm. Looks me in the eyes.

"Are you okay?" The guy asks in a deep husky voice.
He has the most intense blue eyes. Accentuated by the charcoal smear around them.
"Wolf!" My instict cries, and suddenly I feel dizzy.

"Muuuuurkkkk." I sound. And throw up over his shoes.

I rinse my mouth with some toothpaste on my finger and try to wash off Floyd's green greasepaint from my face. And, I notice embarrassed, a green smudge on my boob.

When I look in the mirror I see a run down Goldilocks. Without the blond wig, but the dirndl dress still makes me look like a porn star. Well, more like Nina Hagen in the morning, though. Why can't I keep things low key. Just be this nice girl looking like a hoe at parties. But no. I have to get drunk, stoned, kiss the green goblin and throw up over the shoes of the big bad wolf too.

That guy did look like a predator. Or a racoon. I giggle.

One more time I splash water in my face, comb my short hair backwards with my fingers.

There is still green on my face, but I look a bit better.
I need to find Mara and Paul and go home.

When I get out of the bathroom the guy with the charcoal make up around his eyes, is leaning against the wall. He's wearing a black jeans and a black faded tee, with a faded cord jacket. Also black. I notice he has brown curly hair, partly hanging on his shoulders but also stashed away in a mask he has on the back of his head. I look at his shoes. I guess he has held them under the tab. They are wet, but clean. Doc Martins. They look worn.
He's taking a sip of his beer. Perfect pink lips.
He nods when he sees me looking at him.
I know I'm blushing.

"Feeling better?" He asks in a cynical tone.

"I'm so sorry." I start, but am interrupted by Mara.

"There you are! We were worried. That green guy you were with said you had left suddenly. Are you okay?"
Then she walks up to me and whispers:
"Who's that gorgeous guy? He's so your type. A skinny bum." She winks at me.
Mara can be so bolt at certain days. I worry what might happen next.
"I don't..."

But she already walks up to him.

"Hi, I'm Mara. How's it going? Have you met my friend Ivar?"

"Uh...no, I'm just standing here...don't know him."

I giggle.
Mara gestures at me.

"Ivar. Come here. Say hi to.... sorry, what's your name?"

He looks at Mara's face and then at me. Ignoring her question.
"Ivar?"

"Uhm...yes...hi." I hold out my hand.

His hand is warm and soft.

I feel like holding his hand forever. And he takes no effort to let go of mine either.

Must be a bit awkward, because I hear Mara sigh.

"There is my baby." Paul walks up and hugs Mara, kissing her in her neck.
Behind him the green goblin, Floyd, giving me a big grin.

We all kind of embrace, like it's a reunion. Floyd hands out some beers.

From the corner of my eye I see the charcoal guy walking away into a melee of people. The mask on the back of his head is indeed a wolf mask.
He also has a tail.

"Wolf!" I call, but he doesn't turn around.

I'm dreaming that I'm at a party and wearing that same outrageous porn dirndl, but this time it is red. I'm also wearing a hooded cape. Obviously red too. My dream life doesn't spare me. I'm on my knees, pleasuring an anonymous man and am about to lower his greenish jeans when his hand lifts my chin. I look up in the face of a wolf with the bluest eyes. The wolf snarls:
"You drunken bitch!" And backhands me.

With a start I wake up. Clutching my cheek.

After the shower I feel a bit better. There still seems to be cotton wool in my head, but I manage to get dressed and am ready to go. I put on some lipstick, the colour matches my little red parka. I'll get coffee on my way to the office.

When I walk to my car I see someone parked his truck in the most inconvenient way; half on the pavement, and blocking access to my car. As I get closer, to check things out, I see a large scratch and a dent on my bumper.

This day never seems to come to an end. And I'm so happy when it's 5 o'clock so I can go home. I bought some groceries and when I walk up to my house I remember my car.

The truck is still standing there, but I notice there is a note under one of the windscreen wipers.

Last night I hit your car while trying to park.
I'm so very sorry.
Please contact me at this address so we can work things out.

Ed

The address is in my building. The asshole lives in my building.
One floor under me, to be precise.

I mutter a curse, but decide to go there right away.

Clutching my groceries against my chest I press the bell.
I hear nothing, only music.
I knock.

Nothing.

Just when I walk away the door opens.

I turn. He's wearing a blue tee now, and no make up, but I recognize him.
It's the wolf.

He has an angry frown and leans against the doorpost, arms folded. Nice biceps.

"Can I help you?" He mumbles.

"Ehhh...yes. My car?"

In a bored manner he lifts his head to look at me. Then his eyes seem to get bigger.
"Ivar?"

Then he lowers his gaze, raises one brow and says:
"So...you are a naughty Goldilocks at night and a prude Little Red Riding Hood during the day?"

"Cute." I smirk. "About my car?"
"What about it?" He says in a slow voice.
"You wrecked it."

"How'd you know it was me?"
"This note?"
I wave the note in front of his annoyingly handsome face.

"Hold still." He grabs my wrists to look at it.
Nah...'s not my handwriting." He takes it from my hand and crumples it. Sticks it in his back pocket.
"Aren't you Ed?" I reach over and take back the crumpled note. I can't help noticing he has a firm round little butt.
He raises his brows. Presumes innocence.
"Who says I'm Ed?"

"Don't you live here?"
"Maybe."
"God, you're an asshole." I turn around and want to walk away, but he puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Ivar." He laughs. "Ivar." He repeats. "Listen, I'm sorry. I'll have your vehicle repaired. I'll take it to the car repair tomorrow. Of course I will."

Then he does the oddest thing. He stares at me for a while, frowns, bends his head forward and looks at me through all that hair that has fallen in front of his face. Then he straightens, combs his hair backwards and sighs.
And then he mumbles to himself:
"I can't have this right now."

He takes a step back and slowly closes the door while he promises:
"Tomorrow."