English Goth 

   Diane was no ordinary English lady. She was a Goth, one with the night, who loved what she was into. It was her life and nothing comes close, not even guys who she frequently met in her young 24 years. She lived in the historical English town of Langford in the north of England. It wasn’t a big place, just large enough so people didn’t know your business. Diane was a private gal with red and black hair that was visually oh so beautiful, like her looks.

   Working in the local printing factory making blueprints for missiles, a topic that bored her, Diane was well off. The cash was good, allowing her to go out and be footloose and fancy-free. That suited her. On Monday Diane went to the Right Drunkard club that had dance night, if you liked gothic music from England’s past. Bands like the Cult, the Mission, All About Eve, the Sisters of Mercy, Ghost Dance and many more. Diane was into 80s Goth music but born at the wrong time to see her bands live, when they were young and vibrant. In the club she met Liam. He had seen every band that Diane loved in his 42 years.

   She wore a stunning short black number that was a sensual dress made of flowing layered sequined fabric adorned with cool black flowers. It showed off her shapely bare legs well above the knee, especially when she sat down. Choosing a table on the balcony bar that overlooked the dance floor on the lower level, she got a good view of guys and gals dancing and jiving to the best 80s alternative music in the world. A heavy pulsating rhythm bumped out of the speakers. Diane found herself nodding her head slowly to it and singing along to a song that spoke of a failed romance and of loneliness and death. Yet the song’s music was uplifting and a heady rush.

   Lifting her Bloody Mary drink to her lips and taking a generous mouthful, the alcohol rushed into her body warming her up. She would finish her drink and go dancing. The joy of the music overtook her as it did the other dancers who loved it, having the time of their lives. She downed her drink and got up to join them, making her way down the dark winding stairs to the dance floor. When she got there the record changed to a heavier slower song with a loud bass line and screaming guitar and loud vocals. Diane danced around, waving her arms and smiling like a cat with the cream as some people left the floor. This song wasn’t for them. It was for Diane. She danced into a lad who turned to look at her and smile. She gently held his arm before he moved out of reach and brought him towards her. The rhythm of the music gave them all a life of their own. Facing the boy, who was only eighteen, Diane pulled him towards her so they were touching. Smiling mischievously she kissed him slowly her tongue passing his delicate pale lips probing inside to meet his tongue that brushed hers. He closed his eyes and melted into Diane, she supported his weight and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment as the song pounded on in a slow mesmerising rhythm. The song wound down and the couple kissed in their close embrace. A new faster guitar driven track came over the speakers, DJ spun the discs. The boy pulled away withdrawing his tongue from Diane’s ending the coupling, to go and find his friends. She turned and slowly walked in a wavy line over the dance floor in the other direction, to the lower bar to buy a drink, still tasting the teenager on her warm moist lips. Looking up and down the bar she made eye contact with the barman and ordered a Screwdriver (double vodka, fresh orange juice and ice in a half pint glass). Paying and thanking him she walked around the club, which was rapidly filling up with happy young customers.

   Diane walked round the club checking the talent out, wanting to score. It had been 3 long weeks since she had bin naughty and made love to anyone. Tonight she wanted it more than ever, with a nice man who was like her - a Goth. One of the dark ones who lived in a twilight world of long shadows and poignant powerful music. It was then she saw him; standing by a stone pillar watching people dance to the music. Unaware that he himself was being watched, the hunter becoming the hunted. Diane walked over taking sips of her strong drink, feeling the alcohol go to her head and warm her insides up. She wasn’t shy but being out on her own brought a few momentary nerves. Being single and a bit forward gave no worries. Would that soon change? Her mind taunted her. Here we go! Next to the man who was still watching the dance floor, Diane stopped and introduced herself. “Hi there how are you? I’m Diane.”

   “Hello dark princess of the night, nice to meet you. I’m fine,” replied the tall dark stranger, turning to look at the gothic beauty standing before him, who blushed ever so slightly. This he noticed and smiled reassuringly so she wouldn’t turn and run away in embarrassment.

   “And nice to meet you…” Diane left a pause because the man hadn’t introduced himself. “I’ve not seen you here before,” she finished.

   “Oh, I’m Liam. Sorry, I’m always doing that! And yes, I’ve just moved to town just two weeks ago. I missed last months Goth night here due to that. I must say, I’m enjoying it!”  Liam replied loudly. He opened his arms and motioned to the dance floor that was full of people. “It’s a good club isn’t it? I’ve been into this music for many years, probably before you were born!”  he laughed.

   Diane went even redder. Thinking to herself, was she doing the right thing making an approach to an older man? It was too late now! She managed a smile. “Wow, that long? You don’t know my age. I could be a young looking thirty five.”

   “Well my dear Diane, age is only a number and I don’t mind how old you are coz you look stunning and are a real gothic queen, really you are. I can tell you like this music and aren’t one of the hangers on or someone who just looks the part in here, checking this place out.”

   “No, I love this music. All of the 80s Goth music, some metal and much more besides. I have many of the albums and saw what bands I could when they reformed a few years ago. Have you been to any gigs then?”

   “Oh yea Diane, I’ve been to many gigs. I’ve lost count how many, must be over a thousand gigs over my years. Both big bands and small bands that just did one show before splitting up. Maybe I should write a book on it one day…” Liam reminisced, looking into space no doubt remembering those heady times.

   “Hey, do you wanna dance or are you gonna stand there all night? Come on!” Diane insisted, grabbing Liam’s hand as he still thought about the old days and gigs and more. He followed her through the crush of people dancing and swaying this way and that on the packed floor while a new track came on. A stomping drum machine pulsated and a wicked guitar riff kicked out of the speakers. When the vocals started – a woman with a stunningly soaring voice – the crowd went crazy, a life force of energy flowed and they buzzed at every minute of it.

   Liam was pushed into Diane in the crush so they danced chest to chest when more people filled the dance floor as the song sang on in a heavenly rush. Dancers moved every way, hardly able to move their arms. They danced and jostled Diane so she was nearly carried away from Liam. She let out a yell in surprise. Liam held out his hands and steadied Diane, holding her around her waist and by her left elbow so she wouldn’t be stolen from him by the crowd.

   He smiled and she looked right into his eyes. She knew right then that his intentions were honourable and genuine. Diane returned his smile and gently placed her right hand on his neck to bring his head down; she kissed him once on the lips. As friends or had a line been crossed?

   The song, an industrial one still throbbed from the speakers, it must be an extended remix of the original track. What fun. Hundreds of people moved on the dance floor, in heaven. How could it ever be better than this? For two people who had just met, it was even better. Something was happening magical and fantastic. Right there and then, a spell cast so powerful it would never be broken. Out of nothing came something.

   Another song by a different band came on as the DJ faded the previous one out, the crowd of dancers slackened somewhat but neither Diane nor Liam wanted to break the spell that bewitched them both. It was a special moment that came only once in a human lifetime, they wanted to enjoy it and let it never end. Diane gently placed her head against Liam’s solid chest, her red and black hair looking wild under the flashing lights against his 1988 Fields of the Nephilim tour t-shirt. He brought an arm up to embrace Diane, to hold her close and he bowed his head to kiss the top of her head. In his heart Liam knew this was it. After two marriages, including one where his wife was wickedly taken away from him by cancer, he knew he had found his soulmate. Never again would he be alone. After this dance Liam would ask Diane to be his pagan bride. Would she spend the rest of her life with him? Would she?

   As Diane gently swooned against Liam’s chest she felt complete, something had happened. She didn’t know what and didn’t dare wonder how long it would last. Diane wouldn’t leave his side, not to go to the bar or to look for a younger man, wanting to be here no matter what it took or what her mother or her jealous so called friends would say. Other than her music, few things in her young life meant anything to her like this man who had gently taken her heart. Liam meant the world to her. How was it possible? It wasn’t was it? Was it a gothic fairy tale that would end when she opened her eyes or when the clock struck midnight? She never wanted it to end, it occurred to her the songs were right, well some of them. Love wasn’t dead and there was hope…