It Was Only Once - 1. Chapter 1

It was only one time, so how could things have been affected this badly ? No-one get’s caught just the one time, you have to do it over and over again before you get caught.

No-one he knew had ever been caught. It was such a stupid thing to do. However the realisation of what now would happen was starting to come home to him in very stark contrast. Things would never, could never be the same again.

It had all started when the boss and a few of the other guys had decided to go out after winning one of the big contracts that they had been chasing. In the current economic client winning any business was worthy of a celebration.

The boss had walked into the main area where all the sales guys would sweat over the phones trying to drum up any business they could, it was well known that the company was looking to cut costs and they all knew that their jobs were on the line. The pall of fear that descended over the office was palpable, they were all wondering the same thing, am I next ?

“Well guys, I’ve got to level with you, it’s not good.”

Now you could actually hear the groan that went up in the office.

“We won the Kingston account, so you can breathe easy for a while.”

The bastard actually had a smile on his face when he said that. You could hear some regaining control of their rectal nerve, and some needing to change their underwear.

Amongst the cat calls and jeers from us guys, someone suggested that we go out and get a few beers. The call was quickly taken up, and the boss looked to be as up for a drink as the rest of us. So we all got back to work, just watching the clock tick by.

Eventually the clock hit five thirty and we stampeded out of the office. We were all intent on getting to the pub and downing a few pints. We were acting like children as we headed down the street. The stress of the past few months had taken its toll on all of us, so we were going to let off some steam. Lucky it was Friday and didn’t matter too much if we had hang overs in the morning.

I had already called Stephen from the office to let him know that I would be going out with the boys for a drink and maybe a curry after work. He was fine with it, he hated being around my work colleagues as they were too boisterous and determined to prove how much of a ‘man’ they were.

We got to the pub and we all made the boss put his hand in his pocket to buy the first round. As he handed out the lagers we all broke off into little groups, but within hearing range of everyone else, sort of a loose grouping of people. We had a few more pints in the place until someone said something about going for a curry.

So we piled out of the pub and headed off to the nearest curry house that we knew was ok. We all pied in and started to order more lager, we were getting quite noisy, but they were used to drunken groups trying to drink as much as they can before eleven when the pubs close. Amongst the guys yelling for more poppadum’s and dips to go with them, and doing the obligatory Indian accent we kept on drinking. The talk started to turn towards sport and women, I was politely kept out of the conversation, they didn’t want to hear what goes on in a gay guy’s bedroom. Although listening to them boast about their conquests and their various experiences it was a surprise that any women would go to bed with them with the limited knowledge they had !

When we left the curry house, a few of the guys peeled off and started up the road to head home. I suppose it was starting to push nine at night, we had been out for quite some time and I was starting to feel the effects of the drink. But I knew I was good for a while longer. So we headed more into town to find some bars where the women would be hanging out. It was obvious that some of the guys were looking to score, me ? I just wanted a few more drinks before I headed home to Stephen. I knew I would be sleeping in the spare bedroom tonight, he never liked sleeping with me after I’d had a few drinks, I snored worse than normal.

We hit one of the trendy bars in the town centre and started in on the shorts, they just kept going down, one after the other. It wasn’t long before I knew I was way too drunk. Before I knew it, I’d said bye to the guys and started heading up the road. I was not really thinking, my feet were just leading the way.

The next thing I knew I woke up in a small square room, there was one very harsh source of light in the centre of the ceiling. Looking round the room, it was featureless part from the padded bench I was lying on.

I stumbled over to the door and tried to get out of the room, but the door was locked from the other side. I pounded on it, but got no answer, so I went back to the bench and sat down. That is when I noticed that I’d been sick on myself and the aroma was just coming off me in waves, it also looked as if I had pissed myself in the process. In short I was a mess.

I don’t know how long I waited for someone to come to the door, but I think I fell asleep once more. Someone was shaking me roughly by the shoulder.

“Come on wake up you fucker.”

The shaking was making me nauseous, and I stared to go a bit green at the gills.

“Don’t you dare puke on me.”

I started to open my eyes and look up at the person who was tormenting me. It sure as hell didn’t sound like Stephen. I looked up and saw a Police man. I’d obviously been picked up the night before for being drunk and left to sleep it off.

The copper just stood there waiting for me to move. When I did start moving, he held my upper arm and guided me to the front desk. When I got there, there was a sergeant sitting behind the desk.

“Mr Summers, you were arrested last night at 22:40 by Police Constable Hill and Police Constable McNeil following a routine traffic stop. When stopped you were aggressive and refused to provide a breath sample for the officers. Therefore you are being charged with being intoxicated whilst in charge of a motor vehicle, and also of resisting arrest.”

To say I was stunned was an understatement, this could not be happening. I had never tried to drive home while I was drunk, what could have possibly persuaded me to ?

The sergeant was saying something, but I was not paying too much attention, rather I was too stunned. At the end of the speech, the sergeant asked me if I understood the charges and my rights. I just mumbled that I did.

At that, they got me sign a few things and then they took me back to my cell. I collapsed on arriving in the cell. I was just left what was going to happen now.

I don’t know how much time had passed, but the door opened, and another officer was standing there. He motioned me to get up. I did so and started to follow him out of the cell. He took my back to the sergeant on the desk. He then explained to me that I was being released on bail, pending a court appearance.

They handed over a bag with my personal things in it, and then they took me through to a lobby where Stephen was waiting for me.

“I’ll take you home, then I never want to see you again. I will not date someone who is that fucked up they drive whilst drunk.”

To say the drive home was tense was an understatement, when we got to my flat, I tried to talk to Stephen, but he told me to just get out.

Once I’d gotten into my flat I just collapsed against the front door and the enormity of what was about to happen hit me.

The boyfriend was gone, the driving licence would be next, and with it the job would go. I’d have to leave this place, there is no way I’d be able to afford it without working. On top of that, there was also the possibility of doing time and a major fine being handed down. Judges were not too kindly disposed to a drunk driver.

All in all, for just one moment of insanity my world was effectively over.