..../...

Single, Emma had finally got up the courage to leave her dead end relationship that had somehow lasted for three and a half years, she had a mixture of relief guilt and excitement running through her mind all at once.

She had been meaning to do this for a long time but had found the boring routine safe and almost comforting at times.
Her friend, Sarah, had agreed that she could move in with her for a while until she had got everything sorted out.

It really was a month of change for Emma as she had just found a new job which she was starting the next week, so everything was new, something that was completely out of character for her as she was not a big fan of change.

It was not just courage that made Emma leave it was also the realisation that other people were interested in her (something that her new ex had often lead her to believe was untrue)

It all happened on a work colleagues birthday party, Emma often spent her days swooning over her assistant manager who was an interesting friendly party animal. She was unsure what she liked about him but it was definitely a lot.

Never in a million years would she have thought he had any interest in her, as he had a beautiful girlfriend of the same age and Emma was very average.

At the party (which began in the crowded office/kitchen) Emma positioned herself next to her friend Sarah and her crush (the assistant manager). The more they drank the ruder the conversations were and there was definitely some chemistry in the air which was sensed by all in the room. The party continued at Sarah's house as everyone piled in to the small one bedroom flat. Emma still had no idea that anything would happen.

Everyone was having a really good time singing on the SingStar (a Playstation game) when Emma noticed that her assistant manager was nowhere to be seen "Where's he gone?" she mouthed to Sarah who gave an absent look and shrugged her shoulders.

Then Emma noticed the door to the bathroom was ajar and there she saw her assistant manager, perched over the rim of the toilet bowl.

"You okay in there?" she whispered through the crack in the door.
No reply ...
She slowly walked in and stroked his curly hair and he let out a groan and sighed.

"I'm fine" and smiled the loveliest smile.

"You can stay here tonight if you want to I don't think you are in any fit state to go home" said Emma. "I may have to do that " he said.

Sarah and Emma helped him into Sarah's bed as they thought that it was dark in there and he would be able to get some rest without being disturbed by all the other people still playing party games. He rolled into the bed and fell straight asleep. A few hours later everyone had found a place on the sofa or the floor to sleep and Emma and Sarah made their way to Emma's bed. Sarah suggested that because Emma was smaller then her that she should sleep in the middle as her assistant manager was asleep she thought that there wasn't any harm and eventually agreed.

After about twenty minutes, Emma felt an arm around her shoulders hugging her. Emma laid as still as she could as she thought if she pretended to be asleep her assistant manager who she thought was asleep would be less embarrassed when he awoke then she felt his fingers creep down her inner thigh. She did really like him but she thought that he was doing this in his sleep and did not want to take advantage so she spoke.

"It's me... Emma... your manager. I'm not Laura your girlfriend"

"I know..." he replied and with that Emma's heart beated fast, so fast she thought she was going to faint. Her stomach was churning with excitement and they kissed and cuddled until the early hours of the morning. In sheer excitement Emma pulled him on top of her and they only realised that Sarah was in the bed when she rolled onto her back and let out some deep snoring which did lower the mood slightly.

In the morning Emma (who was in a relationship) and her assistant manager (who was also in a relationship) decided not to tell anyone about it but the assistant manager stated that he did not regret what happened, which was nice. He even "respected her" in the morning (as Sarah called it) by sending Emma a text when he left the flat.

When Emma got home she felt completely different to her now ex-boyfriend. She could not hug him and could not bear to kiss him. It's as if all the once loving feelings she had felt for him had vanished into thin air. Could one night of passion really delete three and a half years?