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with the driver because some drunk who had started partying way too early had thrown up all over the back seat. So they were driving with the windows wound fully down in a futile attempt to escape the stench. Thus the car was as cold as the outside, and rain continued to pelt him. Added to the redolent aroma of almost fresh vomit that continued to assault him from the rear seat, and the night had not got off to a good start.
    Fulton wasn't in the mood for the idle chitchat that the driver offered. He gave only a series of noncommittal grunts in reply to the man's questions and comments.
    The roads into Sheffield were relatively quiet. A lot of people must have decided to stay at home, like his parents, rather that pay the inflated prices that were all one could find on 'millennium eve.'
     
    A little over two hours later, Fulton and his three friends left the restaurant to find a club or some other location to see in the New Year. Karl Jackson said he knew somewhere for the quartet to go and he led the other three youths through the city. Loads of others were wandering the streets in party hats or with hair covered in streamers. Parties were spilling out onto the road all over the place. Keeping watch on the jollity's was a visible police presence. Fulton and Karl along with their other friend Lewis Clarke had had a bit to drink with their meal but were nowhere close to intoxication and calmed their behaviour when they passed the coppers. Dylan Brown, the fourth member of the group, was a different matter. He hadn't had any more to drink than his companions but Fulton thought he might be on something else as well. Something a little less legal.
    His three friends had tried to talk with him about his growing problems but Dylan was definitely on a steep downward spiral. But tonight was about having fun, it wasn’t the time or place for a well-intentioned intervention.
    They arrived at the club only to turn right around when they saw what the admission charge was. Everyone had gone money mad. The price of their food had been higher than normal but nothing as extortionate as the people running the club were tying to get away with. In the end Fulton and his three friends decided to try elsewhere.
    "We should have planned this better." Fulton said as they walked the streets.
    "Never mind." Lewis said. "Just keep walking until you see a party then we get ourselves some invites."
    "What about that square we passed on the way here? The one with the fountains, there were plenty of people there, some good looking lasses. We can start a street party." Karl said.
    Fulton and Lewis both agreed to the proposal. Dylan took another moment before nodding as well.
    The square was already heaving with people when they got there and a party was well under way. The four young men quickly involved themselves in the fun and mingled with the crowd. Dylan took himself over to one of the fountains and dipped his head in the water. Fulton went over and sat by him soon followed by Lewis and Karl. Lewis looking a little distraught as Karl stole him away from a conversation with a petite blonde girl in a body hugging outfit.
    "You all right?" Fulton asked.
    "I just needed a drink of water," Dylan said springing up looking freshly energised. "Let's party."
    Fulton wasn't sure whether Dylan had just taken anything that they suspected he might be into, but now was not the time to talk about it.
    Lewis went back to chatting up the blonde girl and the other three joined the mass of revellers.
    It was about a half-hour before midnight when Fulton came across Francesca. Well, he didn't find her, she found him. Fulton felt a hand on his shoulder and when he turned around he was gazing at perhaps the most astounding woman he had ever seen. It wasn't just the drink or the atmosphere that made her seem so attractive. There was something else about her. He couldn't have said what it was if anyone asked him to describe it, but it was definitely there.
    She was a vision