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WHEN WE REACHED the bathroom, three girls walked out and it was just the two of us.

“Did you see how riled up Gary got when he thought we were lesbians?” said Krystal, laughing.

“So did Brian. He likes you, you know.”

She smiled. “Do you think so?”

“Of course.”

“Jason was staring at you. I’m sure he likes you.”

“I can’t see why. I look like I’ve been through a tornado,” I said, grimacing at my reflection. My hair was all over the place and my makeup definitely needed to be touched-up. I pulled out my brush and began using it.

“Sorry. I should have told you. It’s been like that ever since Raptor threw you over his shoulder. What was that like?”

“What was what like?”

“Having that gorgeous creature carry you into the back room. For a minute there, I thought you two were going to go at it.”

My eyes widened. “You mean have sex?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t even know him.”

“Who cares? A guy as hot as him has got to be fantastic in bed.”

I smiled. “Probably.”

“He gave you his number, right?” she said as two girls walked into the bathroom and began talking quietly in the corner about some guy.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to use it?”

“No,” I said, lowering my voice.

She smiled. “Maybe I should use it.”

My jaw dropped. “What would Tank say?”

She shrugged. “I’d make Raptor keep it to himself.”

“I doubt it. They’ve got this bond... He started telling me about it.”

“Yeah. I know. They’re ‘brothers’ because of the club,” she said as the two girls left the bathroom. “The truth is that I’m pretty sure if I hit on Raptor, Tank wouldn’t just break up with me. He’d hunt me down and beat the shit out of me.”

“Seriously?”

She smiled grimly. “He’s got a temper. They’ve all got tempers.”

“Maybe you should break up with him.”

“Like I said earlier, I’m thinking about it.” Krystal reached into her purse and pulled out a small white vial of powder. “By the way, Tank scored me some coke for my birthday. You want some?”

My eyes widened in shock. “No. I didn’t know you did that shit.”

She shrugged. “Just a few times. Tank said this is the really good stuff. Are you sure you don’t want to try some? It’ll wake you up and make you want to dance all night.” She giggled. “It even makes you horny.”

I stared at her in disbelief. Where was my friend who used to complain about her mom smoking pot? Now, she was snorting coke? “You know I’m not into that crap and I didn’t think you were either. Let me guess, Tank is also the one who introduced you to it?”

“Yeah. So? Don’t make a big deal out of it,” she said, stuffing it back in her purse as someone walked in. She turned around and headed for the largest stall. “Don’t go back without me. I’ll be done in a minute.”

Sighing, I went into the other stall, did my business, and then washed my hands. A few seconds later, Krystal stepped out of her stall and quickly washed her hands. Our eyes met in the mirror and I could see that she was already beginning to feel the effects.

“What?” she asked, frowning.

I just shook my head.

“Don’t be a buzz-kill,” she replied, pulling at a paper towel. “Seriously.”

“Whatever. You know how I feel about it. Anyway, it’s your life.”

“You’re right. It is. Let’s go,” she replied, walking out of the bathroom.

When we made it back to the table, I noticed that Jason and Tiffany were on the dance floor, their hands all over each other. Thinking he’d been attracted to me, I felt a twinge of disappointment. I brushed it off and concentrated on the drink the waitress had brought, and listening to Gary ramble on about how his girlfriend had left him the week before.

“Your girlfriend left you?” repeated Krystal, knocking her knuckles on the table. “Why?”

“She thinks I have a drinking problem,” he said, smiling sheepishly.

Krystal tilted her head and smiled up at him. “Do you?” 

He shrugged. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m in college. I’m supposed to get drunk and have fun, right?”

“Exactly... I’ll drink to that,” she said and then quickly drank half of her cocktail. She set it back on the table and shuddered. “Whoa, now that’s what I call a good fucking Mai Tai. Hey.” She looked at Brian, who was standing next to Lucas and talking about football. “You want to dance?”

“Sure,” he said, smiling. He set his drink down and then held out his arm. “Don’t hate me if I step on your toes.”

She stood up and slid her arm through his. “I’m not worried about it. Monica?” she asked as a new song started, something with a faster beat.

“No, I’m fine right here,” she said. Monica hated dancing.

Krystal looked at me and I shook my head.

“I’ll dance with you guys,” said Gary, setting his drink down as a new song started. “I love this one.”

“Okay, Gary. Let’s go, boys,” said Krystal, holding onto both of them. She looked back over her shoulder as they began walking toward the dance floor. “The rest of you are all a bunch of party poopers!”

We waved at her.

“Have fun!” I hollered.

“Looks like she’s been partying enough for all of us,” replied Monica, twirling her straw around in her glass.

“Oh yeah,” I answered.

“It’s her birthday. That’s the point, right?” asked Lucas.

“True. Hey, where’s Amber?” I asked, as Lucas sat between us.

“She left,” they both said at once.

I frowned. “Why?”

Monica shrugged. “I don’t know. Something about Paul.”

“Oh.”

“So, it’s just the three of us party poopers” said Lucas, smiling as he leaned back in the chair.

“Why aren’t you out there dancing?” I asked.

“Two left feet,” he replied. “What about you?”

“I don’t know. Just not in the mood, I guess.”

He nodded toward my cocktail. “Drink up. I’m sure that will help.”

I smiled and picked up the glass. “Thanks for the drinks, by the way.”

“No problem. Jason bought this round. You want a shot? I’ll get you one.”

“No. Like I was saying earlier, I need to be careful. I’m driving.”

“Are you always careful?” he asked, his dark eyes sparkling.

I could tell Lucas was flirting with me and he seemed like a nice guy. I just wasn’t interested. “When I need to be. Like now.”

“Fair enough. What about you?” he asked Monica.

“I have a son. I have to be careful.”

I could tell from the look in his eyes that she was marked off of his “To Do” list.

“So, tell us a little about yourself, Lucas,” I said, trying not to yawn. It wasn’t even eleven and I was already getting bored.

“Not much to tell,” he said, looking toward the bar. “Oh shit.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, turning to see what he was staring at. There was a girl with two guys ordering drinks at the bar.

He smirked. “Guess you could call her an ex-girlfriend,” he said, nodding toward them.

“The girl with the two guys?” I said.

“Yeah. She’s completely nuts. If she sees me, she might freak out, which, I guess, is my cue to leave. I’m going to go and find Jason,” he said, getting up. “Let him know I’m leaving.”

“Okay. Well, it was nice meeting you,” I said, feeling bad that his ex was so crazy that he couldn’t even be in the same bar with her.

“Yeah,” agreed Monica. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk more.”

“Another time, maybe,” he said, looking at the girl again. Then his eyes met mine. He winked. “Enjoy yourself tonight.”

“Thanks,” I replied.

Still watching the bar, carefully, he took off toward the dance floor, leaving me and Monica alone.

“Boy, that was weird,” said Monica. “He’s obviously afraid of her.”

“She must be a real head-case,” I replied.

“You never know. He might just be saying that. We don’t know him, either. He could be a real asshole.”

“True.”

She yawned. “I’m getting tired. I was up with Max early this morning.” Max was her five-year-old son. “He wasn’t feeling well. I hope I’m not coming down with anything. That’s all I need.”

“I hear you,” I said, taking another drink of my cocktail. “Wow, this is strong.”

“Don’t drink any more of it then.”

I pushed it away. “Maybe I won’t.”

“I envy you,” she said, sighing. “Not that I don’t love Max, hell, you know how much I adore that little guy, but there are days when I wish I would have been more careful.”

Monica had gotten pregnant in high school and the boy who’d knocked her up, hadn’t wanted anything to do with the baby.

“I’m sure. Thank goodness your mom didn’t freak out when you first told her about Max.”

“She’s great. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know how I’d have managed.”

“You would have found a way. You’re a lot more resourceful and independent than you give yourself credit for.”

“Thanks,” she said. “Still, I wish I could give him more, you know? He deserves it.”

“He has his mother,” I said, “who loves him and that’s all he really needs. You’re doing great.”

She smiled.

“Plus, look at it this way, you’ll still be young when Max is old enough to get into a bar. You can buy him his first drink, and everyone will say what a hot MILF you are.”

She laughed. “Right.”

“He really is a great kid,” I said, thinking about his round little cherub face. “So sweet. You’re lucky to have him.”

She nodded. “He is sweet. He must take after me because his father is a douche bag.”

“Yeah he is,” I said, feeling a little dizzy. I put my hand up to my forehead. “Is it hot in here or just me?”

“It’s a little hot,” she said, looking around. “But look at how many people are crammed into this joint.”

“It’s packed, alright,” said Jason, who was suddenly standing next to me. “And there isn’t anywhere to move on the dance floor, there are so many bodies out there now.”

“Hey,” I said, looking behind him. “Where is Tiffany?”

“She’s dancing with Brian, Gary, and your friend now,” he said, sitting down next to me. “I needed a break.”

“Lucas left,” said Monica.

He ran a hand through his dark hair. “Yeah, I ran into him on the way back here.”

Monica yawned. “I’m tired. I think I need some caffeine.”

“Me, too. I’m feeling a little dizzy anyway.” I stuck my fingers into my drink and grabbed an ice cube. “I knew I should have gone to bed earlier last night,” I said, rubbing it on my forehead.

“Drink your rum and Coke,” he said, nodding toward the drink. “That will help cool you off.”

“No. I’m done,” I replied, unzipping my purse to get to my wallet. “I think I’m just going to go and get a plain Coke.”

“I’ll get it for you,” he said, jumping up.

I looked up at him. “No. It’s okay. You already bought the drink. I feel bad for wasting it.”

He waved his hand. “Are you kidding? Don’t worry about it. Would you like a Coke, too?” he asked Monica.

“Yes. Please,” she said.

“Okay. I’ll be right back,” said Jason, walking away.

“He’s nice,” I said, watching him move around the busy bar, trying to find an available bartender.

“Yeah. He’s cute, too.”

I nodded and closed my eyes.

“You okay?” she said.

I opened my eyes. “Like I said before, I’m a little dizzy.”

“There’s a lot of stuff going around,” she said. “Flu season, you know.”

I scowled. “I hope it’s not that. Last time I had the flu I couldn’t get out of bed for three days.”

“You and me both,” she said.

Jason returned a few minutes later and handed us our sodas.

“Thanks,” I said. “I think I really need this.”

“Yeah, thanks,” said Monica, taking her soda.

“No problem,” he answered, sitting down next to me.

“I’ll be right back. I need to go to the bathroom,” said Monica, standing up.

“Do you want me to come with you?” I asked.

“No. I’m fine. I’m going to call my mom, too. See how Max is doing.”

“Okay,” I said, as she walked away.

“So, what do you normally do for fun?” he asked, watching me as I took another drink of the soda.

“Not a whole lot,” I said, smiling. “With school and all.”

“What are you going to school for?”

I told him and we started talking about the classes I was currently taking.

“What about you?” I asked.

“I’ll tell you if you dance with me,” he said.

I took another drink of the Coke. “I don’t know. I’m really not much of a dancer.”

“Neither am I. We’ll look goofy together.”

“I doubt you’d look as goofy as me,” I said, finishing the rest of my soda. Besides, he looked pretty comfortable dancing with Tiffany earlier.

He stood up. “Come on, let’s dance. You might feel better.”

“What about Monica?” I said, looking toward the bathrooms.

“She’ll figure it out.”

Before I could protest any more, he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the dance floor.

“There they are!” he hollered, pointing toward Krystal and the others.

We made our way over to where they were dancing and Krystal squealed when she saw us.

“I can’t believe it. You’re dancing!” she hollered, as the music changed and Jennifer Lopez’s song, “On the Floor” began to play.

“I love this one!” yelled Gary, who was sweating and dancing next to two girls, who looked annoyed more than anything.

“Me, too!” cried Krystal.

“I need a drink,” said Brian, pulling Krystal away from me. “You should get one, too. Cool off!”

“But I want to dance with Adriana,” she protested.

“Fine. Let’s have a quick drink and come back out, Birthday Girl!” he hollered over the music. “If you don’t keep drinking, you’re going to get sober. You don’t want that, do you?”

She laughed. “When you put it that way...”

“Exactly.”

“You okay, Adriana?” asked Krystal, moving toward me.

I nodded. “Just a little warm.” It wasn’t helping that I was now on the dance floor with dozens of other people.

“Where’s Monica?” she asked, leaning in to me. 

“Bathroom,” I said, feeling lightheaded. “Where’s Tiffany?”

Krystal pointed and I saw that Tiffany was dancing with a guy who looked familiar.

“Isn’t that one of her ex-boyfriends?” I asked.

“Yup. Oh,” said Krystal as Brian grabbed her arm again and hauled her away. She laughed. “I guess I’ll see you soon!”

“You okay?” asked Jason, who was now staring at my face with concern.

Suddenly it was hard to focus and the room began to spin. “Oh, wow. I’m so dizzy. We should go back, too.”

“Nonsense,” he said, grabbing me by the waist. “I’ll take care of you.”

“You know... I... I don’t... feel so good,” I said, my tongue thick.

“You mentioned that your drink was really strong,” he said. “It must be hitting you now.”

“But, I didn’t drink... much,” I slurred, staring up into his eyes. “This is... weird.”

“You’re going to be fine. I’ll take care of you,” he said, holding me close. 

I clung on to him, afraid that I was going to fall or possibly even pass out. “I... please...I need...”

“I know what you need,” he whispered in my ear before everything went black.