We step out of the Uber, our driver telling us to have a good night. We thank him and step out, the cool breeze hitting my bare legs. Goosebumps cover my skin and I shiver underneath the thin fabric. Dresses are not October approved.
Following Amelia's lead, we walk around the side of the building to the back of the line. I wrap my arms around myself to preserve some of my body heat, watching as other girls, wearing shorter dresses than me, do the same. None of us are prepared for this line. Or this weather.
Coming closer to me, Damon wraps his long arms around me, shielding my body from the wind. I snuggle into his embrace, grateful for his cover.
"That's enough," Amelia declares. She grabs my arm, yanking me away from Damon and his warmth, and drags me up to the front of the line. The people we pass groan and yell at us to "get to the back of the line!" We ignore them and continue walking. Approaching a tall, muscle-ridden tree of a man, I gulp. We should have waited with the guys. Turning around to see if I can go back to them before the bouncer notices us, I almost bump into Damon. He smiles reassuringly at me, and motions with his hands to keep going.
I turn around in time for Amelia to say "excuse me" to the bouncer. He ignores her attempts, which only spurs her on more. She says it again, this time waving her hand in front of his face, which only made it to his chest. He had to be at least 6'5". Probably taller.
"Amelia, stop it!" I yank on her arm, pleading with her to stop. The people in the line are getting antsy, throwing rude remarks our way about cutting the line. The bouncer doesn't seem pleased by her attempts. His lips form a scowl, eyebrows pursed. He looks ready to throw us out even before we entered the building.
"No way, Rose. I come to this club every weekend, and they always let me in without waiting in line! I know the owner, damnit!"
At her remark, the bouncer looks down at us, unpleased to say the least. "You know the owner?" His voice is as deep as I expected, his tone disbelieving.
"Yes. He is a family friend. Can you get him please or just let him know that Amelia is here? He will know exactly who I am."
Not moving from his spot, he talks over his radio to someone inside. The mystery person confirms affirmatively that the owner, whose name is Steve, is coming out. A few moments later, a man with a similar structure to Damon steps outside. A smile curves his lips and he throws out his arms to embrace Amelia.
"Hello, my dear. I was worried you wouldn't be coming tonight. I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Not at all." She politely replies. "These are my friends, Rose, Damon, and Brandon. They have never been here before so I had to show them what this place is all about."
Walking up to each of us, he shakes our hand, placing a kiss on mine. It is very nice to meet you all. Drinks are on me tonight. Enjoy."
"Thank you, Steve. Tell Lisa and the kids I said hello."
"I will. I hope you will do the same."
"Of course." Turning to us, "let's go guys."
"Thank you," I say to the bouncer as we pass him. He was only doing his job.
The first thing I think when I step inside of the club is "I'm going to be deaf by the end of the night."
The music is blasting from various speakers paced throughout the spacious area. Even with all the bodies crowding the floor, it still looks like there is room to walk and talk and dance comfortably. Despite the dim lighting, it is easy to see everything. The bar juts out of the wall on the right side of the room a little ways away from the door. A glass mirror is behind the bartenders, lined with various glass bottles of light and dark liquids. Chairs stand in front of the bar, most of them occupied. Others stand around, waiting to order their drink. Three bartenders run around the moderate size area between the wall and bar. They look like determined chickens that are trying to collect their heads.
Across the room, tables and booths line the walls and are placed apart from each other to accommodate sitting guests. Everything is very modern with black and white colors and abstract decor, many the color red.
At the back of it all stands a huge dance floor, the tiles colorful from the lights above it. Somehow the lights are dimmer above the rectangle-shaped floor. People crowd the area, grinding their hips, hands in the air, drinks in their hands. It looks private. Everyone can watch another dance, but in the mass of bodies, everyone is hidden and can dance freely.
"I want to grab a drink!" Amelia shouts over the blasting music.
We all nod and follow her to the bar where the bartender whose name is Chris gives her a drink as soon as she steps up.
"What do you guys want?"
"Beer."
"Can I get a screwdriver, please?"
Chris nods and makes our drinks, the other people getting impatient waiting for their own. I feel like a VIP.
Handing us our drinks, Damon tips him and we go to a table away from everyone else. The indistinguishable chatter may be quieter, but the music only gets louder.
"Let's down these drinks and shake our hips! Come on, girl."
Clinking our glass cups together, we chug our drinks, the alcohol faintly burning my throat. The orange juice hides most of it but doesn't mute all of the strong alcohol.
Putting our cups down on the table, we nod at the boys and head to the floor. A good beat comes on, the bass slightly vibrating the floor. We move to the center of the floor, concealed in the crowd. Amelia grabs my hands and starts moving us with the beat. My hips move side to side in a rhythmic movement.
A guy taps on Amelia's shoulder at the end of the second song. Looking at me, she smiles and points at the guy, mouthing "he's hot." With a thumbs up I shoo her away. Dancing on my own, my hands in my hair, I get lost in the music. It's relieving of stress, reality, financials, and anything else I'm constantly thinking about. It's my escape.
My bubble is popped when I feel someone saddle up next to me. Why does this happen at every party I go to? I'm not even that pretty! With a huff, I turn around ready to tell the guy off.
He smirks at me. "Don't stop, baby. You look sexy when you dance."
I groan. Come on! This can't be happening again. I part my lips to speak, but my words die in my mouth when I see Damon.
He stands up straight, his posture highlighting his strong build. His arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me into his chest. "She's with me." Glaring at the stranger, the guy has nothing else to do but raise his arms in surrender.
"I-I'm sorry, man. I didn't know she was with you. Honestly, man."
"Leave."
The guy scrambles away from us, blending into the crowd.
"I can't leave you alone for 10 minutes without some guy trying to hit on my girl."
I'm taken aback by his possessive claim on me, but some part of me likes it. I know I shouldn't, but after not belonging to anyone or anything for so long, It's nice to be claimed as someone's.
Feeling how tense his body is, I ask him to dance with me. Hopefully, it will take his mind off of what just happened. Standing behind me, our bodies move in sync. It's not sexual, like the many other couples surrounding us, but more gentle and intimate than that. It's the closeness between us, our bodies being on the same page. Suddenly, I'm not lost in my own world with the music. I'm lost in a world with Damon and the music that soothingly guides our bodies to collide with one another.
I pause. What did I just think? I have only known Damon and Brandon for a month. How can I like Damon like that? I barely know the guy! Even as I think this, I know it's not true. I have never been closer with anyone else than I am with Damon. I know his darkest secret. He would know mine if I had one. We know what each other needs and have a routine that we created on our own. We work surprisingly enough.
Amelia joins us, the man abandoned somewhere in the mass of bodies.
"Let's grab a drink!"
I turn to look at Damon who looks down at me. Together we nod at each other and leave the dance floor. Meeting Brandon at our table, we walk as a group to the bar. Our drinks are ready for us as fast as last time. Ordering a couple of shots, Amelia challenges us all to race each other to finish our two shots. The competition drives to me take the shots down easily. Swallow fast to get rid of the burn faster. However, even with my strategy, Brandon wins and is crowned the champion for the night.
For the rest of the night, Damon and I don't leave each other's sides while dancing. Amelia and Brandon both find someone else to move to the music with, but after each couple of songs, we meet back up and take a drink.
It's one of the best nights that I have ever lived. I am finally with people I can see myself sharing my life with far into the future.