“No way.” I feel it leaving my mouth, but I don’t really mean it.
I’m so angry at my dad, at my mom, and like always at West that I just-
I walk confidently to the bar and set my purse on the counter.
“What’s the strongest you got?” I shout at the bartender, and he moves to take out a bottle of liquid resembling water.
“Absinthe!” He shouts back, and I send him a thumbs-up.
He fills three shots, and I pay, sitting on the high barstool, bracing myself for them.
Mom. My hand grabs the shot and downs it. It tastes like hand sanitizer, but I don’t care.
You look…Another shot. My head begrudgingly moves to West, and he’s grabbing her waist. Last one.
I feel my stomach kind of rejecting it, but I push it down.
I get up and find Allison. A song passes, then another, and I don’t feel any different, so I make the decision to ask for two more shots of the same stuff.
I down them like I’m used to it, and I’m here every other weekend, but I don’t care. Today isallabout letting loose. No more sad, pathetic Madelaine…
Okay, this kind of has a kick to it. My stomach protests, but I ignore it. Allison dances like our lives depend on it, and I don’t look in West’s direction anymore. I dance, feeling the vibrations through my body, and close my eyes, letting the music take me.
I feel someone laying their hand on my back, and my eyes shot wide open. He’shandsome… And I’ve never seen him around here. Good. Because he doesn’t know me. And he doesn’t know I don’t usually dance with strangers.
I’m so dizzy, though, the lights are all blurred…
He places both hands on my hips, and I let my head fall backwards, trying to gain a sense of my surroundings. Lights and a heavy bass are all I can make up. I feel something in my neck, and oh, it’s him. This is definitely a first. I can’t find the will to push him away, so I don’t. Who says I can’t be this girl? An Allison, if you will? Heck, I’m sure that by now she has already made out with half the guys in here.Maybethis is supposed to be my first kiss.
I avoid a hiccup and turn to his face. I can’t even tell his features; I can only say he’shandsome.
I feel someone yank me back, and next thing I know the guy is- PUNCHED, WHAT?!
West turns around, shaking his hand and standing over the guy who’s now on the ground. Ohhell no.
“Are you crazy?!” I shout at him, pushing his chest, and he frowns at me.
“He had his hands all over you, and you’re drunk!” He reasons back, a circle forming around the mess.
“You can have your hands all over the redhead, but I can’t be with him?!” This argument is stupid, but at the same time, it makes sense in my head.
“It’s different! You can’t even stand!” He gestures at me, and I attempt to walk sober to him but trip into his arms. He catches me, but as soon as I realize I’m in his arms, I push him away.
“Just go find another girl!” I shout at him and move to sit at the bar. He doesn’t follow me, but every now and then I catch him staring at me, making sure I’m not throwing myself at anotherguy, I’m sure.
Soon enough, Allison finds me, exhausted, and hugs me.
“Girl, are you drunk?” She grabs my head and looks me in the eyes. “You are!”
I let myself free from her grasp. And then my eyes look outside the club’s window. Looks like Amanda found Jake. But they’rearguing.
I grab Allison’s arm and drag her outside.
We step out of the club and pass through the crowd of people who are happily watching them fight.
Riden finds us and stands right next to me, watching the scene.
“Why did you do it?” He asks, a hand running down his face.
