The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 15- The Spotted Whale

As I walk back over to Lindsay, I start to panic about my decision. I mean, I hardly know this guy, I'm in a foreign country, and I don't even know any of the other people who will be there. Am I really this dumb? I mean, he doesn't give off the creepy stalker vibe, but this probably isn't the smartest decision I've ever made.

"Lindsay? What are you doing tonight?" I ask as we pick up our bags and head for her car parked across the street.

"Oh, Stephanie, I'm single, so I never have plans," she says with a chuckle. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, Cody invited me out tonight with some of his friends. A place called The Spotted Whale."

She starts nodding. "So you want me to come too and make sure him and his friends aren't complete creeps?"

"Would you?"

"Of course! I feel responsible for you over here, so you better believe I'm coming to check these people out. Also, that place is nice."

I let out a light chuckle and a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Now what are we going to wear?"

Little did I know that the answer to that question wouldn't come until almost an hour of trying on clothes in Lindsay's flat. She has a nice apartment with clean and simple furniture. There's nothing too ornate or fancy, but that's what makes it homey. It's the type of place where you feel comfortable sitting on the couch and pulling your legs up under you—which is exactly what I am doing right now as Lindsay tries on outfits.

We settle that I will wear a pair of her black crop pants and a blouse from her closet. Other than height-wise, we are practically the same size, so the crop pant is necessary since any of her normal pants would be too short on my legs. She finally feels satisfied with her red ruffled tank top and some skinny jeans, and we're on our way.

As we approach the bar, I spot a big man at the door checking IDs. Out of habit, my heart starts to pound, but then I remember that the drinking age over here is just eighteen. With a proud smile, I pull out my ID and hand it to him.

He pauses for a moment and squints at it. At first, my nerves start to come back and I wonder if I was wrong about the lower drinking age, but then he smiles and hands it back to me.

"California, huh?" he asks.

I nod and take my card.

"I've been there before. Crazy scene." He chuckles to himself, presumably at some distant memory. Then he turns his grin to me. "You behave yourself now. I'll have my eye on you."

I nod again and give him a small smile. I'm a little creeped out, but I don't want to offend the man who could throw me out of this place.

When we walk in, I take in the scene, scanning the crowd for Cody. There's a bar with several tables around it, a cleared space where people are dancing and mingling, and a back patio. The place is pretty crowded, and I don't see Cody's dark head of hair anywhere.

"Come on. Let's go get some drinks and then make a round," Lindsay says, hooking her arm with mine and leading me over to the bar. "So what'll it be? The first one's on me as a congrats on finishing your first day."

I give her a tight smile and hesitate before speaking. "I appreciate it, but I actually don't really drink."

That's when I wait for it. The inevitable questions and looks of disbelief. Someone my age turning down a drink? Am I pregnant? Am I some weird religion? I've heard it all. But no one has ever guessed the real reason. In fact, Brett is the only other person who really knows why I avoid alcohol now.