Clementine had become a wild child. Born in America but raised abroad, she now had little regard for the expectations of high society. But her reckless ways eventually catch up with her when she is kicked out of college in New York City and forced t...
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They pulled up to the building, and the driver dropped them off. It was all very modest in that sense of the rich knowing how rick they are but not trying to make a scene of it on the outside, and very hip on the inside.
Clementine and Mina, both dressed up, walked in like the good old days. And people noticed them, the way they had that power that a group of pretty, young girls hold.
Mina's beau Eduardo was out of town, so it really was just them.
Right away, Clementine saw faces that she recognized but did't directly know. The people that knew her, but she was only aware of them. Now that she was aware of that fact, and of her popularity, she felt how strange it all was at school.
Luckily, they made their way to the bar unharmed, and Clementine was offered something sweet and alcohol by the bar man. Of course it was an open bar, and Clementine accepted to be polite, but threw most f the drink into a nearby plant, as she was waiting for Mina to come back from the bathroom.
"Watering the plants, I see." She was sure nobody saw this, but then all of a sudden, this familiar voice spoke to her over the music and she jumped.
Clementine looked over her shoulder, and saw that on the other side of the plant, in the dim light was José. Her father's business partner's son, smirking.
Of course. Who else would it be??
At that moment, Mina came back to find Clementine and Jose. A momentary panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly dismissed it.
"I see you two have met," Mina exclaimed.
"Briefly," Clementine said quickly.
Clementine realized that Mina knew him and told him about the whole situation, but she really didn't have the energy to deal with it right now.
In fact, she was slowly counting down the minutes until it was respectable to leave this joint. Until midnight, or more precisely, after midnight.
"You know," José began, "it is rude to water other people's plants without their permission, actually."
"I wasn't..." Clementine wanted to roll her eyes, but stopped herself from getting involved.
"I'm kidding," José nodded to Mina in acknowledgement. "You ladies enjoying the party?"
Clementine took a moment to take him in. He was slick. In a way that may have attracted some people, but to her he repulsed her. She felt that she could see right through him.
He made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn't quite pinpoint.
"It's alright," Mina looked around, and waved to someone across the room, smiling at them.
"Yeah, well you know this is actually pretty low-key compared to some of the things the locals do here." José said very casually, also assessing the room but like he owned it.
Mina threw a worried glance at Clementine. Now she was in on it too.
"What do you mean?" Mina asked casually.
"I'm just saying, this is tame. I once went to a party with some guys from the university, and it was wild. It got busted. I mean, people trading and dealing substances." He then took a sip of his own drink, and winked at Clementine. "You got to be careful with that though."
"Come on, let's go," Clementine took Mina's arm and started leading her away, but then Jose grabbed Clementine's arm and whispered to her.
"Surprised they let you out, after everything that's happened. But if you ever wanna come my way, I can take you, you know what I mean?" Jose said in her ear.
Clementine shot him a look that she hoped conveyed enough disgust, then she walked away.
"Fuck, what was that?" Mina asked, as they both stepped outside and Mina reached for her cigarettes. "Nasty habit, I know. But seriously. I feel so stupid I ever told anyone about anything. But I sure as hell, didn't tell that guy."
"Yeah, well, that guy is actually my father's business partner basically. So if anything goes wrong, well it better not. But there is no way I will ever go out with a guy like that. Can I bum one?" Clementine nodded towards the Marlboro pack Mina was clutching in her hand.
Nodding, Mina reached for one and gave it to her.
"Okay, here's what's going to happen," Mina said as she lit up both their cigarettes, "we are going to go out on that dance floor and dance like our life depended on it. And then we're getting out of here, and you're gonna go meet Romeo."
"Just like we planned?" Clementine asked, taking a drag that she knows she shouldn't, suddenly flashing back to Zico's face.
