Mr. Football

Chapter 4

Stepping out on to the busy streets of East Manhattan, the crowd surrounding 'Big Red', who names their club that I haven't the slightest idea. Any who the crowd is wild and the music can be heard from three streets over. 

Not even paying attention to the line outside, Rosie steps up to the bouncer and whispers in his ear, causing a confused look on my face. He nods and grins at her but lets us in, no questions asked.

"How the hell did you get us in like that Rosie?" I'm shocked, alarmed and intrigued all in one fell swoop. She just smiles that witty, conniving smile she loves and gives me that look saying, 'you don't want to know', my eyebrows raise at her and she just shrugs muttering "I told you I have connects." Not even wanting to know what the hell that means, I grip her outstretched hand as she leads us deeper into the club.

A group of people I've never seen before, are huddled around a tall table, laughing and sharing a pitcher of beer. Rosie followed by me, walks up to them and greets them while i just hang back and take in my surroundings. Never have I been the type to attend these types of gatherings. I rather chill at home, binge watching Netflix. Rosie turns my attention back to her as she introduces me to people I've never seen before.

"Guys, this is my best friend Charlotte, Char these are my friends from work." Realization hits me that these are the only other friends, besides me, she talks to. Rosie got a job last summer so she could earn money to purchase a car. She, like me, is tired of hitching rides. I've never been good around people I don't know, I grimace as each of them introduce themselves. Julia is the first to reach out and say hi, next is Amber, then her boyfriend Drake, and lastly Ian, who out of all of them creeps me out the most. The way he won't take his eyes off me kind of makes my skin crawl.

"Alrighty guys, well Char and I are trying to let loose tonight and be care free." Everyone cheers and I try to sound excited. Ian's eyes blaze holes in the back of my head. Rosie places two shots in front of me, I grab them between my first two fingers and thumb. Not wasting a moment and tossing my head back as the tequila flows down the back of my throat. The burn is there but I quickly follow it with the second shot effectively numbing my throat. 

It only takes an hour before I'm really feeling myself and the shots have officially kicked in, that my body is starting to let loose. Rosie drags me to the dance floor and we sway our hips to the music. I let the music take my body and strum to the beat. Rosie and I are grinding against each other and soon I feel arms wrap around my waist. My entire body clenches up and I know right away I'm not comfortable with this touching. 

It's only an arm around my waist but I've never been comfortable with this touching. Only Blake and Carson have ever really been able to touch me.

Turning in the strangers arms, I make eye contact with Ian and my eyes go wide. Yanking my body from his grasp, I push my way through the crowd and towards the bathroom, trying to calm my racing heart. Throwing the door open I splash water on my face and take a few deep breaths.

Staring into the mirror, my eyes are glazed over from the alcohol, but my cheeks are flushed from the heat of the crowd and the anxiety flooding my system. Taking a steady breath, I turn to the door of the bathroom and walk out. Walking down the hall, back to the lights and thrumming music, an arm juts out and grabs me, yanking my body backward. My head slams against the wall, causing dizziness to envelope my eyes. From the chills on my arms, I know Ian is the culprit. 

"Mmmm...god you smell so good...Charlotte." His hot, beer filled breath blows across my face, causing bile to rise in my throat. "Ian...please, let me go....I have a boyfriend." The lie comes out so easily but I am desperate right now to escape him. "I don't see him here... how does a boyfriend let a pretty thing like you come to a club all by herself, on a Friday night?" I gasp out. "I ...didn't come alone...I'm here with Rosie."