Homebound

Chapter TwentyThree

Turns out Club Rosa is well known and busy, somehow busier then Darby's.

The car park was full but Harley had managed to find a spot after winning an argument with someone else who also wanted the same spot.

I release a deep breath when I look at the door and the line of people waiting to get inside. Most of them are young, freshly eighteen. There's a bride and two grooms-to-be in the line too, their satchels around their chests.

"Lets go!" Harley squeals as she grasps Stevie's hand and walks with him, I follow behind unable to stop the look of disgust that crosses my face. Stevie's Platonic is at home, her heart probably feeling like it's being ripped from her chest knowing he's here with Harley.

I'm surprised when we don't go to the end of the line and instead to the front where a security guard is standing with papers full of names.

"Stevie Darby" Stevie announces to the security guard. The security guard says nothing as he flips through the papers. He skims his finger down the list before pausing and then stepping out of the way to let us through.

It's dark inside, red and black seem to be the theme colours as they are everywhere. The music is loud, so loud that I can feel it in my feet and somehow in my chest. I wonder if Hex can feel it?

I see Stevie's mouth moving but I can't hear anything he's saying.

"What?" I shout but I can't even hear my own voice. Stevie just shakes his head and starts to drag Harley away by the hold they still have on each other. I look around before following them, keeping a hold on Harley's elbow as we weave through crowds of people in a singular line.

Stevie leads us to a booth big enough to fit ten people in it. It's in the back of the club and in a corner, the lights from the dance floor not reaching the area.

Harley slides in first and then Stevie slides in next to her. I take a seat opposite them, glancing around as I look for Jacob but I don't see him anywhere. I hope he gets here soon, I feel awkward and intrusive sticking so close to Harley and Stevie.

I watch as Harley says something into Stevie's ear before he gets up and leaves. She slides along the booth to my side.

"He's getting us drinks" she shouts in my ear. I nod until I realise Harley is designated driver.

"Aren't you driving?" I shout back. She shakes her head.

"We'll get an uber back and I'll leave my car here overnight" I nod. Makes sense, Harley can enjoy herself and I can leave whenever I want instead of having to rely on her to take me home.

We're both distracted when a guy, too drunk to stand straight, bumps into our booth as he walks past, splashing his drink onto the floor and the corner of our table.

"Oops, sorry ladies" he says in passing.

"Get out of here" Jacob suddenly shows up, a drink already in hand as he shoo's away the drunken man. I breathe a sigh of relief that he is finally here.

Stevie comes back at that moment with his hands full of drinks, placing them on the table in front of Harley and I. I thank him but I don't think he hears it as he goes back to being mesmerised by Harley.

"When did you guy get here? I was waiting out the front" Jacob says. He was waiting out the front? We hadn't seen him.

"Like five minutes ago. How long have you been here?" I ask, ignoring the wave of alcohol smelling breath that washes over me. It's obvious he had been here a lot longer then we had and he had definitely been drinking for longer then we had.

"Got here at eight" he replies. Eight? That was two hours ago. I nod and take a sip of my drink. It's strong, stronger then what I'd normally choose to drink and I can't help the face I pull when I swallow, it makes Jacob laugh.