TEMPTATION - trainspotting

higher and higher

Music blared, suffocatingly close bodies, the heavy smell of sweat and alcohol lingering around all. She tried to regulate her breathing pattern but she'd already drunk too much and felt her heart racing. Perspiration dowsed the head and torso, while her head remained clouded with alcohol and whatever she had done earlier in the night. Clasping her clutch close to her body she pushed through the crowds, finding pockets of air to stop and breath between. Dragging her hair back and pulling her small phone out she answered the blasted thing, barely being able to make out a sound over the music and others shouting at their friends stood within a foot of each other.

"Hello?! Sam?!" She practically screamed over the phone, pushing even more persistently to get out into the clear. Muffled sounds came through on the other end yet hardly strong enough to make out any clear words.

Finally reaching the doors she squeezed past the totally zoned out addicts that stood at the back simply staring into space and bursted through the heavy metal doors.

"Sam? Can you hear me?" She shouted, her tone not yet having adjusted to the far quieter back street.

"Yes! Just about, where are you?!" The girl with a faint Scottish accent and the apparent nickname, Sam, replied.

"I'm out the back, just wanted a minute you know. Where are you?"

"In the loo, it's absolutely rank, the whole bar stinks of piss and sweat I can't wait to leave." Her friend replied while the first tucked the phone between her head and shoulder, in order to rummage through her tiny clutch for a loose cigarette.

"Yeah me neither, I've got to go, I forgot my lighter." She hung up and placed the cigarette in her lips as the tucked everything back into place. There was practically no point in having the cigarette without a lighter but she thought if she looked around a bit there'd definitely be someone willing to share.

Her heels were not firm in the pebbly pavement but somehow she remained balanced, turning the corner of the building to where she could smell the air thicker, the closer she got the clearer she could see the smoke. Jackpot. Without hesitation she spoke, barely acknowledging the person in front of her.

"Do you have a lighter?" He voice came out clear, there was no room for confusion.

"What?" The voice spoke, focusing as best she could she made out a slim figure in less than dressed up clothes and a blonde mop of hair.

"I said do you have a lighter?"

"Yeah. Where're you from?" He spoke, his own accent far contrasting hers.

"England. Can I have it then?" He hand protruded forward assuming he would pass her what she wanted.

"Why the fuck are you in Scotland, you got lost?" He passed her the lighter and awaited an answer to his somewhat patronising question. Originally it never intended to come across that way, as he spoke truly astounded that any English girl would choose Scotland.

"No I didn't get lost. I live here. Why you never seen an English girl before?" Lighting the cigarette she concentrated on it before handing the lighter back. Letting it rest on her mouth she took the opportunity to scrape the sweaty hair off her head and up into a crappy ponytail with the elastic band that hung around her wrist. Her hair was a mess, below her shoulders dark long grown out roots and knots from the night of dancing. Her hair and the smudged makeup starkly contrasting that of the sequinned blue dress she adorned.

He was staring and she knew it. There was silence for a minute or two as she completed the action and focused back on the cigarette.

"I guess you really haven't ever seen any girl before." Her tone spoke playfully, wanting to see what he'd say next.

"You wish." He replied putting the lighter back into one of the pockets in his cargo trousers. They were both there for one reason and that was simply to get wasted. Nothing more, nothing less. What was the harm in casually flirting with couple of people in between.

The paired remained in silence, in heavy eye contact as they finished the last of their cigarettes. It was like a silent competition as to who would finish first and say something else. Of course he finished first yet his concentration remained on her eyes so he only realised as the butt burnt his finger a little. She couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction, with a scorned look on his face.

"What're you laughing at?" Mostly serious in tone.

"Nothing." She smiled a response.

"You want a drink?" Brushing himself down lightly and moving away from the wall the rested upon.

"Why, you buying me one?" She seemed charmed by his sudden question, so much so her posture relaxed, as if ready to follow within an instant.

"No. But I'll ask the barman for you." He smiled turning back to see her sarcastic smirk. Yet even without the charming offer, she took the cue to follow as he lead her back to the bar.

Not a single word more was exchanged, the subtle acknowledgment of each other's drink orders and lingering eye contact was all. Neither new even the first initial of each other's names and that was completely fine by them.

One, two, three more drinks and a couple of those teeny tiny pills she kept in her bra. A few more shitty dance tracks. And the feeling the night would never end. They danced for a while lost in ecstasy before crashing into a taxi neither could afford. Not even sure where they were headed, just free. Without some much of a word to the friends they'd made their way there with.