MOONLIGHT ✧ DALLAS

three

luna carpenter

once we're inside my eyes take a moment to adjust to the bright lights. there are multicolored flashing lights on the dance floor, and a long string of fairy lights along the top of the walls.

the music pulsating through my chest, giving me goosebumps. masses of people were jumping and swaying to the beat of the music, which made it a difficulty to move.

as we make our way to the bar, dancing sweaty bodies press up against us, but we ignore it, and move to the some-what quiet bar.

i motioned to the bartender.
"coke and vodka please." i mouthed, and he nodded, before seeping away. a moment later a coke glass slid infront of me, but before i could even thank him, he had already walked away, taking orders from other thirsty teenagers.

i took the first sip of the drink, cold and icy, slightly sweet and tangy against my lips. i'm not an achoholic, but i suppose i am a social drinker, and i do know my limits.

i quickly finished the drink, placing the glass back onto the bar worktop. i looked around to see my friends were no longer sat with me.

my eyes swiveled around the room, before they locked with chloe's. she called me over with her hand, and i nodded, abandoning the stool, swerving through people again towards the dancefloor to my group of friends.

by the time i reached them, chloe and her boyfriend matt were already in a heated make out session, and esme and marnie, looked disgusted so we decided to leave them at it, and to find somewhere quiet to rest.

we spotted stairs to what seemed to be a basement. we followed them down and we were correct. the smoke in the room was so thick it created a grey hue to the room. there were people bringing blunts to their lips, and the loud music could still be heard from down here.

we were able to move clearly down here, and we quickly scooted over to 3 available seats in the corner of the room.

my eyes traveled around the room, until my eyes meet a boy's. i wanted to turn away but something about him was intoxicating to not look at. he had light brown hair, styled up in a quiff, and he was wearing black skinny jeans paired with black vans and a light grey tee. a smile played at his lips, and i quickly turned my head away, listening into the two girls conversation.

we soon moved from the basement, and we ended up on the dance floor. i kept colliding into drunken bodies, and my bum has been grabbed multiple times. the entire house smelt of sweat and alcohol, and it was getting difficult to breathe.

pulling my phone from my clutch, i clicked the home screen, the bright light hurting my eyes for a second, before i managed to adjust to it to check the time; 10;14. i poked esme quickly, and she turned around, and shot a smile at me.

"i'm just going to get some air!" i shouted over the music. she nodded at me, before turning around to her previous position and continuing her dancing.

i pushed my way through the sea of dancing teenagers, to the sliding doors. i slid them open, sneaking out, hoping no-one would follow me. the cold air hit my body immediately, and i let out a long breath, i didn't even realize i was holding in.

i walked away from the house alittle, laying down on the grass. the cool night breeze relaxes me as i stare up at the sky. i didn't understand how people would rather be inside, drinking their way into the night, when you could be staring at this beautiful view. the stars seemed to be shining brighter than usual, and there was a full moon, which was casting a shadow over everything in its path. it was just angelic.

i heard the sliding doors open, and i sat up slightly looking in the direction of them. the boy i had caught eyes with earlier was there, and he was walking out into the garden. he must have followed me i thought to myself, until i seem him walking down the gravel path, kicking stones with him, until he reached some grass. he then lay his back on the grass, looking up into the sky, just like i had previously done. he was only a few metres away from me, but yet he still had not seen me.

my mouth was open slightly, as i watched him do what i do. i could feel a itchy sensation at the back of my nose because of my hayfever, and i knew i was about to sneeze. i rose my hand to my nose, hoping it would stop the noise, but as i sneezed i knew it didn't.

i saw the boy sit up in the corner of my eye, and then turned his head to look at me. i saw him abandon his space in the grass, and he began walking over to me. i feel his body drop down next to me, tucking his knees in, resting his hands on them. his cologne was strong, and was filling my nostrils with the musky scent.

"it's just beautiful isn't it?" he kept his eyes ahead of him, but i knew he was referring to the moon.

i nodded my head slightly looking out into the darkness also. he finally retracted his head, peering at me.

"do you often watch it?" he asked me.

"all the time." i simply say to him, turning my head to view his.

there was a silence but it wasn't awkward, it was pleasant. we were both staring into the darkness ahead of us. a few moments passed until he spoke again.

"does it not scare you?" he nods to the dark void ahead of them.

"what do you mean?" i ask him, slightly confused to what he was referring.

"the darkness. how it's just a dark space of nothingness." he asks.

i shrug my shoulders alittle, before speaking again.

"no, i mean, it depends." i spoke.

he raised his eyebrows at me, not understanding.

"not if the moon is out. it sound's weird i know, but the moon, it makes me feel safe. safer than i've ever felt. i would feel safer with the moon out, and being on my own, than pure darkness and being with someone." i ask, spilling it all out. i didn't know why i was telling him all this, i didn't even know him, but he seemed to just understand. he stayed silent, but he nodded.

"what about you? does it scare you?" i asked him the same question.

he shakes his head, no.

"i never understand why people are to be honest. if anything it's the daylight you should be afraid of. in dark, you can hide, but in daylight, you can't, everyone can see everything about you." he says, with a shrug.

what he said made so much sense to me, and i lay back down on the grass thinking about what he said.

"what's your nam-" i sat up, to see he had gone. i moved my head from side to side, and i couldn't see him anywhere..