Socializing

Chapter 11. An Unexpected Encounter

Jake had chosen a club downtown-more of like in an alleyway and we had to pass by this weird back door. There was a really built doorman who smiled at us as Jake slipped him a 20$ bill and let us in. The entrance was a bit sketchy but when the door was shut, I could hear music coming through the walls and the vibrations could be felt under my feet.

"You ok?" he asked looking back at me.

"Yeah," I said trying to reassure him and smiled so faintly.

The air in the club was so thick I was afraid I'd faint. The music was beyond loud and everyone was dancing as I'd never seen before. Jake took a hold of my hand and we meandered through the crowd. I held my clutch bag close to my chest and all I could feel were hands all over me.

"Drink?" Jake yelled.

"Coke with some tonic water," I replied and saw the expression on his face. He was disappointed and I was not ready to explain my beliefs to him. We danced a bit afterwards until I'd had enough of the proximity with everyone else.

"I'll be by the bar," I said into Jake's ear and slipped away leaving him with some brunette. I ordered another drink and slipped out my phone for the hundredth time.

"So, I'm guessing you're not the clubbing type?" Came an accented voice so close to my ear that I nearly jumped.

"Um, what makes you say that?" I replied turning to face the stranger.

"No one checks their phone that constantly," he replied, "And I guess that's coke with tonic?"

"So, you've been watching me?" I replied.

"Maybe," he said, "I'm Suho."

"Ana," I replied shaking his stretched hand briefly.

"Would you like to get some fresh air?" he asked hopefully.

I looked back to see if Jake would miss me then realized he'd completely forgotten I was around, considering the position he was in; hands-on with the brunette.

"Sure," I said leaving 20$ beneath my glass.

"So, the guy you came with-" Suho started once we were outside.

"No, he's not my boyfriend," I replied before he could finish.

"Ah."

"Did you come alone?" I asked blatantly.

"With a bunch of friends from school," He said then looked away.

"I'm guessing you're not the clubbing type either?"

"Not really," He said laughing.

"How long have you been here?"

"It's my accent, isn't it?" He said chuckling.

"Not that it's bad."

"I moved here about 6 years ago," he said. "Would you like to see something?"

"Sure," I replied smiling back at him and crossing the road after him.