Possibilities

・☆《Part Sixty-Seven》☆・

They made their way down a dark hallway, pushing past other people exiting. The hallway opened up to a large room filled with flashing lights, loud music and chatter, and many many drunk, dancing people.

Squeezing their way through the crowd of sweaty bodies, they found the staircase up to the second level where they located an empty small round table with enough chairs for all of them. They snatched it up before anyone could steal it from them.

Everyone sat except for Briella. "First round of shots are on me," she said, waving her black purse around. "Who's drinking?"

"Not me," Jensen replied. "I'm driving."

"And I'm designated driver for this one," said Kelan, gesturing to Jada. "So count me out too."

Briella nodded. "Alright. Girls night." She turned and disappeared into the throng of wild people.

While Kelan and Jada leaned in to talk directly into each other's ears, Renna turned to Jensen who sat next to her, leaned in, and shouted to be heard. "You're not drinking?"

"No," he yelled over the booming music and chatter. "I drove here. I have to drive home."

"You could always Uber back home and pick your car up tomorrow." Guilt and embarrassment pestered her. He's not drinking, and I will be. She wondered if she should not drink too so he didn't feel left out. But Kelan won't be drinking either. But he might—

Jensen cut off her thoughts. "Nah, I don't need to drink to have fun."

When Briella returned with six blue shots on a tray, and placed them on the sticky metal table, Renna considered telling the two girls to take her shots instead.

She glanced at Jensen, preparing to remain sober for his sake, but he gave a nod, gestured to the electric blue liquid, and said, "Go on."

She caught the infectious, playful smile he gave, and picked up one shot glass. The girls clinked the glasses together and threw their heads back, tipping the liquid down their throats.

It slid over her tongue and burnt as it hit the back of her throat. The bitter taste stuck to every taste bud, growing in intensity after it vanished towards her stomach. After swallowing, the strong tang stole her breath, and could only be released with a single cough that forced itself up.

Jada sighed and shook her head as she slammed the glass down on the table, and Briella only smiled and giggled.

"Round two," Briella said, picking up her second shot.

Jada reached for hers and Renna hesitated. The disgusting taste clung to her tongue, the fire in her throat burnt deeper. It had her sitting still, contemplating a second taste or not.

Jensen took the shot off the table and passed it to her. With a smile, she took it from him and it went down the hatch with the other two girls. Her eye twitched. She screwed her face up as she pushed down the vile liquid.

Her blood buzzed through her veins. Singing.

The drinks kept coming. Kelan bought the girls each a orange fizzy drink that Renna didn't mind too much.

They drank and chatted. Reaching the end of her drink, Renna hit herself for not continuously stirring it as she had to swallow a mouthful of what tasted like pure vodka. She left the last two mouthfuls at the bottom of her glass and placed it on the table where Briella snatched it up to finish it off for her.

Jada and Kelan left to dance on the dance floor on the lower level. Jensen decided to buy Renna and Briella one last shot. After downing it at the bar, Briella disappeared into the crowd, bopping along to the thumping music.