Not A Temporary Love | Finley & Harlyn #1

Chapter 13

Finley

Me:
What the hell am I supposed to wear to a club??

Max:
Something nice. Don't overthink it.

Me:
Wow. So helpful. Should I just stop being anxious, too?

Max:
I'm sorry. I forgot who I was talking to. Just a nicer t-shirt with your black jeans. It's a club. People won't be staring at your clothes.

No, they'll just be staring at my dance moves. Or my lack of dance moves. Because I will not be dancing. It's decided. I agreed to go to Club Chemistry - after Max begged me for about thirty minutes straight - but I very pointedly did not agree to dance. Or enjoy myself. I can already feel my stomach swirling. All those people.

I shake my head and pull my jeans on. I can do this. I can be cool for one night. I find a plain white t-shirt, one I haven't worn yet because it's been way too cold. That'll work. I slide my gray high tops on and bundle up. The temperature has dropped a lot this week, and tonight, it's below freezing. As a last minute thought, I check my hair, but it's hopeless. It's getting too long. I need a haircut.

Amelia's in the kitchen, stirring her tea absentmindedly. She looks up when I come through the doorway. "Hello, dear. Heading out?"

"Yup," I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. "I'll see you in the morning."

We say goodbye and I leave before I chicken out and ask Amelia if I can watch Downton Abbey with her all night instead. But I promised Max. And Harlyn's text was so happy. And Harlyn finally put the four of us in a group chat, something I've been meaning to do for ages. And Elly kept sending GIFs of dancing babies. I can do this. Max will be there. Harlyn will be there. Elly will be there. They'll take care of me.

I'm already frozen by the time I make it to the library. Elly's gone all out. Her eyeshadow is bright purple, her lipstick a deep red, and I think I see glitter in her hair. Max is decked out, too. He looks like he stepped off a magazine cover. He's even styled his hair. Harlyn is the most laid back, as always. But he looks good, too. Black skinny jeans, white converse. I can't see what's under his coat, but I'm sure I'll swoon a little when he takes it off. Who am I kidding? I'm swooning now.

"There he is!" Max says, bouncing from one foot to the other. "Did you work out your wardrobe malfunction?"

I want to snap at him. My anxiety wants to snap at him. I don't need to feel any weirder right now. But I bite it back, because he looks so excited. "Yeah. All good. Just...never been to a club before, so I had to make sure I looked ok."

"You look great," Harlyn says, and...did he just check me out? No. That's obviously my imagination. He was just checking my outfit. Making sure I actually remembered to wear pants.

Elly takes the lead, telling us all about this Club Chemistry. She pointed it out on our walk we took around the city the first week we were here. That feels like forever ago, talking to Harlyn about the castle. It's only been a month.

"You ok?" Harlyn's voice is so close to my ear it makes me jump. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. You were just off in your own little world over there."

I force a laugh as we pass the Canterbury East train station. "Yeah. I tend to do that. Especially when I'm nervous."

He grabs me around the shoulders, but I'm too anxious to enjoy it. "Don't be nervous. You'll have fun. I promise. I'll make sure of it."

That's what I'm afraid of. We finally get to the club, and Elly looks like she's going to die right there on the sidewalk. I'll never get used to people checking my ID. The first time it happened was at the student lounge when we met there after the first week of classes. I don't know why I'm nervous handing over my driver's license to the guy inside the door. I'm 20, almost 21. I'm legal here. And my ID is very much real. But I have this horrible image flash through my mind of the guy not giving me my ID back or not letting me in or reporting me for impersonating...me. I shake my head again. Stupid anxiety. Nothing's going to happen. And nothing does. The guy checks my birthday, gives me my ID back, and nods me in. We deposit our coats in the coat closet. And then enter the club.