Our Cruel Hearts

Chapter Eight

The bar flushes with excitement, and is packed to the brim on a rainy Saturday evening. Meera sits to my side flirting with a man I've never seen before, but they seem into it enough for me to sit back and relax, but I can't. The air is stuffy and the thump of the music rattles the bar. I look around the room for nothing in particular but notice a massive throng of bodies dancing in sync on the dance floor. It's hypnotising. Upon arriving here I was introduced to a large group of staff that I hadn't yet met because they work in other departments. Half of them are scattered across the dance floor, others off somewhere making out with someone they just met. I feel out of place as I see everyone with their little groups, and my heart aches for my family back home. Even though I know Meera is my person here I wouldn't want to interrupt her conversation for myself. With a quick glance to the left I realise it's gone from a conversation to hardcore eating each other's faces off. Damn.

I haven't seen Griffin since we arrived, even though he was the one who invited me. You'd think that would imply sticking with me but not according to him. He disappeared upstairs some time ago and I haven't seen him since then. I've just been at the bar, drinking every single drink that gets handed to me or bought by some guy that finds me attractive before they attempt to talk me up and fail miserably. The bathroom wasn't of much interest either, some girls offered pills and I passed. Now I'm resting my head in my hand as the music thumps through the bar, rattling the glasses and bottles on display. I've had more alcohol than I can count at this point which I only realise when I stand up and nearly pass out, Meera swivels in her chair.

"Damn Reyes, how much have you had to drink?" She asks as she tries to stabilise me, a slight giggle in her voice.

"Not that much, I think." I pat her arm off of mine, "Go go, don't let me interrupt you," I urge her with a wink. Meera contorts her face as she weighs my words, "I'm here if you need me," She assures me before turning back to the guy.

I float onto the dance floor barely able to stand but as I'm pulled into the throng of people, my body suddenly gains a mind of its own and I begin to move. I move in ways I forgot I could, my hips moving, my heart racing as the alcohol takes its course in my bloodstream. I'm blissfully intoxicated, enjoying myself as I feel the music in my veins. It is euphoric, like a religious experience. The heat of the other bodies as I sway mine against theirs. Everyone is touching, everyone is one. After a while on my own a man I don't know comes up behind me and I carry on, he's got his hands on my waist as he sways against me. My back is flush to his stomach and my head buried in his neck. Our bodies don't fit, not even a little bit -they don't make sense- but that makes no difference to the feeling of tonight.

The lights flash above me as I look up, and that's when I catch his eye through the crowd of people. Griffin is kissing a woman, not one I've ever seen. She is on his lap, clearly enjoying it but his eyes are on me. Griffin is kissing another woman, while watching me. She kisses him with such passion you could swear she'd climb into his mouth if she could. Griffin has his hand on her neck and tilts it to the side as he nibbles on her ear. The image of us earlier against the desk and his mouth just inches from my ear flashes in my mind and I blink to free myself of it. Griffin is practically glaring at me, and something flashes in his eyes before I force myself to peel my eyes from his. I keep dancing, with no care if he is still staring at me or not.

That is until the mystery man I'm dancing with tries getting handsy by sticking his hand under my top. I instinctively elbow him in his stomach and immediately hear a pained grunt from behind me. I cringe as I turn to face him and realise everyone around us has slowed to watch us.

"What the hell lady?" He says, his words so loud over the music that for a moment it sounds as though they've turned it off. I push him away, trying my absolute best not to go ape when Griffin appears from behind me and forces the man away. The man stumbles back a couple steps, and I imagine how it'd be if a punch had been thrown. Griffin's eyes burn with indignation and he looks like he might actually tear the guy apart if he got ahold of him. I step back, absorbing the scene before I notice the man's stance change as he sizes Griffin up, a karambit already at his side.