The Chosen.

Vanish

"Ready?" asks Sloane from behind me as I finish popping on my lipgloss in the mirror. I turn around ready to walk out of the door but stop suddenly when i realize she's wearing the same dress she wore out last night... and slept in.

"You can not be serious." i say disappointingly while turning my head to the side. She shrugs her shoulders shoving a piece of gum in her mouth walking out of the door carrying her heels in her right hand. I cringe at the gum knowing it's likely a substitution for brushing her teeth. Sloane is unlike anyone i've ever met. You know when people say 'don't care about what others think' but that really just means don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone a little. Well, she really took that shit and ran with it. Sloane is the kind of girl to never be embarrassed or apologetic about anything she does. Most people are scared of her, including grown men. But honestly, i respect it, that's why i like her so much. She is the most unhinged person i have ever met in my life.

The bar we frequent is called The Library, i think it's supposed to be like, "Oh i'm studying because i'm at the library" or whatever. I don't think it's that funny but it's always a topic of discussion here. Doesn't surprise me though, i've noticed that most people here are kind of... how do i put this nicely... simple? Most of them walk around like little zombies repping a sorority or fraternity. "Pledge apple pie beta" or whatever the most generic white guy i've ever seen says.

The Library is planted directly in the middle of our college street, many other bars and clubs hugging the sides of it. I adore this street on weekend nights, all the drunk people and food trucks flooding the sidewalks. The girls who don't know each other making friends and guys who just met sharing a meal. Feels sort of homely when my real home is hundreds of miles away in Texas. My eyes suddenly come to focus and Sloane is dancing on a table as everyone gazes up at her with a frightened look. She sways her body throwing her blonde hair around to the music with her arms above her head.

"Sloane, please get down. We just got here and they kicked you out when you did this last time." Sometimes being the responsible friend makes me feel like a mom, just once i'd like to be the friend acting irresponsibly and dancing on the table. Her big boots make a thud slapping the ground as she jumps down from the table. She sticks her tongue out at my like a toddler. Here comes security grabbing her arm,

"Heyyyy JJ!" she says wrapping her little arms around his big shoulders, not wanting to get in the middle of those two and their lustful stares, i let her handle it.

"Of course you can buy me a drink!" she shouts slapping his chest, as they walk over to the bar and he happily obliges. I'm pretty sure he never even offered to buy her a drink but what she wants usually goes. Sauntering over to me while doing some weird dance i try to ignore her but she thrusts a blueish green drink into my hand.

"What is this?" i ask with my nose curled up, it looks very unappealing

"Drink it bitch." she clinks my glass with hers as we both go bottoms up downing the drink. A shudder is sent through my body and my stomach feels like it turns to steel. My hand flies to my mouth as i try to hold my puke. 'Please do not throw up' i beg of myself, one thing i can not stand is throwing up.

"How was your first time drinking absinthe?" Sloane shouts at me with an evil laugh. My smile disappears from my face, is she fucking kidding me? ABSINTHE!? No wonder my stomach almost expelled it's contents all over her, i kind of regret not letting it happen.

"ARE YOU INSANE??" I scream at her over the music drawing a few people in the crowds attention. Raising her hand she pinches her pointer and thumb finger together showing me, "Just a little." she says with a proud giggle, her pearly white teeth flashing me a grin. I'm honestly kind of pissed at her for mildly drugging me, but then i realize who i'm talking about and i really just have myself to blame for that one. JJ the bouncer sets two more drinks on the table but not like the previous, these are just vodka crans... at least i hope they are. Warily i take a sip tasting the bright red drink, yep, vodka cran, thank god. Taking a bigger gulp swishing it around in my mouth i try to remove the sting of absinthe from my mouth. I spy Sloane watching the crowd like she's looking for someone, I know her like the back of my hand so i know exactly what this girl is up to. She's looking for a boy to make this Friday night complete, meaning soon enough i will become a third wheel. I roll my eyes before she can even get it off her perfectly pouty lips,

"I want him." she points at a big burly man with tattoos as she hops off the bar stool proudly marching up to his massive figure. I don't think i will ever be able to understand how she does that, marching her happy little ass right up to a boy and just talk to him. I always wait for guys to talk to me first, i like them to come to me. I've never been the girl to chase a boy and i don't think i ever will be. I have no desire for it. I watch her hand as it slides down his big muscles, i've got to admit... the girls got game.

Drinking the last of my drink i get up to go pee, damn i'm more drunk than i thought. Probably the stupid fucking absinthe coursing through my tiny unnourished body. I wobbily make my way to the dirty, dingy bathroom, throwing the door open i make my way inside. The walls are filled brim to brim with band posters, stickers, and phone numbers of slutty desperate girls. I slide my panties down and sit on the porcelain toilet laying my chin in my hands. I read the walls paying attention to all the little tags that local artist have left behind. My eyes graze until i see "Sloane XOXO" with a kiss from her infamous brown lipstick and her phone number.

"Jesus christ Sloane, do we need a lesson over not putting our mouths on public bathrooms?" I whisper into the mirror at myself while rinsing my hands in the sink. I wipe the black under my eyes softening my makeup as i dance to the music. I decide i'm going to go annoy Sloane as she flirts with guys so i take the door handle throwing it back. Walking out of the bathroom i stop in my tracks as i am greeted by an empty bar. Looking around i notice all the chatter has subsided but the music still plays loudly through the speakers. Even though i can feel the music thumping in my ears, the silence is what is really deafening. The purple lights spin around the room highlighting the empty chairs and barstools. I slowly walk the building noticing all the half empty glasses sitting on the bar, the purses but no women by their sides. I peak my head outside to the patio and the wooden swing sways in the wind. Empty.

"HELLO!?" i call out to anyone listening

"SLOANE!?"

Running to the wooden front door of the bar i thrust it open walking out into the street. I'm desperately searching for a person, begging in my mind that i'm not alone.

"HELLO!? SLOANE!? ANYONE!?" i scream with fear out to the dead silent road. The food trucks are lit up on the sides of the roads and the bars neons signs buzz into the night. I notice cars left running in the middle of the road and a bike fallen over on the side walk. A container of popcorn is spilled onto the pavement and i step on it causing a crunch that breaks the dense silence. Where are they? I start to hyperventilate, every one is gone.