Fallen

Chapter 4: A Night For Surprises

I walked over to Jared's just before ten o'clock. Who said women couldn't be on time? Knocking, I waited, hearing footsteps coming to the door. Jared opened it and stared, looking me over once. It made me self conscious.
"Wow!" He said.
"Wow what?" Shannon came up behind him.
I had put on a red, knee length dress, tied a dark grey scarf around my waist so the ends dropped down, brushed out my hair and a long silver chair with a Celtic cross.
"You look amazing." Jared complimented.
"Thank you. I wasn't sure." I looked down to my ankle boots.
"Oh yeah. That is fuckin' sexy." Shannon responded. Jared looked at him quickly. "Sorry but it is."
They had both dressed in jeans, Jared in a blue, flannel patterned shirt and sneakers; Shannon in a black sleeveless and high tops. They looked nice.
"So did you want to use my car?" I wondered.
"Nope. I called a taxi. Don't want anyone to be worried tonight. It should be here soon. We'll grab our jackets." Jared opened the door so I could step inside. "Just be a second."
I looked around. Jared had put up pictures, some prints that he'd bought at a discount store and I saw his guitar next to the bed.
"You know, for someone that got defensive earlier, you surely went all out in that dress. Good thing you'll be with us. You'll have men all over you." Shannon's eyes were burning as he looked at me.
"I'm not looking for a hook up." I told him,
"No one's ever looking. It just happens." He looked at a spot on my arm, reached over and touched the skin.
Looking down, I saw e red streak. I knew what it was from and tried not to react.
"Let's go." Jared tossed Shannon his jacket, grabbed my hand and lead us out the door.
On the ride to the club, Jared told me that his brother was a musician as well, a drummer and guitarist. All self taught because he didn't have the patience to read music. At the club, the line went down the block. We stepped out, Jared paid the driver and looked at the crowd.
"This may take a while." He looked at the crowd.
"Wanna go somewhere else?" Shannon asked.
"I don't know." Jared shrugged.
Standing on the sidewalk, I noticed the man at the front door. He was staring at me, looked at Jared and Shannon quickly, as if to say 'You With Them'. I nodded. He waved me over.
"Come on." I pulled them.
"What?" Jared looked and saw the rope being moved for us.
We walked inside. I thanked him.
"The power of a sexy dress." Shannon smiled.
"Knock it off Shannon." Jared warned.
"Hey. You didn't get us in and neither did I."
The music was blaring crazy beats. People were dancing everywhere.
"What do you want to drink?" Jared yelled over the music.
"Mineral water." I answered.
"This one's on me!"
"Okay! Next one's mine."
He smiled and went to the bar.
"Why the low test drink?" Shannon stood next to me.
"Got a few problems. Alcohol being one of them."
"That's not a problem!"
"Tell that to your mother!"
He looked at me. His eyes almost seemed hurt by my comment. Jared brought back the drinks. Shannon took the glass, slammed it down, left it empty on a random table and walked away.
"What was that?" Jared spoke next to my ear.
"He's not ready yet!" I replied.
He nodded and handed me the glass of water.
The night was a good one. We talked, did some dancing (with each other and other people) and had fun. I went to get more drinks. As I waited, two men approached. The music wasn't so loud near the bar.
"You wanna dance?" One, a tall blond, asked.
"Thanks but no. I'm taking a break." I was polite in my refusal.
"Come on. We've seen you with that guy dancing. He your boyfriend?" The friend, spiked red hair, continued.
"Nah. He's too much of a pretty boy. Probably gay."
They laughed. The bartender handed me the drinks and I began to walk away.
"Where you going?" Blonde grabbed my arm.
"Get your hand off." I demanded, a little annoyed,
"What will you do if I don't?"
"It's not what she'll do. It's what I'll do." Shannon walked over. He stared them down. "Get your hand off of her."
"Go away." Spike stepped in front of him.
I didn't even see what happened, it came so fast. Shannon had grabbed the guy and brought his knee up, as the guy's head went down. He stood still afterward, as if it was an ordinary thing. Blonde let me go, staring at Shannon's cold demeanor. Taking one glass, Shannon grabbed my hand and walked me back to where Jared waited.
"What the hell was that?" Jared pointed to the bar.
"Just a couple of assholes." He shrugged.
"Thanks Shannon." I was grateful.
"Then dance with me."
"Sure. It's the least I can do. Be right back."
"Have fun." Jared took my glass as Shannon lead me to the floor.
The music had no words, just instruments playing a song. Shannon took my hands, pulled my arms back and forth, then started jumping to the beat. I started laughing at the silly faces he was making. After the song ended, a slower, almost seductive, song started. I began to what away but he held my hand and pulled me closer.
"Not yet." His eyes closed halfway and gazed into mine.
I set my hands on his shoulders, his arms around my waist as he swayed to the music. It was a nice song. Shannon's arms felt strong as he held me to his body. His hands moved up my back, down to my behind and pulled me close to his hips. I was actually starting to relax in his embrace. Letting me go for a moment, he moved behind me, one hand around my stomach, the other just under my breasts. The hand at my stomach pulled me and I felt the bulge against my behind. I put it off to the energy of the club and whatever he'd been drinking. It was when I felt fingers on my legs, pulling up the skirt of my dress, that something changed. A switch seemed to go off and my skin started to tingle. Leaning back against Shannon's chest, I moved my arms so I could reach behind to his neck. His breath touched my skin hotly. Fingers reaching the edge of my panties caused an electric shock. I turned my head to look at him. His eyes (half closed) locked to mine. In an instant, Shannon's mouth covered mine, teased me with his tongue, which I sucked on with pleasure.
What the hell was I doing? I never acted that way in public. My escapades had been confined to the appointment I kept, but that never included sex, just suppression. Releasing inner conflict. Here was Shannon bringing something out of me that usually scared me to death. The song ended. So did the kiss. I let Shannon go, turned around to see his satisfied expression, bowed my head and walked away.
"Hey Lisa! Wait!" Jared called as I walked by, toward the door.
Outside, the cold air hit me like a truck. I was breathing faster and the tingling still went through my body. Jared caught up to me just outside.
"Hey. Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. Fine." I looked around.
"I'm sorry if he was being out of line. Sometimes he doesn't know better. Usually when he's drunk."
"It wasn't your brother. In going to head home. Get him home safely." I waved for a taxi.
"You shouldn't go alone." Jared was concerned.
"It's okay. Have a good time. See you tomorrow." I looked into his worried blue eyes and got into the car.
I had to figured out how to keep that from happening again. I decided that I'd go to Venice Beach in the morning. A sunny day watching people at the beach, would keep me relaxed. I had to stay away from Shannon for the day. Whatever had happened, at the club (as pleasurable as it was) could start a chain reaction that I couldn't control. I'd sit near the boarded sidewalk, take a sketch pad and draw what I saw. There would be roller skating sun gather, a lifeguard post and the ocean behind them. It would keep my mind busy.