Shattered Illusions

Chapter 14

~Wren~

"Are you sure?" Dakotah asks me again.

We are both grinning ear to ear.

"Yes!" I tell her for the hundredth time.

After finishing up our hair and make up I take the outfit from her and put it on. It was a little black dress that I fell in love with the moment I saw it. It was a tight bodycon dress that had a criss-cross opening in the middle. It was very not me.

"Damn! You look amazing!" She stared at me with a look of awe.

I looked at myself in the mirror and had a flood of confidence seeing myself like this. I rarely dress up or wear make-up. I imagine it's the same feeling you get when you put on a costume or mask. We are going to a club to watch a band play. I told her about my paintings possibly being in the Winter Showcase and she said we had to celebrate. It's also the end of November so we only have two weeks before the end of the semester. It has felt like the longest semester of my life. I have no idea who the band is and couldn't care less, but Dakotah knows some of them. I just want to dance and let loose for one night. I asked Dakatoh how we were going to get in. I guess her brother works there so he is going to help. I never thought at eighteen I would be sneaking into a bar.

And yet here we are. My stomach is going crazy but I don't know if it's with nerves or excitement, probably both! As we walk through the parking lot, and I start to regret my heels, I see the long line of people waiting to go inside. We should have gotten here earlier. At this rate I doubt we get inside before the band plays. I head for the end of the line but Dakotah grabs my arm and pulls me towards the other end. I raise my eyebrows at her.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"We don't have to wait in that line. Namid is going to let us in." She points to the bouncer at the entrance of the club.

I look the guy over. He was dressed in all black with 'Security' across his back. He was checking some guy's ID and suddenly I knew it was the nerves I was feeling. We are only eighteen he will never let us in. We got a few feet from him when he turned to look at us.

"Cutting it a bit close. They are starting in five."

His voice made my stomach drop, it was deep and husky and it did things to me. Before I can think twice about it, Dakotah is pulling me inside.

"Thanks, Big Brother! I knew you would get us in on time!" She yells over her shoulder with a teasing smirk.

So that's what she meant when she said her brother would get us in. I wish I had gotten a better look at his face. The music was loud and pounding through my entire body. It's electronic dance music. I don't listen to this kind of music, but when Dakotah pulls me out on the dance floor I can't help but let go and dance. I feel free and sexy. I run my hands over my dress, through my hair, and throw them up in the air over and over again as I feel the beat.

The DJ cuts off the music and introduces the band.

"Follow me!"

I listen to her and trail after her as she weaves a path through the crowd of people. I try to ignore the hand sliding across my ass as I squeeze between people. I tell myself it wasn't intentional. As the band begins we end up on a railed off platform area, just off the stage. There's a couch and some other seats, but plenty of open space to dance also.

"It's one of the VIP areas. Namid reserved it for me. It's his way of keeping the creeps away from me and he can keep an eye on me." She nods towards the way we came in.

I look at the entrance and lock eyes with a guy with similar features to my friend who is scowling at us. The only thing I know about her brother is he is very protective of her.