Escape | Updated Weekly

25

Mac drove us into town, he was being very secretive as to where we was going. I kept trying to make guesses but he just laughed at me and told me to patient. I'm not a patient person, I like to be specific on details and know where we're going or what we're doing so I can prepare fully. Mac on the other hand thrived in holding all the answers but only sharing little pieces of information. 

We walked through the streets where clubs had their music blasting and everywhere was light up with lights. Lots of people wandered around all chatting and laughing with each other. Mac didn't go in any of the clubs, instead he walked all of them until we went down a narrow path. At the end of it was a much smaller club, fewer people were going here but none the less, the music could be heard from outside. 

The doorman checked our ID and then let us in, satisfied that we were the right legal age to be entering. This club was not like any other club I had been too. There was a little stage at the back and a dance floor in front of it. People were on the stage singing live music, even musicians were there playing their instruments. Tables and chairs were scattered through out the rest of the venue and a bar was to the right hand side. As far as I could tell there was also a garden area, presumably for the smokers, but still it was decorated with pretty fairy lights. 

"Mac? Is that you?" an older man was behind the bar calling over to us. Mac's face light up as he made his way to the bar. "Terry" he called as he shook hands with the guy. Mac turned to me "Eve, this is Terry. He runs this place". Terry held his hand out to me and I shook it. "Terry this is Eve she's my girl". 

My girl. 

Those words sent shivers down my spine. He has never referred to me as that before.

Even Terry seemed impressed as he smiled and let go of my hand. "You've changed a lot. What brings you down here?". Mac shrugged "I wanted to show it to her". They exchanged another smile between the two of them, clearly on the same page that I knew nothing about. "Usual?" Terry asked.  March shook his head. "No. Maybe something different this time". He leaned over the bar and said something quietly to Terry. I tried to hear what it was but he spoke to low and the music was too loud for me to try and make out what it was. 

Terry nodded and said he'd sort it. Whatever 'it' was. Then Mac led me away and sat us down at the table, practically opposite where the stage was. We sat and watched the singer that was currently on the stage. Her voice was incredible. "We used to go here all the time" Mac said. He was sat close enough to me that he didn't have to raise his voice for me to able to hear him. "It was kinda another reason why I fell in love with music". Once again I caught myself imagining Mac and his  family coming here when they were on holiday. "So what's the deal with it all?" I asked.

"People come here to showcase what they've got. You don't have to be talented or well known. It's just a bunch of people sharing the love of music with each other"

I glanced around the room and now I saw it. Even though there was a bar here it was plainly obvious that no one was here to get drunk to have a good time. Unlike the other clubs that me and Mac had passed on the way here. Some people had their own instruments, most looked like they were singing along or just having discussions about the music. The whole atmosphere here was different from anything else I had seen. 

The woman finished her song and everyone applauded. Terry congratulated her and took her place at the mic. "Okay next up. An old friend of mine, Mac and Eve". I heard my name and froze. 

"What?" I looked over at Mac, panicking. He had his michevious smirk again as he stood up holding out his hand. Everyone was clapping for us to go up on stage. I laughed nervously, thinking he was joking. It only took a couple of seconds to realise that he wasn't. "I can't sing in front of all these people" I said praying that would be enough to get me out of it. He bent down and whispered in my ear "Don't focus on them. Just focus on me" he straightened up, once again holding out his hand. Everyone was looking as us, waiting for us to go up on the stage. I had no choice. I begrudgenly took Mac's hand and went to the stage with him.