Let Me In

Chapter 2

With fake tan drying on my body, coats of polish hardening on my nails, and with Velcro curlers in my hair, I danced around my room like a demented rodeo girl who'd been riding a bull for three weeks – anything not to smudge my tan. I giggled as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, knowing full well that Nicole would be doing exactly the same in the room next door. Nicole didn't live with me, but she may as well. She had her own room, own key and was here more often than not, but she didn't want to fully make the break from her mom who otherwise lived alone, and who had, shall we say, 'mental issues'.

I knew what I wanted to wear to the club; I'd been planning it all day as I did the housework. My nails and make-up matched my outfit perfectly; I downed a gin and tonic as I put it on.

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We stepped from the cab into the cool night air. What I love about going out on the town in the summer months is that you're not weighed down or covered up by a coat. We didn't need to join the queue to pay into Daisy O'Donalls - or Daisy's, as it was known locally. As regular customers, we knew most of the door staff, and also, Nicole used to go out with the manager. Their split was amicable, though, and they remained good friends.

"Go to the ladies first," I shouted to Nicole.

The warm, thick air crept over me the further into the club we ventured. The familiar scents of alcohol, sweat and perfume, strangely, made me feel alive. I managed to get a space between the other girls jostling to see their reflection; I checked myself in the mirror whilst waiting for Nicole to finish up - everything was perfectly in place. I was wearing a little white shirt, pulled in at the waist with a wide, black belt to accentuate my voluptuous figure. I'd left a button undone to show off my ample cleavage. My white shorts displayed my slender, tanned legs, accentuated even more by my black, platform shoes. My butterfly tattoo was just visible. I looked good and felt good.

Getting dressed for a night out, to me, was like putting on a mask. I could be anyone I wanted to be for those few hours. I was confident, extrovert and carefree, and at home in places like this. Maybe that was why I liked to party so often.

Heading back upstairs to one of the bars proved to be a struggle. The place was packed, more so than normal, due to the fact that it was a lovely summer evening. Being the beginning of August, many people had also just got paid. The club heaved with girls dressed - or undressed - in all their finery, showing off their moves on the dance floor. Guys, in their packs, looked on, trying their luck with any girl that caught their eye. Bodies writhed in clusters, making the dance floor look alive, an undulating mass. I didn't particularly like the booming, bass music normally played in this type of place, but I loved the atmosphere it brought, and wasn't afraid to show my appreciation on the dance floor when I felt the need.

Nicole fought her way to the front of the bar queue whilst I scanned the room. The club was one massive area with three separate bars around the edges. There were a few booths with tables and the DJ's booth was in the centre. The leopard-print carpet was only just visible in the darkness. Spotlights and lasers flashed and danced, adding to the club feel. The dance floor was in the middle, housing a few raised podiums for the club's dancers, and, when they weren't using them, those brazen enough to show other revellers what they were made of.

A guy was already on a podium. I couldn't tell if he was a professional club dancer or part of the crowd. His moves were awesome - he danced like it was his last night on Earth...sexily, provocatively; he practically made love to the group of girls on the dance floor beneath his feet, who were gazing longingly at his every move. I realised it was Nathan. He looked positively amazing. I'm not sure who loved it more; it was obvious he liked the adoration of the screaming women, and most of them seemed convinced, by the way he paid attention to each one of them, that they were going home with him that night.