the fire between us

chapter 23

A few days pass, and Friday is finding us fast. "Let's go out and party," I say. "We need it. I could use a drink," I add.

"Okay, if that's what you wanna do," Martinus replies.

"That's what I wanna do," I confirm.

"Let's go get ready then," Nora says, extending a hand to me.

Nora and I head upstairs to Martinus' room, where we start getting ready for the night. The room is cozy, with the soft glow of a lamp casting warm light across the space. Nora rummages through a small bag she brought along, pulling out makeup essentials and laying them out on the bed.

"Come here," she says with a smile, patting the space next to her. "Let me help you with your makeup."

I sit down, and she gets to work, expertly applying foundation, blending eyeshadow, and adding just the right amount of highlighter to make my features pop. As she finishes up with a touch of lipstick, I glance at myself in the mirror, feeling a surge of confidence. Nora's always had a knack for this, and tonight is no exception.

"Perfect," she says, stepping back to admire her work. "You look stunning."

"Thanks, Nora. You're amazing at this," I reply, feeling the excitement of the night ahead starting to build.

Once we're both ready, we head downstairs, where Martinus is waiting. As soon as he sees us, his eyes light up, a smile spreading across his face. He walks over to me, his gaze warm and appreciative.

"You look beautiful," he says softly, before leaning in to kiss my forehead. The gesture is sweet and comforting, making me feel cherished in that moment.

I smile up at him, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Thanks, Martinus. You clean up pretty well yourself."

He chuckles, glancing at Nora, who is beaming at us both. "You both do," he adds, taking a step back to admire us.

"Alright, let's not keep the night waiting," Nora says, clapping her hands together. "Time to go!"

With that, we grab our things and head out the door, the anticipation of the night ahead bubbling up inside us as we step into the cool evening air.

On the way to the club, we decide to make a quick stop at a convenience store. The neon lights flicker overhead as we step inside, and we browse the shelves, picking out a few bottles. Martinus grabs a bottle of whiskey, while Nora selects a couple of pre-mixed cocktails. I go for a bottle of wine, something easy to sip on before the night really gets started.

As we walk down the street, we take turns sipping from the bottles, the alcohol warming us up from the inside. The city is alive with energy, and the buzz from the drinks only adds to the excitement bubbling up inside us. Laughter fills the air as we share stories and jokes, the worries of the past week melting away with each step closer to the club.

Finally, we reach our destination. The club is already packed, a line of people snaking around the corner, all waiting to get in. The sound of music thumps through the walls, promising a night of dancing and letting loose. We join the line, still passing the bottles between us, trying to finish off what we can before getting to the entrance.

As we inch closer to the front, the anticipation grows. The bouncer, a towering figure with a stern expression, checks IDs and waves people in one by one. When it's our turn, we flash our IDs, and he gives us a quick nod, motioning us inside.

We step through the doors, and the music hits us full force. The bass vibrates through the floor, the lights flashing in sync with the beat. The club is a sea of people, all moving together in a pulsing rhythm. The energy is electric, infectious, and it sweeps us up immediately.