Saving Elliot ©2015 Sydney Wray

Chapter 21-Rave, won't you?

It was nearly nine o'clock and the sky was pitch black as I sneaked out. It's not like I had to sneak out; it just felt more exhilarating to do so.

My father didn't care what happened to me, so why not pretend he'd lecture me on leaving the house this late?

I smirked in spite of myself. He'd never know I was out with Jaxx until three-thirty in the morning. Drinking. Beer.

Jaxx couldn't make this one with me. She claimed she was still recuperating from our night out, which had been two nights ago.

I guessed she was a light drunk. By memory, she had started to become tipsy by half of the first bottle.

This time, I didn't need Damion to hold my hand and drive me.

No, I wasn't going to drive myself for one main reason, but Jaxx had persuaded me to go alone.

I called a taxi, actually, and it took me to an address that was written in Jaxx's handwriting. I wasn't even there yet and I was already feeling uncombortable.

What was wrong with me? Was I antisocial? No..it wasn't that extreme. I was just..prim.

I almost snorted. Jaxx called me Prim.

Once the taxi pulled up to a large area, my stomach was churning and I felt on the verge of vomiting.

"Uh, kid?" The taxi driver asked, looking at me through the mirror.

I mumbled back.

"You looks a bit sick..this kind of crowd doesn't seem like..you."

I bet my lip, and whispered before climbing out of the car, "Exactly."

~~~~~~~~~~~

My ears ringed, but my body vibrated in a good way. Some time of loud, EDM music was blaring in every direction.

I felt in a dream. Girls dressed in crop tops and shorts ambled around me as they grinned excitedly at the stages.

Apparently, there was a main stage where everyone was. I was told so when I entered the Rave and was stamped, and asked the stamping guy if there was a complimentary map of some sort.

He looked at me like I had grown two heads, rolling his eyes and muttering, "Sure, right next to the five star hotel."

I didn't appreciate his sarcasm.

I wasn't dressed in a suit this time around. I had thrown on a black T-shirt and red corduroy shorts, paired with sperries.

A huge crowd seemed to come from behind me, running to the main stage while screaming. Not knowing where to go, I shook my head and followed them at a slow jog.

We eventually reached a short incline, and at the top of the hill, I nearly stopped in awe.

Thousands, no millions, stood in dots in front of a large elevated stage. The crowd that I was tagging along with screamed and ran down to join the large mass of people.

The sky was black, and it was illuminated only by people's phones and glow-in-the-dark sticks.

By the time I shakily reached the end of the hill, I stood to the outside and folded my hands in an uncomfortable stance.

Even as I did so, my chest deflated. I knew this isn't what Hailey intended the experience to be. I'm sure she didn't want me to make it all the way to the concert, then stand awkwardly to the edge of the crowd.

So I bit my tongue, and pushed myself through the jumble of people.

I stopped in shock when a deep, booming voice came over the crowd. They were announcing someone named Martin Garrix.

Whoever he was, the crowd went crazy and I expected my eardrums to explode.

A beachy smell filled my senses as I stood on my toes to catch a glance of the stage.

All I heard was screaming, and then his voice, "Everybody ready?"

Everyone replied in yet another scramble of screaming.

I held a finger to somehow numb the noise.

"Three, two, one, GO!"

Every body around me jumped in unison, staring at the stage with a grin.

I blinked at the beauty around me. It was a something I had never experienced before. My heart beat fast, the incredibly loud sounds flowed through my body, and before long I was too smiling in enjoyment.

But that was it.

Someone suddenly screamed in my ear, grabbing my arm, "Rave, won't you?"

I stared wide-eyed at the girl, who's black hair was messy from bouncing. Black eyeliner outlined her eyes, along with a white crop top that skimmed just above her belly button which held a piercing.

She was undeniably attractive. Hot, even.

She grinned at me, "Ready? Listen to the music."

How could I not listen to the music? I would be deaf by the end of the night. I wanted to have told her this, but it didn't see fit for the situation. I was trying to blend in, not stick out.

So I nodded, letting her put an arm around my shoulders and bouncing..