My German Summer

Safe Haven

The bass in the club is all consuming, or maybe it's the alcohol. I desperately grab onto Aimee who is pushing our way through the grinding crowd on the dance floor. The room is swimming and everyone has a twin, which is odd. Bodies crush, sway, grind against me as I am pulled alone by my friends. We had kept the day pretty low key in preparation for going out tonight. And maybe we went a little too hard, even Brittney was drunk.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, by way of the club exit illuminated by a street lamp. We make our way to it, stumbling out onto the street giggling and taking in the fresh air.

"S-so where next?" Brittney asks as she's twirling down the street, heels held in her hand. The girl loses her shoes when she drinks tequila is all I can say for that.

"Onto the next one!" Aimee declares pointing down the street towards the other bar scenes.

"I don't think...I could do anymore drinks guyssss." I slur slumping against the cool brick facade of the club closing my eyes. Aimee and Brittney are discussing something incoherently and giggling. My stomach is feeling queasy as I slide to the ground putting my head between my legs. Is it dignified to sit on the sidewalk in a miniskirt? No, but I'm desperate.

The swimming sensation begins to lessen along with the ringing in my ears. No longer can I hear the jumbled conversation of my friends, I pry open my heavy lidded eyes. Aimee and Brittney have gone on without me, crap.

Using the wall I rise unsteadily to my feet, keeping a hand on the wall I move down the sidewalk. There is a group standing outside smoking and loudly declaring that this was the last night their friend was single. Bachelor party, great.

Keeping my head down I press myself to the wall to slip by them. "Hey beautiful!" A slurred voice was close behind, no accent. Well, a southern accent could be detected beneath the drunken stupor. My slowly firing brain does not comprehend this could be a bad situation as I stop, and smile.

"Hey, my people!" I laugh glancing around at their faces. Between the shadows and my swaying I'm unable to make out much. "What a night, huh?"

The group laughs, a few seemed to be whispering to each other. How cool to run into another group vacationing here, too bad the girls weren't here.

"Bryan here, is on his last hurrah." One says stepping forward and slapping a short dark haired man. The man, Bryan stumbles forward propelled by his friend. I step back letting out a nervous laugh, taking a quick look around for anyone else. No one that I can see.

"Congrats! She's a lucky girl, well I-i got to go. My friends...."

"Oh c'mon now! We can help get you to your friends, just come with us. Names Chaz." I stare up at the same man who had pushed Bryan. He seems to be the most sober one in the group as he smiles at me. It's a sleazy smile, the hair on the back of my neck raises. This is not feeling like a good idea anymore.

"I can s-see you there then." I reply keeping the smile pasted on my lips. The brick is scraping my back as I press against it slowly creeping past them. The creep Chaz reaches for me, catching my wrist holding me there.

"Chaz, let's go. She's drunk, we have all night to find a chick!" Someone says, I can't find the source of the voice.

"Yeah, I'm sure we'll run into each other...." I add in trying to wrench my wrist free from his grasp.

"Just come with us then." His breath is hot on my face, reeking of beer. I turn away from him my stomach churning, fighting the urge to throw up on him.

"Please.....just let go." My voice is tiny, weak, pathetic even to my own ears. His fingers dig into my wrist, nail marks will definitely be imbedded in my skin. "You're hurting...."