The Punk and the Ballerina

Drunk Dial

Ari's point of view. June 2013

My first time going to a club. I never dressed up anymore, did I even have a dress? I nearly tore my closet apart trying to find something to wear. I finally settled on a silver sequin tank top I used to wear for dance routines. To my surprise, it still fit. And so did my booty shorts! For a mom, I didn't look half bad.

Andy and Stella picked me up. They whistled at me, giving me a slight confidence boost.

"Damn girl, you look hot!" Stella said.

"Hot mama!" Andy beeped the horn.

I sat in the back. I looked myself in my phone camera. For once, I didn't look like a tired mom or a fake stripper, I looked...pretty. We sang along to the pop music playing on the radio, we all had horrible voices, but tonight, we were on top of the world, and Los Angeles was our land.

Andy pulled up to a club called The Pulse. The music was blasting, I could feel the beats vibrate through my feet as we walked closer to the door. After security checked our bags and IDs, we were facing the jungle. People grinding against each other, the smell of alcohol, sweat, and cheap perfume in every corner of the dance room.

Stella spotted two other dancers from class at the bar, Gina and Taylor. We elbowed our way through the crowd as we sat next to them.

"You made it!" Taylor raised her glass to us.

"What did you guys order, it looks good," Andy asked.

"Kamikazes!" Gina downed her shot.

Andy ordered shots for all of us. My first alcoholic drink. Fuck it, I didn't have to be responsible tonight, one drink couldn't hurt. We raised our glasses to a toast.

"To Ari's first night out!" Stella announced.

My face burned in embarrassment. 23 years old and I felt so behind in life. The kamikaze washed away my shame. It didn't taste that bad, but the alcohol certainly had bite. I observed the ocean of people dancing on the floor. It was obvious which ones were drunk and which ones weren't. Drunk people truly did have the most fun.

The DJ played a remix of "Everytime We Touch". Mine and Sebastian's song. Even on my night off, he was still here somehow. I ordered another kamikaze, tossing it back so fast I nearly choked on it. God I was an amateur.

Gina was already drunk. She pulled my hand toward the floor. She twerked against me. How many drinks did she have? Her lack of coordination was obvious. I went along with her, let me go crazy.

I must've danced too hard, because I accidentally bumped against a good looking guy.

"So sorry!" I slurred.

He smiled. "It's okay. I feel so lucky to run into a beautiful girl."

My safe guard was nonexistent in my tipsy state, I only saw him with heart eyes. He was tall with gold eyes and black hair. He had a chiseled body, I liked guys that worked out.

"My name is Dean, can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure! I'm Ari," I smiled uncontrollably before laughing like an idiot.

Dean grinned cutely before exiting to the bar. Gina and Stella surrounded me.

"He's cute! Get him, girl," Stella gave her approval.

Hell yes I was getting him. I hadn't been laid in years, let alone been on a date, and it was feeding time. Dean returned and gave me a glass of some dark liquid. We tapped glasses before I drank it. It was too bitter, I spat it out, getting it all over Dean.