work experience ~ s.w

seven

"So you tell me that you're a dancer but I don't see any dancing happening?" Sam smirks after about an hour of talking.

"I can't" I sigh. "It wouldn't be appropriate"

"Why not?"

"I'm a stripper"

"What?" He almost chokes on his drink. I can't help but burst out laughing.

"I'm kidding." I laugh. "I'm just not in the dancing mood"

"Well I'm about to put you in one" He says taking my hand and pulling me up with him as he stands up. He drags me to the centre of the dance floor, surrounding ourselves with the crowd of dancing bodies. He lifts my hand so that it drapes around the back of his neck. He takes my waist, pulling me closer to him, not removing his grip. I lift my other arm up, attaching it to the boy I'm starting to grow a lot closer to. "Did I tell you how beautiful you are?"

"You might have mentioned it" I wink. I take a slight step closer to Sam as the song changes. He starts to beam to himself as the music blasts through the house. "What are you grinning at?" I laugh as we sway from side to side.

"This is my song" He laughs. "Aye ma, Watchu lookin' at? No more hidin' away, let's go fly to a place unknown" He raps/sings along to the track.

"That's so cool." I smile, basking in his happiness.

"Do you like it?"

"It's not really my genre but it's cute that it makes you so happy" I reply as he pulls me even closer.

"You make me happy"

"Oh Samuel you're such a flirt" I laugh. He pulls me closer again until our bodies are touching.

"I can be so much more than a flirt" He smirks down on me.

"That doesn't surprise me one bit" I smile innocently. I look up into his eyes. For a second I think he's going to kiss me but he doesn't.

"Viola" I hear James' voice next to me. I pull away from Sam as I turn to my school friend.

"What's wrong?" I say, immediately worried.

"Sophie just got dragged upstairs by some dude I've never seen before"

"And you didn't do anything?" I exclaim. I grab Sam's hand and pull him upstairs with me. "Sophie?" I yell.

"Vi" I hear faintly. I follow the noise and burst through the door. Sophie is pinned against the bed by the tattooed guy from the diner.

"Skate" Sam yells, grabbing the boy's attention straight away. The boy looks up, his expression changing from lustful to anger to remorse. Sam walks over to him coolly, pulling his friend away from mine. She jumps up from the bed, running into my arms. "Not cool bro. That's my girl's friend."

"1. I'm not your girl" I tell him. "And 2. Thanks"

"You're welcome" He smiles. "Let me take you girls home?"

"You've been drinking" I tell him.

"No I haven't. I'm as sober as-" He trails off.

"A sober person?" I say with a laugh.

"Now I'm questioning if you're drunk or not" He laughs.

"Still not getting a lift with you."

"Don't you dare call my mom" Sophie warns me with a slight slur. I knew I shouldn't have left her on her own.

"Well I don't have any other option."

"What about Mr Turner? I know you have a crush on him."

"Shut up Sophie. How could I possibly like my teacher? He's like 50 and he's married with kids and he's looking after my little brother right now."

"I'll call my mom then?" Sam offers.

"No Sam, I'm not dragging your mom out into the night to pick up some random girls she's never even heard of before." I tell him forcefully. "It's 3am. Just, no."

"Then how else are you getting home smarty pants?" He cocks an eyebrow.

"I'll walk."

"She's drunk, she can't go anywhere. What if you get attacked?"

"Then you can come with me?" I smile innocently.

"Just let me drive Vi" He begs. I knew he wouldn't do it. That's the first time anyone but Sophie or my mom have called me that.

"No Sam." I say sternly. "If you're going to be a dick then we'll be on our way."

"I'll call Nash."

"Who the-" I start.

"He's a good friend."

"Well if he's anything like your good friend over there then I'd rather not meet him thanks." I shrug. I take Sophie's arm and pull her towards the door. We head downstairs and out of the front door before Sam stops me.

I roll my eyes at him before pulling Sophie's phone from her bag. She sits on the edge of the path, waiting for the inevitable to happen. She holds her hair back as a rice of puke spews from her mouth. I sigh and walk over to her, holding the rest of her hair in my hands and rubbing her back. It's the motherly instinct in me. Sam walks over and takes ahold of her blonde hair in his hands as I make the phone call.

"Sophie? Are you okay?" Laura, Sophie's mom's voice booms down the receiver.

"Hi Laura, it's Viola."

"I'm on my way" She sighs. This isn't the first time this has happened. Laura gets called out nearly every time as Sophie receives an hour long lecture as soon as I've left the house. "Text me the address yeah?"

"Okay" I say with a smile as she hangs lets out a deep breath and hangs up the phone. I quickly text her the address before putting the phone back in the handbag. I turn back to Sam who has puke all over his trainers. "I'm so sorry!" I exclaim.

"It's fine-"

"I'll pay for them to get cleaned. I'll buy you new ones."

"Viola. It's fine. Stop worrying. It'll wipe right off- my mom is a miracle worker with stains."

"Yeah, mine was too." I say under my breath.

"So I don't exactly have a jacket to give you since she's wearing it." He gestures towards my best friend who is now floating in and out of consciousness.

"I'm fine" I shrug, wrapping my arms around myself. I am totally not fine. I sit down on the sidewalk next to Sophie as she rests her head on my shoulder. "You don't have to wait here you know."

"I know" Sam replies, sitting next to me. "But I want to." He takes my hand in his and rubs it until some feeling comes back to my fingers. What an idiot I am for wearing no jacket in the middle of November. "So I'm excited for you to start working with me on Monday."

"Yeah me too." I smile. "If you're anything like this now, then I'm sure it will be great."