LA to The Bay

Chapter 35: Las Vegas (6)

Studio 54, MGM Grand, Las Vegas

When we arrive at the Studio 54 nightclub it's still relatively early, but apparently that's part of the deal which Leah has wangled to allow us entry; that we have to make the place look busy before the other guests arrive.

'So I don't want to disappoint you, but this isn't the original Studio 54.' Like duh. I think she genuinely thinks that we never read a guidebook before, but what I don't understand is America's hypocritical attitude towards this drinking law, since I'm not twenty one but here I am about to rock it out at this huge nightclub and just because I turned up with Leah.

God, I can just tell by the way she is already dancing so outrageously that she thinks she is so cool for getting us in here. Although on this occasion I shan't dare to utter a grumble, because it is an actual bona fide club we are at, as opposed to a church hall or any other alternative wedding venue.

'Let's go dance!' Before I can remind Ana that I don't dance in public when sober she is dragging me up on to one of the podiums.

'And before you make your excuse of not dancing without a drink, Duncan is at the bar.'

'But the place is empty. Everyone is staring at us.'

'Well that's no different to usual, now is it?' She is smug with her comeback.

'I didn't know what to get, so I chose us all the same drink.' Duncan, who having being served quickly for once, due to the lack of competition at the bar, hands both Ana and I a tall glass containing a dark amber liquid.

'It's a Long Island Ice Tea, it's a classic apparently.' Duncan defends his choice of drink on seeing me squirm at the sight of its colour.

'Long Island Ice Tea?' I repeat. 'But Lottie said I can't drink that.'

'What do you mean she said you can't drink it?' Ana is aghast.

'When we used to go clubbing when we were in Sixth Form, she wouldn't let me drink it because she said it's too strong for me.'

'You mean she didn't want you to have fun, more likely? But let me guess she used to drink them?'

'She did.' I hang my head down, guilty at the memory of how easy it used to be for Lottie to tell me what to do, the worst part being that I would readily accept it.

I look down from the podium at where she is standing, my ex best friend, with her new found buddies Marty and Juno, all of them looking exactly the same in their sparkling dresses and clutching at pink cocktails. Louis and Harry are notable absences. A first. Maybe they really are off in the corner together snogging each other?

'Holy shit!' I take my first sip of the drink and nearly choke. 'No wonder she wouldn't let me drink it; she wasn't being mean, she was looking after my safety.' Whatever is in it tastes unpleasant, a vile concoction of too many spirits, but quickly the distaste turns to a burn, both down my throat and tickling against my nostrils.

'I thought you two didn't drink?' I raise my eyebrows, remembering Ana and Duncan's prior claims to virtue.

'We don't. But this is Vegas baby. Anything can happen, remember. Woooo!' Ana cheers out, holding her glass in to the air.

The music loudens and I notice that at least a few more people have arrived so the space doesn't look quite as awkward as it did. I take another sip of the cocktail, starting to enjoy the familiar cycle of distaste being quickly followed by the warm burn, and it's beginning to spread out across the whole of my body, much faster than wine or beer ever has. No wonder people drink these things but trust it to be me who is the last person on earth to find out about it.

From my position high on the podium I now survey the venue more confidently. To say Studio 54 was supposed to be iconic it sure does look pretty much like any other club I've been to with the exception that it's huge. Like super huge. But of course it is, we are in America, remember.

I look up to the upper tier which is still largely empty, but notice Louis in the shadows, apparently on his own looking down at us all.

Louis, on his own, in the dark.

Before the words are able to repeat in my mind, I am climbing down from the podium. This is my chance to be alone with him whilst the rest of the wicked lot of them are stuck on the floor below.

My heart is raising as I climb the flight of stairs to reach him. What am I going to say to him without appearing obvious. But stop with this Niamh, you've spoken to him loads of times over years of your life, and if you pull yourself together now then this is the perfect opportunity to kiss him.

'What are you doing up here on your own?' I try to appear coy, like I just happened to be walking past, even though he probably saw me storming up the steps to get here.

'Just taking some time out to people watch.'

'I love to people watch.' Nice Niamh, just agree with everything he says.

'Plus, since I've been travelling I've had a lot of time to think about what I want in life.' He's been thinking about what he wants in life! Oh please let it be me! It has to be me, that's why he's up here now, because he knew that I would come find him whilst he's alone.

'And what do you want?' I suck on the straw to my drink and look up at him seductively.

'I want to own a bar. That's why I'm up here, I'm studying how things operate.'

'Oh.' He wants to own a bar. What happened to being a hot shot lawyer?

'Yeah, preferably next to a beach, where I can just be chill. Harry and I want to run it together.' I bet they do, and have Lottie as chief barmaid no doubt.

'So anyway, how are you?' He turns his focus to me.

'Good, good.' I lie whilst twirling my hair. 'I miss you.' I can't help but blurt it out, but this really is my only chance to reclaim things with Louis, before his witches or bodyguard re-appear.

'I miss you too Niamh.'

He misses me too. I knew it! All along he's just been distracted but deep down he's been pining for me too.

'Oh Louis.' I reach up to put my hand in his hair and pull his lips down to meet mine.

'Niamh, what are you doing?'

He pushes me away. Never mind what am I doing, what is he doing, pushing me away when I am trying to kiss him? Why ever would he do that?

'Trying to kiss you.' I utter. 'I thought that's what you wanted?'

'Look, I still care about you a lot Niamh, but we can't do this right now. If only for your sake.'

'For my sake.' I can't believe he just said that, like he is doing me a favour.

'Yes for your sake. You need to move on from me and try and meet some new people. You're too young to be thinking that I'm the only person in the world for you, when there are loads of people out there that are better for you than I am.'

I can't believe he's saying this to me. Of all the bad things that have happened to me during this blasted damn year, the pain I am feeling now, at Louis' rejection, has to be the worst.

'Promise me you'll do that Niamh?' He mutters again, his words only spoken to ease his own guilt.