Silently Falling in Love: Race - #Wattys2017

Chapter 34 - March 1996

Alex

It's eleven PM and Anna's night is just starting. We're greeted by the club owner himself and he leads us to a reserved table for VIP's for Anna.

The techno music is pounding loudly and reverberating through every wall and inch of the floor. Anna is smiling and laughing with her group of friends. She's in her element. I on the other hand would love to turn around and go home and go to bed. But, I agreed to come tonight because I haven't seen Anna in a while. I feel bad telling her I don't want go out with her when we're both in town and I don't have to work tomorrow.

I would have much preferred a quiet evening at home but Anna misses her friends and thought this would be a good way to see everyone.

The owner has a couple of bottles of champagne on ice waiting for us at our table. I flag a waitress and order a Scotch on the rocks and a Coke on the side. I'm going to need the caffeine to stay up.

I smile at Anna as she lifts a glass of champagne. She's speaking with another woman that also looks like a model they're giggling over something and moving to the beat of the music. Anna signals me to join her on the other side of the table.

"Alex, this is my friend Zelda, we just met at our last photo shoot for Ralph Lauren. Zelda this is my boyfriend Alex."

"Its very nice to meet you," I say to Zelda.

"I've heard so much about you," Zelda says before turning to Anna, "You didn't tell me how cute he is for a nerd."

"Yes he is cute for a nerd," Anna says as she loops her arm around mine.

Luckily the waitress comes over and hands me my Scotch and a Coke. "How much do I owe you?" I ask her.

"It's on the house," she says before winking and leaving.

I look over questionably at Anna, "Perks of being a VIP, I guess," she says.

"Do you like to dance?" Zelda asks.

"Not particularly." I take a sip of my Scotch.

"You have to at least dance a few dances with me?" Anna pleads.

"I'll need a few more of these," I say as I lift both the Scotch and the Coke.

Anna laughs and grabs Zelda and heads to the dance floor. I sit back in the seat and sigh in relief. Eventually, I will have to dance with her for a few dances but I've at least bought a little bit of time.

I know Anna will want to stay out late tonight, but I have plans with Anjali to go racing tomorrow at ten am. I rack my brain for how I can escape the club within an hour or two max. That way Anna can't say I didn't go out with her. But, there is no way I can listen to this shitty music until four am. Whenever Anna goes out she likes to party hard and stay out all night.

I can't say I have a headache that sounds too girly. A stomachache isn't going to work either; I never get stomachaches. I have no desire to get stinking drunk and use alcohol as an excuse.

Perhaps, I can say I've been up since five this morning and I need to get some sleep. Which is true. And they all think I'm a nerd any way, so that could work. I look at my watch again. Damn it's only been twenty minutes.

A few of Anna's friends come back to the table and start chatting. I pretend to be interested in their conversation to help the time fly by.

"Are you a model too?" one of the women finally asks me.

"No, I'm not. I'm here with Anna," I say simply.

"You must be Alex," the tall blond says.

"Yes that's me."