A New Love

Ten

Here I was, in a way-too-small dress and a face full of makeup. With Harry. At a nightclub. This was his idea of getting my mind off of Alex.

I swung my legs back and forth while sitting in a tiny booth next to him. Sipping at my drink, I observed the people around me. Niall and some of his other friends were supposed to join us but they had yet to arrive. I feel awkward.

Harry leaned in to be heard over the blasting music and bass. "Don't look so melancholy. Have fun and forget about Alex. He is not worth the energy."

I stared into his earnest eyes. The alcohol made them gleam with all these flashing lights. I downed my drink and smiled at him. He was right. "I'll need a few more drinks then."

He grinned, nodding in approval. "Now we're talking!" He slipped through the crowd to the bar and came back with a couple of glasses in hand.

My eyes widened. "Four shots?"

He split them. "Two for me and two for you," he laughed.

I chuckled as we clinked the glasses. "Bottoms up."

*

Not more than ten minutes later I saw Niall squeeze through the throng of people. Where did everyone come from so quickly?

I went up to give him a big hug. "Nialler! We have been waiting for you," I sung.

He grinned and walked back to Harry with me. "How many drinks have you had?"

I stumbled into my seat. "Not nearly enough."

"Or possibly too much," Harry pointed out.

Niall rolled his eyes. "Where is Alex? Did he come, too?"

I stared at him for a beat before taking Harry's remaining drink and chugging it.

Harry leaned over and spoke into Niall's ear. A look of surprise came over his features as Harry informed him of my breakup.

Niall studied me further. "Shit. Everything okay?"

I cocked my head to the side. "What do you think?"

"Right. Stupid question."

"So are we here to mope around or have fun?" I inquired loudly. I quickly stood, ignored that the room was starting to spin, and dragged Niall to the dance floor.

Half an hour later, I was still dancing without a care in the world. Mostly due to the amount of alcohol I had. I had lost Niall and Harry in the crowd but was too lazy to look for them. It wasn't like I needed a babysitter.

In the middle of a great song, I felt someone grab a hold of my hips and dance behind me. I spun around and came face-to-face with a tall guy. He had curly brown hair and a sly smile on his face. He said something, but I couldn't hear him over the music so I just smiled and nodded. Whatever. He wasn't important anyway.

The thought of getting his hands off me didn't seem to cross my mind. Harry said to have fun and forget about Alex. That was what I was going to do.

I placed my arms around his neck and moved to the beat against him. His hands snaked down and grabbed my butt. He pressed me closer to him, and I smirked. Maybe he was introducing himself, I thought as the stranger's head tilted down to mine.

Before our lips could touch, an arm hauled me backwards. It was the only thing keeping me from falling on my ass.

"Let's go," Harry's husky voice commanded. "Now."