The sky was a dark and cloudless ocean of midnight blues and twinkling whites and yellows. There were a thousand stars. The lights of the never sleeping city were nearly blinding. Advertisements, signs, and posters hung from almost every building in a dazzling array of colors. Cars were honking, people were shouting from building to building, and blaring music could be heard from seemingly miles around.
The coolness of the breeze could be felt and the salty sea air could be tasted. Los Angeles was beautiful at that time of the night. But it would had been more beautiful if the person she dearly loved was there with her.
Nina had agreed to go on a date with her best friend’s brother, but only to have fun and to distract. She wasn’t planning on dating him.
They went to the Beacher’s Madhouse again, since it was Derek’s favorite place. It was just the two of them tonight. Julianne was in the end of the house, having fun with some ‘dudes’ as she liked to call them.
Nina was bored, Derek wasn’t doing anything. He was just looking at her that seductively, as always.
All in all, the date was boring. At the beginning, while they were walking towards Beacher’s Madhouse, the paparazzi caught them and took a few pictures. After that Derek couldn’t stop talking about how the paparazzi are actually very nice. Nina just rolled her eyes.
Then they walked in. From around the corner, she could hear the somnolent buzz of the eponymous neon marlin fish out front, providing a backdrop for the clinking of glasses and drone-like chatter of hundred best friends and ex lovers.
By now, her eyes were adjusting to the imminenet darkness, tomblike and womblike at the same time. She and Derek found an empty barstoll in the corner and ordered some light drinks. Julianne’s message was not to get drunk tonight and it seemed like Derek had listened to his sister.
Nina took her first sip of the simple mixture, cold and icy, slightly sweet and tangy against her lips.
"You seem silent." Derek finally spoke, scratched his hair and smiled.
'Me?' Nina thought and frowned. “I’m just a little dizzy of all those lights. You know, the night city, the bar and everything…” She said out loud and smiled quickly.
"Dizzy? You wanna go home?"
Nina lifted her eyebrows, surprised by his concern. “No, I’m okay.” Maybe he wasn’t that bad. But the idea of her going all alone with him at his house wasn’t an option for her. She prefered to stay, listen to some nice music, order a drink and so on.
"Alright, I’ll go to check on Mark, you will be fine?"
"Yeah, don’t worry about me." She rolled her eyes when he left and took another sip of the drink.
Mark was a friend of Derek, who loved hanging out in Beacher’s Madhouse. Nina waited minutes, but Derek wasn’t returning. Soon, she got a text. It was from Julianne.
Text to: Nina.
Dob! I’m so proud of you! xxx
Nina laughed and turned around to search for her, but she was nowhere to be found.
Text to: Julianne.
Where exactly are you?
Text to: Nina.
It doesn’t matter! I’m so proud right now! It’s your first date!
Text to: Julianne.
Yeah, and my date isn’t even here.
Text to: Nina.
WHAT?!
