Stung (Now Published)

Chapter 03

We managed to get a spot at the bar where we'd been for at least a half an hour. The guys ordered drinks while I stuck with water. Matthew was seated next to me and Nate was on his other side. Every once in a while, I would hear pieces of their conversation, but it was hard to hear with the music.

Matthew leaned closer to me with an extra shot glass in his hand. "Here," he yelled over the music. My eyes skimmed the other overflowing shots in front of Nate and Matthew.

I went to object but Matthew pushed it closer to me. He'd given me drinks in the bars back home before so I didn't mind that. But I didn't know any of the bars here. Both guys didn't seem worried and when I glanced around, the bartenders all seemed too busy to come ask for my ID.

I drank the clear liquid quickly, making a disgusted face afterwards as the liquid burned my throat. Matthew grabbed the empty shot glass, stacked it with his and quickly took off onto the dance floor without looking back.

Suddenly, there was a bee scooting one seat closer to me with a grin on his face.

"Does he always leave you when you guys go out, too?" Nate said, leaning in so I could hear.

I nodded. "Pretty much, but I'm usually with Mason so I don't mind."

Nate nodded and tried to get the bartender's attention to get another drink.

Perhaps the guy on my other side thought I was with Matthew, or the liquor was just making him brave, but either way he decided to start up a conversation with me.

"How are you doing tonight?" the guy asked. He looked to be a few years older than us and not something that I wanted to deal with tonight.

"Good," I said with a nod of my head, not bothering to reciprocate the question.

"You're not drinking anything. You want me to get you something?" he asked.

"No."

Nate seemed to hear what was going on and I suddenly felt him get way too close in my personal space, but this time, I didn't mind. He put one arm around my waist and the other he rested on the bar top, with his body facing the other guy.

"What are you guys talking about?" Nate asked politely.

I watched as the guy eyed Nate's arm around me.

"Just talking to your friend here."

The bartender gave Nate a new drink and he took a sip of it before offering some to me. It was green and blue. I eyed it curiously before grabbing the cold drink .

"This tastes—" I started, my eyes wide. It tasted like candy.

Nate nodded, amusement on his face. "I thought you'd like it."

Unfortunately, we were interrupted by the guy again.

"There's karaoke going on next door. Do you like that sort of thing?" the guy asked, hooking a finger to the side and looking directly at me as I spoke.

"No," I answered.

"Come on," Nate said near my ear and hopped off his stool before the guy could say anything else.

He grabbed his drink with one hand and extended his free one out to me, helping me down. Nate led us away from the bar and closer to the mob of dancing bodies. He weaved in and out of a few on the edges, trying to keep his drink steady as he did so. Once we got to an outer edge where it was slightly less packed, he stopped walking. My hand remained in his as he extended his arm so it was straight and twirled me out. He lifted his arm up and had me twirl under it before taking another sip of his drink.