Not You Again (ON HOLD)

Chapter Three

Alex was actually right. Once we got to the club, we were able to skip the line and get in without paying a cover. Furthermore, Alex was able to sneak the two of us into the VIP basement section, which was even more extravagant than the main floor.

Unlike the main floor, there were significantly fewer people populating the dance floor. There were still at least a couple hundred in comparison to the almost thousand above, but it was a pretty nice change considering it was much cooler in temperature down here. Additionally, the music seemed a bit more atmospheric, and while it wasn't that slow, it still provided enough bass and rhythm to follow along with your body.

There was only one issue.

I was super uncomfortable.

Alex and I were sitting at the bar. For the first five minutes we were here, she tried to get me to dance, but then figured I wasn't drunk enough to take that step too far. Therefore, I've been mulling over the extensive drink list in my hand, trying to weigh the pros and cons to each drink that was listed.

"Fuck, Mia, literally just pick anyone. It's on me, anything, I don't give a fuck if it costs $20...I just want to see you fucked up," she sighed as she put her pink drink to her lips, "It's my obligation as your best friend to induce you with alcohol." I chewed on the inside of my lip, flipping the drink list in my hand while I mulled over my options.

"I'm allergic to coconut though," I mumbled weakly which was barely audible to the music and the people around us. To my left, I noticed a few guys come up to the bar to order a few rounds.

She scoffed and grabbed the drink list from my hand, "Then don't get coconut! Oh my god, let me just do it." Before I could argue, she waved over the bartender, and even though he was attending to the guys next to us, he quickly came over to help Alex out.

"And what may I get you, beautiful?" He husked while he visibly ignored the guys that were irritated right next to us. He leaned his elbows on the bar table as his eyes traveled from Alex's hazel ones to down to her shirt.

Alex raised her eyebrows at me as she whispered in my ear, "This one has good grammar. Maybe catch this one up," before she addressed him and gave him a warm smile. "You may get my friend here a drink." I watched the bartender switch his gaze to mine, and I couldn't help but examine that he was actually a bit cute. Except, he was kinda cringey for hitting on us so spontaneously. Plus, the amount of gel that he had slicked back into his dark hair and cologne he was wearing was hitting my nostrils, which definitely made him fit the definition of a Class A douchebag.

He looked me up and down, and as if deciding that I was the one he should be paying attention to, his gaze lowered to my chest. I coughed and looked at Alex accusingly, silently trying to converse with her that I didn't want to get a drink from this creep.

"What kind of drink would you like?" He winked and I internally gagged.

Alex interrupted, "Just give her a double Manhattan. I think it's a whiskey night for her." Shit.

He nodded and turned away to start making my drink. I made sure to watch him make it in the process so I wouldn't end up dead in an alley in a couple of hours. "Whiskey?" I hissed at Alex, who just ignored me as she started to pat me on the back.

"Don't worry, Mia. I've got your back, but yeah - I changed my mind. Don't go for the bartender, he's a weirdo." Her gaze trailed behind my shoulder as an idea formed in her mind, "How about the guys he ignored?"

I didn't even dare turn my head while I stared at her blankly, "How about we enjoy the night without you trying to get me laid?"

She blinked, "I mean yeah...I suppose, but come on...Don't you ever just dream about being with someone?" At that point, the bartender dropped off my drink. Alex started to rummage through her black purse to take some money out, but instead, he just shook his head and flashed us a smile. Following his smile, he slid a piece of paper that I thought would be a receipt but instead had his number sprawled in horrid handwriting. Somehow he managed to put it in the middle of us, which made me wonder what his intentions were.