The Wisconsin Werewolf (OPTIONED FOR FILM BY NETFLIX!)

11)

Did I look bad?

I couldn't tell if what Matt said was a silent compliment or a hidden diss. I didn't give too much thought to wondering which it was. Thoughts were proving to be dangerous for me. They brought me back to thinking about everything having to do with werewolves. They brought me to thinking about nearly kissing Matt. Even if he wasn't Miranda's boyfriend, he was still my supervisor who was off limits.

I tried to mingle myself with party goers only to realize I didn't actually know anyone. The party was turning out to be really boring. It was uneventful watching people who worked at the resort. No one really danced or seemed to care they were inside a nightclub. They merely talked amongst themselves as if this was any other day at the resort and not a party. The rest of the night slowly passed in a blur. It was a uninteresting blur in which nothing notable occurred. I idled nearby the door of the club waiting for Darren. A half hour of waiting passed and then an hour. After the first thirty minutes I had sent a text asking if he was running late. I didn't receive a response. After the full hour passed I took a break from watching people dance to use the bathroom. Using the women's restroom was a nightmare. There were too many women standing around mirrors either admiring or fixing themselves. They spent their time doing their hair or adjusting their makeup. By the time I was done I found difficulty in simply trying to navigate around the women to simply wash my hands. Once I finally accomplished the simple task of hand washing and then drying them with paper towel, it was an adventure just trying to get out of the bathroom again. Too many bodies and not enough space to breathe. Reality soon began settle in for me that Darren was standing me up. He would have been here by now if he planned on showing. If something delayed his coming, he would have at least sent me a text explaining he was running late.

As my phone finally pinged indicating I received a text, I scrambled to pull it out of my purse.

Darren- I'm really sorry but I have to cancel tonight. 

Hot tears of embarrassment swam behind my eyes. I thought of a couple responses and began typing only to stop halfway. Getting upset and showing it was only going to make me seem pathetic. Annoyed that I got all dressed up and came to this party only to be stood up, I decided to go to the bar for an actual drink.

***

It didn't take long for my five vodka cranberry's to make me feel woozy. I was lightweight who only needed two to feel the tipsy effects of alcohol. Five large drinks were overkill. Five was enough to make me realize it was time to go home and go to sleep. Knowing I would need to find Miranda in order to avoid driving home drunk, I begrudgingly headed out the door of the party, thankful to get my hearing back once I was out of the loud club and outside in the chill night air. I walked away from the loud crowd of people, fully intent on waiting in my truck and calling Miranda from there. But wait...Wouldn't Miranda already be inside at party with Matt? Would she be nearby? I shook away the drunk thought. All night I hadn't seen Miranda. The last I had seen Matt was when we had spoken. I started aimlessly walking the sidewalk outside the club only to nearly ram into Jamie's shoulder.

He was bleary eyed and similar to a few others in the club, not wearing a costume. Jamie wore a long sleeved red flannel with jeans and one of his ball caps on top of his shaggy black head. His eyes were blurry; most probably from the effects of his own alcohol or marijuana consumption. Jamie watched me for a few moments. "You're drunk," he accused with a grin.

"Takes one to know one," I muttered stupidly. My brain was slow with my reaction time. The comment came two seconds later than it really should have. Jamie offered me a sip from his flask. I swaggered in place and nearly fell over. Alcohol was definitely not my friend.

"C'mon," said Jamie, pulling my elbow. A short while of walking led us towards a staircase connected to the building behind the club.

"Where are we going..." I mumbled as I started to follow him up the stairs.