Secrets at Sea

Chapter 7

We walk into the bar and it looks like every college party I've ever been to, except it's done exceptionally well and not with a college budget. Everything in the room looks extremely modern; there are lights flashing a rainbow of colors on the ceiling and music blasting from the speakers that line the walls. The bar is beautifully lit up from the corners that in-turn reflect off the metallic counter. There is a giant dance floor covering the majority of the bar's floor and it is split up into individual squares that light up when someone steps on it. A handful of tables are scattered throughout the bar but the only seating I can see are up against the bar. There are a couple dozen college-aged adults dancing with drinks in their hands. Chloe rushes over to the bar and leans over the counter so she's face to face with the bartender. By the time that we get over to her she's got the bartender blushing and handing her four drinks.

"Thanks love!" Chloe winks at the bartender as she grabs the drinks. She leads us towards the closest table and plops the drinks down. She grabs the closest glass and puts is in the air. "To the end of school and to the start of the rest of our homework free lives!"

We all grab a shot and cheers with her. Before I have my shot down my throat Chloe has sashayed her way back to the bar and has the bartender back under her control.

"How does she do it?" Mason says as he shakes off the taste of the shot.

"It's all in the hips to be honest." Brooks sticks his butt out and shakes his hips.

"And probably the fact that she's been perfecting her technique for the past five years." I say

"That too." Brooks says as he nods in agreement.

Chloe comes back with a tray that has three pitchers and four glasses balanced on it. She's got a huge smile that spreads across her face as she sets it down on the table.

"You get a discount?" I ask and her smile grows even bigger.

"I got a 100% discount, aka free drinks!" She throws her hands up and does a little victory dance.

"What did you end up getting?" Mason says loudly so she can hear him over the music.

"One is an IPA, a vodka strawberry drink, and the last is a sweet tea with whiskey." She says and points to the corresponding pitcher. She pours the strawberry drink into a glass and hands it to me.

"Awww, how'd you know?" I ask sarcastically.

It's not like it's one of the only hard liquors that my body handle. I really hate being gluten intolerant. I think to myself as I take a sip of my drink.

Chloe laughs as she pours everyone else their drinks. We stand by the table for another twenty minutes and just talk and drink. I start feeling the alcohol as I finish my first glass and by the time I finish my second glass I'm having a bit of trouble standing still. I'm swaying to the music blasting through the DJ's speakers as I pour myself a third glass of the strawberry vodka, finishing off the pitcher. I pick up the pitcher in one hand and my glass in the other and turn a little too fast towards Chloe.

"I just finished the pitcher, should I go grab another one?" I ask, but she just shakes her head.

"You're fine! I'll go work my magic again." She says and lazily grabs the pitcher from my hand. She spins around and walks over to the extremely crowded bar.

When did the bar get so full? I think then look around the bar. To my surprise the dance floor is getting pretty full and all the tables have been taken. What the hell? I see the blonde creep from earlier standing at a table across the dance floor, staring at me. He's not alone this time, there are at least three other guys with him at the table, but he's the only one who seems interested in my side of the bar. I lean back onto Mason and he puts his arm out to steady me. He smiles down at me.

"You good Sea?" He asks and moves his hand from my lower back so that it's now draped over my shoulder. I smile back up at him but my gaze drops back down so I can keep an eye on the blondie. His gaze must have followed mine because he pulls me closer and his arm is practically trying to force me to merge into his side.

"It's the same guy from earlier, isn't it?" I ask, trying to confirm my suspicion. I look back up at Mason who looks extremely pissed off.

"What is his problem?" Mason asks as he continues to glare across the dance floor. I don't understand why he's acting so protective. 

"I don't know, but let's not let him ruin our night. We can just ignore him until he leaves like last time." I say and wiggle out of Mason's grip. I stand in front of him and stare at him until he looks down at me. "He's probably just some creep and you know I've dealt with plenty of people like him, so if we just ignore him then he'll go away."

"If you say so, I just get a really bad vibe from him." Mason states and doesn't break eye contact with me. I grab his hand and pull him backwards onto the dance floor. He smiles and rolls his eyes and I take his other hand and start making him dance.

We dance for a while. The bass passes in waves through our bodies and the music is almost deafening. Chloe hands me another shot sometime in between two songs, so I'm completely relaxed and enjoying the night. I had forgotten how nice it was just to lose myself for a night and not have to worry about exams and drama. I remember taking another few drinks that Chloe had left on the table, but everything seems to fade in and out after that. I remember Mason getting really mad and yelling as he holds me up. I remember Chloe walking away as she throws up her arms in the air. I remember stumbling down a hall and being swept off my feet. I remember nuzzling my face into Mason's neck and finally passing out.