Ten to eight Jake, my Dad, Michelle and I arrive at a fancy restaurant in Downtown. My dad picked one of the expensive ones. I guess, to impress Michelle. While we order, Tamara and I text with another about the party at the old factory tonight. I'm not quite sure, if I should go or not, because it's Tuesday and I have work and classes tomorrow. On the other hand, I'm curious about Marc's music and the location. Jake and I don't say much whilst Dad and Michelle gush about France and how nice it is there. I get to know more about Michelle. Her life in Paris and her job as Stewardess, but that's all I find interesting.
*we'll come and get you around twelve* I glance at my phone and read the text, before replying to Tamara.
*OK* I know that this decision made my subconsicous that knows Luis will come to the party too.
<><><>
I brush my hair again, let it fall over my chest and push two bobby pins in, one on each side, to keep it out of my face. I throw on my black leather jacket. Wearing it, helps my conscious feeling more though and vigorous.
Jake is with his girlfriend, my Dad and Michelle went to a bar after dinner and I really need some people around me. I'm more than happy when Fred's car finally appears in front of my house and I can flee from the silence at my place.
"Wow, you look super hot, Zoe!" Tamara beams at me as I climb onto the backseat of Fred's car.
"Doesn't she, Fred?" She turns towards Fred, sitting behind the steering wheel.
"Yeah," he says and glances back at me through the rear mirror and I blush even more.
The drive lasts about twenty minutes until we park behind the old doll factory. Music echoes through the thick brick walls as we walk to the entrance.
"The line is endless!" I gasp in shock. I didn't know the party is going to be that big.
"Don't worry, we'll get in with Marc," Tamara says and pulls me by my hand to the bouncer where Marc and Luis stand already. My heart immediately plops into my throat at the sight of Luis.
"Finally!" Marc exclaims and gestures us to hurry inside. The bouncer nods and one by one we are allowed inside without waiting. The club is crammed with people and the booming bass of the music has my heart vibrating.
"I'm gonna look for Daniel," Luis announces and disappears, as well as Marc.
Fred, Tamara and I go dancing for quite a while and at some point we lose Fred in the partying hord.
"How was dinner?" Tamara asks me and hands me one tequila shot when we stand at the bar.
"Yummy." I press a smile, although I feel like screaming for the awful dinner, my dad forced me to attend. I thought I was just in a bad mood, feeling still a little hungover from the night before, and I thought she isn't that bad once I get to know her better, but much to my disappointment, the bald facts are, even after this dinner, I'm not fond of her, not even a bit. There is too much of a gap in personality and beliefs that no amount of drinks and good intentions could build a bridge across. As mean as it may sound, but I hope my dad will break up with her soon. Good thing, I don't have to deal with her, because they will be gone by tomorrow, flying back to Paris. Bad thing, my Dad wants Jake and me visiting them in Paris. I could delay it a little, because of my upcoming exams that I have to study for. Nevertheless, sooner or later I'll have to visit their love nest and the thought sends an uneasy prickle over my skin.
I gulp the shot and wait for the alcohol to enable it's good effects on me. I don't know what it is, but I'm not having real fun. The music is smashing, the people are incredible at partying here and neither the drinks are expensive nor is the location boring, but nothing gives me the kick.
"It's wicked here, isn't it?" Tamara gleams with pleasure and suddenly I wonder if she already had some coke today. It is wicked, but I don't feel with her tonight. Maybe, I came here with too high expectations, but actually I had none.
"Yea," I swindle. My eyes scan the room, naturally observing my environment until I'm taken aback at the sight of Luis and a strange girl standing very close to each other in one of the corners. Luis arm leans against the wall and the giggling girl leans in to speak into his ear. All at once I feel stupid, sick even, because I realize that I felt so special - until now, when I see him talking to everyone like that.
"If you need anything, let me know." Tamara winks at me and I know by her look that she means drugs.
"Did you have a line already?" I question. It's hard to make it out, she appears to be full on go all the time. It's her natural personality.
"I don't have coke with me tonight, but pills," she says and shows me a little bag with two blue pills in it. "It gives you a good trip for like four hours."
I peer over to the corner where Luis and that girl were, but they are gone and I don't know what is happening when I reach for the pill, but I just want to escape. The urge to feel better and the thought of getting high is so strong that I swallow the pill before I even think about it. Tamara takes also one and drags me to the dancefloor where we find Fred again.
Only about fifteen minutes later, I already notice the MDMA entering my bloodstream and reaching my brain. About an hour later, I'm high and expierence an intensive trip on my own. The drug is at it's peak level now. I lose my sense of time and my perception messes with my head. I'm weightless and I can't stop dancing.
After a while, I lost everybody due to not paying attention whilst I feel like I own the world. I never felt so confident and amazing.
Suddenly, the world turns around crazy and I begin noticing the presence of other people. So many people and I still feel so alone. This is a whole new type of loneliness. Not, where you miss someone, but just the feeling that the world is empty. And no matter how many people are there, I can't help, but feel alone. My chest feels hollow and all I know is that I don't know anything anymore, because I'm lost. And the longer it lasts, the more sure I become that I will never be found.
Something is not right when all the faces around me start morphing into animals and monsters, looking at me and glaring with burning hatred in their eyes. At the same time these hallucinations talk to each other about me as if I'm not even here. I'm scared and have an increased heart rate. I hear things and the world is spinning.
I know I'm in some sort of a trance as I push past the twisting faces to get out. The colourful lights are blazing and too bright for my eyes. It shines onto the people's wet skins and I see their sweat beads dripping down their foreheads. It's when I notice how dry my mouth is and I can barely swallow without that it hurts. I'm completely agitated as I rush into the bathroom and rest my hands onto the sink, steadying my body. I bend my head under the tap and begin to drink. As soon as the water starts pouring, a beautiful buzz comes to my ears.
I'm glad nobody is with me in the unisex bathroom. I feel much better now as I stand straight, looking at me in the mirror. My hair is damp from sweating and I wonder where I left my leather jacket as chills occur to me. I'm cold, although I'm still sweating. I feel a bit faint and dizzy and decide to go and look for my jacket.
As I pull the door open, someone runs into me. Before I stumble backwards, two hands grab a hold of my upper arms and steady my balance. I forget what I wanted to do when I look up and meet dark deep eyes.
"Zoe." There is something breathtaking about the way Luis says my name, and I feel save.
YOU ARE READING
BREATHE
Teen Fiction"He makes me question every promise I've ever made to myself and he makes me open up when I don't even want to let myself in. He helps me to breathe when I forget how to."
