It Ain't Like That (a Layne Staley fanfic)

Chapter Twelve - Party!

Song: Skin O' My Teeth by Megadeth

"GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!!!" I screamed along with the classic tune as I danced alongside the guys. We'd all had only one drink, and we were already acting wasted.
"AT THE DOLLHOUSE IN FORT LAUDERDALE!" Layne shouted, playing air-guitar. We all had fun with a few more energetic 80s tunes, taking me back to my high school days. After that, there was a bit of a pause as the lighting changed. The whole atmosphere of the club had a kind of 80s futuristic vibe. Stripes and LED everywhere, people wore crazy-ass outfits and there were about five lap dances happening in different areas. The lighting changed to an ambient purple, and Disintegration by The Cure started playing, to my surprise. I expected boos and upset thrashers, but instead, some people popped what seemed to be ecstasy and everyone else began to dance.
"This is a cool as club if they can play The Cure." I said to Jerry, who was standing beside me with a martini in his hand.
"Why do you think we chose this one out of all the others?" He asked.
"Damn. Y'all do your research." I laughed. I then walked into the crowd, unconsciously drifting away from the guys. I let the music carry me as I got lost in the hoard of moving bodies. Smiling slightly, I began to sway and turn in accordance to the beat. I felt someone brush against me as I turned my head. Layne has joined me and danced alongside me. He hesitantly brushed his hand against my waist, and I got closer to him, letting him know that it was okay. He looped his arm around my waist as I danced with him. Touching his waist, the song slowly faded and ended. During the brief silence, I glanced around and saw Sean waving us over.
Once we got over to them, they went to the bar. Ordering us about three rounds of shots at once, we all took our first one as we all squinted, trying to down the strong alcohol.
"Another!" Layne shouted.
"Yeah!" Jerry agreed.
"I'm good, but you guys go ahead." I said. I don't like alcohol too much, honestly.
"Come on, Athene! We're at a club!" Mike said. He was right.
"Truthfully, I don't like alcohol that much." I confessed.
"Ugh, please?" Jerry pleaded. A wave of dizziness suddenly washed over me. My surroundings became fuzzy and smudged as my mind flashed back to my father. His friends were over, and they were all drinking. I guess they weren't really friends...more like drinking buddies. They were all doing rounds of shots. Over and over again, they drank, and my dad began to stumble over his words till they were barely intelligible. This was the usual routine every few days. He went to stand, but his legs gave out and soon he lay on the floor, a bloodied nose and a broken arm (because his arm hit the table and then he landed on it with all his weight). He threw up, then. Everywhere, the vile stench filled my nostrils.
"Uh-give...gimme a second." I said hastily as I dashed out of the club. Catching my breath, I cooled down and slumped against the wall of the building. I had a feeling Layne would come out to check on me, and I hoped that my feeling was right. It was.
"Athene! Athene, what happened?" He asked, very concerned.
"Uh...n-nothin'...just, uh, I feel a little...i dunno." I mumbled.
"Athene, please look at me." I followed his instructions. Tears clouded my vision.
"Please tell me what happened." He begged.
"It's just...my dad has a huge drinking problem...and I just got a flashback of it. Nothing too big. Just...kinda freaked me out."
"I totally understand. My...my dad had an opiate problem." He said. I felt a bit relieved that he understood. He then stood up and helped me up as he enveloped me in a loving hug.
"It's okay, baby girl..." He trailed off. I hugged him tighter. He calmed me down, and we eventually went back inside. We danced and had fun, and Layne didn't drink anymore, presumably out of curtesy towards me, which I respected. At around four AM, Sean slurred something about wanting beer, so we went to a twenty-four hour liquor store and bought him and Mike forties. Laughing and talking, we eventually made it back to the band's place. Layne and I were the only ones that weren't drunk, so we made fun of the rest of the guys together. We'd be the only ones to remember this night, for sure. After we got inside, I then went to take a shower after bringing my clothes into the bathroom with me. Getting out, I blew-dried my hair, because I didn't want to go to bed with a wet head. I don't even know why I brought it with me, but I put on a black lingerie thin-strapped top and some satin pants.
I don't even know what came over me, nor did I care, but I slowly walked to a room across the hallway. Jerry was there, passed out. I chuckled, and then turned to the other room. It was Layne's, I realized, as my eyes rested upon the figure that sat hunched on the bed. Layne's thin, bony shoulders seemed vulnerable as he looked down at his feet. I noticed a tattoo on his back of a man with his eyes sewn shut. My eyes trailed down to his small waist and back up to his curly hair. He slowly turned around.

"I was hoping you'd come in here." He said as he looked at me with longing.