Stricken

Chapter 1

The music was loud pounding the floor and colorful lights danced everywhere changing peoples faces from color to color. Alcohol, cheap perfume, and sweat lingered in the air forcing me to breath through my mouth. The place was filled with mostly people in there 20s looking for a good night. They danced nonstop. If they weren't dancing they were either at the bar, making out with a total stranger on one of the nasty faded orange couches , or in the bathroom dealing drugs.

I couldn't believe I let Whitney talk me into this. Wait let me rephrase that, she didn't talk me into this she forced me here. I was already thinking of how many days, no weeks, it was going to take me to forgive her for this.

We sat on two bar stools facing each other at the back of the club. We'd been inside for about 5 minutes and I was already more than ready to leave! A bartender appeared in front us wanting to know if we wanted anything.

"A diet vanilla coke, hold the ice." Whitney said flirtatiously giving the guy a small wink. He looked at me and I shook my head no. He wore a black uniform and his blond long hair was slicked neatly back into a low ponytail. He looked around 30.

" Okay Abreille what's with you?" she blurted out. "I know you're mad I made you come tonight, but you have to understand I'm doing this for your own good." She gave me a you know I'm right smile.

"How is coming here helping me at all? If you can't tell I'm miserable." I spat at her.

"If you'd just loosen up an have some fun it might help you get over you know who." The ponytailed bartender came back with Whitneys coke and she gave him another one of her playful grins which I could tell made him feel awkward.

"I'm over Jason for the millionth time!" I lied, but I didn't want anyone to know I was still inlove with him, not even my best friend. He cheated on me, broke my heart, but somehow I still loved him. What was wrong with me?

" You lie. You think I don't see you starring at his pictures on your phone in the passengers seat when I give you rides to school, cause I do. I know it's hard letting go, but you have to. Jason was a jerk and you deserve better!" She sounded just like my mom. "Why don't we just go out there," she gestured to the dance floor." And have some fun. Maybe if you were grinding on one of those hot guys out there you wouldn't look like a total outcast."

" I don't look like an outcast!" I said offended.

" Sweetheart you look younger than what you even are and your supposed to be pretending to be 5 years older! That's just sad. Where the heck did you even get that shirt? Gap?" As much as I hated admitting it Whitney was right. Compared to all the other women in the clubs clothing you'd think mine belonged to an 8 year olds. The only skin showing was my neck, face, and hands. For the other women in the club it would be easier to list the skin that wasn't being showed off.

I wore a plain long sleeved grey tee, skinny jeans, and black moccasins. My dark blonde wavy hair was in a messy bun and I had small silver hoop earrings on. The only make up i wore was some mascara and some black cherry lip gloss. I remotely didn't look like I belonged in a club at all.

"Come on." Whitney demanded as she took the last sip of her diet vanilla coke then jumped off her stool and dragged me out of mine. "We are going to dance our butts off!" She said cheerfully as I groaned. She held onto my elbow pulling me deeper and deeper into the crowd of people. For a thursday night this place was way crowded. There had to be at least 160 people crammed into this little club.

Whitney finally stopped moving and turned around. "What now?" I asked knowing the answer.

Whitney stared at me as if I could not be serious." Dance duh, stupid question. I've always been the one with common sense." She shouted over the loudness of the music.