Dome POV.
I gave up on trying to talk my friends out of dragging me out tonight. It's my birthday and apparently, even though it's my party, I have absolutely no say in the matter. If you were best friends with Benjamin, you'd say, 'Fuck it,' too. That boy has never lost an argument in his life.
"Quit pouting and shake your ass, Dome." Nine ordered me. I sighed and downed my shot. I made a face and I let him and Ben pull me to my feet. They dragged me to the middle of the dance-floor, right in the middle of the mass of vibrating bodies and music that made you want to rip your clothes off and given to your primal instincts, just to let go.
I know that I shouldn't complain that my friends wanted to take me out to celebrate, but I really just wanted to have a night in.
This time of year always hits the hardest. I always spent my birthday with my Mom, before she passed. My dad has this annoying habit of forgetting that I exist and Plan has been MIA with Mean for the past year. He quit responding to all of our emails. The last I heard, he and Mean were travelling through Europe. Earth and Ben have been back together for a few years, and they're still going strong. Nine and Joong rekindled whatever they had.
"Stop sulking and enjoy yourself. Don't make me get more shots. I'm not above pouring them down your throat. You know that I'm not above doing it." Ben hissed in my ear. I cracked a smile. Ben's enthusiasm is contagious.
"Shots would be a good idea." I told him, hoping he would hear me over the deafening music. I felt him grab my arm and we made our way back to the bar. We ordered two more rounds of shots.
"Here's the birthday boy!" Nine cheered, raising his glass to me. I laughed and raised mine with him.
"It's your birthday?" The bartender asked me. I nodded. "These are on the house." He smiled and turned his attention to his other customers.
"It's a sign! Go with it, Dome. So, help me God, if you don't enjoy yourself tonight, then I'm going to kill you." Ben threatened me. I laughed and took my shot. "Okay, I won't, but I'll make you watch The Avangers with me, twice." He clarified. I shivered and took my other shot.
"Fine, you win." I conceded. He smirked and he and Nine did their shots.
"We need to get you laid. That why you won't be so tight. It's been so long." Nine said, winking. I laughed.
"Yes," Ben agreed, dragging us back out. I ran smack dab into someone. I started to fall backwards and immediately let go of Nine and Ben. Hands jumped to steady me and I looked up and saw the last person I thought I would see tonight. Pavel stood smirking at me.
"Pavel?" I breathed, wondering what he was doing there and why he helped me. We've never been on 'friendly' terms, to say the least.
"Hello to you, too, Dimples." He looked me over and his gaze lingered on my lips, before meeting my eyes, again. "You look good, for a birthday boy." His smirk was securely back in place.
"Thanks. I've gotta go." I tried to excuse myself, but he wouldn't let me go. I sighed and looked up at him, again. "Do you want something?" I asked him.
"Dance with me." The way he said it, he made it clear that it wasn't a question and I didn't have an option. He would make it impossible for me to refuse.
I tried to pull away, again. It's useless and Ben and Nine were just eyeing him up, like he was the solution to all of their problems.
"What have you got to lose, Dome? He's hot. You're hot. It'd be hot. You should dance together. Who knows? Maybe he'll even help with your, huh?" Nine pushed us closer together and wiggled his eyebrows. Subtlety isn't his forte. No shocker there. I glared at my friends and sighed, before accepting my fate.
