𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲

26. Walk into the club

"Where. The fuck. Are we" I deadpanned, glaring at the building. Lights were dancing erratically from the inside, the music so loud it could be heard even out here. "See this? It's called a club" Josh patronised, explaining it to me as if I were five.

"Yes, I've gathered, considering we've been to one before" I reported bitterly. "But this one looks weird" I whined. Josh rolled his eyes. "Ok so what it looks a bit... well not what we're used to. Don't bash it just because it looks nice" he argued, stepping over velvet red queue ropes. I followed behind him.

"Where the hell did you even find this place?" I panted, following along behind Josh. "Dunno, to be honest. I was in my dad's office just looking through some papers and it turns out he has some shares in this place. Figured it must be half decent" he briefed me.

"Have you been here before?" I asked curiously. "Well no," he stuttered. "But I figured hey, all I gotta do is mention my last name and surely they'll let us right in" he stated optimistically. "Right... let's see how that one works out" I grumbled doubtfully.

Finally we were at the side entrance, where a rather large bouncer stood with his arms folded against his chest. Josh cleared his throat awkwardly. "Can you let us in?" He questioned.

The bouncer looked down at him with a judgemental look. "How about you go and wait in line like everyone else" he bit back. Josh rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "My father owns part of this club... Mr Richards."

The bouncer's eyebrows raised slightly. "Mr Richards is your father?" He questioned in surprise. Josh nodded. "I can see it - you have the same eyes" the bouncer commented, tilting his head to the side.

"Did you two come together?" The bouncer asked. My eyebrows knitted together, wondering why he put emphasis on the word together. "You sure bet" josh replied with a wide smile. The bouncer smiled back. "You two have fun in there."

He stepped aside and me and Josh entered the club. When we got in, it was hard to see at first as our eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the lights. Once they did, we took a look around us. The first thing Josh did was grab my arm and pull me over to the bar, where a blonde male waitress was serving drinks.

"Hey cuties, what can I get you?" He asked, leaning against the wooden counter. My eyes widened in alarm. "You what?" I shot back. "I asked what I could get you two.." he replied with a confused look on his face. I swallowed harshly.

"Uhh... we'll take two shots of tequila please" Josh ordered. Once the bartender had turned around, I looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Well that was weird..." I commented. Josh shrugged. "Maybe he likes you" he joked, patting my shoulder.

I shrugged his hand off in a hostile manner. "That's weird, don't say that" I argued. Josh looked around himself, scanning the club. "I'm gonna try and get us upstairs to a more exclusive area. Wait here."

Before he left, the blonde bartender handed him his shot. "Thanks mate" Josh thanked him before downing the shot and leaving the glass on the counter as he walked away.

I took my shot too, turning back around to face the bartender. "Another round" I asked. He nodded, preparing two more shots. I drank both.

For a while I waited for Josh at the bar, but he seemed to be taking a while. I got bored and decided it would be best to go looking for him, or just to walk around... either way I didn't care and I was gonna get up.

I started weaving my way through people, the alcohol only slightly starting to take effect. Something seemed pretty off about this club, but I couldn't exactly pin point what it was.

I looked around me in confusion, my eyes scanning the crowd. Something was definitely not right. And that's when it hit me. There were no girls.

No girls? No girls. Why are there no girls in this club? I felt a hand lay itself on my shoulder and turn me around, only to be met with Josh's frazzled face.

"Uh, Jack..." he nervously yelled over the music. "We uhh, we might be in a gay club. Actually, we definitely are in a gay club" he announced with a fearful look on his face.

My eyes widened in alarm. "You what?! You took me on a date to a gay club?!" I yelled in absolute dismay. A couple of dudes next to us stopped dancing and turned to speak to us. "I think it's pretty nice of your boyfriend to do that for you" he inputted sweetly. "I'm Jaime, by the way" he greeted, smiling with his pink glossy lips.

"Nononono, we're not on a date date, we-" josh began, not knowing what to say at all. "I think I'm gonna order us an Uber now" he announced with a shaky voice, grabbing his phone out of his pocket and leaving me in the crowd.

I cursed under my breath, not able to see where he went in the sea of people. In a state of annoyance, I pushed my way through all the dancing bodies, trying to get to an open space. Finally I reached a seating area with a few glass tables.

Two guys were sitting on a satin purple couch, making out. "Oí" I called, interrupting them. "Move" I ordered, indicating with my eyes for them to get off the couch. Something by my expression must've made them nervous as they actually listened to me.

I sighed, flopping down on the couch. At least one thing was for certain - this night couldn't possibly get any worse. Or at least that's what I thought in that moment.

Not too far away, I overheard a conversation but was unable to see where the voices were coming from. "Daniel I wanna go home now" the first voice whined. It didn't even take me a second to recognise his voice immediately.

I gritted my teeth, rolling my eyes back. What are the chances. What are the actual fucking chances. How can this actually even be happening right now?!

"Ok and? Maybe that would be useful information if I actually cared" the second voice - or should I say Daniel - replied. The two were walking right towards me and there wasn't enough time to get up and move before they were right in front of the couch.

"Uhhh, Daniel...." Zach whispered quietly, his eyes wide. His body was stiff and he looked unable to move. "Did you slip me a pill? Cause I'm pretty sure I can see Jack Avery, and I know damn well that can't be real-" he stuttered nervously.

"Jack- what- what're you doing here?" Daniel stumbled over his words in a sense of utter shock. "What, a guy can't sit down?" I replied, looking around me indifferently. "You know that's not what I meant" he sassed, laying a hand on his hip.

"I mean, what are you doing in a gay club?" He repeated himself. "I don't wanna talk about it, ok?!" I yelled back at him. A guy turned around, onlooking the scene. I threw my head back, groaning when I saw it was Jaime.

"He's having a few problems with his date it seems" Jaime informed the two with a sympathetic look. "How did you even- where did you- look ok, just leave me alone!" I seethed in frustration. Jaime shrugged, dancing away back into the crowd.

"Right... so, just to be clear, you're on a date in a gay club?" Daniel mocked, nodding his head along to his words. I felt my body shaking with anger.

"Listen here, I'm not gonna do this with you right now - or ever - ok? I'm not on a date!!" I yelled at him. He shrugged. "Doesn't really explain why you're in a gay club tho does it luv?" Daniel retorted back.

I groaned, standing up and pushing past them to leave, but before I did, I turned back round to face them. "If anyone hears about this - if you tell anyone, you'll be in big trouble" I ordered, pointing my finger in Daniel's face.

It was at this point I realised Zach hadn't spoke the whole time since he'd first seen me. Was he scared of me? Maybe he was just aware of what he did and he feels bad about it. Maybe. Possibly.

Just as I began to leave, Daniel stopped me. "Oh by the way, Jack, I wanted to ask... you know Corbyn? What did he say about the letter?" Daniel asked sincerely.

"What? Why would you wanna know?" I asked in utter confusion. Daniel shrugged in defence. "Jeez, you spend ages writing a letter and just wanna know if the person at least liked it, is that so wrong?" He scoffed.

My eyes widened in shock, my face growing pale. "You what?" I questioned, rubbing my sweaty hands together. "You wrote the letter?" I repeated. "But- I saw Zach- in the locker room, I saw him-" I began stuttering nervously.

"Well duh, who else would Zach be running around delivering letters for?"

Well fuck. Shit. Fucking freaking shit fuck.