Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
“Just a few minutes and we’ll be good to go.” Daisy informed me, shutting the door behind her as she stepped into the room.
                          
“Okay, but what do you plan on us doing? Just walking around Mexico?” I asked, taking a seat on the bed and watching Daisy hurriedly move into the bathroom.
                          
“Oh no, we’re going to the club.” She yelled from the bathroom. “So change your damn clothes. You can’t go clubbing in a skirt. At least not a skirt that goes over your ass.” She was soon out of the bathroom, rummaging through her suitcase, and throwing clothes at me.
                          
“Daisy, I-I’m comfortable in this, I... it’s really okay. Thanks.” I stuttered, holding out the clothes for her to take back.
                          
“Hurry up and put it on, we don’t have time to waste.” She said. I gave in and held each garment up in front of me: a pair of black tights, high waisted denim shorts, and a simple cap-sleeved black crop top.
                          
I suppose it wasn’t so bad. At least my body would be mostly covered.
                          
I let my bun loose and took off my make up. As quickly as I could, I tied my hair into a messy, wavy ponytail and applied some silver sparkles to my eyes. When I was all dressed and Daisy was finished drawing thick lines of eyeliner under her eyes and making her hair look like “sex hair”, she threw her pair of all-black high top Converse sneakers at me. After they were on, I walked over to the full-length mirror hanging on the bathroom door.
                          
I had never been to a club in my life. Was this how the girls dressed? I was uncomfortable: the shorts exposed the bottom of my butt cheeks and I didn’t like sneakers one bit. I wanted to get back into my skirt desperately.
                          
~~~
                          
I followed Daisy out of the hotel and down a few blocks until we came to a sketchy-looking building with music blasting so loud that my ears were numb standing in the parking lot. Daisy’s face beamed while mine was mortified.
                          
Daisy showed her best smile to the bouncers, said a few flirty words, stuck out her chest, and touched a few arms before the men let us inside without having to show ID. Both Daisy and I were legal, but she had something against showing her ID. I never questioned it. Entering the club, I tried desperately to keep my eyes on Daisy so I wouldn’t get lost, but the strobe lights made it very difficult. I bumped into someone and I heard their drink spill. Luckily, not on me.
                          
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I attempted to yell over the music. A shaggy blonde head and a brilliant smile greeted me once the boy turned around.
                          
“Don’t worry about it, it didn’t get on me.” The boy told me. Daisy must have not noticed that I stopped walking because she was no longer beside me. I attempted to look over the crowd’s heads and find her, but it was no use. I lost her for the second time that day. “What’s your name?” The boy spoke again, snapping my eyes from the bouncing crowd to him.
                          
“Reina, but call me Ray.” I told him with a smile of my own. He looked relatively young to be in a club, soft features and smooth skin. “And what’s yours?”
                          
“Blake.” My new friend shared. “Are you here alone?”
                          
“I am not, so don’t get any ideas!” I joked. Blake chuckled and met my eyes.
                          
“Are you old enough to be at a club, Ray?” He asked.
                          
“I am, actually. And it’s funny because I was going to ask you the same thing. How old are you, Blake?” I asked.
                          
“I’m twenty-one, actually. Just turned. Out here celebrating.” He told me.
                          
“I’m twenty-one as well. My best friend and I are out here on Spring Break.” I informed him. “What about you? Are you here alone?”
                          
“I’m not, so don’t get any ideas.” He mocked me and I smiled. “Are you drunk, Ray? Because if not, we can make a trip to the bar together since we’re both twenty-one and it seems as if I've lost my drink.”
                          
“I am drunk, Blake, much more drunk than I’d like to be while at a club meeting random blonde boys. But thank you. I have to go find my friend.” I told him, turning around slightly. “I’m sorry again, you know, about your drink.”
                          
“Wait, hold up,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me towards him. “You don’t have to run away from me, I promise. If your friend wants you, she’ll come looking for you. It’s my birthday, celebrate with me. Let me buy you a drink. Just one, and it can be non-alcoholic if you’d like.”
                          
I agreed with a smile. I’d only spent about five minutes with this boy, but I was pretty comfortable. Yet spending nearly three hours with Aaron and Harry earlier, I felt like a kindergartener on my first day of school - all I wanted to do was go home. Blake was nice and he had an adorable smile that was almost innocent. I spread my hand over the top of my hair before following him to the bar.
                          
“A beer and a,” he looked at me to finish.
                          
“Vodka and cranberry juice.” I ordered with a smile.
                          
“All you girls like fancy ass mixed drinks, never anything simple.” Blake chuckled. I nodded in agreement and we received our drinks from the bartender. “Do you want to dance with me?” He asked.
                          
Red lights.
                          
Do I want to dance? Of course I want to dance with him. He’s been nothing but nice to me. He’s being my friend and keeping me company, since Daisy and I split up again. He’s really cute. And he was kind and thoughtful enough to buy me a drink.
                          
He bought me a drink.
                          
Getting me drunk, who knows what he plans to do. I’m already drunk and he knew that, and he insisted on buying me a drink.
                          
This is dangerous.
                          
Reina, stop! It’s his birthday! He’s being nice! He wants to celebrate!
                          
Get your shit together.
                          
Dad won’t find out. You’ll be okay. They’re over-protective, you can’t live your life in a shell. You’re twenty-one, it’s time to get out there. Nothing will go wrong.
                          
You’re taking too long, he’ll think you’re weird and walk away. Just say yes.
                          
Say yes.
                          
“Sure,” I said with a smile. Blake took my hand with his free hand and lead me through the crowd to a big enough clearing for the two of us.
                          
I did my best to keep my drink steady in my hand while moving to the music. Blake’s free hand eventually found its way to my hip and brought me closer to him. My stomach touched his. And my legs. I was enjoying myself. But sweating. No wonder everyone wore the littlest amount of clothes as possible.
                          
He turned me around gently to face the same way he was, bringing me closer, the back of my body moving against the front of his. Everyone around us seemed to be positioned like this. I watched Jersey Shore - I wasn’t completely oblivious to what was going on. His hand was still on my hip, but lower this time, half way to my thigh. I didn’t mind. I was drunk and he was cute and this was normal and everything would be okay.
                          
I put my free hand over his on my upper thigh. He pulled me even closer. I was sweaty and still nervous but I was drunk and still drinking and my adrenaline was pumping to the beat of the music and I felt him against me and I took the last gulp of my drink before turning around and sealing my lips to his.
                          
His lips were soft and his tongue tasted like beer and he grunted when my teeth grazed his bottom lip and if it weren’t for his hand holding my side, I think I’d faint from the kiss. From the heat. From the alcohol.
                          
Eventually I dropped my empty cup and my hands found his neck and his hand moved from my thigh to my butt and I knew that it was dirty and wrong but I didn’t stop him and it was invigorating. And reckless. And damn good. And for the first time in my life, I felt free.