‘Okay, Anna. We’re trying to pretend we are over eighteen,’ Taylor said with a smirk.
Anna ran her hand past her face, turning cool and collected. ‘Right, got it.’
They walked towards the dark building. If the big sparkly RAMBLERS sign wasn’t blinking above the door, you wouldn’t have even noticed the building in the street. It gave off a sleek, important vibe, something the owners had no doubt wanted. The queue of sexy women and good-looking guys out the front also gave it away.
The three of them barely spoke as the line crept forward. They were trying to keep cool and seem older. Seriously, they weren’t far off being eighteen so they should be able to do it with ease.
‘ID please,’ said the large bouncer in his black t-shirt with a white R on the front.
Obediently they showed him their cards as his sharp eyes sized them up. His neck was as thick as a tree trunk and Jaz found herself wondering if she could ever beat him in a one-on-one fight? Would her skills be any good over someone so strong and big? With a bit of luck she’d never need to find out the answer to that.
Without a word, he nodded them through the door. They headed inside and up some narrow stairs while sneaking victory glances at each other, surprised they’d made it in.
The music was pumping and shaking through their bodies as they merged into the crowded dance floor. Huddling together, they headed for a space near a wall.
Anna kept her face calm but her voice was excited as she half yelled, ‘We’re here, we’re here. Now what?’
‘This is so awesome,’ said Jaz taking in the room. There was a bar in the far corner along with some tables and sitting booths, and the rest of the floor was filled with people dancing while the DJ played music from up on a mezzanine floor amongst the flashing lights.
Her hand was tugged along as Taylor dragged them into the centre of the room. ‘Let’s dance.’
And dance they did. Four songs later, a cute guy had turned around and begun dancing with Jaz. She didn’t know him from a bar of soap, but he was older and could move so she had fun dancing alongside him.
‘I need a drink,’ mouthed Anna after a while.
Jaz nodded, her own throat parched. She followed them to the booths and grabbed a seat while Taylor and Anna got them some drinks.
‘One drink won’t kill us,’ he said putting them on the table along with a water bottle. They didn’t argue. Jaz loved sitting back, watching everyone, from the bartenders to the DJ and everyone on the floor having a great time. She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the music, or maybe a combination of both, but she felt a warm buzz through her body and couldn’t keep the smile from her face.
‘It won’t be long and we can do this whenever we want,’ said Jaz leaning over to Anna.
‘Ah, the life of an adult.’ Anna smiled. ‘Come on, time’s a’wasting, more dancing needed,’ she said, finishing her drink, getting up and dragging Taylor with her.
Jaz got up to follow them, noticing a few eyes watching her. So many cute guys and to have them looking at her was kinda cool. She never got this reaction at school. Most of the guys there were scared of her; well, that’s what Taylor had told her once. So maybe she knew how to take care of herself, and if that meant they were scared of her then none of them were man enough for her. At least that’s what she tried to tell herself.
Trying not to lose Anna in the crowd, she bumped her way through. ‘Scuse me. Sorry,’ she called as she pushed in.
Being this close to people, hemmed in tightly, put her on edge all of a sudden. It was just a crowded dance floor so she tried to relax. Suddenly her arm was grabbed tightly. The pressure didn’t let go as she tried to plunge forward through the congested crowd, towards her friends. The grip on her arm felt like a threat, it sent her heart racing as she fought against it. She was being pulled backwards away from her friends. Had she been caught by the police or a bouncer? Or was it some creep?
Drawing a breath she tensed, planted her feet firmly and turned to face her possible attacker.
‘Jaz, what the bloody hell are you doing here?’ The strong voice growled.
She would have breathed a sigh of relief if Ryan wasn’t looking like was ready to kill her. And for some strange reason she felt like if he wanted to he could. His eyes were menacing and scary. But she wouldn’t let that put her off.
‘Ryan! Man, you scared me. Will you quit following me?’ she said shaking his hand from her arm.
He was studying her carefully. She could tell he was trying to calm himself, as he took a deep breath before saying slowly and gently. ‘I’m not. You must be following me.’ The tone in his voice was more controlled, not like the abrupt harshness before.