Across the Galaxy: A Pirate's Path to Glory

Birthday party

Arriving at the club, the party was already in full swing. The music was loud and the lights kept changing, from blue to purple to green. Everyone has fancy clothes with glitter and light fabric. I felt more and more insecure, feeling how my heart began to beat to the music and I just wanted to get away. Zayn placed his hand on my shoulder and we slowly made our way to the bar. 

Tristen placed an order for a few shots, it was strong, sweet and sour. Taking several of it made me want to throw up already, the sour taste was dreadful. But the other’s took it without a problem and we got separated. Valerie and Tristen already found their way to the dance floor, charming everyone else around them. Sylas was walking around the more quiet area and began to talk to people around him. While Zayn and I were still at the bar. He seemed extremely nervous, curling himself into a ball as he was staring at the last shot. We didn’t say much, it didn’t feel like we could talk about anything while we were surrounded by everyone, and loud music played from the speakers. 

Valerie soon returned with a large smile on her face and pulled Zayn onto the dance floor as well. My mind was beginning to feel cloudy as I started at the two remaining shots. I felt guilty over just leaving them there so I quickly drank them up. Which felt like a mistake. I was barely able to keep down the last, my vision becoming blurry and my head felt dizzy. My arms felt like noodles which was a funny feeling. 

But I began to feel warm. Too warm. I quickly began to seek the exit, hoping to get some fresh air and get away from the flashing lights and the smell of the sweet and sour. It made me feel sick. 

As if the room was on a rocking ship, I finally made it out and felt the chilly air against my skin. It was already much easier to breathe. Taking another deep breath, thinking it would be fresh air instead was smoke. I began to cough uncontrollably and tried to look for the source. 

“Sorry… Can’t control where the artificial wind will blow.” Hearing a voice I looked down seeing a guy crouched down with a cigarette in his hand. He was wearing a pair of neon purple sunglasses and a regular blue t-shirt with some decorative slits. He also had four eyes, his sunglasses only covering two of them, two more being above. He felt familiar… And it soon clicked with me.

“Oh, it’s fine… Aren’t you… You’re Tristen’s brother right?” He clicked his tongue and took another blow from his cigarette. As he sighed, a cloud of smoke escaped. 

“Yeah… And you’re that pink girl from yesterday. What do you want?” 

“I mean. I wanted to wish you a happy birthday” I smiled at him but he only gave a small glare before he shook his head and gave a small quick laugh. 

“Stalker huh? Did you follow me here just to wish me a happy birthday?” 

“N-no. I am just here with the rest of the crew. They… Thought about partying, a bit tired from the usual Sadotune clubs.” 

“Yeah right.” Silence. I dampened my lips as he slowly finished up his cigarette but he didn’t move from his spot. 

“Aren’t you going to go back to your party? It’s for you after all” He chuckled and shook his head.

“My crew takes every chance they get to celebrate something and go parting somewhere. I didn’t want to go clubbing on my birthday. Would have rather gotten a cake, blew off some candles as close friends wished me luck in life… But I’d need to have real friends for that.” 

“Oh, I-”

“Don’t worry about it.” He looked up and gave a small smile before sighing and slowly stood up. 

“What about you? A tuner not much for partying?” I felt extremely tiresome over the similar comments everyone made about me not liking partying because of my race. 

“A Ketsin being outside their home planet? What a shocker.” An instant smile flashed by his lips. 

“Fair. Could have said it better.” 

“But no… Sure I worked at a strip club but it was more like a show. I don’t feel too comfortable with... Too seen? I don’t know… That didn’t sound right.” I suddenly felt like I was contradicting myself. I wanted to be seen and heard. I wanted to achieve something great. Yet when I am in front of so many people I feel insecure and want to hide. 

“Yeah, I get what you mean. I left home to chase after a bigger purpose in life but… Sometimes I wish I hadn’t. But I don’t ever want to return to my old life.” He moved slowly closer to me. He seemed to be a little shorter than me or the same height as me. He had quite a few piercings on his ear as well which matched his style extremely well. His breath still smells like nicotine as he moved closer, feeling his fingers lightly touch against my skin. 

“You’re getting a bit too close…” His lips curled into a playful smirk. 

“Worried? Embarrassed?” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“Personal space. I don’t have much experience with dating or such. Not yet anyway.” I placed a hand over his chest and gave him a light but firm push back. His smirk stayed while his eyes had some sort of a glimmer in them. 

“You aren’t as naive as I thought then. Good. Never let down your guard.” He smiled as he showed both of his hands, empty. I raised my eyebrow, not knowing what he meant at first before realizing he probably tried to take something valuable from me, not flirt. I felt incredibly embarrassed as I noticed it just now. He’s a pirate as well from another crew. 

“Gonna head back to the party now. I hope I’ll hear from you again. So go ahead and stalk me.” He winked before he went inside the club again. But I caught his wrist before he managed to slink inside again. He slowly turned around, his eyes wide then he smiled. 

“Oh? Not wanting me to go yet?” My mind was blank. In my anger I caught him, refusing to believe that he would just play me like that. I don’t want to be taken advantage of just because I’m pink and look cute. I want him to know that even if I am feminine, I can still be the boss. I can still dominate. I don’t know where this feeling came from but as I pulled him closer and pushed him to the wall, it felt right. When his expression changed from a smirk to a pleading look, I didn’t want to stop. 

Loud yelling from the club made me wake up from my daze as I quickly pulled away. As I glanced at him he looked down in disappointment before his smirk returned. 

“I was a bit hopeful there. I guess you don’t have it in you.”  Then he quickly went inside. I quickly felt around in my pockets. Everything was still there. I breathed out in relief as his expression was dancing around in my mind. I looked at my hand how I had grabbed him and pushed him to the wall. I never expressed so much… Anger before. Yet they were actions I have been fantasizing about. But I still let my guard down… I have to be more careful. Not trusting anyone else but my crew.