The Chase

CECILIA     "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIIIIIRRRLLL!!"     I fall to the floor as I am suddenly ripped from my steamy dream starring Zac Efron "WWWHHHHYY? Can't you just let me sleep?" I whine loudly     "Where's the fun in that? Besides it's only 8." Tabitha says with an arched brow and devious smile.     "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Some of us actually need sleep to function." Tabitha didn’t need sleep. She seemed to run on coffee and sweet tea. Never really saw her drinking anything else, unless it containing alcohol.     "Whatever. Blow out your candle, b***h. We're going out tonight." b***h is actually a term of endearment for a friend of Tabitha.     "Oh yeah? Where are we going?" I say while pulling myself from the floor and blowing morning breath through the candle flame directly into her face. Oops.     "That bar off of Third St." she says as she swipes her finger across the poorly iced cupcake and pops it into her mouth, avoiding direct eye contact with me.     "You mean the bar with all the creepy old guys because you seriously believe you'll find a 'sugar daddy'?" I quip.     "Stop that! I don't want a sugar daddy. I want to meet a silver fox that may or may not be rich. And if he is so inclined to pay my rent, who am I to turn him down?" She pretended to be inspecting her manicure and chewed the inside of her bottom lip.      I try to hold back the laugh threatening to escape my lips. I have the power to blow up the plans for the evening. It was my birthday celebration after all. But I also know I haven’t gone out with her or any of my friends in months. I should go out and socialize. It’ll me good for me.     "Okay whatever you want. Do I have to dress up?" I ask after noticing the skin tight dress and 'f**k me pumps' she is wearing. I glance down at the loose pajama shirt and cotton shorts I’m wearing.     "Yup. Wear something tight or I'll have to dress you myself. I know how much you love that." with an eye roll and flip of her long red hair she's gone from the room. I'm left shuttering from the. memory of fishnets and body glitter. Needless to say, we don't have the same taste in clothing.     My wardrobe consists of skinny jeans and t shirts, a few tank tops and a dress or two stuffed behind everything. Something I only own because it was a gift from some that doesn’t know to all too well. I slip into a plain black dress. It was short, too short. The entire club would get a show if I bend over or sat down. It goes into a pile on the floor to be forgotten.     Next dress is a bit longer but bright red with cut outs on either side. I can’t help but laugh at how I look. It doesn’t look remotely like something I would ever wear. Maybe as a Halloween costume. This dress also falls to the floor to be forgotten.     After half the contents of my closet is now on the floor and a problem for tomorrow, I finally settle on a multicolored sequined tank top and tight jeans. Tabitha would hate it but I felt comfortable and my jeans make my butt look good.      I stare at the shoe rack debating if I can get away with wearing flats or not. I’m not very tall but tall enough that heels make me feel like a giant. Lucky for me Tab is about three inches taller than me and has no problem wearing heels. She loves towering over people. Made her stand out.     "Seriously? Just borrow one of my skirts! You have such great legs...."I hook Tab's arm and rush her out the door to the waiting Uber before she can judge my 'conservative' outfit any further     Our driver is a young guy, probably a college student based on his sweatshirt logo. That and the electronic dance music playing on the stereo. Tabitha is bobbing her head to the base and pulling at the him of her mini skirt. I lean against the door and close my eyes and block out everything to prepare myself for the club atmosphere. I only open them when I hear the squealing of the tires and feel the car come to a stop.      We don’t walk to the back of the line wrapping around the building, instead Tabitha grabs my hand and pulls me to the bound who she apparently knows. They hug and whisper into each other’s ears before he tilts his head towards the door allowing us to pass.     “Find somewhere to sit. First round is on me!” A grin spreads across Tab’s face as she kisses my temple and pushes me toward some empty booths next to the dance floor.     I slid into a U shaped booth so that my back is to the wall and scan the crowd to Tabitha. I spot her at the counter with a short man in a suit. Tab laughed half heartedly at whatever he has said. He looked at her like she was a goddess. Like he would do anything for her. I hated to admit I was sometimes jealous of the attention she got. I wanted a guy to fall over his own feet for me.     The dance music is so loud I can feel the vibration of the bass radiating through the leather seat. My body sways to the music involuntarily. I finish the last of the pink drink Tab had ordered for me. All I know is it was strong and had my feeling relaxed.     My favorite part of going out is watching the hoards of drunk people jumping and swaying to the music. Clearly horrible dancers but all in an almost euphoric state. But nothing watching seeing as Tabitha is working her magic on some poor unsuspecting walking AMEX.      "Babe can you get the next round?" Tabitha asks from the other side of the table with a pouted lip.     The slim grey haired man approaches our table and slides into the seat next to her and  slaps his card down on the table "It’s on me, baby girl."     I try to hide my urge to gag. I wait for Tabitha to protest and when she doesn’t I grab the card and slide out of booth. Already aware of the people I will have to fight my way through to get to the counter before I can even attempt to order.      After weaving through bodies I finally make it to the counter. I lean onto my forearms to get the attention of the bartender who seems to be intentionally ignoring me. He runs from hot girl to hot girl that approach on my left and right until finally his eyes fall on me.     "What can I getcha?" He flashing a crocked smile showing off perfect teeth.     f**k! I forgot to ask what they wanted to drink. But it's been at least 15 minutes and wasn't about to return to the table empty handed. I feel eyes on me forcing me to make a decision. They will just have to deal with my go to drink.     "Cranberry Vodka" I shout over the music and hold up three fingers to signal how many.     He quickly fills three glasses and places them in front of me. As i'm handing him the card a man, I hadn't noticed standing next to me, waves his hand over the drinks telling the bartender to add them to his tab. Who does this tool think he is?     "Thanks but you don't need to do that. I'm not even paying for them." I say with a nervous laugh. I hate talking to people in social settings. Most people don’t get my sarcastic personality.     "I figured, beautiful girls shouldn't be buying their own drinks." I look up at him, taken aback by his lame and unappealing pick up line, loading myself with some witty comeback but I'm pleasantly surprised.      Absentmindedly, I rack my eyes up and down his body. Black dress shoes, grey dress pants, white button up with the top two buttons undone. Basic. Broad shoulders followed by a sharp jaw line, full lips, blue eyes and neatly smoothed back blonde hair. My stomach flutters as my gaze settles back on his eyes. I don't think I've ever seen eyes like that before...      My eyes flash to his mouth when I notice he is talking to me. How long have I been staring at him? What did he say? I need to stop zoning out when people talk to me.     "Uh yeah......" is all I can manage to say as I grab the drinks and rush back to the table making an effort not to look back at the handsome stranger.     "Jesus did you get lost? Took you long enough." Tabitha dramatically shrieks before she grabs a glass and downs it.     “Slow down Tab” She licks the drink from her lips and flashes me her middle finger.     “She’s a big girl. She can take care of herself.” Mr. I love girls with daddy issues throws out his opinion.     I bite my tongue to stop myself from telling him off. Instead I slumping back into my seat and scan the crowd around the counter. Looking for him. It feel like something is pulling me back to the bar like a string is tied to each of us and I am stretching it and will yanked back to stand next to him. If I could find him. He was gone.     What the hell? Why didn't I ask his name? Where did he go? Is he still thinking about me? No! I am not going to be that girl. The girl that obsesses over a guy she just met and only say 10 words to.     "Uh are you going to sit or just stand there?" I'm pulled from my daze. I hadn't realized that I had stood up.     "Uh yeah. I.... Uh.... Actually I think I'm just gonna head home T." I say as I turn and leave the table before Tabitha can tell me 'Don't be such a bummer have another drink."     The cool air feels good on my face after being inside the stuffy club for so long. I twist my hair into a knot on top of my head, freeing my neck. I pull out my phone and tap to open the Uber app when suddenly I'm not alone.      “Jesus you scared me!” I jump back when I look up and am met by an intense stare.     He just stares at me as I laugh nervously. Looking back at my phone just in time for the battery to die. Great.