Blood on Bourbon

Title: Blood on Bourbon Chapter 1: The Arrival Erin Scott  The humid air of New Orleans clung to me like a second skin as I stepped out of the cab, my boots clicking against the uneven cobblestones of Bourbon Street. The loft my best friend, Mia, and her three other bridesmaids had rented for her bachelorette weekend was a vision—wrought-iron balconies dripping with ivy, tall shutters painted a deep crimson, and the vibrant hum of jazz seeping into the street from the bar downstairs. It was perfect i********: fodder, which was exactly why the crew was already squealing and snapping selfies before the driver had even unloaded all of our bags. “Hashtag NOLA!” chirped Mia, the bride-to-be, her platinum blonde hair glowing under the streetlights as she struck a pose with a hurricane cocktail she’d somehow procured within minutes of arrival. Beside her, Tara and Jade were already plotting their bar crawl, giggling about the “hot Cajun guys” they’d sneak off with later. Meanwhile, Lexi, the group’s official influencer, was live-streaming the chaos to her 90K followers, promising “the wildest bachelorette weekend ever.” This humid climate, the Spanish moss hanging from massive trees, the old buildings, and the clear night sky all called to something deep inside of me. Although I had never visited New Orleans before, it felt like a homecoming of sorts. I surveyed the street, taking a deep breath before mentally checking back into the group’s conversations. Across the street, a man caught my eye. He casually leaned against a streetlamp, watching my group pour out of the taxi. A mischievous smirk sat on his face, and his light brown, shaggy hair covered one of his dark eyes. A chill ran up my spine as a gulp of air involuntarily slid down my throat. Was he staring at me, or am I staring at him? Another, just as well-built, attractive man with a more stern demeanor and jet-black well-trimmed hair steps in front of the other man. They appear to be having a conversation, and not a pleasant one. “Not everything is about you, Erin,” I quietly told myself. “Erin, come on! "We have to tour our loft!” Lexi sang in a high-pitched tone. I smiled faintly, pulling my gaze from the two men, and dragged my suitcase inside. I love my friends, but I wasn’t there for the booze or late-night Snapchat photos. Another time in my life, I would have relished the idea of no responsibilities for four nights in The Big Easy, but that was the old me. At 24, I’d already fought my demons—the whiskey-soaked nights I barely remembered and the mornings I wished I could forget. Semi-sobriety was my badge of honor now, hard-won and fiercely guarded. I did still have one or two drinks on special occasions, but never the hard stuff. I get my highs from working out and living clean. No more blacking out for days on end. While the others chased future hangovers, I had my eye on the Garden District’s mansions and the dusty shelves of the Historic New Orleans Collection. Maybe even a ghost tour in a cemetery, if I could dodge the drunk crowds and want to be witches. The loft was all dark wood and red velvet, with a chandelier that looked like it belonged in an old Victorian castle. The girls claimed their beds, tossing sequined dresses and heels everywhere. “Erin, you have to come to Pat O’Brien’s with us tonight,” Mia pleaded, waving a glittery veil. “It’s my bachelorette weekend!” “It’s Wednesday night, Mia. It was a long flight. "Don’t you want to settle in and wake up fresh for all your partying Thursday through Saturday?” My attempt at a healthy routine this weekend. I could almost hear all four of my travel companions roll their eyes in unison. “I’ll tag along, but we shouldn’t stay out too late tonight. "Remember, I booked that bike party tour for us tomorrow at 11 a.m.!” I relented. Tara smirked, adjusting her push-up bra. “I knew you wouldn’t be such a stick in the mud! Don’t we get to drink on this bike party tour thingy?” “DUH! "We can like drink everywhere and anytime here!” Jade shouted, jumping out of a hallway, hopping herself into a body-con dress, wiggling and squeezing all her bits in. We all burst into laughter at the ridiculous sight. All of us went to work, getting settled in and primping ourselves for the first night out on the town. As I put on my finishing touches of makeup, Mia went into my restroom and wrapped her arms around me tightly. “Thanks for coming this weekend. It wouldn’t be the same without you, ya know?” She said into the mirror, laying her perfect blonde curls on my shoulder. “I won’t miss it for the world, Mia. I’m so happy for you,” I told her honestly, kissing her on the forehead and then turning back to my mascara. I loved her like a sister, but physical touch wasn’t something I had ever been very comfortable with. It’s not that I didn’t want to be all cuddles and hugs like Mia, but it just didn’t come naturally to me. “I want you to be happy too, Erin. Do me a favor and try to relax a little bit this weekend. "You deserve it,” Mia said as she started to fix the buttons on my blouse. “Mia…” I tried to warn. “I don’t want to hear it! You’ve been good for years now. You don’t have to keep punishing yourself. I’m not asking you to do body shots with me, I’m just asking you to have a bit of fun and let your hair down some!” To make her point, she pulls my ponytail tie out and fluffs my curly, light red hair with her fingers, framing my face perfectly. I gave her a tight smile. “You’re right. I’ll try Mia. I love ya.” She squeals in excitement and grips my hand tightly before running out of the restroom, yelling the lyrics to one of Shania Twain's songs. “Let’s go, girls! Whoa!” I hear the rest of the women join in laughing and singing with her. My friend’s joy is contagious, so I grab my purse with a smile before joining her and the others. To my surprise, they were not heading out the door but on the balcony, holding drinks and singing into the street below. "Screw it," I said under my breath, and I grabbed a can of light beer from the kitchen and went out to join them. “I’d like to propose a toast to our best friend, Mia! Cheers to your happiness, my sweet friend!” I announced, holding my can in the air. The girls turned around and started screeching and laughing in excitement. “Cheers!” They all shouted. Lexi pulled her selfie stick out and started demanding poses from us for her followers. “#NightOne,” She sang with a kissy face. I glanced down at the lamppost where the two men had been earlier. A slight pang of disappointment tugged at me when, among the sea of people, they were nowhere in sight. Why did I care so much? Maybe I was subconsciously craving what Mia had. Love. I laughed at myself and said, “Alright, let’s see what this town is made of!” And with that, we were out the front door and down to the bustling street below.