Page 6 of Nyctophilia

I had always liked Ben. He was sweet and genuine, and he loved Mollie to death. He came up behind her now and wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I think I’ll be the envy of the bar with two beautiful women on my arms tonight.”

The drive to the bar was quick, but as soon as we got in the doorway I realized this had been a mistake. The place was packed, with people jammed on too few barstools, the dance floor crowded with too many sweaty bodies. I sighed. This was going to be a long night.

“We need shots!” Mollie announced, and wiggled her way through the crowd to get to the bartender. By the time I made my way next to her, she already had two full shot glasses in front of her. “Drink this!” She slid one of the glasses down to me.

I put my lips to the glass and took a cautious sip. “What was that?” Whatever it was, it was strong. Thank God Ben was the designated driver tonight.

Mollie’s smile was sly. “Tequila! And we need two more!”

I didn’t fight her. The alcohol was loosening my body, turning off the thoughts that kept cycling in my mind. Another shot and a drink later, I was almost sure I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore and I was definitely sure I was going to have a hangover in the morning. The lights were disorienting, and the bass was pounding so loudly I could feel it in my belly.

“Let’s go dance!” Mollie had to yell to be heard over the music, but she grabbed both of us, dragging us out on the dance floor. Mollie immediately began moving her body against Ben, shifting easily in time to the music. I stood there, trying to decide what to do. Maybe if I was awkward enough we could leave.

“Ava! Close your eyes! Dance!” Mollie called out to me, raising her arms and swaying to the beat.

Thankfully, I was drunk enough that what she said made sense. So I did. Closing my eyes, I let my body sway to the music, feeling the beat take over my body. When I opened them again, Mollie was smiling encouragingly at me. “Now you’ve got it!”

It was fun. Being young, feeling carefree. We danced for an endless amount of time before Mollie shouted at me that she and Ben were going to get some air.

“Do you want to come?”

I surprised myself. I was having a good time dancing.

I shook my head, and she raised her eyebrows. “Will you be okay?”

I nodded, and she took Ben’s hand and they headed out. I felt good. Confident. I closed my eyes and let go. Just for one night.

Hands held my hips. “Dance with me.” I stopped dancing and whirled around. Jasper stood uncomfortably close to me. Here. In this bar. His hands still rested on my hips, but we weren’t moving. My skin was tingling from where we touched, but that had to be the alcohol.

“What are you doing here?” I shouted at him. I couldn’t say I was disappointed. If anything, I was the opposite. His dark hair was pushed back away from his face, his skin flushed with the heat of the bar.

“It’s a bar. Am I not allowed to be here?”

I shrugged. I didn’t know how to explain everything I was feeling. The pull he had over me. The space he was occupying in my mind.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said into my ear.

Right now, I felt beautiful. Jasper’s hands slid back over my hips, pulling me closer against him.

“Is this okay?”

I nodded. His proximity, mixed with the alcohol I had consumed, was a heady mix.

“Come on. Dance with me.”

I wasn’t sure I even knew how to dance with a guy, but I wasn’t about to say no. Jasper started moving his body in perfect tempo with the music, pulling me closer against him. I didn’t notice the people around me, losing myself in the moment. Nothing else mattered. Our bodies pressed together in every possible way, and he spun me around. Jasper’s face was so close I could feel his breath in my ear. “Why do you keep running away?”

I frowned, the moment feeling over. “I’m not.”

“You know what I mean, Ava.”

Even over the deafening music I could hear his words perfectly. I couldn’t deny it, I did know exactly what he meant. In another situation, I would have lied. But the alcohol made me brazen. “You scare me.”

Whatever Jasper was expecting me to say, it wasn’t that. He froze. “I scare you?”

I nodded, continuing. “I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. Or maybe in a different life.” I realized the utter insanity of what I had said and I pushed myself away from him. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that. I should find my friends.” I ran off the dance floor before I could see his face. Before I could regret my decision to leave.

In my haste to get away, I nearly ran into Mollie. “Whoa, careful girl. Are you okay?” Mollie held me at arm’s length, looking me over.

---