Page 17 of Loving Lauren
The line outsideNeon Pulsebuzzed with weekend energy. Strobe lights leaked from fogged windows, painting the sidewalk in bursts of saturated pink and electric blue. Sierra arrived first, tucked into her signature black leather jacket, a cropped tee underneath and ripped jeans that clung just right. Mascara. Lip gloss. Bold on the outside, nerves sprinting laps on the inside.
Calliope had once describedNeon Pulseas “half club, half fever dream, all chaos.” She wasn’t wrong. The bass throbbed up from the concrete, a heartbeat for the entire building.
Lauren showed up in boots and a black top threaded with glitter that caught the lights, like she was born to sparkle. Her eyeliner was sharp enough to file a restraining order, and she styled her hair to perfection, sweeping it slightly to the side. Sierra’s heart thudded.
“You clean up alright.” Lauren grinned as she stepped closer. Somewhere between harmless and devastating.
Sierra blinked. “You’re glowing.”
But there was something — a flicker in Lauren’s eyes. Like a shadow passed behind the shine. Bracing. Guarded. It disappeared so fast, Sierra wasn’t sure she hadn’t imagined it. Still, it lingered in the back of her mind as they headed inside.
The bouncer gave Sierra a nod and waved them all inside. Regulars got perks.
The bass rattled their ribs the second they crossed the threshold. Calliope tossed a drink to Sierra and dragged her onto the dance floor. Raven wore velvet pants and a sheer top layeredover a mesh bra. Jett sparkled from head to toe, thanks to an aggressive amount of glitter gel and an abundance of confidence.
They pulled Lauren into the fold as if she’d always been there.
Jett gave a theatrical bow. “So, you’re Lauren. We’ve heard things.”
“Good things, I hope?” Lauren arched a brow.
Raven clinked her drink against Lauren’s. “We’ll decide by midnight.”
Calliope was already smirking. “She passes the vibe check. Let’s see if she can dance.”
Lauren’s grin was all teeth. “Careful what you wish for.”
The chaos began immediately. Jett spun as if he were headlining his own music video. Calliope fake-serenaded the bartender with an empty glass as a mic. Raven invented a dance move that may or may not have summoned spirits. Sierra, never one to blend in, made the rounds with her signature twerk, initiating everyone in her orbit like some holy rite of queerness.
“Oh no!” Calliope shouted over the beat. “She initiated you, Lauren! The booty has blessed you!”
Lauren doubled over laughing, one hand on Sierra’s arm for balance. “I’m honored. Truly.” She snapped a photo of the moment — Sierra mid-twerk, chaos swirling behind her, then another of the group tangled in glitter and sweat.
She pulled Sierra close for a selfie, draping her arm casually across her shoulders. “Smile.”
Then, without warning, Lauren kissed her cheek as the camera clicked.
The second after, her thumb hovered over the screen. Too much? Was she overstepping?
But then she smiled, hitpost. “I’m uploading and tagging everyone. If I’m crashing your friend group, I’m going all in.”
“Congratulations.” Raven stole a sip of Lauren’s drink like it was her right. “You’re officially one of us now.”
“I get my coven patch later?” Lauren deadpanned.
“Exactly. First you survive the night. Then Calliope’s unsolicited relationship advice. Then brunch.” Jett winked at Calliope.
Calliope threw a lime wedge at him.
They collapsed into a booth in a tangle of limbs and glowing skin. Someone ordered a round of shots. They toasted to “glorious chaos” and downed them with no coordination, no regrets.
As the next high-energy track faded, the DJ slid into a dreamy, slow tempo. The lights dimmed, and the tempo dropped like a sigh.
The group peeled away, flopping into the booth to recover.
Sierra stayed. She turned to Lauren, who was still beside her, sipping what remained of her cocktail.
“We should probably sit this one out.”
