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Once I had finished my second glass of wine, talking came easier. I joined in several discussions and felt like I was getting along with everyone much better, even if I had little in common with them and didn’t always find the subject engaging.
Soon, the rain intensified, and not even the heaters could compete with the strong chill in the air.
“Let’s go inside,” Nicole said, hugging her shivering body. “The DJ should be starting soon.”
“Dancing will warm us up,” Marley said.
The interior of the bar had a raw yet sophisticated industrial theme, all black iron, grey concrete, and exposed brick. The DJ was setting up at her station by the dancefloor.
“I’m getting another drink,” Nicole said. “Who else?”
“Me!” Eden said.
Others echoed her sentiment. We bought our drinks and consumed them in a booth of modular couches around a low table.
The DJ began her set, dance music booming from the speakers. Marley was the first of us to descend on the dancefloor, but everyone else quickly joined in. Except for me. I ordered another drink because I didn’t feel like dancing. The bartender poured gin and tonic over ice. I took the cold glass in hand and wandered over to the sidelines of the dancefloor. I sipped my drink and bobbed in time to the beat while I observed everyone else dance. At some point, I noticed a man watching me from the opposite end of the dancefloor. He seemed around my age, and he wasn’t bad looking, but I sensed something off about him and looked away.
“Come on, Milly. Let’s dance!” Stacy grabbed my hand.
I gulped the rest of my drink, put my glass down on a nearby table, then let her drag me to the dancefloor.
The mass of moving bodies absorbed me. Lights flashed. Vibrations pulsed through my body. The room spun. It hit me just how drunk I was. I hadn’t intended to drink so much—It just happened. Everything was a blur. I couldn’t tell who I was dancing with. When did it get so crowded?
Then I felt someone grab my butt.
Indignation rose within me, but I swallowed it down, writing the gesture off as an accidental brush.
Then it happened again. Not a brush. Definitely a grope.
I swung around to face my assailant, but they had disappeared within the twisting mass.
A hand came down on my shoulder. “Are you okay, hun?”
I couldn’t tell who the voice belonged to. Then I connected the outstretched arm to Marley. She looked at me with a crease of concern between her eyebrows.
“I think I need to sit down for a moment,” I said.
“Sounds like a good idea.”
I pushed a path out of the dancefloor and made for the empty booth.
Whew.
I collapsed onto the couch, resting my head in my hands. After a few deep breaths to calm myself, I pulled my phone out of my bag and pretended to occupy myself with it. That way, no one would interrupt my solitude.
Or so I thought.
Out of the corner of my eye, I detected someone moving towards me. I lifted my head and saw him. The man who had been staring at me earlier. Was he the one who grabbed me? Before I could register what I was doing, I was on my feet, dashing to the restrooms. I wouldn’t put it past that weirdo to follow me, so I shut myself inside and locked the door. I sat down on the closed toilet lid, head spinning.
How did I end up here, hiding in a bathroom while everyone else was out having fun? I always knew socialising with Nicole’s friends was going to be awkward, but I never imagined it would be this awkward.
I spent a long time in the bathroom before I emerged. Part of me expected to see the creep waiting for me as soon as I opened the door, but he was nowhere to be seen. Thank God.
I marched up to the bar in desperate need of something to dilute the alcohol inside me. “Can I get a glass of water, please?”
“Sure thing.” The bartender bent down and retrieved a glass.
I looked around, trying to spot Nicole and her friends, but I couldn’t see them anywhere. I figured they were somewhere within the crowd on the dancefloor.
