Watching(2)



“Drew and I are thinking about going on holiday next year to the Dominican Republic.” She types something on her phone and puts it away before looking back up at me.

“I heard it's meant to be amazing over there, I’m so jealous.” The last time I went on holiday, I was nineteen, I think depressingly.

“You could come join us?” She gives me a sympathetic look.

“I’m not going to be a third wheel on your holiday, go have fun. I am sure there are plenty of holidays in my future.” I try and reassure her.

“I just hate that you get cooped up in your home. If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t leave that place.”

“That is a bit of an exaggeration. When I finish a book, you know I go on nights out and meet up with my other friends.” I take a sip of my pitcher.

“It takes you two to three months to finish a book, that’s a long time to be indoors.”

“Well, I’m out now so let’s go and get drunk.”

“Think that’s the best idea you have had today.” We grab our drinks and head back inside to the bar ordering some shots.

We stay in the bar for another hour before we move on to the next place where we order more shots and drinks, dancing on the dancefloor, having a laugh. The drink is flowing through me, making me tipsy but I am having the night of my life.

“You ready to head to the club?” Hannah downs the last of her drink, and I do the same.

“Ready.” We wave goodbye to the bouncers and walk down the road to the club that is just a five-minute walk away.

Once we arrive we get a stamp on our wrists showing that we paid to get in and head to the bar getting two bottles of alcho-pops and test tube shots. The place is half full but I know in the next hour it will get busier.

Nicki Minaj ‘Anaconda’ starts to play, Hannah grabs my hand and takes me to the dance floor and we start dancing to the music. We sway our hips, bobbing our heads, we sing along to the words. The next song Whitney Houston ‘Dance with Somebody’ starts to play and we shriek.

Each song that plays we cheer and stay put. When we see the lady holding a tray of different coloured shots we pay for four each, downing them right after the other. We are getting to the point of being so drunk we are singing to the words loudly.

Grabbing my phone, I go on Snapchat and press record while filming me and Hannah singing to the song before sending it to all my friends.

Hannah looks to a girl standing near the DJ booth on her own and I watch her go over to her saying something before they both come back, the girl joining us, dancing next to me

The girl has blonde hair tied up in a fancy way, pale skin, she looks to be in her young twenties. She sings with us both, smiling while we all continue to dance. When a song I don’t recognise comes on, I head to the bar and the girl and Hannah follow me.

“What’s your name?” I ask the girl once I get a spot to wait.

“Hope. You?”

“I’m Angel, this is Hannah.”

“You're called Angel?” She asks me and Hannah and I laugh.

“Don’t think because she is called Angel, she is one, she writes dirty books.” Hannah bursts out laughing, I push her.

“It’s adult romance.” I correct her.

“Soft porn.” Hannah laughs again.

“You write books?” Hope asks me with a surprised look. I nod. “That’s amazing.” I wave her off. The bartender comes towards me leaning forward. She also has long blonde hair, she leans so far forward I can literally see down her shirt. She smiles sweetly at me while I order a round of drinks and shots for us all.

“I hope you’re not fussy what you drink.” I look to Hope chuckling.

“I drink anything.” She replies with a shrug.

“My kind of girl.” I wink at her and she blushes. We toast the shots and down them first. I feel the burn down my throat after the last shot “Are you here on your own?” I laugh when Hope scrunches up her face.

“The guy I’m kind of seeing is a bouncer here.”

“Oh, which one?” She points to a guy with dark brown hair, tanned skin. I can tell he is older than her. “You are here with just him?” She nods.

“He asked me to keep him company.” No wonder she was on her own.

“Well, you can join us.” She smiles at me and I take her hand and walk her back to the dancefloor with Hannah right behind us.

Alice Cooper ‘Poison’ begins to play and I scream with excitement. I love this song. I always request this on nights out, I’m so happy it’s being played. I sway my hips slowly to the beat, my hands going to my hair while I sing along to the words.

“I’m quickly going to the bathroom,” Hannah shouts to us both, I give her a thumbs up that I heard her.

I continue dancing with Hope dancing opposite me, following my movements. The kiss line ‘I want to kiss you, but I want it too much’ plays, we both lean towards each other singing out the words. She walks towards me, her body pressing into mine. We both sing to one another. She places her hand on my hip, swaying together.

I feel her body press closer to mine and something inside me that I can’t explain is happening. I look into her eyes and she is staring right back at me intensely. She grinds herself into me with the beat of the song. Her face coming closer to mine and then I feel her lips.

J.L. Ostle's Books