She called around six o'clock. I'd just got done watching a DVD. She was surprised when I answered the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey. I thought you were having dinner with Julie's folks?”
I closed my eyes tight. I hadn't been upset since that morning, but hearing her name made the heart jump.
“Nah,” I said simply. “Why the hell you call then?”
“To leave a message on your machine, dumbass. You guys want to come out tonight? Dave and Tina are heading out to Lumbermill's in the city. It's eighteen and over, so Alicia's coming too. You guys in?”
I thought about it for a moment. I didn't really want to drive to the city to go to a club. Staring at attractive women certainly isn't a bad way to pass the time, but I'm not really a club guy. I don't drink or dance. So basically I give up fifteen bucks to go stand and hang out with my friends.
But if I didn't go, I'd dwell on Julie all night long.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Cool. We're gonna head out around nine.”
“Gotcha.”
She hung up.
It didn't take long to get ready and look halfway decent. Just a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved shirt to try to show off the arms. I was watching TV when I heard someone knocking at Cindy's door just outside my apartment. Then there was a familiar voice.
“Yo Cindy! You in there?”
It was Dave, one of Cindy's friends that she'd met in college. No doubt his girlfriend Tina was with him. About ten minutes later I heard someone else knocking at her door. Looked like the night was getting started.
I locked the front door behind me and walked into Cindy's apartment. We never knocked on each other's doors. We just had a rule that went unspoken. If the door was locked, it meant naked people were usually inside.
Dave and Tina were sitting on the couch. Jenny, another of Cindy's friends, was in the kitchen getting a drink. She was the only other black friend that Cindy had. Cindy was nowhere to be seen, probably in the bedroom still getting dressed.
“Hey Alex!” Dave said. “What's up, man?”
Dave and Tina were alright. Always happy and smiling.
“Hey, how's it going? You two getting drunk tonight?”
“I'm gonna try my best, if Tina lets me.”
She elbowed him in the side and laughed.
Jenny waved from the kitchen.
“Alex. Long time no see.”
“Hey, Jenny. How's it going?”
“Are we all here?”
“Everyone except Alicia.”
Almost like she sensed her name, Alicia gave a quick knock on the door, then stepped inside.
“Hey, everybody.”
Cindy's voice came from the bedroom.
“Leese? Is that you?”
“Yeah.”
“Come in here and tell me if I look good.”
I laughed. Definitely funny cause Cindy always looked good.
We did some small talk for a few minutes until Cindy and Alicia came out of the bedroom. Cindy wore blue jeans and a half-shirt. She'd have no trouble getting the attention of the guys at the club. I always noticed a pattern in the way she dressed. If she showed off her upper body, she wore jeans. If she showed off those legs of hers, then she covered up top. It was always a half and half thing with her.
“Everybody ready?” Cindy asked, then looked right at me. “Hey Alex, where's your woman? Did she finally get smart and dump your ass?”
Despite Cindy throwing a dart and hitting a bulls-eye, I didn't flinch or anything. I just threw on a poker face.
“Eh, she couldn't make it tonight.”
Dave pointed at me from the couch. “Listen, if you two ever do break up, let me know. I'd drop Tina for her in a second.”
“Like hell you would, asshole,” Tina said. “You've never had such good sex.”
“Whoa. Too much info,” Jenny called from the kitchen.
I could have won an acting award. No one suspected anything.
Except, of course, for Cindy and Alicia. I caught the two of them trading looks, then Cindy stared right at me while Dave and Tina were elbowing each other. I could see the sadness in her eyes. I gave a small smile and shrugged.
“Okay, we ready to go? Who's driving? The Teague family again?”
Alicia and I drove the few times we headed out. Alicia wasn't old enough to drink, and I simply didn't drink.
“That sounds fine to me.”
“Cool. Me and Tina will go with Leese so we can make out in the back seat and gross her out like last time.”
Everyone started filing out of the apartment. Then Cindy spoke up.
“Oh, Jen, we'll be out in a second. I need Alex's help with something.”
“Sure,” Jenny looked at me. “Your truck unlocked?”
“Yeah.”
She left. It was just Cindy and me. She put her hands on my shoulders.
“Alex, I'm so sorry,” she said. “What happened?”
I shrugged. “It wasn't working out.”
“What?”
“That's what she said. She said she just didn't feel it was working out.”
“That fuckin' bitch.”
Her tone made me laugh. “I'll be okay.”
“I didn't mean what I said.” She gave me a hug. “She's an idiot for breaking up with you. She'll never find someone else like you.”
“Thanks, Cindy. Do me a favor. Just keep this quiet for tonight. I don't want everybody freaking out and wanting to talk about Julie all night.”
She nodded. “No problem. What a stupid bitch. Listen, nine thousand women will be all over you at the club. So don't worry about it.”
“Yeah, right.”
We left the apartment. Jenny was waiting in the back seat of my truck. Alicia was driving away with Dave and Tina, but slowed down when she saw me. We locked eyes, and I smiled and nodded, letting her know I was okay. She nodded back, letting me know she understood. Sibling communication.
The night started out normal enough. The drive through the city wasn't fun, but that was expected. Groups of people walked around everywhere. Every street was jammed with traffic. But we eventually made it to the club and parked close to each other. Then the six of us walked up together. We all got a nice little drinking armband except Alicia.
It's like an assault on the senses when you first step into any club. You go from a quiet, wide open outside to a loud, claustrophobic inside. It was so loud I could barely hear anyone talk. It was so crowded I could barely move. The lines at the bar were so long that it would take minutes to get a drink of any kind. Wow, what fun.
We split up after a while. Dave and Tina went to the dance floor and started grinding on each other. Alicia went to the bathroom while Jenny, Cindy, and I all waited for a drink.
It was so loud that whenever you wanted to talk to someone you had to get right next to their ear. And Jenny would put a hand on me whenever I leaned close to talk. Weird.
“What you want?” I asked her, pointing at the bar.
“Just a beer is fine. Thanks.”
I looked at Cindy. “Water.”
I gave her a look. That's what I had in mind.
I handed everyone their drinks and we found a corner to stand in. Cindy leaned close to me.
“Any woman's phone number in here you want, let me know. We'll get it.”
I shook my head. Cindy always looked out for me. Probably a little too much.
“Jesus,” Jenny said. “Look at those two.”
I followed her finger. Dave and Tina were making out like crazy on the dance floor. I thought any moment he'd throw her to the ground and make their own porn film.
“Leese will be dropping them off at a hotel tonight.”
Someone behind Dave and Tina caught my attention. There was a red-headed woman standing next to the platform where the DJ was and others were dancing. She wasn't dancing or drinking. She leaned against the railing and stared right at me.
I took a sip of my water.
I expected when I looked back over at her that she'd be looking somewhere else. I was wrong. She still stared right at me. And it wasn't an “I think you're sexy” stare. There was a curiosity in her body language.
I looked at Cindy. “Hey. Do you see that redhead over there? Don't stare. But do you see her?”
Cindy casually searched to where I was gesturing. “I don't see any redhead.”
I looked back to the DJ. Sure enough, she was gone. I searched around the dance floor. In just a matter of seconds, I couldn't find her. You gotta love clubs.
“Can't blame her, though,” Cindy said with a smile. “I'd stare at you too.”
I opened my mouth to throw a joke out when Alicia joined us.
“Hey guys,” she said. “One of the pool tables is open upstairs. Let's get some games in.”
I liked that idea. I'm not great at pool, but like playing it. We made our way up the stairs to the second level of the club. Near the back were the pool tables. Alicia and Jenny played first. I cheered my little sister on as always, while Jenny gave me dirty looks. Cindy sat next to me and rested an arm on my shoulder.
They were about halfway done their first game when I heard a voice off to my left.
“Hi guys.”
We all turned to look at her. The redhead I'd seen staring at me not too long ago. Now that she was only ten feet away I could get a good look at her.
Very gorgeous. Red hair that stopped past the shoulders. Deep green eyes. A skirt that went just above the knees. Rather pale skin. A bright smile. Absolutely amazing body. She looked about our age, maybe a little older.
“You guys mind if I play with you?”
Alicia looked at all of us. When none of us objected, she shrugged.
“Sure. You can have winner of our game if you want.”
“I want to play him, if that's alright.” She pointed at me.
I saw Alicia give me a look. She smiled and nodded, like she was proud of me that I could attract such a beautiful woman.
The redhead sat next to me while we waited for Jenny and Alicia to finish. I didn't say a word to her. Cindy nudged me, trying to get me to talk to her.
I somehow knew she wasn't interested in me. She was here for another reason. I just didn't know what it was.
Alicia finally beat Jenny. She pretended to put Jenny in a headlock while tossing the pool cue to me.
“Well, you ready?” the redhead said to me.
I nodded. Cindy and I locked eyes for a moment before I started racking. Her eyes said it all. She was wondering what was wrong with me, why I wasn't chatting up this beautiful woman.
“Aren't you the stud with all these women,” she said. She never took her eyes off me at the other end of the pool table.
She was playing a game of some kind. Was she actually flirting or interested in me? Something deep down told me no.
“I'm Alex. That's my sister Alicia. My friends, Jenny and Cindy.”
“I'm Victoria. Nice to meet all of you.”
“Hi,” Cindy said, flashing her smile. “Alex is a little shy, so you have to forgive him.”
“I think I can manage that. He is cute.”
I broke the rack, sinking a ball. I missed my next shot. She took hers, sinking the one ball. It almost felt like a duel of some kind.
“So do you live around here?” she asked.
“All my life.”
“I'm a traveler myself. I'm in town for a few days. Looking to make some friends.”
“Ah.”
“You guys come out here a lot?”
“Every now and then.”
“You don't look like a drinker to me.”
“One day we'll get him drunk,” Jenny said from next to Cindy. Now suddenly she felt the need to help out too.
“Nah. I like a guy who's in control.”
I ended up beating her. She faked disappointment and handed her cue to Alicia. She touched my shoulder. I wanted to pull away, but didn't. I didn't want to make my hesitance of Victoria obvious.
“It was nice meeting you. I hope we meet again sometime.”
I watched her walk away and disappear into the crowd of people. I heard Jenny behind me.
“I'll give you credit, Alex. Any other guy would have been all over her. Julie is a lucky woman.”
Yeah, right.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I knew it was Cindy.
“You are something.”
I looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“Any other guy would jump on the rebound express. And a hot redhead, no question about it.”
I smiled. “You were trying to get me to talk to her at first.”
She shook her head. “Bad idea. She was too pushy.”
“Yeah. Not my type.”
“What is your type, Alex?”
The question caught me off guard. I looked at my friend.
“Don't really know. But I know it's not that.”
She smiled. “I'm so glad we're friends.” She was serious. No humor in her voice.
Again, the sudden bonding surprised me. I gave her a quick, playful hug. She did the same.
“What would I do without you?”
“You wouldn't make it a week. Now get me some more water, bitch.”
I laughed.
I complain about clubs a lot, but I usually end up having fun. I always have the company to thank for that. I always have fun with Alicia and Cindy, of course. Dave and Tina just made me laugh. They were a funny couple. Jenny was quiet, but I liked her too.
There was one more surprise in store for me.
It was getting close to the end of the night. Dave and Tina ran off to who-knows-where. Jenny actually met a guy, and was at the bar talking to him. Alicia had to go to the bathroom. It was just me and Cindy, leaning against the wall with our waters.
“So, you having fun?” she asked me.
“Yeah. I just get tired of you whipping my ass at pool.”
“You let me win.”
“Bullshit. I wouldn't let my own mother win.”
She laughed. “I'm glad you had fun.”
I knew what she was referring to.
“I'll probably hide in bed all day tomorrow,” I said. “But thanks for looking out for me.”
“That's what friends are for. Tomorrow I'll pull you out of bed and get us a pizza. We'll become one with the couch and watch some movies.”
I laughed. “Sounds good.”
“Now, what do I have to do to get you out there and dance with me?”
“Probably a lot of beer. But I don't drink. So that's that.”
“Come on, Alex. It'll be fun. I'll hang all over you like Tina does to Dave.”
“We'll probably get arrested then. Come on, you know white people can't dance.”
Her turn to laugh. “Well, I'm gonna dance. And if you don't come I'll look stupid dancing all alone.”
She walked out to the dance floor. I shook my head while holding up the wall. But I couldn't take my eyes off her. Cindy grew up from a spunky five-year-old girl to a sexy woman, all right in front of me. She had that beauty that went across all races. Once people found out we were friends, color didn't matter. I had whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics, all asking if Cindy was single. Everyone wanted to talk to her. Can't say I blame them.
Maybe somebody spiked the water, I don't know. But I decided I was gonna dance badly with her. She was trying her best to have fun with me. What better way than to laugh together at how bad a dancer I am.
I took two steps away from the wall when suddenly a pair of arms slipped around me. I looked into the eyes of Victoria, the hot redhead. I noticed for the first time that she was about an inch shorter than me.
“Put your arms around me. Right now. Make it look like we're dancing.”
Her voice had changed from earlier. The flirty tone was gone. She wore a smile, but she was all business. I thought I heard a slight accent that I didn't hear before.
She squeezed me. I actually felt the air rush out of
my lungs. For a few seconds I couldn't draw a breath. Then she eased her grip.
“I could kill you right here, right now, and no one will really notice. Now put your arms around me.”
“No. Fuck you. You won't hurt me, cause you want something from me. Now let me go.”
I don't where that came from. I'd never been threatened before in my life, unless you count schoolyard bullies that Cindy saved me from. But there I was, mouthing off to someone who obviously wasn't what she seemed.
She actually smiled.
“Fair enough.”
She let me go. But she did grab a hold of my hand. The entire time she never let the smile fade from her face.
“Who are you?”
I was confused. “I told you. My name's Alex. I don't know what you're problem is, but I think you got me confused for someone else.”
“Okay. Enough games. Listen to me. I don't know who or what you are. But this place is under my protection. Get to whatever business you have and leave.”
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Hi guys,” Cindy said. “I was looking for you, Alex.”
Victoria's personality shifted once again.
“Hi, Cindy,” she said. “Listen, I'll get right to it. You and Alex aren't dating, right?”
“Nope. Not at all. He's all yours.”
“Just what I wanted to hear.”
Victoria winked at me. Then she walked away.
I watched the curvy stranger. Her words still bounced in my mind.
Who are you? What are you?
“Man, that is one aggressive bitch.”
I didn't smile. “You ain't lying.”
“Hey. Did I mess up there? It looked like you needed saving. But if you're interested...“
“Oh no, Cindy. You definitely saved me.”
“Good. I'm picking your next girlfriend. No one's ever breaking up with you again.”
I looked at Cindy and smiled. “It's a deal.”
Chapter 6
The rest of the night went smoothly. It ended up being almost three in the morning before everyone got home. Cindy wanted to stop by my place and watch TV, but I was tired. I just wanted to get to bed. I wanted to go to sleep and dwell on the fun stuff. I wanted to forget about girlfriends that broke up for reasons unknown and hot redheads that were freakishly strong and got people mixed up.
Demonspawn Page 6