23 Fun

The red neon sign of the club glowed bright red, overshadowing the bustling street. It was one of the only few clubs near Adrian's university that actually had a good ambiance. Good food and a nice vibe; everyone wanted to dance their stress away. You could hear the muffled bass of the music from across the street. The exterior of the club exuded an old, yet modern charm, with its polished glass doors luring guests inside.

Catching the fleeting glimpse of Chrys sucking on what seemed to be an e-cigarette right before hiding it in his jacket, Adrian smirks as their group makes its way to the bar, passing two huge doors. Thick smoke escaped Chrys' nose as they passed through security before they finally came face to face with the party. Looking around, and seeing all their smiles and a joyful atmosphere, a faint sense of calmness washes over Adrian as he feels at home being with his friends.

Strobe lights flashed into Adrian's eyes making him bring his hands to his eyes for cover and look down, only to see a few inches of the black-painted floor being covered by a thin, yet obviously artificial fog. The room vibrated vigorously with the sound of the music, and the stomps of the people dancing. Everyone had their place in the club, ranging from men grinding and grooving with their girlfriends to quiet men standing apart from the crowd sipping on beer from glasses and reserved women sitting on round tables spectating the dance floor, envious of not having a partner

Robby startles me by curling his arm around my shoulder before dragging me to the bar, with the rest of the group following us as we straddle through the crowd. A polished thin glass railing past a row of posh bar stools separated the bar from the club, with the population taking recluse once their legs started to tire out.

"Come on, lighten up!", Robby screamed in my ear. I almost couldn't make out any of his words due to the blaring music. He sat in a seat before I made myself comfortable next to him. "You don't need to think about our evaluations today!"

"What can I get you, gentlemen?"

A loud voice catches both of our attention. The bartender didn't look a day under 30. Some of his hair had gone grey, yet looked pretty sick slicked back. With seasoned confidence, he polished a glass, while effortlessly multitasking

"Hey!", Rob yells out to the bartender "A Martini with Vodka!", he shouts, before turning to me.

"Gin and Tonic. Add something spicy!", I holler at the bartender.

The drink trickles down my throat, as I take another sip and I can't help but savor it. It starts with this burst of sweetness, like a dance of citrus on my taste buds. Right when I think it's about to go away, the spice kicks in, almost waking me up with each consequent sip, before finally leaving a faint bitter after-taste. The glass meets the table with a triumphant clink. This was the only drink I could bear, just because I always liked the taste of citrus. That, and I have a knack for spicy food. Mix them up, and make it a drink and I'd be all over it.

"I can't believe how lively this place is!", Robby exclaimed, his words barely audible. A faint smirk spread across my face as I motioned the bartender to get me a refill. Turning to the dance floor, I respond to Rob while waiting for my drink

"Right? One of my favorite places!"

Each person added their unique energy to the night, with the air being alive with laughter, clinking of glasses and the occasional cheers as songs kept cycling from one to another. I turn around to see my glass full, so I down almost half of the cup before a faint vanilla scent makes me stop dead in my tracks. The fragrance pierces my lungs like a sword to a sternum. A chill runs down my spine as I instantly turn around and start frantically scanning each and every person in my peripheral vision looking for her. A strong grip on my hand startles me, as I look over to my side to find Rob. He's pulling my hand while gesturing me to the dance floor, overlooking the rest of the group as they disappear into the density of the crowd. Forgetting about Anita, I down my drink and eventually join the rest of the group on the dance floor.

Finally having danced for what seemed like 20 or so minutes, I slowly feel my body start to heavy and feel lightheaded. Inching further and further apart from the crowd with each move, I slip past the group and scan the room before seeing a small door opening up to a balcony. As I step onto the balcony and heave the door close behind me, the transition from the loud chaos of the club to the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of open space provides a welcome contrast. The music still echoed faintly, but the atmosphere of the balcony was quieter, offering a beautiful sight of the city at night. The streets were almost empty, as I check the time on my watch.

12 A.M

Glancing over my right side as I rest my elbows on the rough railing, I spot a flail figure, hiding their face underneath a hood. Her lip gloss shined red as she took another long drag out of her cigarette. I guess they also needed some space away from the crowd. A glint of gold off the watch on her left hand, however, throws me off. I blink my eyes quickly and squint, giving it a side-eye as I focus on it as hard as I possibly could, before finally recognizing it. My eyes widen and disbelief washes over me.

Taking a few steps to the left, I gulp and nervously pull out my phone to call her, while still keeping my eyes on the sole person accompanying me on the balcony. My hands shake as I click on her name from the contact list before I initiate a call.

ring

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