“
I’m in college; I’m not
ready to settle down. I don’t know when I’ll be ready or if I will
ever be ready. I am perfectly content with being independent and
doing whatever I want when I want. I don’t want to have to answer
to anyone about my actions or anything like that. I’m happy with
things how they are.” She looked at me and did her smirk, the same
smirk I had seen since we became friends, she barley lifted the
left side of her lips meaning the conversation was over and she no
longer cared about discussing the situation at hand. It took me
several years to understand when I saw this not to push the
conversation because she rarely budged.
Once we arrived
home, Kennedy and I hung out and watched a little
TV before we started getting ready. I was looking myself over for
the final time when I heard Ayden walk through the door and holler
for Kennedy. Kennedy went downstairs and greeted him; I heard Ayden
telling her how good she looked then introduce her to
Stefan.
I checked myself one more
time in the mirror; I had flat ironed my hair and put on a little
bit more make up than usual. I had on my favorite black dress; it
clung tightly to my curves and fell midway on my thighs. I placed
my feet into my red high heels and, finally knew I was ready to go,
started to walk downstairs. I was concentrating on not falling when
I heard all the talking become silent. Kennedy and Ayden were about
to take a shot of tequila but stopped when they saw me. Standing
close by the stairs was a really hot guy with his mouth slightly
opened, looking at me.
He must be
Stefan.
Did I really look that good? Enough to
make people stare? I considered running back upstairs and changing
into my chucks and jeans. Instead, when I reached the bottom step,
I laughed and shook my head, “Hasn’t anyone ever seen someone
wearing a black dress before? You people are acting like I just
stepped off of a runway. Are we going to go out or just stand here
and stare at each other all night?”
Kennedy laughed and they tapped
glasses and tilted their head back allowing the liquid to slide
down their throat. I took a step and my heel got caught on a piece
of the carpet; I tripped and started to fall but before I hit the
floor Stefan had his arms wrapped around my wrist, holding me. I
let out the breath I was holding; I wanted to run into my room and
crawl into a hole.
“
Damn carpet, I will be so
glad when we get hardwood floors next week. Jen, are you
okay?”
Stefan set me back up on my feet; I
couldn’t turn my eyes from him. We just stared at each other, like
the whole world faded out. Everything around us froze in place as
we stared into each other’s eyes. Everything around us vanished and
before I knew it, it was only us standing there.
“
Okay, thanks for saving
Jen’s life and all, Stefan, but I think it’s time for shots,” Ayden
said. I realized we were still starring at each other, so I quickly
took my hands off of Stefan’s arms and straightened my dress,
looking down at my feet. Stefan backed up but continued to look at
me.
“
Stefan meet Jennifer, my
clumsy roommate. Jennifer meet Stefan, Ayden’s lifesaving cousin.
Shots!”
Kennedy’s sudden yell snapped me back
to reality and I walked over to the cabinet and pulled out my shot
glass. Stefan was right quickly by my side, grabbing his own shot
glass.
“
Nice to meet you
Jennifer,” Stefan smiled at me. I smiled and pushed my shot glass
forward, waiting for Ayden to pour me a shot. I knew I’d need a lot
more alcohol to get through the rest of the night.
Ayden turned towards Kennedy and gazed
at her with that look in his eyes, the look of wanting someone so
badly it hurts you because you know you can’t have them. It made my
heart ache for him.
“
To a really great night of
partying, dancing, and drinking,” Ayden said as we all slammed our
shots back and bit our limes; that stinging feeling never gets
old.
As I got into Kennedy’s car
I noticed Stefan’s car parked behind us. It was a blacked out
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG with black rims. I watched Ayden get into the
car; the doors moved into the air and stopped. I couldn’t help but
stare. Ayden opened the passenger door and it looked like the car
had transformed into a butterfly with the doors up high.
Who was this man?
Once we got inside the club we picked
a booth near the back. It was still pretty early, so there weren’t
too many people. The club had a huge dance floor in the middle with
bar stools surrounding it. On one side there were pool tables and
darts and on the other side there were couches and chairs with
tables everywhere. There were stairs that led downstairs to the
restrooms and more secluded areas. A waitress came over and
immediately started eyeing Ayden and Stefan. I couldn’t blame her.
Stefan made Ayden look like a little boy. He was about six foot
four and was all muscle. He had tattoos covering one arm that
looked like mostly tribal with some script thrown in there but I
was unable to make out what they said; he was clean shaved with
short dark hair. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt that hugged
his chest muscles and biceps. His eyes were dark, like a rich
caramel color so that when he looked at you it was like he was
looking right into your soul and made you feel completely numb when
he gazed at you. Something about Stefan made me long to reach out
and hug him even though I barely knew him.
“
Jen? I asked you if you
wanted a drink?” I realized Kennedy was trying to get my
attention.
“
Oh. Uh, I’ll just take a
whisky sour please.”
The waitress brought us our
drink. I noticed the club was getting really packed. Ayden grabbed
Kennedy and dragged her out on the dance floor; I knew they’d stay
there most of the night. I made eye contact with Stefan and I felt
the air between us light up with electricity. W
hy did he have this effect on me?
He
paralyzed me and made me melt into my seat without even touching
me.
Damn it.
“
Want to play a round of
pool?” Stefan smirked, waiting for my response.
“
I don’t want to lose our
booth if we get up and leave.” I tried not to smile. Truth was I
didn’t care about the damn booth, but I didn’t want to embarrass
him. I had spent many of nights playing pool with my dad while he
was drunk and had become really good at it; I had never been beaten
by any of my friends growing up. I wasn’t sure how I would do with
Stefan standing next to me though, that part worried me.
Stefan got up and walked
over to our cocktail waitress; I watched as he grabbed her hand and
then kissed her on the cheek before smiling and walking back over
to me.
Where did this jealousy come
from?
He stood beside me and held out his
hand. I looked up at him questioningly. He bent his head down and
put his lips right next to my ear.
Oh
fuck.
“
Don’t make me carry you
over to the pool table.” His hot breath along sent a shiver down my
spine. I wanted to turn towards him and accept his challenge but
instead I grabbed his hand and stood up. We headed off to a pool
table that had just opened up and Stefan leaned down putting his
lips right next to my ear, “Don’t worry, our table will still be
there when we get back.”
I looked over at the dance
floor. Ayden and Kennedy were so lost in each other that I knew
they wouldn’t be coming over here for a while. I rolled my
eyes.
Stefan set up the table and looked at
me waiting to break.
He smirked looking at me. “So,
Jennifer, you ready to get beat at some pool?”
“
If anybody is going to get
beat, it’ll be you pretty boy.” I leaned down and broke, sinking a
solid into a corner pocket. I looked back over my shoulder at
Stefan and winked; he just cocked his head and smiled. He asked me
about my friendship with long Kennedy; the conversation flowed
easily. It felt like we had been lifelong friends, just out having
fun, together.
I leaned down and right as
I was about to hit the ball his hand grazed my arm, sending
electrical currents through my whole body.
What was that?
Caught off guard, I
missed my shot. I looked over at Stefan who had a sly smirk on his
face.
Did he feel that too?
“
That was such an easy shot
for you to miss after how well you’re doing.”
“
Doesn’t help when I’m
distracted.” He smiled at me, melting my insides.
Ayden and Kennedy finally came back
over to our table, Stefan and I tied. We both had taken 3 shots
each, trying to get the 8 ball, but missed every time. I couldn’t
tell if he was doing it on purpose or he was just as nervous as I
was. Either way, I didn’t mind.
I leaned over the pool table got my
shot lined up; I wasn’t missing this time. “Right pocket.” Pointing
my stick to the hole I planned on sinking the 8 ball in. With one
quick strike, the 8 ball spun and landed right in the pocket.
Kennedy high fived me.
“
Told you Stefan couldn’t
beat Jen, she’s been playing this game since she was little! Good
job, although you could’ve finished him off shortly after starting
the game.” Kennedy elbowed me in the side, “Come on you two, I need
more drinking and dancing.” She tugged my hand and pulled me over
to the bar; Ayden and Stefan followed behind us.
We got two more shots of tequila to
make up for lost time plus a drink and headed back to the booth.
Our cocktail waitress came over to make sure we were all taken care
of, but secretly I think she just wanted to gawk at
Stefan.
“
Having fun,” Stefan
asked.
“
Yes, but after sitting
here I’m starting to get tired.”
Stefan grabbed my arm and
mouthed let’s dance. I looked at Kennedy who was lost in her own
thoughts. Ayden gave Stefan a nod of his head and off we went. The
dance floor was packed but we found a small spot. We started
dancing; he never put his hands to low on my hips or move his face
to close to me. At one point I turned around with my back on his
chest and grabbed his thighs, he quickly took my hands off of him
and held my hands, I didn’t argue. After two songs I looked at him
and mouthed bathroom.
I felt like
my bladder was going to explode!
He nodded his head and walked me downstairs to
where the restroom and more private areas were.
I don’t know why he felt the need to
come with me. I was 23 and perfectly capable of going to the
restroom by myself.
I checked myself over again and
freshened myself up before leaving the restroom; I went back
outside and noticed Stefan wasn’t there, so I started making my way
back up the booth.
Just as I reached the stairs, some
drunk guy bumped into me and stopped, staring at me. I smiled at
him and went to walk up the stairs but he grabbed my arm, “Hey
there pretty girl. What’s a girl like you doing alone down here?
Have I mentioned how pretty you are?”
“
Thank you. I was just on
my way back up to my friends; just needed to take a moment to get
myself together.”
“
Oh, well why don’t you
come with me pretty girl and I will help?”
Steppenwolf song, really?
“
No thanks, if I don’t get
back upstairs, my friends will worry. Have a nice night.” I tried
to be sincere as I attempted to shake my arm loose; I felt like he
had a death grip on me. He suddenly pushed me against the wall and
was breathing on my face.
“
Get off me, please! I’m
not interested!” I was trying to slow my breathing so I wouldn’t
have to smell the liquor on his breath.
“
Oh girl, you will be
interested in what I have to offer, let me show you.” He leaned in
closer and all I could think about was my dad and the way he’d call
me girl when he was upset. I immediately closed my eyes and tried
to suppress the tears. Just as I felt his breath on my lips, he
vanished. I opened my eyes to find Stefan holding him by his
collar, staring at him like he was about to commit
murder.
“
Touch her again and I will
put you through this fucking wall, you understand?” The drunk guy
looked up at him in complete shock and nodded. Stefan dropped him,
grabbed my arm and dashed upstairs towards the door. I looked over
and caught Kennedy’s eye; she looked puzzled and cocked her head.
The fresh air hit me like a brick. Stefan turned me around and let
go of my arm.
“
What the hell were you
doing Jennifer? I went to go piss and when I came out you were gone
and then I find you being groped by that piece of shit!”
I stood there, still shocked after
everything that happened, and just looked at him. I could see the
worry and flames in his eyes. I knew that if I didn’t say something
he’d go back in there and kill the drunk.
“
I was just going to walk
back up to Kennedy and Ayden. I didn’t think anything about it.
Stefan, it’s not a big deal. It happened and you dealt with it. I’m
okay, thank you.”
Stefan lit a cigarette and took a deep
breath. “You are only okay because I came out at the right moment
and stopped it. That would’ve been a lot uglier if I hadn’t showed
up when I did.”