Clementine (14 page)

Chapter
11

Addison and Katherine stepped into the dim lighting
of the club. It was barely past ten o’clock but the entire space was packed and Addison instinctively took a step closer to Katherine so they wouldn’t get separated. The floor of the club was covered in rows of black tile and the walls were painted a dark blue. The accent lights placed around the ceiling lit a small cluster of tables but did little else to illuminate the expansive room. Tables lined the perimeter of the room, framing a large dance floor in the center. There were already masses of people moving and dancing to the music. The atmosphere of the club was alive and Addison felt a rush of adrenaline course through her.

“I’m so glad we came out tonight
, Katherine,” Addison yelled over the music. She needed a night to relax, to forget about school and exams and just let loose. Katherine tugged on Addison’s arm, pulling her toward one of the tables where a few of their friends were already sitting. Addison was about to take a seat when she saw Katherine looking around.

“Now that we’ve found
home base, I’m going to get us drinks,” Katherine pronounced, her eyes locking on the nearest bar.

“I might hold off, I already had those two glasses of wine at home,” Addison
pointed out, trying to gauge how tipsy she already felt.

“Addison, c’mon.
It’s my treat,” Katherine said, ignoring her warnings and heading off to the bar.

Addison shook her head.
What did I get myself into?
She watched her friend lean over the counter and order drinks. She stayed for a little while chatting with the bartender, who looked quite pleased at the prospect. Her friend came back a moment later with a couple of shots and two apple martinis.

“Cheers friend,
it’s time to dance and pretend we both wouldn’t rather be at home watching a movie in our pajamas,” Katherine laughed, clinking her glass with Addison’s.

Addison wasn’t sure she should accept more alcohol but she didn’t want to waste the drinks her friend
had purchased. The two girls took the shots quickly and then Addison downed some water trying to rid her mouth of the intense burn of the alcohol as it slid down her throat.  She took a few sips of her apple martini appreciating the sweetness, but still recognizing hefty amounts of alcohol in the cocktail.

“Are you trying to kill me with this?” Addison asked.

“The bartender made them doubles because I told him he looked cute in his uniform,” Katherine said confidently, clearly proud of herself.

“Well you’re dragging my ass home later
, Ms. Double Martini,” Addison joked, taking another sip of the strong drink.

She turned toward the dance floor, taking in the sight of all the young couples dancing as close as possible to one another. They all looked so carefree and Addison silently thanked Katherine for providing her with the liquid courage she’d need to head to the dance floor later. The lights were flashing neon colors over the dance floor in rhythm with the music, illuminating each of the couples in blues and greens. Addison was entranced by the poundi
ng music and lights, oblivious to the martini starting to take effect. She was watching one couple in particular who looked to be almost sealing the deal on the dance floor. They moved so well together, snaked as close as possible, and she envied their obvious attraction toward one another. She would have watched their fluid movements longer if a group of people behind the dance floor hadn’t suddenly caught her eye as they came in the front door. Jordan was among them.

Addison watched him walk through the crowd toward their table. He looked
so handsome in his grey shirt and jeans and for once Addison felt like she might be interested in him on her own accord. Even if Addison wasn’t ready to jump into a new relationship, it was apparent in that moment that her heart was continuously searching for a new love to replace the old.  Katherine nudged Addison’s side, obviously wanting her to see that Jordan had arrived.

“I knew he would show up,” Katherine whispered to Addison.

Addison eyed her friend out of the corner of her eye and shook her head.

“You’re relentless,” Addison said.

Maybe her friend was right though?
He’s here, and he looks so cute, and I’m almost done with my apple martini or did Katherine get me another one?
She couldn’t remember...
What’s the harm in a little flirting?

The past few times Addison was around Jordan he’d made his intentions perfectly clear, so when the group approached and he didn’t make his way toward her immediately she felt a bit confused. He stayed on the opposite side of the table and did little more than nod a greeting in her direction.
I’m sorry what?
I’m in a skintight red dress and I get a nod?

In an instant Addison felt her pride boiling over, combining with the exceeding amount of alcohol coursing through her system.

“Finish your martini Katherine, we’re heading to the dance floor,” Addison ordered, throwing back her own drink.

“
Finally! I knew your crazy side was in there somewhere,” Katherine answered, taking a long drag of her martini.

Addison stood and
slowly pushed her hair behind her shoulders, appreciating the fact that Jordan’s gaze turned to her, studying her as she stood up. Addison looked up and offered him a seductive smile.
Your move Jordan.
She registered his surprised expression as his eyes scanned down her dress. He didn’t get up to join her as she turned and followed Katherine to the dance floor, but she’s acquired the information she needed: his feelings toward her hadn’t changed.

The dance floor was more crowded
than when they’d arrived. Dancers were jostling in every direction and the two girls wove their way into the middle of the floor, the neon lights splashing them with bright spots of color. Addison felt the effects of drinks she’d consumed as she rolled her head back onto her shoulders, smiling and closing her eyes, the music beginning to invade her senses. Katherine let out a loud squeal and raised her hands over her head, letting the music overtake her. Addison giggled at her friend and let her hips start to move in rhythm to the music. 

Any movement the girls made while they danced inevitably brought them in contact with the dancers around them but they didn’t mind. The mood was alive and Addison loved the way everyone was getting into the beat of the song. She barely noticed a man approach until he tried to lace his arms around her. She turned instinctively and tried to step away, not wanting the strange guy’s hands on her. She stumbled slightly trying to pull out of his grasp without causing a scene, but her coordination was definitely off from the alcohol. Sh
e’d begun to lose her balance.

“
Whoa, Addison,” Jordan’s voice sounded from behind her as his arm enveloped her body.
There’s my knight in shining armor.
He stood behind Addison, his body casually pushing aside the guy who’d been trying to make a move on her. He was trying to steady her but she still felt slightly disoriented. The stranger took the hint and started to walk away as Addison closed her eyes and let a slow grin spread across her face. She fell against Jordan’s chest, proud that her ploy had worked.
He thinks I look sexy in my red dress.
She knew he wouldn’t have been able to stay on the sidelines as she and Katherine danced.

“How many drinks have you had?” Jordan asked in her ear, wrapping his arm tighter around her waist. She was still facing away from him but the security of his arm around
her put her drunken mind at ease.

“Just the perfect amount,”
she quipped, keeping her eyes closed and appreciating his hands on her. He’d never touched her before and in her drunken state she couldn’t help but like it. His hands were warm and she began to dance. Apparently she looked even more intoxicated than she had intended because she heard Jordan laugh behind her.

“Well,
I don’t want to leave you guys alone out here so it looks like you have to dance with me. Or I could just stand here looking like your body guard, you can pick,” He said, sounding even more like the chivalrous man she knew him to be.
I bet if I turn around he’ll be decked out in a full suit of armor, maybe he even snuck a white horse into the club.
She giggled to herself.

“Suit
yourself, my knight,” she mocked in an old English accent, continuing to laugh as she began moving against Jordan. He hadn’t lessened his grip around her and she could feel him beginning to move his hips with hers. She let him hold her against his chest for a few more moments, enjoying the attention, before finally turning around to face him.             

(♫
6)It was in that drunken moment that she realized she’d been picturing a different man behind her. One whose hair was dark brown and whose stare could turn from icy to warm in an instant. She’d wanted Holden to be the man wrapping his arms around her. She’d envisioned
his
face;
him
saving her from the strange guy on the dance floor. She stilled momentarily, unable to snap herself out of the strange haze.  Jordan didn’t seem to notice. He slid his hands to her hips gently forcing her to sway with him to the music. She took in his appearance: his entire demeanor screamed clean cut, nice guy. His golden hair and toned body were perfect and Addison cursed herself for not having the power to get over Holden. She licked her lips and took a deep breath as she sidled up to Jordan, pushing their bodies together, hoping the physical contact would force every thought about any other guy out of her head. He responded to her movements and wrapped his arms around her lower back, pulling her closer still so that no space remained between them. Jordan could be her knight in shining armor; she just had to let him be.

Chapter
12

Addison rolled over
and cringed at the light flooding through her window.
Holy hell could someone tone down the sun,
she thought, registering how painfully her head was throbbing. She crawled out of her bed, covering her eyes with one hand and using the other to find her way to the bathroom.
I just need medicine and water, medicine and water.
She reached in her medicine cabinet and grabbed the bottle of pain killers before making her way into the kitchen. Katherine was already starting to brew a pot of coffee, last night’s makeup smeared across her face.

“Dude, why did we do this to ourselves?” Addison asked hoarsely, reaching around her friend for a glass of water. The girls
had arranged for Katherine to stay at Addison’s the night before so it didn’t surprise her to find Katherine in her kitchen, looking a little worse for wear.

“I can’t. Even. Think. Will you
get me some water and I’ll meet you on the couch with coffee?” Katherine asked, her voice sounding just as low and pained. Addison followed her instructions and made her way to the couch, slowly leaning back against the cushions and throwing a blanket over herself.

“Let’s not leave this apartment the whole day. I just need to sit in this one spot and try to keep my head from spinning so violently,” Addison said, pulling the blanket up to her neck.

Katherine laughed and nodded in agreement. She brought over her cup of coffee and settled in on the other side of the couch.

“I’m trying to think back but the entire night seems hazy. I remember forcing you onto the da
nce floor and Jordan joining us,” Addison recalled.

“Well we danced normally for a while... Jordan was all over you,” Katherine confirmed before taking a sip of her coffee, “but then you forced him to twirl you like a ballerina a few dozen times
and
demanded that everyone form a dance circle around you so you could have a dance off,” Katherine continued, completely in hysterics by this point. Addison’s mouth was agape, unsure if she could believe what her friend was saying.
What the hell did I do?

“No seriously, you’re kidding right?” Addison asked, trying to piece together the events in her head.
I was that drunk?

“I wish, I really do, Addison.
No one would have a dance off with you and it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I’m pretty sure Jordan got it on video,” Katherine said, laughing as she remembered the details.

“Oh dear god, I blame you,” Addison said, finally remembering shoving people out of the way so her dance circle could form.
Suddenly, she realized what she should really be most concerned with.

“Nothing happened between Jordan and
I, right?” Addison blurted out, scared to know the answer.
Didn’t I think he was cute last night? Why would I be scared if something did happen between us?

“You guys danced, but no.
He drove both of us home and then headed to his apartment,” Katherine explained, looking down at her coffee cup and twisting the blanket between her fingers.

Relief coursed through Addison.
Wait, don’t I want something to happen?
Maybe I just didn’t want something to happen when I was drunk?

“
Oh! You did keep asking us to get your phone from your purse so you could call some guy named Holden. You said you wanted to see how well he danced...”

WHAT?
Addison almost spat her coffee out onto her couch. She swallowed quickly and set her cup down.

“
Was that a friend from Texas or something?” Katherine asked.

“
Katherine, you didn’t give it to me, did you? I didn’t call him, did I?” Addison asked, already starting to get up to find her phone, “Oh my God, Katherine, if I called him when I was that drunk...” she continued, not letting Katherine get a word in.

“Relax psycho. Your phone was back at the table where our group was sitting and by the time we got it you were too drunk to remember,” Katherine said, eyeing her friend, o
bviously curious about her over the top reaction.

“Was he an ex-boyfriend of yours or something?” Katherine asked.

“He was... nothing. It just would have been embarrassing to call him drunk. That’s all,” Addison answered standing up and heading into the restroom to calm her nerves. It scared her to know how close she was to making a fool of herself. Thinking and dreaming about Holden was one thing, but to call him drunkenly would have been a nightmare. She would have told him everything and looked like the poor sap that hadn’t moved on from their platonic
friendship
. He would have been nice and probably even thought her drunk-dial was funny, and then he’d hang up and start making out with his brunette beauty and they’d laugh about how sad and
naïve
his old friend Addison was.
Get it together and move on already. He’s dating another girl.

Addison sat under the low-
hanging
leaves of a sugar maple tree between classes. Spring finally had hurtled forward and it was just warm enough for Addison to break out some of her old Texas clothes. She propped her sandaled feet up on the other end of the bench and relaxed back into the sharp metal armrest. She barely had time for herself lately. If she wasn’t in class, she was with the study group or with Katherine back at her apartment. Yet on days like this, when she sat surrounded only by the new spring blooms, she’d feel the ache of loneliness creep back in.

Addison watched the students pass around her, each of them bustling toward their next classes
, and took comfort in their presence. She couldn’t technically be lonely with thousands of college students passing around her, could she?

Over the past few weeks she’d tried various techniques to snap her mood back to normal. She’d increased her workout regimen, finding solace in long runs and yoga classes that pushed her endurance. Those were the only times she felt like herself, but even she couldn’t run
twenty four seven. Sitting there on that bench, she finally realized what her next step had to be if she wanted to move on with her life.