*Shannon*
I really wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. Honestly. I’d been burned too many times in recent history, and was looking for a little ‘me’ time. You know how us girls are (at least most of the ones I know). Once we get out of a really bad relationship, we want to just veg out and watch sappy movies and eat Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey and Chubby Hubby. You know the deal.
But, no, I wasn’t looking for a man. I wasn’t even thinking about looking for one. But, as usual, my best friend Cassie was.
Two weeks after breaking up with Ron, she came to my apartment and informed me we were going to a club.
”I don’t wanna,” I said, pulling the fleece blanket over my legs as I sat on the sofa. The TV was on, but I wasn’t watching the old movie playing.
“C’mon, Shan. You haven’t left this apartment in two weeks.” Cassie wrinkled her nose. “Have you bathed since you dumped Ron?” she asked.
“Would you leave me alone? You’re my best friend, you should understand. I just wanna be by myself.” Cassie can be really annoying when she wants to be. Which is most of the time.
“Why? So you can eat yourself into oblivion? Come on. Get your booty up and take a shower. I’ll pick out something for you to wear.”
Against my better judgment, I got up and went to take a shower. I had showered in the last two weeks, but the apartment was in bad need of a cleaning.
Cassie had laid out some clothes for me, and when I stepped out of the bathroom she insisted on helping me with my hair and makeup. Her dream is to be stylist to the stars, and she says any practice she can get is good.
“So what’s new?” she asked casually, running a comb through my hair.
“Um, let’s see. I watched a twenty-four hour marathon of The Dukes of Hazzard a few days ago. Did you know that Daisy had to wear pantyhose under her shorts?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “God, girl. Good thing you have me to save you.”
“Yeah. You’re doing me a real favor.”
When we got to the club, Cassie pulled me towards the front of the waiting line. Flashing a smile at the bouncer, she reached for the door. “We’re here to see Rick,” she informed him.
“You and every other girl here. What’s your name?”
Cassie. Dear sweet Cassie. She could lie through her teeth. “I darn well better be on there. Samantha Cole,” she supplied sweetly.
I rolled my eyes. Not only could she lie at the drop of a hat, she had a knack for flirting that has yet to rub off on me after knowing her for ten years.
A moment later we were standing inside the door. Glancing around, I saw plenty of people on the dance floor, and the floor beneath my feet vibrated with the bass.
”Is it loud enough?” I shouted over the music.
“I think so. C’mon, let’s go grab a drink.”
We were at the bar when a girl leaned close. “Ohmigod,” she said in my ear. “Did you hear? Some of the Backstreet Boys are here,” she gushed.
What with Cassie shouting at the bartender and the loud music, I couldn’t understand all of what she said. All I heard was Backstreet Boys. Okay. So one of them was here? Big deal.
I let Cassie lead me to a little table in the corner, where we could see all the action. The music wasn’t so loud here, and I gratefully pulled the ashtray closer.
“I think I heard someone say the Backstreet Boys were here,” I told her after lighting a cigarette. Nasty habit, that. Note to self: quit smoking.
“That’s cool. At least then I’ll have some eye candy.” Sipping her soda, she glanced around. “They must be in the VIP room.”
“The what?” Cassie clubbed every weekend, so maybe she knew more lingo than I did. I hadn’t set foot in a club in months.
“VIP room. You know, where all the important people go. Private bar. Not just anybody can get in.”
“Oh God, Cassie. Don’t you dare think—”
“Chill, Shan. I wouldn’t think of it.” --
*Nick*
I was sitting in the VIP room with Howie and AJ, and couldn’t wait to cruise the club and find a girl to spend the evening with. The bimbos the club had provided weren’t cutting it.
After a while you get tired of all the ditzy blondes, y’know? Sure, a lot of them are nice, but for once I wanted a girl I could carry on a real conversation with. Someone who wouldn’t look at me like I was an idiot if I talked about something I’d seen on the news. Unfortunately, most of the girls I attracted were more interested in what was going on with Britney and Jessica, and when Versace would release their summer line.
Yeah, like I give a fuck about Versace’s summer line.
“I’ll see you guys later,” I said decisively, getting to my feet. Taking a final swig of my drink, I set the glass down and headed towards the door.
”Where ya headed?” AJ asked, leaning back in his seat.
“Just to walk around. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I quipped before leaving them to their drinks.
I was walking past the restrooms when I saw this short girl heading straight for me. Oh, hell. Not someone after an autograph. Hell, I love my fans, but there’s a limit to so much a guy can take. But she wasn’t even looking at me, I realized. She was scanning the crowd, and when I got a good look at her face I saw she was worried.
She walked right into me. Over six feet tall, blonde, and she couldn’t see me?
“Shit, I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away. In the process she stepped on my foot.
“Shit,” I muttered, backing away before she could do more damage. Her elbow had gotten me right in the gut, and I don’t care how much padding you’ve got, that always hurts.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, looking up at me.
When I looked into her eyes, she literally took my breath away. They were just...amazing, really. A mixture of gray and green, and it felt like she was looking through to my soul. Like she could see all my secrets. She smiled slightly, and I noticed she had a dimple in her left cheek.
“Hey, no damage done,” I assured her, rubbing my sore spot. I’d probably have a bruise.
“You’re sure? I’m such a damn klutz—I’m looking for my friend. She’s disappeared on me.”
“Some friend,” I observed, still looking into those eyes. When she smiled they darkened, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me.
“Oh, she’s always doing this. Let’s go to a club, she says. Have us a girls night. Well, here I am. Woo-hoo,” she said with a wave of her hand. The light caught a diamond ring on her pinky, and my gaze was drawn to it.
She wasn’t what I’d call pretty. Cute, maybe. Attractive in a way. Her long dark hair was wavy and loose, and as I looked at her she reached up to rake her hand through it. Damn, that was a turn on. She was sort of plump, and I suddenly realized how short she was. When she looked up at me she had to lean back slightly, and I noticed a red mark on her neck. Something about her smile made me like her immediately.
“So, she dropped you. How about I buy you a drink?” I offered. What the hell? I was looking for a babe, and now I’m buying drinks for some wallflower.
“No, really, I couldn’t. I don’t drink.”
“Ever?” I asked incredulously.
She rolled her eyes. “Only water and the occasional soda. Alcohol disagrees with me. Rather, I disagree with it. Just one drink and I turn into a giggling idiot.” She smiled again, and I felt something inside me warm up.
“Okay. How about I buy you a soda? Let your friend look for you,” I said. Come on, I silently pleaded. It wasn’t every day that a girl breezed me.
She looked uneasy, and I suddenly wondered who had hurt her so bad to make her fear every man. She nodded though. When I touched her arm to lead her back to the VIP room, she flinched, and I let go quickly. Damn. She acted like I was kidnapping her.
I wanna tell ya pretty baby
What I see I make my own
And I’m here to tell ya honey
That I’m bad to bone