Lights

I leaned back against the wall of the club that Alice had dragged me out to tonight, nursing a Corona and letting my eyes sweep over the crowd of bodies, gliding this way and and that in a desperate wave of love and lust. Reaching slowly up with one hand I readjusted my tie, loosening it a bit, and fidgeting with the floppy collar of my white shirt. I had promised myself that tonight I’d keep my hands to myself, for once. I was having one of ‘those’ days, where being a player was lonely instead of glamorous, and where I wanted something a little deeper than a fuck and run. Bette, Helena, and Jenny had all already attempted to pull me into the mass, told me I needed to cheer up, constantly asked me what was wrong. I’d just gotten another beer and slipped out of their perfectly manicured hands before they could get a hold of me. I’d been hiding ever since. Just watching.

The neon strobe lights swung frenetically, illuminating the club only in bright slices, leaving gaping black holes in between. People disappeared every few seconds, then were lit up again for a fraction of a second, caught in the middle of a dance move, faces contorted in expressions of ecstasy or agony…I really couldn’t tell one from the other. I tilted the neck of my bottle upwards, letting the bitter amber liquid run down my throat, then angled it back down lazily.

–Come on Shane, you’re starting to depress me. Alice panted as she came upon me, hands on hips and her ‘I highly disapprove’ expression firmly in place.

–Dana’s over there. I pointed out, gesturing with my bottle toward the thin brunette tennis star and Alice’s face got even darker.

–Duh, I know that, I mean, I was just over there, you know, on the dance floor, dancing, with people. You might want to consider it. She replied, reaching for my beer and managing to yank it out of my hand.

–You know, I’m really not in the mood tonight Alice. Sorry. I said, jamming my fists in my pockets. –I think I’m just gonna beat it. The currently fluffy haired journalist gave me a scandalized look, then threw her hands up in the air.