Chapter Two

“This place is freaking bouncing,” Richie yelled over the throbbing music. Lance nodded and spun the records in front of him, slowing down and then speeding the tempo of the song up.

“Hell yeah, it is!” he shouted back, feeling a surge of adrenaline. Below them, hundreds of bodies jumped and pulsed to the music. Glow sticks spun and twirled, creating a vibrating sea of neon colors.

“You want something to drink?” Richie called to him over the roar of the music. They’d been there for a couple hours and Richie’s head was already light with booze. He needed to get another couple drinks for himself and water for Lance.

Lance nodded, unable to speak as he pressed his headphones against his ears and his body began to twitch with the rhythm. Richie knew that it meant Lance was being swept away. Once that happened, it was almost like he was in a different universe. He was in his very own universe and he was God. Women and men surrounded him on his stage, screaming at him and fawning over him. Lance was a rock star when he was in the zone—which again reminded Richie that he was a completely different person outside the club and party scene.

Richie watched his friend for a few more moments before making his way down the platform and through the large crowd. People bumped into him left and right. An arm snaked around him and pulled him in for a dance. He laughed and danced for a minute while the blonde—obviously high—pressed her body tightly against his. More than half the people there were rolling, and it was obvious from the amount of touching and risqué dancing going on all around him. Richie was never into trying hard drugs, it just didn’t seem like a good idea to be out of control with your body and your actions.

He disengaged and continued to make his way to the bar. After waiting in line and ordering his drinks, he turned and watched Lance. Pride swelled in his chest when he watched how his friend interacted with everyone. It was incredible. Typically, Lance was quiet and reserved—almost shy. He always felt like he was the same in any situation, just good old Richie, but Lance was able to adapt to his surroundings and become who people wanted him to be.

His attention was pulled from Lance when a beautiful brunette pushed up beside him. When he turned, he found Addison’s big brown eyes smiling up at him. Her full lips painted a bright red.

“He’s awesome,” she said tilting her head to Lance.

“Yeah. He’s the best,” he agreed.

“A friend of yours?”

“Actually, yeah, he is. He’s also my roommate.” His eyes flicked up to where Lance stand.

“That’s cool. Addison,” she said, extending her hand.

A smile tilted up the corner of his lips as he stared at her beautiful face. Her body was sheathed in a skin-tight black dress that left nothing to the imagination. Her breasts were pushed high, a teardrop blue sapphire dangling just above the cleft. It might have been a little much for a rave, but he didn’t complain. “Richie.”

“You’re a culinary major, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “Yeah. How’d you know?”

“I’ve seen you around,” she said, batting her thick lashes up at him. Taking her finger, she twirled it around the rim of the bottle of water. Then, taking a step closer, she pressed her body tightly up against his. There was no mistaking her intentions.

“Why don’t we get out of here?” she purred as she brazenly slipped her hand between their bodies and began to grope him through his jeans.

Richie’s eyes widened as he swallowed past the lump in his throat. He cast a look up to the platform where Lance was cranking out another beat. He wouldn’t notice if he slipped away with Addison—would he? There were so many people, how would he notice?

He looked down at the woman who was dancing and grinding against him and then back up to Lance one last time.

“Sure, let’s go.” Taking Addison by the hand, he pulled her through the crowd, making their way to the exit. Even as they made their way through the crowd, Richie couldn’t help the stab of guilt he felt. There was only one way to fix that and she was following behind him.

Lance looked up from his turntables just in time to see Richie being led by the hand through the crowd by Addison. Jealousy burned in the pit of his stomach as he watched them disappear through the exit. He missed a few beats and was jerked back to the task at hand.

He didn’t have time to focus on Richie—or the fact that he’d apparently ditched him. He would have time to focus on that later. Now, he had a job to worry about.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he focused on what he was doing. He became engrossed in the rhythm and beats—losing himself in the cheers of the crowd and the way they praised him. To Richie, he may not be much, but to these people… he was everything. Even if it were just for a moment.