CHAPTER 05 - MALLORY
From the moment I got out of the Lyft and the first gust of cold Meridian wind hit me I wondered why the hell I had let Kelly drag me out tonight.
OK, that wasn’t entirely true. I had been wondering why the hell I had let Kelly drag me out tonight since the moment I had slid into this tight dress and stepped into these too-high heels after doing my makeup. The thoughts had continued all the way out of our building and into the car waiting below. I had to admit, though, for me, I looked really good, even if I felt totally uncomfortable. Hey, at least I was trying, right? That had to count for something.
And now here I was, freezing my ass off outside Club Vapor, the hottest club in Meridian. Of course I wouldn’t have known it was the hottest club in town if Kelly hadn’t told me that — she was good at keeping up with these things — me, I was more likely to have my head stuck in a book. Clubs appeared and disappeared all the time — staying on top of which one was the right place to go seemed like way too much work for me. This was all Kelly.
“What’re you waiting for?” I heard a voice snapping me out of my thoughts. I shook my head to clear them away. I thought Kelly was still in the car, but when I turned around I saw the car wasn’t there anymore. “Hello? Earth to Mal?”
I whipped my head around as the wind gusted up and caught my hair, and saw Kelly standing there a step ahead of me, a look of incredulity on her face. “Are you with me, Mal?”
“Su-sure,” I squeaked out, smoothing my dress out with one hand just inside my long jacket as I clutched at my too-small purse with the other hand. Why did I even buy this thing? You couldn’t fit anything in it! “Sorry about that, I dunno where my mind went.”
“It’s probably at home with ice cream and Netflix.”
I looked up, making sure it looked like I was thinking about it fondly. “Or a good book. Now that you mention it, Kel, that does sound pretty nice, and we’re not too far from home…”
“Uh uh,” Kelly said, crossing her arms under her breasts. “Not gonna happen tonight. We’re already here, and Brian just texted me. They’re already inside.” The way Kelly said his name made me a little jealous, and I could see the twinkle in her eyes when she talked about him. They had just met and she was already over the moon for this guy, I could tell.
Kelly grabbed my hand and started to pull me toward the club. Given that I was wearing shoes I could barely stand in, this action threatened to push me over like I had been hit by a sharp gust of wind. I barely managed to stay up, steadying myself before pulling back.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, suddenly feeling just as anxious as I must have looked.
“I’m sure Brian’s friend will be cool, Mal. Come on!” Kelly said, a look of weariness etched on her face, tinged with concern.
“I’m just not sure.” The cars passing behind us sounded mighty appealing right now.
“It’ll be weird, you standing around all night while Brian and I do our thing.” She smiled. “He just brought a friend that wants to meet you. I’m sure he’s really cute! It’s not that big of a deal.”
“I don’t know about meeting anyone tonight,” I said, starting to get defensive. “I’m not ready for that!”
Kelly turned to face me and, starting at my feet and slowly moving up, she gave me a long look, a smile peeking out over her clear frustration at how stubborn I was being. “You sure about that? You certainly look like you’re ready to meet someone.”
I could feel myself blush, and for a moment I knew my face matched the color of my purse. “That’s not the point, Kelly!” I sputtered, unable to find anything else to say. At the same time, though, I was more than a little pleased with the compliment. I didn’t get many about my looks.
“Coulda fooled me,” Kelly said, stepping forward and getting up in my face. “Listen, Mal, you had one date with Todd and that was almost a week ago — there’s no use in sitting at home moping, and almost as little use going to a club and not talking to anyone. This way there’s a guy there you can flirt with. Who knows, you might like him! If he’s anything like Brian, you better like him!” She winked at me, giving me that winning Kelly grin.
I couldn’t really stay mad at Kelly for very long, as I very well knew, and despite my earlier defensiveness, she was starting to make a lot of sense. I dragged out the moment for a little bit longer with a skeptical look on my face, but inside I was already warming up to the idea.
Flirting with a nice guy for an evening sounded like just what the doctor ordered, even if nothing came of it. “Fiiiiiiine,” I said, putting on a big show of changing my mind. “Lets go inside already, it’s freezing out here.” I didn’t need any theatrics to play that up - I was almost shivering just standing there, especially with the doors to Club Vapor suddenly looking so inviting.
“Amen, sister,” Kelly said, and arm in arm, we stepped toward the club.
There was a long line outside, people shuffling about in the cold, clearly wondering when they were going to get in. It was one of the things about clubs I hated the most — in order to keep their exclusive reputations they had to keep loads of people outside waiting in the cold, unsure of when they would get in. And what was worse, when they finally did get inside, half the night if not more was already over!
How was this worth it? It couldn’t be.
In any case, we didn’t have to wait — apparently Brian was some sort of big whig around town, cause Kelly and I marched right up to the front and after checking our names on the guest list, the gigantic bouncer nodded and unclipped his rope, allowing us to pass by.
Inside was even darker than outside, and I put one hand out to the side, feeling the wall as I walked, just in case, as my eyes slowly started to adjust. We managed to find the coat check and leave our big jackets behind. I looked down and smoothed my dress out a little more now that we were inside, wondering how the other girls inside would be dressed and whether I had gone a little too far this evening.
Kelly must have seen the concerned look on my face, because she nodded and touched my arm. “You look great, Mal. Really, you look amazing.”
“It’s not too much?”
“Not at all. Whoever this guy is, you’re gonna knock his socks off.”
“I sure hope so! This isn’t as easy as it looks!”
Kelly laughed. “Trust me, I know.”
And with that, we left the coat check area and headed deep into Club Vapor.
Almost immediately we were assaulted but the wall of sound coming from the club’s high powered audio system. I recognized the latest club hits from the Spotify playlist Kelly had been listening to almost nonstop for weeks now, and I found myself humming along to the tune, which was totally unlike me.
I didn’t hum for long, because the sound got even louder as the bass practically vibrated me out of my dress. After readjusting, Kelly and I made our way to the bar. Kelly stopped and whispered something to me, which I guess was about where we were going to meet the boys, but I couldn’t hear any of it, and I wondered how we were supposed to have a conversation in a place like this.
We finally made it to the bar after pushing through a crowd of people and thankfully, it was easier to hear individual conversations once we got around the corner from the main dance floor. After looking around for a few seconds, Kelly spotted Brian and waved, a huge smile on her face, before grabbing my hand again and pulling me toward the standing table they were next to.
When we got to the table I got my first look at Brian, Kelly’s new fella. He was tall and handsome in that all-American boy next door kinda way that I knew she went for. His friend was clearly cut from the same mold, and except for a few big differences, they might as well have been brothers.
“Mallory, this is Brian!” Kelly said after giving him a big hug. “I’ve been telling her all about you,” she said to him.
“She really has,” I added. “It’s been nonstop for a couple weeks now.”
Brian smiled. “I hope it was only good stuff.”
“So far, yeah.” He seemed nice.
Brian stood up a little taller all of a sudden and then leaned in. “Whoops, forgot to introduce Ted here. Kelly, Mallory, this is my friend Ted.”
Ted, Brian’s doppleganger, took my hand in his and brought it to his lips, keeping eye contact on me, just a teensy bit too easily and too practiced, like he had done this dozens, if not hundreds of times before in bars and clubs just like this one. It came off as a little bit too eager, a little bit too suave, but I tried to brush it off, in the name of keeping an open mind.
Considering this was all probably in my mind, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. “A pleasure, Mallory,” Ted breathed on my hand.
I took it back, rubbing it a little with the other one. “The pleasure is all mine, Ted. It’s nice to meet you.”
Ted pointed to the table where there already were a couple drinks waiting for us. Kelly nodded to me and we each picked one up. “Brian told me Kelly said you both like Mojitos,” Ted added helpfully. “So we figured that was a good way to start.” On the other side of the table were a couple of half-drunk mojitos that Brian and Ted were working on.
We made some small talk with the boys. I learned that Ted also worked in the same firm as Brian and Kelly, but in another department. He had gone to a good school, and settled in Meridian a few years ago. As the conversation proceeded I watched Brian and Kelly make googly-eyes at each other and I was momentarily relieved that I didn’t have to endure that alone, even though Ted wasn’t exactly the most scintillating of company.
My mind kept flashing back to our apartment - I could be there right now, in way more comfortable clothes, enjoying the quiet company of the movies.
I shook my head again, trying to get back to the present moment, knowing that I was being more than a tiny bit rude. Ted didn’t seem to notice — he picked up his drink and took a long sip, his light blue eyes peering at me from over the lip of the glass. “Tell me about yourself, Mallory,” Ted said, his voice just loud enough for me to hear.
I glanced over at Kelly and Brian, but they had clearly forgotten that I, Ted, or anyone else on Earth existed. Sigh.
“What would you like to know, Ted?” I said, smiling back and returning the question.
Ted set his glass down and leaned forward. “Everything.”
“That’s quite a tall order.”
“You’re right.”
I expected him to come back with a question, start a conversation between us, help us get to know each other a little better.
Ted, however, had other ideas. Instead of asking me anything about me, he started telling me about a trip he’d taken a couple months back to Aruba, and all the wonderful time he had spent on the beach, sipping cold drinks and working on his tan.
It was completely out of left field, and just as I was getting in the right mood to talk to someone interesting, it was as if Ted decided what I really wanted to hear about was…Ted.
It didn’t work, but I let him talk for a few more minutes, enjoying my drink and rolling the fresh mint leaves over and over in my mouth, enjoying their essence as the leaves disintegrated. It was a nice distraction from the boring story Ted had moved on to, about a business deal he was working on, and how stressful it was, and how he could really use a way to release all this pent up tension he had.
Finally I had had enough. Ted had been getting closer and closer to me, as if telling me all these things about him were impressing my dress right off, and I wanted to make sure that he knew that I wasn’t like those all those other girls.
I stepped back, putting a little more distance between us. To his credit, Ted recovered quickly and managed to move back without the grin ever leaving his face. “Too soon, eh?” he joked, like this was just another tiny speed bump on the road of how he thought tonight would go.
“Guess so,” I said, taking another sip of my drink and keeping the distance between us. All of a sudden I wanted to be anywhere else than at that table in that moment. Ted picked up his glass like nothing out of the ordinary had happened and I took the only opportunity I could see. “I’m gonna visit the ladies room,” I said, setting my glass back down on the table.
“Sure,” I heard Ted say as I stepped away from the table, looking up to see where I could find a sign pointing me in the right direction amidst all this darkness punctuated by neon lights sparking in and out and the smoke-machine haze that gave Club Vapor its name. I found the sign just to the left of the bar and made a bee-line toward it, sliding myself through other small groups of people and muttering my apologies along the way.
Thankfully, the bathroom wasn’t nearly as busy as all women’s bathrooms at clubs are 99% of the time, and I managed to get in after waiting only a few seconds. The interior was done in the same dark colors as the rest of Club Vapor, and I parked myself in front of one of the five marble sinks and set my purse down on top of a paper towel, and stared at myself in the mirror.
What was I doing here?
A guy I had just been introduced to had tried to kiss me, I was dressed way more extravagantly than I had any desire to me, and I didn’t want to even be here in the first place. Why had I let Kelly pull me into this? I should have called a Lyft outside just after Kelly told me Brian was bringing a friend for me to meet.
Netflix and ice cream was sounding better by the second…
“Hey, Mal!” It was Kelly’s voice, and in the mirror I could see her standing behind me, looking gorgeous as ever. She put her hand on my shoulder. “Are you OK? You disappeared pretty quick back there.”
I laughed, trying to joke it all away. “Oh, you had time to notice? You and Brian seemed pretty busy over there. Discussing what to do about climate change, no doubt.”
Kelly chuckled for a moment before she squeezed my shoulder, and a wave of warmth passed over and through me. “Yeah, we’re pretty bad, I get it.” Her look turned more serious. “But I wanted to make sure you were OK.”
We looked at each other in the reflection of the mirror. “You didn’t like Ted?”
“All he wanted to do was talk about himself, Kelly! I could barely get a word in, and even then, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t listening!”
Kelly shook her head. “That’s the worst, I’m so sorry, honey.”
“It’s OK, I know you and Brian meant well. It would have been a little awkward for me to just be there alone while you two went at it.”
Kelly nodded. “I mean, we probably wouldn’t have been quite so bad if you were alone.”
I laughed. “Come on, I’ve seen the way you two are out there. Even if it was just me and the club was empty you’d be all over each other.”
Kelly was quiet for a brief second before she giggled too. “OK, yeah, you’re right.” She stared at me through the mirror. “I just don’t know what it is about him, you know? It’s just so…great.” She got that look in her eyes like she wasn’t seeing what was in front of her, and then she shook her head. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry, I don’t meant to lay it on so thick, especially when you…” she trailed off.
I turned around so we were actually facing each other and threw my arms around her. “Kelly! It’s no big deal, you have no idea how happy I am for you.”
We hugged like that in the ladies’ room, probably looking super weird, for a few seconds before separating. We both checked our dresses and our makeup in the mirror. No tears this time!
“You OK to go back out there? Brian wanted to check out the lounge area” Kelly asked when we were done.
I nodded. “Just the two of you, I’m sure. You’re leaving me with Ted?”
“Don’t let Ted get you down. He’s just one guy, there are plenty more out there, even in this club!”
I wrinkled my nose. “Meeting a guy at a club? I dunno about that, Kel -“
Kelly cut me off, touching a finger to my lips. “Don’t say what you’re going to say, Mal. Just keep an open mind, OK?” She gave me her winningest smile. “You never know what might happen…”
“OK, fine, I’ll do it!” I checked my phone. “We’ve, uh, kinda been in here a long time.”
Kelly winked at me. “Maybe the boys think we’re fooling around in here.”
I shook my head. “You’d enjoy that way too much. Let’s go.”
We locked arms and left the ladies’ room, without a care in the world. As soon as we got out the door, the sound coming off the dance floor hit us again, and I had to wiggle my fingers around in my ears to make sure they were alright.
When we got back to the table, Brian stood waiting with a fresh round of drinks. There was no sign of Ted. Brian smiled at Kelly and handed each of us a drink, before taking a long sip of his own. Kelly sidled up next to Brian, and I planted myself on the other end of the table.
We both looked at Brian with one question on our faces, and Brian took the hint. “Oh, yeah, Ted,” he started, looking down at his glass before continuing. “He had an early meeting tomorrow,” Brian mumbled.
“Ah, OK.” I said. Kelly shrugged at me, and I leaned into them. “These things happen. Don’t worry about me!” Even if my night wasn’t going so well, I didn’t want Kelly to have to suffer by holding my hand the whole way, especially when her new guy was around.
“You sure? We could stay here…” Kelly was definitely sincere, but at the same time, I knew she definitely wanted to find somewhere she and Brian could spend some alone time together.
I put my hand on the table before waving them off. “No, no, no, you two enjoy yourself. I’ll be just fine.” I didn’t tell them that I was probably going to immediately call a Lyft and get myself home. There was still time to get at least one cheesy movie in before bedtime, and ice cream never knew what time it was.
Kelly gave me a look like she wasn’t sure if leaving me alone was the right thing to do, but after a moment she nodded. “OK, honey, call me if anything comes up.” I nodded, and Kelly and Brian, holding hands, stepped away from the table, carrying their drinks and moving toward the lounge area off on the other side of the bar.
I stood at my table, suddenly solo, and sipped my drink, reveling in the sound all around me, the sound of the thumping bass coming out of the speakers and the chattering of all the conversations going on around me. It was fascinating, the places people chose to come together and meet.
And here I was, all alone, wondering why that was the case.
Kelly’s voice from earlier in the evening echoed in my mind — something about being so serious about guys, and how I needed to let go, let loose and just enjoy myself.
What was it she had said? “Things will happen the way they’re supposed to” — that was it.
Of course, it was easier said than done, but, I realized as I sipped my drink alone in Club Vapor, it was the best I could do at the moment. I would certainly not get so wound up about a random guy not calling after a first date if I was able to take dating less seriously.
“Fine,” I said out loud to no one in particular. “Things will happen as they’re supposed to, and I’m not going to sweat the small stuff anymore.”
It wasn’t much, but it was something.
It was a start.
OK, so…now what?