Chapter 4
Jenny
What was I doing? That was all I could think as Sarah moved around me like a mini hurricane. She had forced my hair out of its messy bun, which I wore like that so much it had practically fought her to stay that way. Once loose, she’d curled my hair until it hung in waves down my back, put mascara on me, and argued with me over eye shadow until she eventually gave up.
I hadn’t budged on the issue. I was already going out and changing my clothes. I wasn’t going to be made up like a human Barbie doll, too.
She’d argued me down over the jeans and blouse I thought were appropriate, but I was pleased to look in the mirror and see a reflection of myself, not a Sarah look-alike.
All the while Jo sat on my bed, watching cautiously from behind a book.
Finally, I had a moment to myself while Sarah went to her room to choose a purse and spritz herself with perfume, allowing me to stare at my reflection in awe.
It was still me, but I’d never seen this girl before.
“You look really pretty, Jen,” Jo said.
“Thanks.”
For once I didn’t brush the compliment away. She was right. I looked amazing.
My eyes seemed larger than ever and the black mascara only accented the bright green of my eyes. My heart-shaped lips were covered in light lip gloss, adding sheen to my already pink lips and my dark hair, for once, looked exciting.
I’d toyed with the idea of coloring my hair for so long. Dark brown was so boring of a color, less memorable and muted. But it was clear that the color hadn’t been the problem because the girl staring back at me now looked anything but boring. She looked excited by life and ready for the night.
I ran my hands through my soft strands and smiled. Tonight would be fun; I could feel it.
“Let’s go,” Sarah said from the doorway, interrupting my fascination with myself. “Don’t look so surprised. I made you up. Of course you look good. Now let’s go. You’re wasting time looking at yourself when you could have men do it for you.”
She didn’t give me time to argue and so there I was, standing outside in the biting cold in a dress, waiting for a cab with her. Thankfully, we lived in a neighborhood known for college students. Cabs passed by here regularly. Once inside the toasty warmth of the cab, Sarah started dancing in her seat.
“Turn that up!” she yelled, throwing her hands in the air.
Even though we got dressed together, I was beginning to wonder if she snuck a little to drink before we left. I could imagine she had a stash somewhere in her closet.
The ride wasn’t too long since we weren’t leaving Willow Springs. The line to the club was almost around the corner and, for a moment, I debated over going back home. If I had to choose between standing in the cold waiting to get into a club or going home and watching a movie with Jo, I knew which one sounded better.
Sensing my change of heart, Sarah grabbed my arm.
“Come on!” She pulled me out of the cab, took a twenty from her boobs to pay the driver and gave him a mischievous smirk. “Thanks.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the aura of Sarah or the way she looked, but the bouncer took one look at us and waved us to the front. I imagined it was a little of both.
Sarah wore a short, skin-tight, black sequined dress that sparkled as she walked with four-inch heels. If her outfit wasn’t so tight, it would have ridden up her behind and shown the world all her worldly goods. She couldn’t convince me to wear anything from her closet, but I also wore a black dress, albeit a simpler and longer one.
The bouncer barely glanced at Sarah’s ID and then stared at mine, glancing back and forth from the picture to my face.
“Uh. Come on, let her in. She’s twenty-one,” Sarah said with her hands on her hips.
“You sure? Look at that face.”
I didn’t bother arguing. Truth was I was used to this kind of treatment. I always got carded at bars. I just had one of those youthful faces. It was in my genes. The women in our family never looked old. I could imagine myself at fifty looking every bit of twenty-five to thirty. People routinely thought my mother was my older sister when we went out.
“Yes,” Sarah said, talking before I could respond for myself. “She is twenty-one and in college. Let her through.”
“Okay,” he said, waving me into the club.
The club was just through another door. I could hear the muted bass of the music. Another man patted us down and checked our purses.
“Welcome to Blue Nights,” he said as he opened the door and a wave of loud music washed over me.
“I’m going to the bar,” Sarah screamed. “You want something to drink?”
Usually, I’d say no, but there was nothing usual about tonight. “Um. Sure. A Long Island iced tea.”
That was light enough to give me a buzz without being overkill. We hadn’t eaten before we left the house and alcohol on an empty stomach was asking for a hangover.
“You got it,” she yelled back before disappearing into the crowd.
I hadn’t thought this through. If I had, I would have followed Sarah to the bar. Now I was standing alone in a sea of people I didn’t know and music was blaring so loud I could barely think.
I looked up. There was a second floor and there were lounges all around the perimeter of the club. I could see men sitting, looking down on those dancing. I couldn’t tell if they were in VIP or security guards. Either way, it made me uneasy the way they were hanging over the railing and watching—as if they were looking for something or someone.
No one could see the dance floor. It was wall-to-wall people dancing to the club music.
Someone pushed against me, causing me to almost fall. He didn’t even try to catch me and I turned around ready to argue when I realized he was dancing and I was the only person standing still. It was a good thing I wasn’t wearing heels or I definitely would have tumbled. I tried to move along with everyone else. It was painfully obvious I was alone and nervous, but I tried to blend in. The music was good and I might have enjoyed it if I wasn’t alone.
“Hi,” a man said into my ear.
“Hi,” I said, ducking my head away from him.
Sure, we had to yell to be heard, but I didn’t want him practically licking my ear.
“You look lonely.”
I was. “I’m not.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
“Is this your first time here?” he asked, placing his hands on my hips but keeping the distance I set.
“Is it obvious?” I asked, pushing hair behind my ear.
“Only a little,” he laughed, winking. “But I think it’s cute.”
I am not one of those girls who are critical of men or one to judge, but winking is about as corny as one can get. Maybe it was the darkness or the fact that I didn’t feel comfortable alone in this club, but something about this guy was giving me a bad vibe. He hadn’t actually done anything but be kind, but I couldn’t ignore the small nagging in my stomach.
“My name’s Jay,” he said, sticking his hand out to shake.
“Jenny,” I responded shyly.
“That’s a pretty name,” he said, smiling.
I could imagine he just barely held back adding, “For a pretty girl.”
“Well, Jenny, can I get you a drink?” he asked, oblivious to my internal debate.
“No, thanks. My friend’s got it.”
“Hey,” he said, moving a tendril of hair that was stuck to the sweat on my forehead. This time, his smile had a little more warmth. “Don’t be scared. I’m just trying to be friendly.”
The lighting of the club and the strobe lights put his face in mostly shadows. His blue eyes were barely visible, but I could see he looked worried—worried he had offended me.
I had no idea what was wrong with me, but I could see I was being a little too paranoid.
Jo had gotten into my head. As we were leaving, she’d said, “Remember stranger danger!”
Sarah had taken it as a joke, as she did everything Jo said, but I heard Jo loud and clear. It was a warning to remember who I was. Girls like she and I, we weren’t the popular ones. We didn’t do things like Sarah did and if we forgot our place, someone would take advantage of that.
I thought so hard, I stopped dancing.
“Hey, I just want to dance. Promise,” he said, holding up his hands. “I’m not asking you to be my wife or anything. If you don’t want a drink, no worries.”
“All right,” I said, dancing along with him some more.
I didn’t know what it was, but the further we walked onto the dance floor, the sicker I felt. I just didn’t feel right and despite being wishy-washy with this man, I suddenly felt like I needed to find Sarah, even if that meant being rude to him. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
“Where you going?” he asked, grabbing my hand.
“I have to look for my friend.” I tried to slide my hand from his grip, but he held on tightly.
“What’s her name?” he asked, walking with me towards the edge of the dance floor.
“Sarah.”
“Does she have blonde hair?”
“Yes.”
“I know where she is.”
“You do?” I asked, relieved I wouldn’t have to look too hard.
“Yeah. She’s upstairs.”
I could only shake my head. That was just like Sarah. She was a wild girl at heart, but I expected her to at least stay with me. I could see her leaving me to go have some private fun, but I wished she’d told me instead of leaving me and having me think she was getting us drinks.
I followed Jay upstairs and down a hall. Around the railing were tables and drinks, but down the hall, the music faded in volume and I could see there were individual rooms. I could only imagine what happened in this frat house-like set up.
As we walked, the lead in my stomach felt heavier and heavier. Something was wrong, but I couldn’t leave Sarah to be in it alone. I needed to find her and as soon as I did, I was going to demand we go home. I should have never let her leave me alone.
The man opened a door and when he walked into the room, I followed him, ready to get Sarah and get the hell out.
“Hey”, I said, looking around. “There’s no one in here.”
I turned to see him closing the door.
“Yes, there is. We are,” he said, smiling.
Perhaps smile wasn't the right word for it—the top row of teeth was showing, and there was a faint curve to the lips, but there was no crease below the eyes, no movement of the cheeks, and I knew right then that I was in trouble.