Chapter two::
Taylor found himself sitting on a beat-up leather sofa in the far corner of a crowded club. The girls had been right, the club wasn’t much, but it was filled with good-looking girls and the music wasn’t bad.
Jenna had excused herself to go to the washroom, and had yet to return.
He was about to set off to find her when she emerged from the crowd with two tall glasses, one in each hand.
She handed him a drink and sat next to him. “Thought you might be thirsty.” She shouted over the music.
“Thanks.” He shouted back. He debated drinking from the glass, which didn’t appear clean, but in the end his parched mouth and throat triumphed.
What was in the glass looked and smelled like dr. pepper but had a distinct bitterness.
“What is this?” He asked, leaning closer so he didn’t have to strain his voice. “It’s Irish Dr. Pepper.” She said back with a smile.
“Uh-huh. And what precisely makes it Irish?”
“It’s half vodka.”
He nodded. “I thought you were only 15.” He shouted
“That’s the beauty of a fake ID,” Her smile turned to a grin. “Want another?”
“No, thanks.”
“Okay, well I do. Want to come with?”
He nodded. “Alright.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isaac had wandered the club several times. The dance floor was filled with dancing bodies, gyrating and grinding to the music.
He saw tons of beautiful women, but kept his distance.
He had just had his heart stepped on and didn’t want it to happen again for a while.
Isaac made his way to the bar.
He leaned heavily on the counter and shouted his order to the bartender. “Um… water… anything.”
“Anything, huh?” A voice next to him spoke, “That’s brave.”
He turned to see one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She was wearing a pair of tight fitting black pants and a black halter-top, which showed an expanse of smooth skin. She leaned on the bar and spoke seductively, stroking the bartender’s arm, in obvious flirtation. “Jason, honey. The usual, please…. And water for my friend here.”
She slowly released his arm as he moved to make her drink.
“Are you new here?” She asked him, leaning back on the counter.
He found it impossible to tear his attention away from her. She wasn’t like other girls. There was something about her.
“No. I’m just visiting some people.”
“Uh-huh. What’s your name?”
“It’s Isaac.”
“Isaac? Now that isn’t a name you hear every day,” She pushed a curtain of long dark hair over her shoulder.
“Actually, it’s my middle name. My first name is Clarke.”
“Wow. But you go by Isaac?”
“I do. What’s your name?”
“It’s-“
“Christy!” Someone shouted.
Isaac turned to see Jenna just as she hugged Christy tightly.
Taylor stood next to his brother and ordered a bottle of water.
“Wait, you guys know each other?”
“Uh-huh.” Jen smiled, “She’s kind of my cousin.”
“Kind of…” He nodded.
“I see you two have met though. That’s nice.”
“Yeah, he was about to ask me to dance.” Christy grabbed his hand.
“Umm… I’m not a great dancer…”
“It’s easy, come on.” She pulled him towards the dance floor.
**********************************************
Becky burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. One more time... I swear I’ll get it this time.” She smiled.
Zac opened his mouth and Becky aimed and tossed a kernel of popcorn. It bounced off his nose, which sent her into another fit of giggles.
They were sitting Indian style across from each other in her living room.
”Here. Let me try, it’s easier than it looks.” He smiled, reaching into the bowl of popcorn.
Becky held open her mouth. He took aim and tossed a piece of popcorn, missing.
Becky burst out laughing again. “See? You can’t do it either!”
”You closed your mouth!”
”I did not!” She laughed. ”Did too! Once more. I’ll get it this time.”
Becky opened her mouth this time, but he suddenly moved forward for a better shot. Becky laughed, moving backward, and finding herself on her back, propped up on her elbows. “You’re cheating!”
”No way. I never cheat! I’m just getting a better angle.” He flicked the popcorn at her and it landed in her hair.
”Hey!” She giggled and threw a handful of popcorn at him.
Zac chuckled. “Okay, now we’re getting popcorn all over the house.”
“No problem, the housecleaner will get it.” Becky smiled and got up from the floor. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Alright.”
“What would you like?” She disappeared into the kitchen.
“I don’t know… do you have any-“
“Dr. Pepper?” She asked, appearing in the doorway.
He laughed. “Right.” He got up from the floor and followed her into the kitchen.
“Ice?” She asked, opening the freezer.
“Sure.” He said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “So, have you lived here all your life?”
“Yeah, but I hate it. I want to get out and see the world and see something other than this crap-hole-town, you know?”
“Yeah. It’s a cute town, though.” He tried.
“No, it’s not.” She said with a laugh. “It’s a little stink hole!”
“You’re right. It’s not cute.” He laughed.
They stood silently sipping their drinks.
“What time will your parents be home?” He asked suddenly.
“Um… they won’t.” She said, taking a sip from her straw. She swirled the ice cubes in her drink with it. “They work a lot. Most of the time I’ve got the place to myself.”
“Oh. You’re an only child?”
“Yeah.”
“Must be nice.”
“It’s pretty lonely. But Jen is like a sister to me.”
“That’s nice.”
The door opened and Becky turned to see who it was.
“Hey!” She greeted Taylor and Jenna but stopped at the top of the stairs.
“Becky!” Jenna yelled, too loudly. She stumbled up the stairs, with Taylor trying to hold her arm and keep her on her feet.
“Oh no.” Becky said. “I’ll put on some coffee… a lot of it.”
“Where’s Ike?” Zac asked.
“He’s met someone.” Taylor said, holding Jenna up and at the same time, trying to push her into a chair.
“He did? Who?”
“Some girl... She’s hot. Apparently she’s Jen’s cousin.”
“Oh please! Christy is such a whore.” Jenna slurred.
“Umm… good to know.” Taylor raised his eyebrows.
“Jen, honey. Try to drink this.” Becky handed her a mug of coffee. “I can take it from here.”
“I’ll help. What’s the next step?” Taylor asked.
“Getting her sober, or waiting until she passes out somewhere… Jen? Where are your shoes?”
“In the front lawn. She said they hurt her feet.” Taylor answered.
Zac laughed. “Sounds like you guys had a good time.”

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