After their IDs were checked, the seven were greeted with loud music, glittering disco balls, strobe lights and lots of dancing people.
"It's packed!"Carmel yelled above the music.
Serena nodded. "No kidding. Let's find a table."
"Stay together!" Chris shouted. "So that if we're recognized, we can run outta here without having to round up the rest."
JC nodded and put his hand on Carmel's lower back as they threaded their way through the crowd. Carmel barely noticed until she glanced back and realized JC was touching her. She was about to protest whe she decided to keep her mouth shut- they *had* made a truce to get along.. JC hadn't noticed he had put his hand on her back until she glanced back at him. He was about to take his hand away, but decided against it-it would seem rude to stop.
"There's a table over there!" Chris yelled, pointing to a table in a dark corner of the club. They all headed over to it and took seats. JC and Carmel ended up next to each other.
"I hope Bryce shows up," Serena shouted.
"That'd be cool," Carmel replied. "I'm gonna get a soda over there." Carmel threaded her way through the crowd of dancing people to the drink counter. "One Mountain Dew please."
The guy nodded and turned to fill a cup with ice and Mountain Dew as another guy sidled up to the counter next to Carmel.
"Hey there darlin'," the guy said, smiling at Carmel.
She smiled back, covering her distaste of being called "darlin."
"What's a pretty girl like you doing at a club by herself tonight?" the guy asked.
"I'm not by myself-I'm with my friends over there." Carmel gestured toward the table with her hand.
"Any of them your boyfriend?" the guy asked.
Carmel shook her head. "Nope."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeeaah."
"Sure that one with the dark hair looking over here isn't your man?"
Carmel glanced over at the table to see JC looking away suddenly. "I'm absolutely sure."
"I don't know...you two look at each other like there's somethin goin on..."
Carmel laughed out loud. "Ha! Yeah right-JC and me together? I don't know where you got that idea."
"Well come and join me at my table," the guy offered. "My name is Ted."
"Carmel," Carmel replied as JC approached the two.
"Carmel, are you gonna um...come back to the table?" JC asked.
"Why?"
"So we can talk," JC replied.
"I was actually gonna join Ted here for a little drink," Carmel said. "I'll be back in awhile."
JC turned hesitantly. "Okay." He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "If you need help, just signal okay?"
Carmel looked at JC indignantly. "JC, I can take care of myself okay?"
"I just-"
"I don't need *you* to protect me," Carmel said and walked away with Ted.
JC angrily went back to the table and sat in his chair with an angry plunk.
"Where's she going?" Chris asked.
"She's going to 'join Ted here for a little drink,'" JC replied, quoting Carmel.
"Why are you so angry?" Lance asked, forcing back a smile.
"I told her if she needed help, just signal and she goes off on me," JC said.
"Carmel's a big girl-she can take care of herself," Joey replied with a smile.
JC looked over his shoulder at Carmel and Ted laughing. "I know. I just...I don't like the look of that guy-I think he's bad news." |
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