14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Laura

It's going to be fine. I'll stay in the corner, and no one is going to kill me.

Most importantly, I have to keep my drink in sight all the time to stay safe. My gargoyle is probably going to save me if something happens, but... that may end up chaotic when his last save ended up pretty bad for the robber, not that I care about the robber anyway.

The safest will be for the drink to just stay with me.

The three friends who make me come with them are chuckling and pointing at hot guys in the bar. It didn't take long before the wave of people crushed us and sent us in different directions. Maybe I should have tried harder at following them around, but it feels like they are made of magnet or something, people seem to stick to them from the beginning, while I remain the weirdo to the side.

The music hammers at my ear and the flashing lights threaten to blind me. I have no idea why people like this place.

If they want a place to get to know new people, they can try going to a cafe where they can sit and have a sip of coffee. That'll be a place where people can actually chat, not like this place. I bet I can scream and shout, but no one is going to hear me. Why do these people like to make it hard for themselves? It makes no sense.

I take a seat at a table in the corner, where even the spotlights don't care. I let out a breath, setting my drink on the table.

Do I take a sip?

It should be an alcoholic drink, but I don't even know the name. It looks like a glass of orange juice, but I know better.

We ordered it when we first arrived at the bar. it is free, which... I guess it is better than if it costs money.

I don't drink a lot. I'm not a big fan of drinking, not to mention drinking on my own feels sad. Maybe I can get Gisett to drink with me.

I take a sip of the cocktail. It's a smooth one with a hint of sweetness. But all I know is that I'm not a fan of bitter alcohol. Maybe telling the bartender that I'd just have whatever my friends have isn't a good idea. I don't know the name of a single drink and what's on the menu's like a foreign language to me.

No one seems to notice me, which is good news. I sit back and try to relax as much as I can, given the loud music that's still murdering me.

Maybe something's wrong with me. Most people in the bar are similar age to me, and most of them, if not all, seem to be enjoying their time. No one's sitting to the side like me.

But I can't seem to gather the excitement. I can be excited when I'm in a library or a cafe, but this bar is just not doing it for me.

Speaking of which, maybe I should go to a cafe to get to know people who will share my interest. People like me don't enjoy a noisy bar like this. So why am I even here?

Groups and groups are dancing in the center of the bar, swaying their bodies and seemingly having fun.

I still don't understand.

I can't be the only person who doesn't like this kind of situation, right? I can't be that special.

What's Gisett doing? Still standing there and staring at the street? That's the most boring job ever.

But even that sounds more enticing than sitting here.

I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out where my friends are, but they remain mixing with the crowd, nowhere to be spotted.

I take another sip of the drink, which makes my cheeks warm. I'm probably not that good with alcohol. I've never tested that. This isn't the right time and place to be testing that.

How long has it been since I arrived? Probably not long enough for me to be gone.

I think I'd have to at least stay for an hour before I can sneak home.

"Laura, can't believe I ran into you here!"

I look up at Ryan's curly hair and his grin. It is evening, but he is so energetic that he may as well be just out of bed. How is that even possible?

I force a smile even though I'd rather be left alone. "Hi... Didn't expect to see you either."

He chuckles. "Can I take a seat?"

No? "Sure."

He takes a seat, leaving enough room between us. He glances at my drink. "Sure feels good being a woman, at least for this moment, huh?"

"Yeah... It's not that bad." I think I'm trying to convince myself of that instead of actually believing that myself, but whatever...

He chuckles. "Looks like you aren't a bar person."

I nod. "Is that obvious?"

"Pretty much when you're here when everyone else is over there."

I sigh. "It's too loud over there. Not to mention I can barely hear you, even though we're sitting side by side and we aren't even close to the dancing area."

He nods. "I can see that. But I think most are here to enjoy the music, the vibe, and maybe the dances."

I shrug. I don't agree with that at all. That can't be further from enjoyment in my book, but maybe Ryan's enjoying the bar, so I shouldn't rain on his parade. "Maybe. Why don't you enjoy the dance a bit too? Since you're here already."

He leans a bit closer. "Fancy a dance with me?"

What?

I bite the inside of my mouth, trying to calm myself. This can't be happening... I must be imagining things.

He gives a nervous laugh. "There are so many people out there, no one will spot us."

So... He really is asking me for a dance.

I take another sip of my drink. There's not a lot left, so I finish the rest. Maybe it is the alcohol, there's a surge of heat inside me, brewing and threatening to spill. "Maybe let's wait for a slower song."

"Ah, okay." He grins and that sends my heartbeat raging.

This is going to be such a bad idea. I'm so bad at dancing. I'm going to step on her feet and it's going to end so badly that my stomach twitches already.

I take a breath, trying to look normal, maybe the alcohol will make my burning cheeks look normal, or maybe I'm the only one paying attention to that when the lighting in this place is so abnormal.

Worse... The song is tuning out, which means another song is clicking in soon and I'd run out of excuses.

It's not that I don't want to dance a tiny bit, but...

My brain is still busy processing why he's asking me for a dance...

Maybe it's not going to be that bad.

Ryan stands and reaches a hand to me. "Let's go?"

It can't be that bad, right? I told myself I should get to know more people too... I'm not sure whether this is the case, but maybe I can try that. It's just a dance, after all.

I take his hand, and he leads me to the dancing area. The music is banging there, and I regret my choice at once. It would be a lot better if the music was better, but I can't do a thing about it...

He chuckles. "Just follow me."

"I'll try." I can barely hear him, and I doubt he can hear me. This bar is stupid. Maybe a lot of bars are like this, which only means that I'm more than right for not liking bars and parties.

I follow his steps regardless. I'm already here, may as well last until the song is over. It can't be that long. At most, it'll be five minutes, I can survive that.

He holds my hands, guiding me to the dance moves. "Relax, you're doing great."

I take a breath, trying to control myself. It has been a long time since I attempted dancing, so... I almost can't put my steps together and I swear if I'm not in sneakers, I'd trip and fall. Then everyone will know how much I suck.

We take turns and swirl. I fight to look normal and as if I fit in with this place, even though I know I probably still don't.

Ryan has a handsome smile on his face. I guess he isn't a bad guy. Maybe he is here to get to know a new friend too. Seeing we are classmates, it's not that bad to be with him so I won't be approached by awkward ones.

My cheeks are heating up even more. I must have drank too much. Where are my friends? Did they leave already?

There are a lot of people around me, not to mention that I'm constantly moving during the dance, I can't figure out where they are. Are they still having fun somewhere?

Ryan says, "Are you feeling better now? It feels like you are easing into the music."

Except all I hope is for the music to be over and for me to be off this place. I force a smile. "I hope."

He chuckles. "Maybe we can go to some other places next time, where it won't be too noisy."

That sounds good on the surface. I'd love a quiet place. Actually, it's hard to be worse than this stupid bar. Yet, he seems to be hinting at taking me out to somewhere else next time. I suppose he's just trying to be nice.

"We'll see."

"Sure." He seems to be happy. Maybe if I'm not interested, I should've rejected that. But... Maybe I'm not that against that. I can go out with someone. But if that's just the two of us...

Is he asking for a date?

Now Gisett shows up in my mind. He and I shared a night together, but we aren't dating each other anyway. Also... Is dating a gargoyle a thing? I'd think that gargoyles have their own thing. That's if Gisett even feels something for me, which I doubt he does.

He saved me from the robber, and we fucked each other, that's pretty much about it. It was... Maybe I was the rash one.

More importantly, when's this music going to end?