"Woooo!" I scream at the top of my lungs, relishing in the cold air blasting across my face.
Standing on the backseat of the convertible with my friends holding onto my legs -just in case I take a tumble- arms wide and hair blowing behind me. Nothing could be better.
"How long?" Austen shouts above the stereo playing: New Orleans is Sinking by The Tragically Hip.
Karmine who's at the wheel turns back and smile at us, "Not long, just an hour to go and we should be-"
"At the French Quarter!" The three of us from the backseat shout, giggling.
We arrive just a little after two in the morning.
A shiver passes through my spine as we drive into the French Quarter. Most of the stores were closed but there were a few places here and there adorned with a flashing neon "open" sign.
"Should we check in first?" I suggest as we roll to a stop on a random street.
Karmine looks around and puts the car in park, "Let's follow that guy. Rousseau's," he carefully asesses the small bar tucked into a corner a few feet from us and hops out, "Sounds ledgit, let's have a drink."
Jenna raises an eyebrow, "A real one? Not you're Blood Mary version?"
Karmine sighs but gestures for us to go ahead, "As the lady wishes."
We all spread out, getting out drinks and stretching our legs having spent the last eight hours couped up in a car together.
It was a perfectly respectable for it's place in New Orleans. The antique wallpaper, a few paintings and that homey feely which meant this place had been around for a while. As did the aged wood and opaque bottles of liquor displayed beyond the blond bartender
For two am, it was actually pretty full. The row of tables left was full occupied by a large group, head huddled together, all with full glasses.
Scanning around, my eyes stopped on the only man in there with a full suite, martini in hand and hair perfectly coiffed.
Next to me, Karmine whistles, "Can you feel the power coming off of him. How old do you think he is?"
"Maybe we should find out," I mutter, stepping forward to introduce myself.
Karmine pulls me back, leading me to the other side of the bar, "Don't think that's such a smart move. I just heard whisperings about the vamps here. Apparently werewolves aren't welcomed and you my friend -isn't usally welcomed anywhere in general. You're keeping your scent hidden right?"
I nod, "They won't even realise it," I look back at his hesitant face, "Aww, don't give me that look. I can keep this up for the rest of our visit, don't make us go before we've even got a chance to part," I pout.
His eye look around and then flashes back to me, "Fine but even at the first sign of anything anything off -"
"-We leave and never look back," I finish, pushing him away, "go and see if you can find out more about this hate-fest."
He gives me the "I'm watching you" gesture and turns back to the bar.
Being totally exhausted, we drop the moment we open our hotel guys had their own room across from us while the three of us girls shared the two double beds.
"Happy b-day Lex," Kate mutters before she crashes.
"Thanks," I whisper back.
"Did you see my bronzer?" Jenna asks, looking over all the make-up we'd spilled on the counter.
"Here," I toss it to her as I finish my smokey eye make-up and put on a final coat of dark glitter lip gloss.
Then Kate comes in, "Do you think I should wear the yellow top or the black one?"
"How do you even know if there's any place good to go?" Jenna starts, " I mean, all we've seen are voodoo museus and beignet stands. Who says there's even a good club out in this swamp?"
"I do," I smile looking back in the mirror one last time, "Besides, it's my birthday. You don't get to complain."
Kate finally chooses the classic black blouse and we hustle out of the room to meet the boys.
The streets were absolutely stunning, everything was lit up and there was a soft buzz of conversation aflow everywhere and the jazz music... was amazing.
I looked around quickly and found a cute guy with chocolate skin, curly brown hair and brown eyes and an amazing smile to boot; standing across the street from me and half hidden in the shadows.
I instantly smiled and crooked my finger, gesturing him to come.
He crossed his arms and grinned, staying put.
I pout and put my palms together please? I mouth.
He shakes his head and walkes across the street.
"Dance with me," I grab his arms and lead us closer to the the jazz group.
"Do you know how to actualy dance darlin'," I smile as we bob to the music.
"Of course, tango, merenge, jitterbug? I know it all." he smiles, showing pearly white teeth.
"Anything swing, you pick," I barely finish before he flings be into the air anf we're too focues on landing the lifts and footwork to talk.
Dance( watch?v=Rf55gHK48VQ)
When the music ends, I smile up at him, I haven;t danced like that for a long time.
"It appears a crowd has formed," he whispers in my ear
I nod at his remark, bowing grandly to the crowd.
He offers to walk me to my friends and I agree.
"The name's Lex," I say, holding out my hand.
"Diego," he says, his smile turning a little darker.
"Now that that's done, know any place where we can have some real fun?" I ask.
"Not satisfied with the haunted graveyard tours and wine tastings?" he jokes.
I shake my head, "I'm looking for something really different. I though the Bayou was suppose to be all dark and mysterious."
He rumbling laughter flows between us, "You just haven't been looking in the right place."
"Lex!" I hear a shout from up the street and see Kate waving her arms.
"I'm gonna get going," Diego starts, "here, come tonight if you're looking for something delicious."
I look down at the strip of paper with a large M insignia in a gothic font and "The Abbatoir" underneath with an addresss scribbled at the bottom corner.
"Should I bring my friends," I ask nonchalantly.
He smiles again and I suddenly notice the veins beneath his eyes, "The more the merrier." he says before dispearing...
"The Slaughterhouse, guess I can figure out what goes on there..."
"Looks fun," Jenna beams, setting her head on my shoulder to look at the sheet Diego handed me, "Let's go."
I quickly crumple it up in my pocket, "Maybe later."
She shrugs and leans toward Kate, babbling about a club right outside the Bayou.
"Hasn't been one night and she's already look for an escape," Karmine chuckles.
"Maybe you guys should go," I reply, "she might be a little less miffed. It's only one night. We can meet up at the hotel."
"It's not safe for you to go alone," he stressed.
I give him the best your kidding look I have, "Like you could stop me if I really wanted to go. I'd knock you on your ass and be gone before you could say fuck."
He shakes his head and narrows his eyes at me, "You really wanna play that card. Fine." he snaps out and just when I though he'd leave, he looks me in the eye. Hard, "You'll call me every hour to check in and you don't drink anything. Anything. And if there's any vampires at the party..."
"I run the other way with my tail between my legs."