You could see the faint mist rising around each corner and no hint of sound, but the clacking of my wedges and Trish's flats. The air was thick and musty, humidity caused my hair to slightly frizz. I couldn't take it. I wanted to know where we were going and how much longer it would take.
I kept questions to myself as we turned on a corner and a sturdy building appeared. It had 2 floors and colorful lights beamed from the humidified windows. I don't know what it was, my instincts told me that something bad was going to come of out this if we got any closer.
"Are you sure he's in there?" I caught up to Trish, hoping that she knew what she was doing. If we were seen in this part of Miami at 2 in the morning, I'd be more than grounded. I'd be dead.
"On his card he said that he works the Mystic Lights Club. Something you wouldn't expect from a guy who owns the Frozen Yogurt Hut," Trish informed as we stood across the street from the club with the noise level rising the closer we approached.
"How do we get past the bouncer?" I asked suddenly worried that helping Trish could actually land me in jail. Plus, we weren't even 18. I don't turn 17 for another 5 months.
Without a reply, she gripped my wrist and dragged me across the street. Once we reached the other side, we ran towards the back of the building, hoping to find an entrance.
"Are we seriously sneaking into an adult club?" I instantly panicked and my breathing increased. This wouldn't look good on a college application. This wouldn't be a good reputation, period! How could Trish stand there and act so calm about this? Then again she has worked at almost every place in the mall. Geez, they say I talk too much. I even exceed on thinking.
"We can go through that door, I think it's either the kitchen or maintenance," Trish informed while she ran over to the door and cracked it open. She glanced back at me and gestured to follow her in. I let out a long sigh before striding up to her.
Trish was wrong. This looked nothing like a kitchen or maintenance. It was a narrow hall that extended about 20 feet further until you approached a doorway with dangling beads. I split them apart and entered the wide area crammed with people dancing almost as bad as I did, then some in the middle having dance contests.
"10 minutes remaining till the annual kiss or diss event of the week!" The voice on the speakers announced.
I turned my attention back to Trish who had gotten a few feet ahead of me. I pushed through the crowd until I caught up to her and she stood in the center, twisting her head in different directions.
"There he is!" She hollered above the crowd and pulled me along with her towards the bar. He was a middle aged guy, sitting on a stool, drinking who knows what. It was light yellow which made me guess it was some type of beer.
"Mr. Langston! You didn't give me my paycheck after I quit my job!" Trish exclaimed in his ear.
"You only worked for a day. Plus, this is my only break for the next 6 hours, can I not have some peace and quiet?" The guy stated as Trish and I examined the area.
"Believe me, sir. You ain't getting none here. Can you just please sign this check?" Trish asked and he went along with and scribbled on her small piece of paper.
"Now you kids get out of here before you get caught," He declared as we nodded and dug our way through the crowd. Trish went faster with every step she took. Curse my wedges!
I jumped in shock as 2 firm hands yanked on my shoulders and motioned me in reverse.
"Trish!" I screamed, but it was no use, they were taking me somewhere and had no idea. I tried facing them but they kept pulling me until we reached a door on the side of the room. I heard them insert a key and swing the door open before throwing me in.
They weren't kidnapping me, this was backstage. Oh no. Kiss or Diss.
The song was soon ending and these 2 buff guys that carried me in, disappeared, stranding me in the room. I looked across the stage to see if anyone were on that sight. Within seconds a figure was forced into that room as well. I couldn't pick out his features but I saw the light reflect off his neon yellow sneakers.
"How we doin tonight?" the DJ welcomed the audience and they replied with a roar. "With those who aren't familiar with this event. We pick out two complete strangers from the crowd and have them come out on stage and give us a show! We blindfold the female contestant while the male has full advantage. Thing is, does she kiss or diss?"
Great. I could end up kissing a 40 year old for all I know. But would a middle-aged man be wearing sneakers. Oh, I hope not. I peered out into the audience, hoping to spot Trish. Once I found her, it looked like she had gone insane, she was looking everywhere for me.
I wanted to make some gesture to grab her attention, but it was too late. One of the guys from earlier came back in and gripped my wrists while tying on the bandana over my face. Seconds later, I was guided on stage by the hand that was placed on my arm.
Red seeped through the blindfold and the audience went wild. I heard footsteps approaching me then stopped. I glanced down, spotting those sneakers, extremely close to mine.
"Why don't we meet the young lady of the night?" The DJ announced as louder footsteps came towards me, the guy let my hands free to hold the microphone. "Tell us your name, sugar."
"Ally Dawson," I mumbled. I prayed that no one would consistently stalk me after tonight. Especially the person standing inches away from me that actually got to see what I looked like.
"Well in 10 seconds Ally, you will either have the kiss of a lifetime or have the kiss where you repeatedly wash your mouth out from. We will take the blindfold off when the timer ends." I guessed the DJ went to the side because his voice became more distant when he began counting down.
Pressure built up on my waist, was this dude seriously tugging on me? I saw the sneakers grow closer and felt the heat of the spotlight on my skin. My stage fright was already kicking in.
"3! 2! 1!" The audience screamed and his lips smashed into mine. The blindfold slipped off and all I thought about was the dance our lips were in. It's as if he had a hunger for me.
"Ally!" I heard a faint, yet familiar voice call. Trish.
I tried pushing away but his hands were firmly gripped on my waist. I have to admit, this guy wasn't that bad of a kisser. But being someone who's never kissed someone. It felt kind of weird. Tingles traced my arms as his hands slid across them. Another chance at pulling away until his hand dug in my hair and forced me closer. The audience got a kick out of this and I sort of understood why. He was acting crazy and persistent.
This may have lasted about 20 seconds. But this isn't a Kiss.
I used all my strength and pushed us apart. The spotlight blinding my eyes as I opened them. The figure in front of me was hidden in the back round of the light. Better safe than sorry. I ran offstage and everyone drove crazy, trying to get a look at the girl who backed away from an amazing kiss…. I mean, awful!
"Trish!" I found her at the back of the crowd and ran towards the exit with her. I glanced back trying to find the guy who just mauled me to death. All I found was a light beaming on an empty stage.
I didn't know who she was and she broke my heart. I saw who she was and it took my breath away. Then I think about it, I didn't like how this all happened.
I was shoving my way through the sea of barbaric people, attempting to reach the bar, knowing that's where he would be located. Just as I showed up, he was ordering another one of his favorite drinks. Agitated, I marched up to him and picked up one of the shot glasses.
"Rocky? This is your ninth shot, I need someone to drive me back home," I stated as he looked at me with a hazy expression.
"You know what you need to do? Have a drink," Rocky suggested, taking a swig at his shot.
"I'm 16! You know my feelings about alcohol," This how it has always been and always will be.
"Sucks to be you," Rocky leaned back and have another shot. This was infuriating. Mom and dad need to realize I don't need a babysitter. Did I not mention that I'm 16? They hired Rocky because he's the son of my dad's boss, and just saying, you don't want to tick off my dad's boss.
Can't they make Rocky baby sit, I don't know, a 5 year old! All he does is drink and when he's not drinking, he's lounging on the couch enjoying some crime television, and if he's not doing that, the rest is a mystery. He's ditched Miami about 7 times. And 3 out of those 7 times, he gets a girl wasted then hangs her out to dry if you know what I mean.
I groaned as all the thumping began to give me a headache and felt an eardrum burst. I really hated the outfit Rocky made me wear. I also hate the fact that he made me get a black temporary tattoo to make it seem like I was over 18. For once, I wished I didn't look a day past 17.
The main reason we come here on a daily basis is because he and his band perform here occasionally and he calls it a 'tradition' to take as many shots equal to the amount of bra's thrown at him.
I began making my way towards the entrance until someone pulled my back into the crowd, moving at a speed to where I couldn't catch a glimpse of what they looked like. Next thing I know, I'm on the sidelines of a stage with hundreds of people hollering from the crowd through thick walls, anxious to see two complete strangers lock lips on stage.
Add this to the list of another thing I hate. Kiss or Diss. Every time I come here, this segment always happens and it never turns out right. It's like the sped up version of Cinderella. They kiss, but the princess ends up leaving because of how awful the kisser was, not because she had a curfew.
I never doubted my kissing skills, I've had a couple of girlfriends in the past. Though, I never dated them for more than a couple of months. All the girls at my school are high maintenance. Especially when it comes to Morino High School.
I only saw the silhouette of the girl on the other side. She was a petite figure with really tall shoes on and curly locks that seemed to drape slightly over her shoulders. The announcer introduced us to the stage and when she walked out, as usual, she was blindfolded so that she wouldn't judge the kiss by appearance.
I couldn't see any facial parts except her lips that were reflecting off the light, hinting that she was wearing some type of lip gloss.
"Tell me your name sugar?" The DJ asked as I couldn't wait to hear her name escape her lips.
"Ally Dawson," She mumbled as the name triggered some memory in me. I wasn't positive on who she was or where I knew her from, but Ally Dawson intrigued me.
The audience counted down to the kiss, while I crept closer to her, anxious to feel her lips against mine. After all, she did look around my age. Once the timer started and her blindfold slipped off, my hunger for her began.
My hands clenched her waist as our lips danced to this rhythmic pattern. I was right, her lips tasted like Lip Smackers, a strong candy taste.
What bothered me was the fact that it felt like she was trying to push me away. For some reason, I couldn't let that happen. I tugged tighter, trying to savor every second before the time would come where she successfully pushed me away. Once she did, the light seemed to blind both our eyes as we shielded our faces.
Her wedges raced down the steps towards some girl in the audience, making their way towards the exit.
"Ally," I whispered to myself, hoping she would glance back so I could catch a glimpse of what she looked like. Before I even had the chance to blink, I was pulled backstage by these muscular men. They threw me back into the audience like I was no use to them anymore.
How could this night get any worse?
"That's my boy!" Rocky exclaimed from the bar stool with a shot glass in his hand. 16 glasses and counting. I'm quite concerned on how much my parents pay him.
I sat on the stool, ignoring the bar tender and receiving a pat on the back by a drunk Rocky.
"Now, that's what I call a kiss," Rocky sipped his shot.
"I'm surprised you were sober enough to watch," I commented.
"Okay, okay. I didn't see it, I just saw your silhouettes mash together….if you know what I mean," Rocky chuckled as he completed another shot.
Forget it, I rather walk home.
I survived the crowds as I choked on the cigar smoke and finally reached the somewhat clean sidewalks. I kept a skateboard hidden in one of the abandoned trash cans ever since I last came here. I plopped it on the concrete and once I kicked off, I had no intentions in returning.
My second Auslly story and I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE FINALE! Hope you guys enjoyed! The storyline for this story is going to be so bipolar that you never know whats gonna happen! Please Comment/Fave!
There's no way I could make it without you guys!