Disclaimer: I don't own the Southern Vampire Mysteries, they belong to Charlaine Harris
"Sookie!" Arms wrapped around my waist and I laughed, falling back into my friend slightly. With the heels I was wearing we were both lucky I didn't go tumbling backwards, taking them with me.
"Hey, Amelia," I replied, shouting quite loud to be heard over the music. I twisted around her arms to give her a proper hug. There was no point asking how each other was, we wouldn't be able to hear it over the music. "Where's Tara?"
"Bar." Amelia hooked her thumb over her shoulder, indicating which bar in the place our other friend had actually disappeared toward. There was a crowd already gathered around even though the night club had only opened about half an hour ago. It was as I was scouring the crowd, lucking for Tara, when I thought I saw someone. By the time I had registered what I had seen and tracked my eyes back there was no one there, or rather the person I thought I'd seen wasn't there. I shrugged it off.
"Come on you two!" The fourth and final member of our little group, Jo, strutted up to us and grabbed our hands to pull us toward the dance floor. "It's time to dance!" I laughed along, the buzz I had from pre-drinks letting my inhibitions go enough to be able to walk toward the almost empty dance floor.
"Here you go." Tara appeared with a round of drinks masterfully carried. I took my malibu and coke, taking a delightful sip. It took skill to be able to dance properly with a full glass in your hand but we had all managed to acquire the skill a long time ago.
"Thanks." I kissed her cheek before I was whisked away by Amelia. Our song began to play over the sound system and we laughed along. It had been the first song we had danced to on the first night we had met about a year ago at a work function. Ever since then it had been our song.
With our free hands clasped together we danced, letting the music move through our bodies so we didn't have to think about what we were doing. Nothing mattered except for the music and each other. Our hips bopped together with the sound of the drum and we laughed, giggles erupting as we continued to move, singing along even though we couldn't be heard.
"You two are weird." Tara giggled as she came up to us as the song phased out to be replaced by something else from the late eighties.
Linking arms we wandered from the dance floor, dropping out empty glasses off at the bar on our way. We slowly, because we were all wearing high heels, made our way up the curving stair case to the balcony floor where we could grab a booth. The booths looked down onto the dance floor below and were next door to a smaller room which played different music, on Saturday nights it was cheesy songs, mainly from film soundtracks.
"Another round girls?" I asked as they all filed into the booth, their clutch bags going onto the table. The resounding chorus of 'yes' had me high tailing it to the upstairs bar. The main reason we loved this place was that there were four bars in one small venue so you were guaranteed to get served pretty quickly somewhere, no matter how busy it was.
"Here you go." I placed the drinks in front of them and then slid into the booth.
"You okay?" Amelia whisper shouted in my ear as I took my seat next to her. "You seem a little off." Her concern was both sweet and a little worrying; I hadn't realised I was acting off at all.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I thought I saw someone from back home earlier, it must have me thinking." I shrugged it off and took a sip from my drink.
"Must be someone important to have you thinking. Hot?" Trust Amelia to get right down to it.
"Like you wouldn't believe." I replied with a giggle. My buzz was beginning to get a little stronger. I was a total light weight when it came to alcohol. Perhaps the tequila shots I'd ordered at the bar weren't the best idea in the world.
"Well then let's hope you aren't seeing things. I don't see much eye candy here tonight." We collapsed in laughter on each other and it happened to be that moment that the bar tender arrived carrying the four shot glasses filled with, sweet sweet tequila.
"Thanks." I flashed him my best smile since I'd already tipped him for agreeing to bring the drinks over while I was at the bar. "Wait, what's that?" I asked as he slid another glass down in front of me.
"A shot of Southern Comfort."
"I didn't order that." It was probably the most redundant statement I could come up with.
"I know. It was ordered by a guy before you came up here. Said if a beautiful blonde woman with an American accent ordered anything I was to give you that." He grinned at me again and turned away before I could add in anything else.
The drink order really through me off. It wasn't exactly rare for guys to buy me drinks; I'd even had drinks ordered for me from across bars and even once at a restaurant. To be fair, that had been a round for the entire I was with. It was however strange for someone to buy me a shot of Southern Comfort. Not only was it not the typical drink someone would buy for someone, it also happened to originate from my home state, the exact place where the guy I might have seen was from. I was pulled out of my thoughts when the girls started singing the sounds to the tequila song. I was just in time to shout tequila with them and down my shot. Too bad they didn't give out lime wedges here.
"Someone's lucky." Tara called out, indicating my extra drink.
"Yep." Without another thought I picked it up and threw it back, gasping as it hit the back of my throat. "Wow, it's been a long time. Anyway, I'm going back to the dance floor. Anyone coming?" Amelia grabbed my hand to tag along while the other two remained in their seats.
As soon as we hit the dance floor we began to move, letting the music move through us. We'd both brought our actual drinks with us too, even though we probably didn't need them yet. Our shots would be hitting us soon, especially since I'd had two. It wasn't long, less than one song, before two guys came up to us and started dancing with us. Amelia shook them off quickly, not interested in having too much attention since she had a guy waiting for her at home.
"You want another?" She shouted about ten minutes later. Sweat was just about beginning to break out along her top lip from all the dancing.
"Sure. Same again." I handed her my empty glass and continued to move my hips to the beat, singing along to the song. I probably looked utterly ridiculous but I just couldn't bring myself to care. The alcohol had gone straight to my head, taking my inhibitions down further. I was still coordinated to move and my thoughts were relatively straight so it was fine to continue drinking, as long as I took it a little slower.
The opening lyrics of The Clash' Should I Stay or Should I Go had just started when a pair of cool hands landed on my hips. I couldn't help but smile. My hips moved with more exaggeration as the guy behind me helped guide my movements. I didn't bother turning around to face him, yet. My eyes closed, keeping the mystery going as I leaned back against his chest, letting my knees sink as I moved downward slightly. His hand moved to my waist, holding me slightly closer for a second before returning to my hips, bringing me back up. I laughed aloud, simply enjoying the moment.
"Should or cool it should I blow," I sang along, the music too loud for anyone to really hear me. I pushed my hips back, hitting is and was once again hit with how tall he was. My inhibitions weren't lowered enough to actually let me dance so provocatively with someone I hadn't even seen. Just as I was about to turn around myself, the hands on my hips propelled me around, spinning me into his chest. My hands automatically extended out, landing on his pectorals.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Long blond hair, ocean blue eyes, strong features, skin the palest I had ever seen and a body to make you drool. Eric really was standing in front of me. I hadn't been seeing things earlier. Someone had meant to send me a drink from my home state. I had no idea why he was here in London and in that moment I couldn't bring myself to care. I jumped slightly, throwing my arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
So what did you think? This is the start of a new story I'm writing. I'll be completing it, alongside Silver + Wolfsbane, once Can Angels Fly with Broken Wings is Finished (2 chapters left now). Just wanted to see if people are interested. See you in a few weeks or next Friday depending on if you read Angels ;)