Disclaimer: Unfortunately, my name isn't Suzanne Collins and I do not own anything.
Inside the club was like nothing I had ever seen before in the Capitol. The dance floor gleamed, shimmering colors from the strobe lights running across the black surface like it was a pool of oil. Bodies pulsed, pressed together, in rhythm with the throbbing bass line that shook the entire club. A sleek silver bar extended along the far side of the room. Dark velvet couches ringed the dance floor.
Scantily clad, professional dancers writhed on platforms and poles scattered throughout the room. The room is slightly murky with smoke emitting from the smoke machines hidden from view. In the far back of the club is private couches shrouded from view with more velvet curtains.
With a huge grin, Lethe grabbed my hand and dragged me through the grinding bodies to the bar.
"Do you want to open a tab just for tonight?" shouted Lethe over the music.
"Sure," I nodded vigorously.
As Lethe turned to talk to the bartender, I took in her appearance again. I felt under dressed in my dark jeans, black t-shirt, black boots and a simple silver chain with some sort of animal claw on the end that Lethe had made me wear.
Lethe was dressed in skin tight, dark blue skinny jeans that looked like they had been sewed on. What made my eyes pop was the fact that she was wearing a black silken corset top that was laced so tight that her breasts were pushed forward so noticeably that you had trouble keeping your eyes from straying. She finished off the ensemble with black gladiator heels, smoky makeup and letting her silky blonde hair fan around her in gentle waves.
I snapped back to reality when Lethe handed me a glowing blue drink. "The bartender recommended it."
"Thanks," I said. I held up my drink. "To a great night!"
Lethe clinked her glass against mine. "And to a night of getting so drunk we forget all our problems!"
"I'll drink to that!" I cheered. The drink was fruity but not altogether unpleasant.
Lethe leaned towards me so she wouldn't have to shout to loud. "Everyone is staring. They can't believe I'm out with Finnick Odair."
"If they're all staring, let's give them a show," I shouted back. I chugged the rest of my drink and Lethe followed suit. We slammed our glasses on the bar and then I grabbed Lethe's hand, lacing our fingers together, and pulled her into the throng of people.
I was scared people were going to try and separate us so they could get a free dance with Finnick Odair so I danced as close to Lethe as I figured she would be comfortable with. She pressed herself against me with a smile, one hand wrapped around my shoulders while the fingers of her other hand settled themselves in the belt loops of my jeans.
I smiled down at her as we moved together. I settled both hands on her hips and stroked the skin exposed between her corset and jeans.
"You know," she yelled. "People are probably thinking of shoving me out of the way so they can dance with you."
"Don't worry. They won't pull you away on my watch." I slid my hands down until I was cupping her bottom and pulled her flush against me.
We danced like that until the song ended and Lethe pulled me back to the bar for another drink. Lethe turned to order again and I surveyed the crowd. A blonde man and woman I faintly recognized seemed to be making their way towards me and I panicked slightly. What if they were clients? I didn't remember all of my clients and I kicked myself for not thinking that I could possibly run into someone who had paid for me.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that they were just Gloss and Cashmere. They were brother and sister–both Hunger Games Victors– and both sex slaves like I was. Before Lethe, they both were the closest thing I had to friends here in the Capitol.
Most people from District 1 were gorgeous and Gloss and Cashmere didn't disappoint. Gloss had ruffled golden blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and he was tall and muscled. For the night he was dressed in a bright blue button down with all the buttons open, exposing his chest, and lightly faded jeans.
Cashmere had the same shade of golden blonde hair as her brother but hers was piled on her head in a loose topknot. She was almost the exact same height as Gloss but her eyes were a bright, glimmering green instead of the deep blue eyes of her brother. She received many stares with her super short, dark purple dress that clung to every curve of her body.
"Why Finnick," purred Cashmere, laying a hand on my arm. "I never see you out alone."
"He's not alone," came a voice from my elbow. Lethe handed me my drink and stood close to my side.
Gloss smirked, raking his eyes up and down Lethe. "Who's your friend?"
Lethe stuck out her hand, smirking to herself. "Lethe Everton."
"Gloss Duncain," said Gloss, wrapping his hand around Lethe's and shaking it gently.
"Cashmere Duncain," said Cashmere, taking Lethe's hand from Gloss's.
"I know who you both are," said Lethe. I smiled at her and wrapped my arm around her waist. That movement wasn't lost on Gloss and Cashmere as they took in the sight of my arm.
"You may know us, but we don't know you," said Cashmere, tipping her head to the side slightly. "Are you from District 1?"
Lethe shook her head beside me. "No. Born and raised here in the Capitol."
Now that I looked between Lethe and Gloss and Cashmere, I realized why Cashmere could think Lethe was from District 1. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, Lethe looked like a classic District 1.
"So you are on the job then," said Cashmere, looking between Lethe and I.
"Nope," I said, tightening my hold on Lethe. "I'm here of my own free will. I have a free night tonight."
"On a Saturday night?" asked Gloss sceptically.
"Yeah Finn, on a Saturday night?" asked a voice by my ear. And arm was thrown around my neck and I leaned against Lethe unconsciously. I turned my head and my lips broke into a grin.
"Hey Johanna."
Johanna was another Hunger Games Victor and another of Snow's prostitutes. Like Gloss and Cashmere, Johanna was the closest thing I had to a friend before Lethe. Unlike Gloss and Cashmere, Johanna was from District 7.
She was tall and thin, but strong with muscle like all Victors. Her hair was short and a dark brown, styled in small spikes and she had large, wide set brown eyes. She wasn't classically beautiful like Cashmere but there was something wild in her dark looks that the Capitol people seemed to love.
"What's Finnick Odair doing out alone?" asked Johanna, still clinging to my neck.
"I'm not alone. I'm on a date; an actual date."
Johanna mocked gasped and Gloss and Cashmere snickered. "Finnick Odair is on an actual date!? Who's the lucky girl?"
Johanna playfully shoved me to the side to get a better look at Lethe. Johanna was into the theatrics and she didn't disappoint. She gasped and whistled low when she saw Lethe.
"I'm Lethe Everton," Lethe said, not the least intimidated by Johanna.
Johanna grinned. "I'm Johanna Mason."
"So why do you have a Saturday night free of all nights?" asked Gloss, unwilling to let the topic drop.
I shrugged and tried to fight a grin as I felt Lethe press herself tight to my side. "I just didn't have any takers tonight. I was booked solid for the rest of the week and next week I'm entirely full though."
"Even the best of us have those days," laughed Cashmere. "Don't worry; you aren't losing that famous charm."
"So you took the opportunity of a free night to freely take out a date?" asked Johanna, glancing at Lethe again. "Snow won't like it."
"I don't think Snow will have a problem," said Lethe, looking up at me and winking.
"So do all three of you guys have free nights too?" I asked.
"Yup," said Cashmere, threading an arm through her brothers. "Turns out the couple we were scheduled for only wanted a couple of hours instead of the entire night."
"What about you?" Gloss asked Johanna.
Johanna shrugged. "Like Finnick said– I had no takers tonight. It's a first for me and I couldn't be happier."
Johanna started conversing with Gloss so I took the opportunity to whisper down to Lethe.
"Let's go dance again," I said, trying to excuse us as nicely as possible.
"First," said Lethe, pulling out of my arms. "We're all doing shots!"
As Lethe turned back to the bar, Gloss caught my eye and winked.
"Five shots of Tequila!" I heard Lethe shout to the bartender. Within a minute, the bartender placed a tray in front of us with five shots, a handful of napkins, a small dish of salt and five lime wedges. We all crowded around the bar, salting our hands and grabbing a shot glass and a lime wedge. Then we all backed away and stood in a loose circle.
"Cheers," said Lethe, raising her shot glass. "To having an amazing night."
"To getting shitfaced drunk," Gloss added, raising his glass also.
"To alcohol," said Johanna simply.
"To finally being around people I actually like," interjected Cashmere.
"To beautiful women," I said, catching Lethe's eye. Cashmere and Johanna just rolled their eyes.
We all clinked our glasses together, careful not to spill any of the expensive liquid. I brought my hand up, licked the salt on the back of my hand and then quickly swallowed the Tequila. I brought the lime to my lips and bit into the sour fruit. I sucked the juice and then tossed the rind back onto the tray.
Lethe made a face when she bit into the lime but other than that, she took her alcohol like a champion. I handed everyone a napkin and we wiped our sticky fingers.
"Another!" cheered Johanna, throwing her napkin on the tray and leaning to the bar to get more shots.
We did four more shots together as a group, toasting something more ridiculous each time, before Lethe and I were able to go dance. Unfortunately, by taking shots with the other three, they got the idea that now it was a group outing. Cashmere grabbed the normalist looking Capitol man and started grinding on him right next to Lethe and I while Gloss and Johanna were dirty dancing on the other side of us.
"Guess it's a group thing now," Lethe yelled over the thumping music. "I'm sorry."
I wrapped my arms around her middle, spun her in a small circle and then put her back on the ground. "Don't be sorry. Before I met you, they were the closest things I had to a friend. I don't mind that they're around."
"Well in that case..." Lethe turned her back to me and pressed her body tight against my chest. It was no accident that she was grinding hard against the bulge she made spring up in my jeans. She brought her arms up and wrapped them around my neck.
I brought my face down and nibbled the side of her neck. I heard her low moan as she titled her head to the side for easier access. My hands were clutching hard at her hips while I felt her fingers playing with my hair as she rubbed her body against mine. I knew eyes were glued to us but I couldn't care less as I nibbled gently on her ear, eliciting a groan from her lips.
We danced like that until Lethe tugged me back to the bar for more drinks. We took two more shots together and then continued dancing—if dancing is what it could be called.
I was properly drunk when Cashmere, Gloss and Johanna stumbled into Lethe and I and started complaining about how dull the club was. We were all pretty drunk but I was almost positive that Lethe and I were the most sober.
Lethe threw her arms around Gloss's shoulders, laughing. "What If I could get us all into the most spectacular club here in the Capitol?!"
"You could get us into Project V!?" yelled Johanna, her eyes wide.
"I thought this was Project V?" slurred Cashmere.
I shook my head. "Sober up Cash."
"So can you get us in?" asked Gloss.
"Let's go!" cheered Johanna, throwing her hands up.
Lethe grabbed my hands with a wide smile and I snaked them around her waist as we walked, leading the other three out the door and into the chill night air.
