2. Birthday Plans

"Jess, hey, Jess! Over here!" Kimee called at Jess.

"Hey, Kimee you know that you didn't need to do this right."

"Sure I did. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't celebrate my best friends eighteenth birthday?"

"A good one," Jess said under her breath and laughed.

"Yeah, ok. So, I have a bunch of things planned up. First, we eat, next, we go shopping, and then tonight we're going to the biggest night club in Orlando."

"Which is?"

"Club Firestone," Kimee smiled.

Later that night after Kimee and Jess had picked up some new clothes they went back to their apartment. Kimee had bought a sweater dress that came just under her butt; she wore tights that came just above her knees which she wore under the dress. She had ankle fur boots that she wore with the outfit. As always she wore her hair down in curls and a woven hat that she somehow managed to look great in. Jess had wanted to wear a simple pants and shirt outfit, but Kimee had her outfit planned out already. Kimee had picked out a spaghetti strap purple shirt that had some kind of sequin design on it which swayed loosely on Jess's flat stomach. She had also gotten black mini shorts to complement the top. She wore her hair down also and a black necklace that went down to her stomach. She wore purple tie up sandals that came to her calves.

"Are you ready yet?" Kimee called out.

"I don't look right!"

"Let me see."

Jess walked out feeling like she was naked with her limited amount of clothes.

"What are you talking about? You look great!" Kimee complimented.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Now let's get out of here! I want to go dance."

Kimee started dancing as soon as they stepped into the club. They were playing some kind of techno song that had a catchy beat. As she was about to sit down, Kimee dragged her up to go dance.

"It's your birthday! Have a little fun tonight!" Kimee shouted over the music.

When a new techno song started, Jess was able to get into the dancing. She would move her hips back and forth to the music and then her hands until she and Kimee were finally in a trance and swaying to the music along with the other dancers.

Shane was sitting at a table in the far end of the club with Matt when he saw Kimee dancing. He was about to go say "hi" when he saw a girl with her. She wore a purple shirt that moved with her body every time she moved. Her legs moved with the beat of the music. He noticed from far away that she was quite beautiful.

Don't even think about it Shane, he thought to himself. You know how Tatiana is.

"Where's Tatiana?" Matt asked Shane.

"I don't know. She's supposed to be here in a little while," Shane sighed thinking about their earlier argument.

"Shane, you know, as your best friend I think I should tell you that I don't think that Tatiana is the best match for you."

"Matt, please not tonight. I'm trying to enjoy the music."

Shane's eyes trailed back to the girl in the purple shirt.

"She's beautiful," Matt interrupted his thoughts.

"Who's beautiful?"

"Who do you think goo-goo eyes, the girl with Kimee."

"Matt, your boyfriend is going to get jealous if he hears you taking like that," Shane laughed. Matt who came out of the closet about his sexuality about five years ago was the only person Shane trusted to always tell what was on his mind, he was also able to tell what was on anyone else's mind by their "body language" Matt had told him once.

"John knows how I feel about him, and don't change the subject."

"What? Me change the subject? Of course I'm not changing the subject. I'm all about this subject." Shane joked.

"Yeah right, I see you eying her. Go talk to her."

"I can't just go up to a woman and say, 'hey, what's your name?'"

"Why can't you?"

"Are you really asking me that? Well maybe because that is kind of creepy. Especially for a woman to think some nut job has been eying her from the other side of the club."

"That's how John and I meet."

"Well you are a nut job, Matt." Shane laughed.

After dancing through five songs straight, Jess finally needed a break.

"Kimee lets go sit for a while."

"Ok. You need water?"

"Yes, please."

While Jess looked for an open table, she saw two men looking at her from the other side of the room. She looked away quickly and when she looked back, they were looking away. Kimee got to the table and gave Jess her water.

"Hey, Kimee, who are those two guys?"

Kimee looked over to the table in the far end of the club. "Oh, I work with them. That one in the stripped shirt is Matt and the one in the blue polo is Shane."

"They work in the Cirque du Soleil?"

"Yeah, Matt does the high wire with me and Shane does the Aerial Ballet."

"What is that?"

"You'll have to come to work with me one day to see for yourself. But it's incredible."

"Ok. I will," she promised still looking at the man in the blue polo.

Shane looked away, embarrassed about being caught staring at the girl with the purple shirt.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! He thought to himself.

"Hey you guys," Shane heard Kimee coming over.

"Hey Kim-Kim," Matt smiled. "I didn't know you were here. You should have told me you were coming, I would have asked for a dance."

"Well, there is still time cowboy," Kimee laughed.

"Let's go then. Shane, you should ask Kimee's friend to dance."

Shane glared at his friend, who returned a smile.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!

"You want to dance?" Shane asked the girl.

"Sure."

"Let's go slowpokes!" Kimee shouted.

When Shane reached the dance floor he finally asked the girl what her name was. "Jessica, or Jess for short."

"Jess, that's nice name. Nice to meet you Jess, I'm Shane," he held out his hand.

She shook it and then Kimee interrupted. "Hey, there's plenty of time to get to know each other later. Dance now!" She ordered.

When a new song came on it was a new techno song. Kimee and Matt were getting into the song with Kimee dancing against Matt. He was definitely telling Matt's boyfriend.

When Jess started moving to the music so did he. That was when Kimee intruded in personal area and moved Jess so that she was up against him and his hands on her hips.

"Now dance!" Kimee shouted over the music.

"Is this ok with you?" Shane asked Jess.

"Sure," she said blushing.

They started to sway to the music, and after about a minute they started to move to the beat in unison. Shane was starting to have fun, getting into the music and dancing with Jess when Tatiana pushed Jess into Kimee.

"Tatiana!" Shane yelled at her.

"What the hell are you doing with my boyfriend?" Tatiana shouted at Jess.

Kimee interrupted with a shove in Tatiana's direction which sent her stumbling back.

"Kimee," Jess shouted over the music. "Stop, let's just go."

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me why you were dancing with my boyfriend."

"I'm sorry," Jess told her. "I didn't know he had a girlfriend," she looked down.

"Well you do now, bitch. Stay away from him!" Tatiana threatened.

"Ok. I don't want any problems," Jess said in a calm voice.

"Well that's too late, but that first one, make sure you do stay away from him."

"Tatiana," Matt shouted. "Leave her alone! She didn't know."

"Shut up fag! I wasn't talking to you."

"Tatiana! Shut your mouth already," Shane yelled at her. "I'm so sick and tired of you and your constant problem starting."

Tatiana looked up at him like she was about to blow up on him.

"It's over, Tatiana, for good," Shane told her.

"Get out of here Tatiana, before we call security," Matt shouted over the music.

Tatiana looked at Shane and then glared at Jess.

"You're going to pay. I swear."

Shane moved to be in front of Jess, protecting her against Tatiana's glare.

"Go, now," Shane growled at her.

Jess was amazed that a man she didn't even know stood up for her, protected her. When Tatiana finally left, Shane turned around to face her.

"Are you ok?" He asked her, his voice different from the one he was just using, softer.

"Yes, thank you," Jess looked down, embarrassed.

"You want to go home, Jess?" Kimee asked.

Jess looked at Shane then back to Kimee and then at Matt.

"No. I want to stay here," she told Kimee. "You want to dance?" She asked Shane.

"Sure," he said, smiling.

The group left at about midnight. Jess turned around to walk with Kimee in the direction of their apartment when Shane grabbed her hand.

She turned around to see that he was inches away from his face. He gave her a quick kiss and left a small piece of paper in her hand, his number.

"Call me sometime," he smiled at her.

"Sure," she stood their frozen.

They looked into each others eyes until Kimee broke the silence.

"Ok Romeo, Juliet needs to get home and to bed."

"What are you guys doing tomorrow?" Shane asked.

"Kimee is working," Jess pointed at Kimee.

"Well how about coming with her tomorrow?" Shane suggested.

"Ok," Kimee interrupted. "She said that she wanted to see you do your act, right Jess?" Kimee looked at Jess, smiling.

"Do you want to see my act?" Shane asked.

"Sure," Jess smiled

"Ok. Well I rehearse at nine. So be there at around eight-fifty or so," Shane told her.

"We'll be there," Kimee answered for Jess. "Bye you guys."