Emily threw another shot back, feeling the liquid burn down her throat. The club was insanely popular tonight. There were college students everywhere. The music bounced through the club, vibrating off of the walls, and blue and green lights flickered through the room.
"What number are you on?" Austin asked, placing a soft hand on Emily's shoulder.
"Three," Emily replied, setting the small shot glass down on the bar counter.
Austin shifted his weight in his stance and titled his head. His shaggy dirty blonde hair flipped a bit to the side, "Em, I don't think you should try to drink this away. I thought you were past that last semester."
Emily ran her hand through her long dark hair, "yeah, well, that was before I saw her again for the first time in months." Austin gave Emily a sympathetic look. He knew that his best friend was hurting. The second he saw Emily's face when she saw Alison, Austin prepared himself for the next few rough hours of angry and sad emotions.
"Don't look at me like that," Emily stated, her voice low. Austin put his arm around Emily's neck and stepped closer. Emily could smell his Calvin Klein cologne. It was relaxing to the brunette and it made her feel like she was in a safe place, "I just want you to have fun. I don't want you to go back to how things were last semester."
Austin's golden eyes shined with concern, "drinking the pain away and finding yourself under any girl who you find even the slightest bit attractive to get over her isn't going to help you, it's going to set you back."
Emily broke her gaze with Austin and looked at the bartender and ordered two more shots.
She turned back to Austin and readjusted herself, "I am not drinking to get over her. I am drinking because it is spring break and I'm here to have a good time."
The bartender brought Emily two small shot glasses filled with a light liquid. Emily grabbed the two glasses and handed one to Austin.
"Here is to a great first night," Emily said, raising her shot glass.
Austin threw Emily a not so convinced smile, but a smile nonetheless, and softly nudged his glass to hers, "cheers."
The two lifted their drinks to their lips and took back the shot in one smooth gulp. Austin grabbed the empty shot glass from Emily and placed his and hers on the bar counter, "no more drinks for a while. You need to take a break. Let's go mingle."
Austin reached down and grabbed Emily's hand, leading her through the crowd.
Tonight Emily knew she looked hot. She wore a very fitted black, short dress that exposed her back, arms, legs, and a small, teasing portion of her abs. Her long dark hair fell in very soft waves over her shoulders and she wore black heels that advertised her legs accordingly.
Emily followed Austin, hand-in-hand, throughout the crowd, smirking at every attractive girl who looked back at her. The alcohol was starting to buzz throughout her body.
Emily was eye candy to just about everyone in the club. It didn't matter if it was girls or boys, she was a sight to look at, and most people couldn't help but to stare.
Austin sat Emily down at a table booth where the rest of their friends were seated, drinking out of their glasses filled with Champagne. Carter had more than likely ordered the bottle. He was a high class, high end type of guy. Becoming best friends with a rich kid definitely had its perks.
"Damn, Em! You look so hot!" Victoria shouted over the music, reaching out for Emily. Emily returned a smile to Victoria and slid in the booth to sit because of her. Emily wrapped one arm around Victoria's waist, "you don't look so bad yourself."
Emily and Victoria had built a strong friendship over the past few months, meeting through Austin last semester just two weeks after they all moved in at UCLA. At first, Emily wanted to hook up with Victoria, quickly noticing how beautiful the girl was.
Victoria was of a white and black biracial mix and she was completely stunning. She was a bit lighter than Emily and her dark hair was naturally curly, but she had it straightened out for tonight. Victoria curved in all of the right places and guys drooled over her. Emily even drooled over her herself before she became friends with her.
After Emily actually got close to Victoria, she started looking at her more as a best friend rather than just a girl half of the male population at UCLA wanted to hook up with. Emily started to get to know Victoria's personality and found such a great friend in her.
Emily and Victoria had clicked so well because the two girls understood each other. The girls first bonded drunkenly over their emotions at a party one September night. Victoria herself was a heartbreaker, fearing commitment after her high school sweetheart broke her heart in her senior year of high school.
Victoria knew about Alison and Emily knew about Victoria's ex. Since finding out about each others heartbreak, both girls had always tried to find each other the "perfect" significant other. But both had terribly failed.
"There are tons of beautiful girls here tonight, Em. Let me help you pick one out," Victoria commented, sipping on her glass of Champagne. Emily brought her dark eyes to Victoria's hazel one's, "as long as I have you on my arm, no girl is going to want to even think about approaching me. You're intimidating, Vic."
Victoria laughed, "oh whatever. Fine, I'll keep my distance. But we are finding you a little beach hottie to get cozy with tonight."
"And what about you?" Emily asked, reaching for Victoria's glass and taking a sip of Champagne.
Victoria smiled seductively, "I have my eyes on that little hunk right over there." Victoria pointed to a guy who was standing at the bar, faced their way. He had a drink in his hand and was talking to another guy standing beside of him.
Emily grinned, "well why don't you go make your move?"
Victoria stood and grabbed Emily's hand, "come with me."
#######
"Baby, you need to stop drinking," Lorenzo mumbled in Alison's ear, pulling the blonde closer against his muscular body. Since he had met up with Alison, all she had been doing was drinking and being actively hyper.
Cece rolled her eyes and grabbed Alison's arm, tugging her out of Lorenzo's hold, "Jesus, Lorenzo. She's a freshman on her first college spring break. Let the girl live."
Alison drunkenly stumbled in Cece's arms and giggled, happily wrapping her arms around of Cece's waist, "yeah, Lo-rennnnzzz-o, let me live." Cece smirked, knowing that she had basically won Alison over just that quick.
Lorenzo shot Cece a dark glare, "you're going to let her get more drunk than she already is?"
Cece threw her arm over Alison's shoulder, "look, I've been her best friend for years and I've been around way longer than you have, pretty boy. I think I know what she can handle and what she likes."
Lorenzo whipped his eyes back to Alison, his jaw tightening.
Alison leaned over to Cece's ear and drunkenly whispered, "you know, his jaw structure isn't as impressive as Emi—,"
Cece pinched Alison's side to stop her sentence in her tracks. Cece knew exactly where Alison was going with that statement. She had been making references to Emily all night.
Alison pulled her face back from Cece and pouted her lips.
"Alison, you're staying with her?" Lorenzo commented, his voice rough and deep.
Alison's blue eyes were big and glossy, "uh, yeah. She's my best friend and I want to have fun tonight. If you don't, you can go home. You are not ruining my trip."
There was a small slur in Alison's speech, but she wasn't wasted. Alison was just drunk, but she still remained controlled. Lorenzo's anger was building by the second. He hated when Alison went out and partied.
"I am a cop, Cece, and you're asking me to allow her to underage drink?" Lorenzo hissed.
The older blonde took another sip out of her Budlight bottle, "she drinks in front of you all of the time. What is the issue now?"
Lorenzo cut his eyes back to Cece, "maybe the fact that she's in public, wearing a dress that's too tight and too short." Cece let out a sigh of frustration, "you need to go get your dick sucked or something because you are being such a pain in the ass right now. Ali looks hot. Get over that other guys are drawn to her. It's always been this way, way before you come along."
"She is my girlfriend, I should have a say in this," Lorenzo gritted through his teeth. Cece cut her blue daggers at Lorenzo, "well, you fucking don't. We are going to have a good time tonight, with or without you."
Cece started walking away from a very heated Lorenzo and started walking towards the bar, dragging Alison behind of her. "God, he's fucking annoying, why do you date him?"
Alison shrugged, "he gives me sex when I want it."
"I will give you sex when you want it if you break up with that jerk," Cece grumbled. Alison laughed, "I just might take that offer. Girls do in fact do it better."
Cece let go of Alison's hand when they reached the bar and ignored Alison's drunken flirtation, "I haven't heard you speak of girls in a while. Does this have anything to do with what happened earlier today?"
Alison nearly cringed when her memories flashed back to just a few hours ago.
She saw the only person in the world she had ever truly fallen for. And the only person in the world who had ever hurt her as well. Seeing Emily again made her head spin. Alison quickly tried to push the thoughts out of her head.
"No," Alison slurred, "but I do miss the girl on girl action. Maybe I do need to find a girl and get laid." Cece chuckled and took another sip of her drink, "bullshit. That's why you keep bringing her up tonight. She's here, in the same city as you. Why don't you just find her and— "
"Cece," Alison snapped and threw her hand up, "don't."
Cece threw her golden locks over her shoulder, "come on, Ali. It's been months and you're still hung up on the girl. Don't deny it either. Ever since you saw her this afternoon you've been drinking liquor like it's water. It's a shocker you aren't as wasted as Lorenzo imagines you to be."
"Cut it out, C" Alison scolded.
"Your parents aren't even here. It's not like they would find out and—,"
"CECE," Alison hissed, cutting off her best friend. Alison's blue eyes were dark and flaming. Cece finished drinking her beer bottle, completely unaffected by Alison's anger.
"Fine," Cece stated, placing the empty bottle on the counter, "act like that, but we both know you are still in love with Emily and she's the one you truly want. You two are both here in this beautiful city, at this amazing beach, and it's completely insane that you won't even go up to her and speak to her. You two loved each other. You still love each other. A love like that just doesn't die."
Alison's eyes eased and she took a deep breath. She leaned against the counter and flattened out her navy colored dress, running her fingers over the fabric. The blonde sighed, "she has probably moved on by now, Cece. It's not like it matters anymore."
Alison took a step towards Cece and reached out to hug her best friend. The younger blonde buried her face in Cece's neck, "I'm sorry I snapped at you. I didn't mean to."
Cece pressed a quick kiss to Alison's head, "it's okay, my little drunkie. I knew I was pushing your buttons. I just want to see you happy, and I know how happy she made you."
Cece ordered two more drinks from the bartender and handed one to Alison. A smile wiped across of Alison's face, "Trashcans, my favorite."
"I know, bitch. I actually know you, unlike that douchebag of a boyfriend you have," Cece replied, rolling her eyes at the mention of Lorenzo.
Alison chuckled and took a big gulp of her drink, "let's get tonight really started."
#######
Emily talked in conversation with Victoria, the guy that Victoria was pursuing for the night, and his friend.
"So you two are freshman at UCLA?" Ryan, Victoria's interest, asked. Emily nodded, "yeah, go Bruins!"
Ryan laughed, "no, no. It's all about those Florida Gators." Ryan and his friend, Steven, did the Gator chomp with their hands. Steven eyed Emily and smiled, "it's too bad more girls at Florida don't look like you. You are so beautiful."
Emily returned a smile, feeling the alcohol buzz a bit more strongly in her body, "well thank you."
Emily noticed that Ryan and Victoria had gotten into their own conversation, and Emily decided to try to keep Steven busy so that Victoria could make her moves. Emily was a perfect wing woman to Victoria, especially if her being a lesbian was unknown.
"How do you like it in California?" Steven asked, his ruffled black hair soft on his face. Emily could hear the southern draw in his accent. "It's beautiful. I love it. The weather is always nice and there's so much to do in Los Angeles," Emily replied.
"You seriously look like a model. I'm surprised you haven't gotten any offers from being over there," Steven stated, looking Emily up and down. The brunette smiled again. Emily was used to getting hit on by guys. It never bothered her like it did some lesbians. Emily just looked at it was a compliment.
Ryan looked over at Steven, "I'm going to go get Victoria another drink. We'll be right back."
Emily flashed her eyes to Victoria who was already looking back at Emily and smirking. Emily winked at Victoria and Victoria grinned back. Mission accomplished.
Steven took a step closer to Emily once Ryan walked off hand in hand with Victoria, "are you single, by chance?"
Emily's brown eyes danced as she chuckled, "Actually I—,"
"She's with me," Austin finished for Emily, wrapping his arm around of Emily's waist, gently pulling her against his tone body.
Steven frowned as he looked at Austin's arm around of Emily's waist, "oh."
Austin shrugged, "it's okay, man. I would hit on her, too."
Steven awkwardly nodded, "I'm going to go get another beer."
Emily turned to Austin and let out a laugh, "you came in at such a perfect time."
Austin let go of Emily's waist, "seems like I always do."
Emily stopped laughing once she caught a quick glimpse of two blondes standing just a few feet away from them. Austin looked down at Emily, "what is it, Em? Is he coming back again?"
Emily shook her head, "she's here."
Austin's head and eyes looked up and around, quickly searching for the sight that Emily saw.
Emily felt her stomach and her head spin. Not again. There was no way that she was seriously running into her again.
Her brown eyes raked over the blonde. She was beautiful. Her dress was fitted pressed to her tone body. Though Emily had seen the blonde's new, fit body on the beach earlier today, seeing it in clothes was almost just as appealing. Her legs looked no less than perfect, standing in heels, making her leg muscles appear lightly. And her golden, blonde hair fell, of course, flawlessly as it always had over her shoulders and down her back.
"Emily, let's go," Austin said, grabbing Emily's hand, breaking the brunette from her gaze.
Emily slipped her hand out of Austin's, "no."
A confused expression crossed Austin's face, "what?"
Emily shook her head, "no. I want to go speak to her."
Austin shook his head in response, "Emily, you're drunk. That's probably not a good idea."
Emily suddenly became angry. Rage filled her body as she looked at the blonde who broke her heart. Emily hadn't spoken to her since their break up, since that warm August night just before they left for college. Emily hadn't even seen her since then, apart from seeing her on the beach earlier today.
Emily still felt angry. She still felt hurt and uneasy about their breakup. And over Christmas break Emily had heard that Alison was dating some guy, which made it all hurt even more considering why they broke up.
"Emily, wait!" Austin called out for her.
The brunette's lips were pressed in a hard line as she walked through the bodies of people, keeping her eyes on her ex. The closer Emily got the faster her heart pounded in her chest.
The older blonde noticed Emily first, her mouth dropping open as she made eye contact with Emily. When Emily reached the two blondes, the one she wanted to speak to was facing the opposite way, unaware that Emily was behind of her.
"Alison," Cece stated, keeping her eyes locked with Emily's.
Alison took another sip of her drink and laughed.
Emily's heart fluttered at hearing that laugh again. It had been over half of a year.
But her heart nearly stopped when she heard her speak.
"Yeah, C?" Alison replied, the drunkenness piercing through her voice.
Cece kept her eyes fixed on Emily and Alison noticed Cece was looking at something behind of her.
Alison titled her head, "what are you looking—,"
Alison turned her body around and immediately stopped talking. Her throat went dry and her lips parted.
She barely stood three inches from the stunning brunette. Alison's hands started shaking and she suddenly felt weak.
"Oh my God," Alison said after locking her eyes into chocolate brown pools for the first time since August, "Emily."