(Third Person's POV)
The music coming from the club was the kind of stuff she had expected. Dancey, pre-programmed radio stuff.
As AJ and Charlotte made their way into the club, AJ heads toward the bar.
"You want anything? I'm not drinking tonight in case what I'm thinking is going to happen happens, but I'll buy you a round."
"Stop talking like that, you dork." Charlotte deadpans. "I don't know what you're thinking. And no, that doesn't make me a bad best friend. Rose Kennedy, please."
"Jeez... you'd think I'd just told you I was going to die tonight. But sure, Rose Kennedy it is. That's kinda wimpy, you want something a little stronger to get the buzz quicker?"
Lottie cocks a hip, hand poised on it perfectly, her signature, "Shut-the-hell-up-and-get-me-the-alcohol" face loud and clear.
Her dress, which was skin tight, was black, with dark blue material draped from both ends of the bust. She looks fine, especially with her matching black heels and hair curled to perfection, because she's a princess and looks fucking fantastic all of the time.
But that's just AJ being jealous.
"Okay, I'm going, I'm going." AJ sighs, turning to the bartender, a young man about twenty five with dark red curls and emerald green eyes.
"Rose Kennedy, please."
He raises an eyebrow, but then she adds, "For a friend. Triple Vodka, please... she needs it. Trust me, if I was drinking, I'd take something a hell of a lot stronger."
He nodded, making the drink.
As AJ pays, she takes it and turns to look around the club, trying to find Lottie. She finally spots her across the room, talking to a tall, dark, and handsome. Fucking bitch isn't here five minutes and she's flirting.
AJ tries to move fluidly and not spill the drink, but luck would have it, just as she walks behind some of the tables, someone gets up and turns around, causing her to walk into them and so ungracefully spill Lottie's drink.
"Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry about that sir. I was trying to be careful and I wasn't expecting anyone to move so fast," She apologizes with a smile, making the mistake of revealing her fangs.
The man she had spilt the drink on smiles back, and AJ can see he was a vampire as well.
"It's no problem, chica. Can't help but notice you've got fangs as well, and if you're interested-" He holds up AJ's phone and she snatches it back from him.
"Not to be rude, but I took a guy's hat. But my friend," She indicates to Lottie, who is still talking to the stranger. She, in true Lottie fashion, is leaning against the table, elbows resting gently, feet stretched out in front of her, her hair pulled to the right, giving the stranger next AJ an inviting look at her long neck. Her figure is angled at such a way where it looks like it could go on for miles.
"Seems she's interested in someone else." The Spaniard says with almost hurt and AJ shakes her head fast.
"She's just talking, I promise. Come on, come meet her." AJ pleads, finally recognizing the man.
"So what's your name?" He asks, eyes still drifting toward her friend as they neared the table she and the other man were by.
"Adeline. Adeline Jeanette Winters. Call me AJ. And you are?"
"Gabriel Saporta. Just call me Gabe. Hey, you run that vlog on youtube don't you? Like, '1,000 Windy City Nights' or something like that?"
AJ nods, "It really started as a dare. Someone wanted to see if I couldn't think of 1,000 things to do here in this town. It's been fun, checking out all the clubs and the famous attractions - Navy Pier, The Shedd Aquarium, the museums..."
"Isn't one them sitting in your bedroom?"
"Yep. It's something to do." AJ points out as they near Lottie and mystery man.
Lottie notices them first.
"William, this is my friend AJ I was telling you about." Lottie says, indicating to AJ.
AJ smirks when they make eye contact.
"You stole my hat." William says, recognizing the mesmerizing hazel eyes immediately.
"And you've just run into me, so it's time this game's properly began. Of course, I don't feel like running away quite yet. And besides, you're not finding that hat anytime soon."
"Never said I expected you to run. I actually expected that you wouldn't. You're deceptive, you're sly, you're good. You want me to get to know you better and make me fall, then when I really want you, you're not going to be there. But I'm better."
AJ only smiled.
"I knew there was a reason this game was going to be better than the previous. The very fact I managed to pick a mind reader makes this both a challenge and a breeze at the same time, and tickles me pink. And from what I've heard, you're the leader of the very coven people always warn me not to screw with. All the better."
"And who told you that?" William asks with a smirk.
"Oh! That would be me," Lottie interjects. "By the way, there's a half an inch of space between your noses."
"That explains a lot. The thing is, dealing with a mind reader, you've got to have a back up plan in your head as you act on the first one, so you confuse said reader. 'Course with the way today's been and the way the rest of my games have gone, I'm in for a decent adventure."
"The thing is AJ, you shut the fuck up!" Lottie shouts over the thumping music, "Because some of us aren't mind readers and enjoy not having to listen to you fucking ramble!"
"I'm not rambling."
"AJ there's no filter between your brain and your mouth. You ramble like you're paid to do it."
"If you knew why I was doing this, you'd be so much better off, but like you said you're not a mind reader and someone just took your-"
"You're not a mind reader either! SInce when in the hell do you have such a deeper understanding of how one specific power, with has hundreds of thousands of variables? He could have to touch you, be within a specific area of another person, there's so many others. But why, in your mind, is there no limitation? Everything has a limit."
"I know that. And I'm not saying I have a deeper understanding, you're making an argument out of something I'm using as a tactic. My ability to not shut up right now is what I'm hoping kickstarts this game. Because as you said, there was a half inch of space and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that-"
"What does a small amount of space have to do with anything, AJ? And talking? That's not an "ability", anyone can do that. It's not kick starting shit! He's been staring at you for the last fifteen minutes."
"If you'd let me finish." she started, gaze flickering to William before returning to Lottie, "It's that I've learned if a girl's rambling and the guy gets too annoyed, he'll eventually-"
"WILLIAM JUST SHUT HER UP!" Lottie yells in frustration, kicking William in the butt, sending him into Adeline.
It's not unexpected to say the least. AJ had had the entire thing planned from the moment she realized who Lottie had been talking to. It was definitely better than two nights ago, where she was buzzed and couldn't really think straight, let alone make sure she really wanted to get herself into anything.
He didn't pull back, didn't bother to push her away. This was how it was supposed to be, the game began like this. Or, at least, his had.
As much as William wanted to pretend he hated the way the night had panned out, he couldn't deny the truth. Finally playing the game was going to be an interesting experience, no matter the outcome. It was funny, he realized, the way the boys would always talk of wanting to play, knowing no one was stupid enough to come after them. But then again, if AJ had knowingly entered her game, perhaps there were others like her that would follow the boys.
William felt Adeline smile, like she was testing the water, automatically he knew what she meant.
He wasn't going to play that way, didn't feel like he needed to play by her rules.
Pulling away abruptly, he looked at her, hazel eyes wide in disbelief.
'She hadn't been expecting it to end so quickly,' he mused, smirking as he leaned in to kiss her nose, if only to one up her expectations.
And then, without warning, her arms were around him in a light hug. Taking the chance, William lowered his head, smelling her hair, picking up on the old traces of pines and wildflowers.
The boys had been right, she was a hybrid.
As soon as she let go, he knew what her next move would be. She was going to make a run for it. But no, he had to return the favor.
She wasn't getting away without a reminder of the game she'd started just two days ago.
As she turned to walk away, he called after her, and she turned. As soon as she did, William grabbed her wrist and lifted it, kissing her hand before blinking, sinking his fangs into her wrist.
He's surprised that Adeline knows better than to cry out, she stays quiet, her hazel eyes trained on him.
When William had gotten his fill, he dropped her wrist, smiled, and then walked off to the bar, fully intent on buying a round for himself, and maybe two or three for Gabe, as the vampire always did love the club life.
AJ meanwhile, simply looked at her wrist, taking in the puncture marks, internally cursing.
'Fuck. How am I supposed to hide this from Amelia? I'll just tell her someone got a little out of control. If I don't tell her who, I should be fine. But I should at least tell Lottie...I've gotta get home soon...'
Meanwhile, seeing that part of the conversation had tangled itself up, Gabe took Lottie's hand and led her to the dance floor.
"So... AJ tells me you're looking, that you have no particular object of any importance," Gabe began, twirling Lottie as the music slowed slightly.
She smiled, "Not yet, anyways. Haven't even played a first round."
Both hands begin floating over the other.
"How about yourself, Gabe?" Lottie asks, hand flitting over his back pocket. "Anything of... significance?"
She's only shoulder-height on him, even in five-inch heels.
"You know, not recently," He starts, his hands floating over her curves.
"Hm... pitiful." Lottie says almost teasingly. "I found it first."
She says with a smirk, removing something from his pocket gently.
"See you later, pretty boy." Lottie says teasingly, kissing his cheek. "Hope you can find me."
She winks, walking away.
"Lottie!" He shouts.
"I promise you'll scream my name in a different context sooner or later, Gabe!" She calls over her shoulder, hand flicked over her head in a half-wave goodbye.
Walking over to where AJ had been, her eyes widened when she saw the younger blonde staring off across the bar.
"He just...walked away." AJ admitted, still smiling.
"So? That's how the game goes, remember? Come on, we'd better get you home before Amelia has a fit...and...AJ, your wrist, you're-"
"He evened the score, returned the favor. Now I know he's playing for sure. But man, I wasn't expecting it to still hurt...it's not even like a good feeling, my whole wrist is tingly and I'm slightly wanting to go get a drink and talk him up, see if I can't make this a little more interesting."
As she went to walk towards the bar, Charlotte grabbed her hand.
"No. He walked away. You go after him now, you're fucking up the game by playing on your own terms. You can't do that. And besides, we should get your wrist taken care of so Amelia doesn't kill both of us."
"But Lottie, she knows the game and how it works, it's fine, I promise!"
AJ protested as the other led her out of the club, back to the car.
"But she's got no idea you're playing it with a Dandie, of all the vampires out there."