Page 2 of Beautiful Chaos

Aster and I went straight to the bar. We weren’t there long before Aster was swept away to the dance floor, by a handsome man in a suit. I turned with my back against the counter to give the room a once over. I like to be aware of my surroundings, especially in new places.

Aster was right, all the people in the building, were dressed classier than in other places we’d visited. I don’t usually go clubbing at all, but there are only so many times I can say no to Aster before I have to give in and let her have her way.

I wondered why neither of us had heard of this place before.

I was caught off guard when the bartender tapped my shoulder, making me jump.

“Little jumpy there, aren’t ya sugar?” she asked, not exactly as a question but more as an observation. I was shocked to hear a thick Southern accent cross her lips. Quite the contrast to her dark emo-like appearance

“What’ll ya have darlin’?” she asked before I could respond to her first statement. I ordered a Sex on the Beach for Aster, her usual, and a Diet Coke for me.

Three songs in, I looked around for Aster and saw a guy at the bar. The dim lighting made it hard to see details, but his deep blue eyes caught my attention. They seemed to look through me, and I couldn’t figure out what was behind them. His stare was intense, but he quickly turned his gaze, when our eyes met momentarily. It was odd but there was something comforting about him.

I was pulled from my thoughts when a man walked up to me. He put his arm over my shoulder. I quickly shrugged him off, putting some distance between us.

“Whoa, easy there, Dollface. I was just going to ask if you’d let me buy you a drunk,” he said with a smirk leaning over the bar stool barely getting out words as he struggled to stand straight on his own.

“No thank you, I’m the D.D. tonight. I’ll stick to my soda.” I picked up my glass and shook it slightly letting the ice hit the sides.

“Well, a… all right then,” he said slurring his words.

“Hey barkeep, her next soda goes on my tab!” He yelled towards the young lady behind the bar, a bit more enthusiastically than necessary. His demand followed a loud wet hick-up. The bartender nodded in acknowledgment. He stepped back and took an exaggerated bow, almost losing his footing before he wobbled away.

I took a deep breath, relieved he gave up so easily. It still didn’t help how shaky I was from close contact though.

I hate how nervous I get around men.

I sat with my head down staring into my glass, trying not to draw attention to myself.

Aster came up and took the seat next to me, where I laid my jacket over a stool holding her seat, but it was also an attempt to keep the creeps from bothering me.

“Hey. You okay?” She whispered loudly in my ear.

“Yeah, I’m good, where did your new buddy go?” I asked chuckling.

“He’s sitting right over there,” she pointed to a private table across the lounge.

“It’s a V.I.P. table,” she announced proudly as she waggled her eyebrows. Whenever we go out, it only takes her seconds to find someone interested. She’s always had that charm with men. The long legs, her beautiful smile, plus the fact she barely had any clothes on probably had something to do with it.

“I told him I was with you tonight, so I figured I would try to find someone to occupy your time and then I’d meet back up with him,” she said with a wink and a nudge at my shoulder. I winced at the thought and gave her a go-to-hell look that would make a grown man’s knees buckle.

“Jeez, I’m kidding! I know you want nothing to do with the opposite sex. Not even to use them for your own selfish pleasures,” She joked sarcastically.

“Which I think would greatly benefit your high-strung ass,” she laughed. Not realizing she was spot on. Trusting any person of the male species has been a huge issue for me since I was a teenager. As far as she knows I’m saving myself for marriage,

well, what’s left of me.

I sat there for a couple of hours longer as rich young men took turns approaching us. Aster danced with most of them.

“Well, hey there beauty, would you care to dance?” I heard the request from a man sitting only a few seats down from me. I tried to ignore him, but he got up and approached me. He held his arm up to wrap it over my shoulders. I tensed when I could smell the strong aroma of whiskey and cigarettes on his breath. His arm was heavy against my neck, I tried to shrug him off, but he remained locked onto me, while his hand grazed the side of my breast opposite of where he stood.

“Let’s dance, I wouldn’t mind having that fine ass grind on my lap for a little while. What do you say?”

I held back tears as there was something all too familiar about the scent seeping through his pores.

“No, I’d prefer, to just sit here. Thank you.” I said in a small voice trying to avoid confrontation.

“Come on now, dance with Daddy,” he pushed, sounding like a complete jackass. His persistence pissed me off.

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