Page 85 of The Spotlight Effect

“Alexia, that is not true. You are not a whore and it’s good you are able to move on. It means you are becoming okay with the trauma you went through,” I say, placing my hand on her thigh carefully.

“So you’re okay with my PTSD?” she asks.

“I am. I’m here for all parts of you, even the bad.” I smile at her.

“Thank you, Grayson. You are a real gentleman.” Alexia places her hand on mine.

“Only for you.”

I finally back out of the parking spot and start the drive to Riot 21. Alexia and I hold hands all the way there. It’s a comfortable, safe silence filling the car. I’m happy she shared her feelings with me. It does, however, make me want to open up and spill my guts to her. I haven’t decided if that’s good or bad.

I find Charlie's car in the Riot’s parking lot and slide into the space right across from him. “I still find it odd, it’s underground,” Alexia says.

“Last time you barely went inside,” I tell her, recalling when we came after the party at Golden Star. “Come on.”

I get out and let her out of the car and lock the doors behind us. I watch the cars before we carefully cross the street and head to the underground karaoke club that’s also somewhat a speakeasy and restaurant. Normally, we come at night, but I think Charlie just wants to do karaoke.

We enter inside the dimly lit entrance covered with black walls and old Hollywood posters that engulf you in a smell of wine and pine. Grabbing Alexia’s hand, I walk us down the gold-curved staircase that has hanging lights above and move photos of celebrities on the wall. As you go down, the place comes into view.

The stage at the front, tables everywhere for you to choose where to sit and a long-curved bar on the other side of the room. The whole place has low light, with black walls, photos on the walls, cheetah print here and there, and flowers on every table. “It feels illegal to be in here,” Alexia whispers over to me. I can only slightly chuckle at her statement because I thought the same thing at eighteen when Noah was first opening this place. I didn’t think I’d ever really hang out here or step foot in this place again but here I am.

Noah created this place to give people around our age a more grown-up place to hang out. After he got over his alcoholism, he wanted to still feel like people his age had places to go and hang out other than parties or places that seemed for kids, so he opened a few places around California. The main two being between Hollywood and Los Angeles. They serve no alcohol here, only mocktails.

“There they are.” Alexia points out Charlie and Scarlett who are sitting at a table that also has Kenan, Nevea, Raven, and Emerson at it. Alexia is not the one quickly pulling me over to the table where everyone is.

“Finally, I was getting bored without my besties,” Charlie says, making everyone look in our direction.

“Oh please, you were talking our heads off,” Raven scoffs.

“Maybe but still bored,” Charlie responds back. We take the two chairs left open for us and have a seat with everyone.

“Well, now your entertainment is here.” Alexia smiles.

“Oh, my song is up. Watch and be amazed.” Nevea winks at us, dropping off her coat she has hanging off her shoulders. I look over to the stage seeing her name lit in the lights meaning she’s next.

I bet she’s the reason we’re here and maybe Emmy. But I’m blaming her. “Alexia, why don’t you sign up?” Scarlett suggests.

“I couldn’t,” she responds.

“Why not?” I ask, leaning back in my chair.

“It’s just I’ve never sung in front of this many people before,” she answers.

“First time for everything,” Kenan speaks up.

“We can even play live for you, so you won’t have to be up there alone,” Scarlett suggests.

“Fine,” Alexia agrees, defeated.

“Great, think of a song,” Raven tells her. Alexia hums in response. This is slightly funny that such a stubborn person was convinced to do this. I’m not sure if any of us was paying attention to Nevea’s song, I can’t even tell you what song she sang.

I don’t care either.

“Is anyone ordering anything?” Raven asks.

“I’m getting boneless wings and a cherry coke,” Charlie says.

“Tater tots and Arnold Palmer,” Scarlett says.

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