Page 1 of Giovanni the Savage

CHAPTER ONE – Luna

The neon lights reflect through the car windows as the taxi stops in front of the back door. The parking lot is filled with clubbers and drunks. The sight makes me shiver.

I'm not a hobo, but it's been literal years since I last visited a club, and now, I feel like a fish out of water.

"Relax, Lu, it's a club, not a sentence."

Ashley slides her palm into mine, interlocking our fingers together.

"Something about coming here makes me nervous."

She shrugs. "Don't worry, it's because it's a new city, you'll get over it."

"The more reason why I should be at home unpacking," I mutter.

She tuts. "I'm not going to let you hole yourself in your apartment and be weary when we're in fucking New York City!"

I roll my eyes. "I'm sure New York City also has some amazing restaurants we can try out."

She scoffs. "Boring much?"

She leans over the seat and hands the driver some bills.

"Let's go." She winks at me as she steps out.

I close my eyes and try to push down my nervous feeling.

A club is a place anybody can be; the last thing I want is to be found before settling.

The mere thought makes my nerves prick.

"Ma'am?" the taxi driver calls, urging me to slide out of the car.

Ashley is literally bouncing on her heels in excitement. Usually, her energy is contagious, but not tonight.

She holds my hand as we stare up at the club logo quietly.

"Do you know what this reminds me of?" She sighs.

"College," I answer.

A laugh leaves her lips.

"When we snuck in through the back door and didn't know we were getting tailed by the bouncers until we got so drunk."

"And then the bouncer dragged our drunk asses out of the club."

The memory makes a loud laugh burst through my lips. The memory of us staggering out of the parking lot but still somehow laughing at each other.

I'm still wheezing when tears leave my eyes because of laughing so hard, and Ashley clutches her stomach.

"Well, at least we got a couple drinks in."

"Free drinks," I remind her, and it triggers another round of laughter.

"Feels good to not have to sneak in."

"I kind of miss it," I pout. "Made the night more interesting."

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