"God they're so drunk." Bates said as we watched Caleb and his friend stumble back inside. "Should we suggest they leave, or just keep an eye out to make sure they're okay?"
I didn't want to stop them from having fun, and while they seemed drunk, it didn't seem to have reach the point of no return. As long as neither of them drank anymore, I was sure everything would be fine. I let out a sigh before voicing my thoughts to Bates who agreed. Many-a-nights we have been in the same situation, stumbling around a crowded room, words slurping, body moving out of sync with our minds. Alcohol was an unreliable companion, the bringer or both joy and disaster.
My friends and I had only arrived twenty minutes ago, coming only being a spur of the moment decision. Drinking wasn't part of our plan for the night, but having a full house, all my housemates finally together, the atmosphere sparked. When our mutual friends turned up, alcohol joined too. Laughter followed in abundance and the urge to dance guided us into the cold autumn night; A search for music commenced.
I was mid-way to tipsy, there was a noticeable sway in the movement of my body and an increased confidence and forwardness that only came with the burning liquid. I wasn't drunk though, and had no plans of reaching that point. I had progressed onto water, a welcome reprieve for both my liver and finances.
The number of drinks I had chugged before leaving should have made up for the change in my choice of liquid. The high alcohol content left a noticeable trail down my throat, staking its claim over my body. The benefit of that strategy, switch to water early enough, was that by nights end I was close to sober and my following hangover never felt too extreme. The downfall was that the level of tipsiness I had reached was hard to maintain after a while.
"Wanna head back inside then?" Bates asked after a moment.
Stepping into the club was like entering a different world. The silver light of the moon replaced by artificial colours canvasing the space in ever changing hues. The quiet hum of the late hour, only marred by the boisterous chatter of drunken rambling, soon became thunderous music. The words of people muted by speakers placed sporadically around the room. The calm of the outside now a frenzy of life, a dark room filled with eyes of hunger, words of lust and secret deeds.
We had left the main room soon after joining it. Our overloaded senses quickly hoping for a reprieve that was offered to us on a silver platter in the form of cigarettes. Neither me or Bates spoked, but the outside air beckoned us and we answered her call happily.
When I saw Caleb stood on the opposite side of the enclosed smoking area, I moved towards him without a second thought. He was like a siren, calling out to my lost soul and I didn't hesitate to follow his song.
When Bates turned to face me I nodded in agreement, reluctantly following behind him back into the nightclub.
I couldn't stop my eyes from scanning through the crowd, searching for the mop of brown hair I longed to run my hands through. Maybe that's too forward? My drunk thoughts or sober one's, I'm not sure.
The dark lighting in the room made it hard to make out anyone. The flashing of lights too infrequently and sporadic to discern any noticeable features. I knew he was likely on the dance floor, they had said as such before rushing back inside, though it was a place I tended to avoid. I wasn't a bad dancer, not really. I had rhythm and I suppose that was all you needed. I remember hearing someone in college once saying how white people can't dance well because they have no rhythm. The way I saw Caleb dance last time we were in the club proved her so very wrong.
The way his body could move was mesmerising and for a fleeting moment I wished it was me he was dancing with. Despite my aversion to it, I wanted it to be my body moving beside his. Was that wrong?
Instead of jointing the throng of people moving to the thumping bass, I made my way to the table we had claimed. I weaved through the crowd towards the back of the room in the hopes of camping out there until nights end. Our group of nine of had soon dwindled and only Erik remained at the table.
"Everyone left me." He exclaimed, a pout over taking his face, as we sat down.
"Why are you still here?" Bates asked.
"'Was waitin' for you guys. Now you're back, let's dance." Erik was up and out of his seat before I could say anything in protest, Bates shortly following.
"Come on L." Erik shouted over the music, his voice barely making it above the cacophony of sounds filling the room.
"I don't wanna." I complained. My dislike for dancing was known, though I knew they didn't care. That was made evident when both boys shared a glance before grabbing my arms and pulling me out of my seat. As much as I tried to fight, it was two against one. I gave up and instead let them pull me along.
We weaved through the dance floor, eventually stopping in front of three familiar girls. Jenny, Rosa and Emily were jumping around unconditionally to the music, wide smiles on their faces as they laughed in a drunken haze. Their small circle widened upon our entrance, the three of us quickly taking our place.
When more unfamiliar songs began to play than not, I checked my phone to find it was nearing two. The passing of time moved in a dizzying blur, an hour travelling by in what felt like minutes. The only evidence was the fatigue settling upon my body. Seemingly feeling the same tiredness I felt creep in, glances were shared amongst us, before we left the dance floor.
I felt more sober now that I had moved away from the warping atmosphere created on the dance floor. I could now feel my bed calling me and I yearned for it. God, I felt old and I wasn't even 20 yet.
Jenny told everyone she was thinking of heading home and I agreed with her almost instantly. We decided to go outside and figure out where the other three had ended up, the cool air a much-needed break from the stuffy, questionably smelling club.
I felt a nudge in my side when we stepped further away from the entrance. Looking up, I followed the direction Bates nodded in to see Caleb beside his friend from earlier.
He was stood with a distant expression on his face, his body swaying out of sync to the faint music we could still hear drifting from inside. I wondered if he could even hear it at all, or if his mind was playing its own melody, one only for his ears. His eyes shone in the moonlight, lost in their own world but they seemed happy with wherever that was. I wanted to know; I wanted to know what went on in the dark crevices in his mind, where he existed outside of the plains of this earth. I wanted to know if he ever thought of me? Such a juvenile thought, yet he was one that often entered mine.
Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I told the others where I was going before walking towards him, Bates in tow.
Caleb's friend was equally out of it, his body continuously leaning further into Caleb for balance, and I worried they might end up falling.
"Hey." I said once I reached them. "How are you guys getting home?"
"Shane's got his car." Caleb's friend said, his speech slurred.
I looked at the boy Caleb's friend nodded towards, who I assumed to be Shane - the boy currently making out with someone by the side of the road.
"That dudes drunk." Bates pointed out.
"Yup," was all Caleb's friend responded with, nodding in agreement, "and getting it on!" He cheered enthusiastically, before moving his eyebrows suggestively and elbowing Caleb's side to get his attention.
Caleb blinked sluggishly, seemingly brought out of his trance, before moving his eyes towards Shane.
"Look at our boy go." Caleb nodded his head in equal approval, even though I wasn't sure he knew what the conversation was even about, before turning towards me and Bates.
"Lucas!" He said, his eyes widening in surprise as if we hadn't been stood beside him for the past few minutes. That large, captivating smile of his appeared on his face and my heart melted at the sight. God he was beautiful.
"Hey there." I said with a smile in response. "Erm," I shook my head to clear my thoughts, "Shane can't drive you home."
Caleb tilted his head slightly in confusion. "Shane isn't. He's drunk. That's dangerous you know?"
"Umm, that's good."
"If he's not driving then who is?" Bates chimed in.
"Aaliyah doesn't drink so she said she'd drive us back."
"Yup!" Caleb's friend âI really needed to find out his name â chimed in before pouting. "She drives like a grandpa, and safety, I get it, but I swear I could walk faster -"
As he continued talking about the speed, or lack thereof, of Aaliyah's driving, Caleb turned to look at me. His eyes searched my own before he asked, "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
"Free as a bird." I gave him a reassuring smile when he bit his lip, seeming to contemplate something. I asked before he stressed himself out more, "Do you want to stay over?"
His eyes seemed to light up at my question, his smile growing wider if possible. His cute little dimples became visible on his soft skin. The moonlight marking out his features, casting shadows that only magnified his beauty. The moon was admiring him as much as me.
"Really?" He asked in a small voice, as if he was worried I was joking. I nodded instantly.
"Okay," Bates said drawing my eyes away from Caleb, I forgot for a moment he was there listening into our conversation, too caught up in Caleb ,"if you guys are good then let's head."
"Just give us a mo." Caleb said, holding a finger in the air.
"Sure, I'll go wait with the others." He patters my shoulder before walking over to where the rest of our friends stood, now all present â with some additions â and waiting at the corner of the street.
"He's sleepy." Caleb said as his friend leant further into him, his own body getting closer to mine as a result. I can't say I was bothered by it.
"Should we get him back home then?"
"Mhmp. Marky, bedtime." He said softly, nudging who I'm now guessing was Marcus to stand upright. Marcus blinked his eyes slowly, then out of nowhere appeared to get a second burst of energy that had him eagerly running to his friends.
I felt a soft hand grasp mine before we were following Marcus' shadow.
"Hey guys." A girl said as we approached, her eyes continuously flitting between us, Shane, and the girl sat on the floor beside her, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.
"This is Lucas," Caleb said gesturing to me, before gesturing to the girl, "this is Aaliyah." We both greeted each other before an apologetic look crossed her face.
"I can't take you home, the cars already full. I have no idea what Shane is planning on doing either."
"Oh, don't worry, Lucas said I can stay with him." Caleb looked at me as if double checking.
"Yeah, he's coming with me."
"Ugh, no don't do this. I don't want them making out while i'm in the car."
"Lucky you." Caleb said grinning.
No, lucky me.
"Bye bye Marky." Caleb said, briefly hugging his friend before leaning down to speak with the girl on the floor. They chatted for a minute before both standing up.
"You'll all be okay getting to the car?" I asked as Caleb began rallying the troops. Shane and the girl he was with seemed almost attached, barely letting go of each other enough so they could walk.
"Yeah, don't worry about us." She looked about to leave before hesitating, "Should I be worried about Caleb?"
"He's safe with me." She stared me down for a moment, her intimidating gaze making me squint beneath it, before seeming satisfied. Once final goodbyes were said, the group began following after her. Her straight path was walked by uncoordinated feet and swaying bodies. Loud voices travel away from us, the figures getting smaller as we watched there retreating forms.
A soft hand grabbing mine again drew my attention. The cold had grasping mine was a stark contrast to my own, and I concluded Caleb had likely been stood outside for a while.
"Home time?" I questioned, glancing down at the shorter boy receiving a nod in agreement.
My friends were still stood on the corner as we approached. Their voices were soft, the late night longing for silence, our cracking ears too.
"So, we walking home?" Ollie asked. He glanced around the group for confirmation. There were only faint reminders of the night left behind, the slight swaying of Jenny's body, the gleam of sweat that showed on Ollie's skin, the heat that radiated between our bodies. Thought most of the alcohol had long since left our system, any remanence soon joining during our walk home.
"It's about a half hour walk, is that okay?" I asked Caleb quietly while the others debated the pros and cons of walking versus Ubering.
"I can walk you know; I have legs." Caleb said with a smirk, lifting one of his legs up as if to prove his statement correct.
"Great. On wards my fine fellows." Erik said once they'd reached an agreement, gesturing with his arms in the direction our house was in.
Caleb's body was pressed firmly against mine as we walked, his inability to walk straight bringing him impossibly closer. I didn't care one bit. My hand was held between the two of his as he played with my fingers, seemingly lost in thought. I wasn't sure if he was even aware of what he was doing as he hand softly traced the lines of my fingers, brushing over my knuckles and repeating the process. He hummed quietly, a song I vaguely recognised but didn't try to discern, the soft melodic sound of his voice was enough.
"So..."
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A/N:
Lucas POV finally! Thoughts?