The Laws of love and lust - Chapter two by Omolarami Akindiji

 

Chapter Two

By the time they stepped into the club, feeling the rhythmic pulse and vibrations of the thumping bass of the music underfoot, Amarie was buzzing with a rhythm all of her own. The three (or five) shots of vodka that they’d taken in the span of the two hours it took for them to get dressed had her in good spirits. Not quite drunk, but definitely not sober.

They opened the door, where a few girls who looked far more drunk than Amarie loitered, that separated the front hall from the main floor. The moment they opened the door a wave of heat and sound met them. In the crowded club, the bass of the music was almost palpable, as if she could feel every beat of the drum dancing upon her skin.

Chris, like an overprotective big brother, held her hand as they walked through the throng of people clustered together. He easily made his way through the crowd of gyrating bodies; men seemed to part for him, their eyes raking over him. He was attractive, that much she had always known.

His skin was flawless; the colour of smooth caramel. He had the type of muscles that weren’t showy or grotesque. They were more graceful and elegant, like the body of a swimmer or dancer. It was clear he didn’t worship at the gym for his toned body, but rather he’d been sculpted straight from the hands of god. His eyes were a piercing and hypnotic honey colour, that almost perfectly matched his skin tone.

He was a looker alright, and it was something that she had to deal with every single time they went out together. They finally made it to an open table, where they sat down, and both began to scan their surroundings with a large smile on their faces.

The space was dim, lit by laser lights of neon green and pink. The dance floor was spacious and tiled with floor panels that lit-up a myriad of vibrant colors. The walls were painted a deep purple, and almost completely covered by men of different shapes, sizes, and ethnicities dancing against one another, or pulling each other close to whisper over the music. 

The Pink Arrow was the month’s hottest gay bar and club in the city and Amarie could definitely see why. It was pretty amazing. 

“This place?” Chris said over the raging backbeat of the techno song playing. 

“I know right,” Amarie answered. “It’s crazy in here.”

“Just what you needed? What better way to celebrate than a night of dancing, drinking, and hot guys who don’t want to just get in your pants?”

Amarie laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone in here is going to take a second look at me when they see you. In fact, I could swear there were a few guys checking out your ass already.”

And then, as if right on cue, a waiter carrying a drink tray with two beautiful blue drinks in martini glasses came to their table. She balanced the tray one hand and used the other to set the glasses down in front of the two of them. 

“I’m sorry,” Chris said, “but we didn’t order these.” Amarie, who was quite accustomed to this ordeal, had already begun sipping hers out of the little black straw that came in the martini. 

“They’re compliments of the gentleman at the bar,” the waiter said and pointed to a tall, burly man with a beard, who was looking at them. 

“What is this drink called?” Amarie asked, taking another long sip. “It’s delicious.”

“It’s called a Blue Smurf. Would you all like a drink or food menu?”

“Both.” The two of them answered at the same time, laughing.

“Coming right up.”

When the waiter had gone, Amarie looked at Chris, pushing her straw around the cerulean concoction in her glass. “Why do you always do that, like you don’t know what’s going on?”

To every bar that they went to, gay or straight, it never failed. At least once in the night, Chris would get a drink ordered to him. Women did it, men did it, and even bartenders sent him drinks. And every time, no matter how many times, he acted as if he was the most surprised person in the world.

Amarie wasn’t a stranger to the occurrence either; she’d gotten her fair share of free booze because of her looks, but it wasn’t a sure thing for her like it was for Chris. She was attractive, of that she was sure, but she also knew that she wouldn’t be winning any beauty pageants anytime soon. 

Chris shrugged his shoulders. “I really never expect it. It completely surprised me the first time it happened. I just thought that was something people did in movies. Like, who actually thinks that sending over free alcohol is an appropriate way to express interest in someone.”

Amarie sipped her drink again, which was now halfway gone. “Well, I’m not complaining.” Chris took his first sip of the drink and she could see his mouth light up as he tasted it.

“It’s like...candy, fruit, and rum mixed in a delicious combination.” He took another sip then raised his eyebrow. “Is that pineapples, I taste?” He took the straw out of his martini glass and downed it one gulp. He finished, then looked at her, with that expectant look in his eyes, and she knew what she had to do.

So, she did the same, downing her drink and feeling the burn travel from her throat, to the rest of her body, heating her up with its intoxication. Chris was the epitome of peer pressure, and whenever they went out, she always got drunk, but for her, that was okay.

In her everyday day-to-day life, Amarie was the kind of person who needed to be in control at all times. She had a detailed plan for her life, she set aside times in the day for her responsibilities, her leisure activities, and even her television watching times. She was a typical type-A personality; routine and structure her best friends.

As such, she rarely had instances where she actually was impulsive. Broke free of the rigidity of her agenda and let loose. And even though she barely ever did it, she knew that she needed it sometime. There was nothing like letting your worries and fears of the future go for a little while and just living in the moment. Taking a load off and making some spontaneous memories like spending almost $800 on a shopping spree and then getting drunk with her best friend. 

And when she was with Chris she always knew she could stop all her worrying and trust that everything would still be safe. Sure, he pushed her to get drunk. But what best friend didn’t? He always made sure that she was okay, protected her from any creep or unwanted advances, and ensured she didn’t get too drunk. And even on those nights where she’d had one or two too many, he was always there to hold her hair as she let loose the night’s contents into the porcelain god.

He really was like her amazing big brother. So, when the waiter came back with the menus and asked if they wanted another drink while they looked it over, she didn’t even try to stop herself from ordering two more Blue Smurfs.

“So, how different do you think life will be now?” Chris asked once the waiter had gone. “I feel like I probably won’t get to see you as much. And you’ll probably make some smart, successful, lawyer friends who I’ll have to pretend to get along with.”

“Not to mention all the paperwork and research I’ll be bringing home to clutter up the apartment.”

“Please,” Chris said laughing, “I’m still finding some of your old case studies in mixed in under the couch cushions. And you’ve been out of school for like a year now. But seriously, I feel like everything’s about to change, like this is a new chapter in our life. Or yours at least.”

Amarie could hear the despondency in his tone and didn’t like it. “No, you were right the first time. It’s our new chapter.” She looked into his eyes, letting him know that it was her turn to be serious with him. “You’re an amazing actor. You have the talent, the look, and the determination, you just have to stick with it. And I know that you’ll get your big break any day now. Like you said earlier, if I can make it, you should know that you can.”

“And let’s be honest, even with my new job, nothing will change between us. We’ll still be the same pair of losers that sit around the house all day in  pajamas watching ‘Girlfriends’ and ‘Sex and the City’ wishing that we could be those people. I’ll just have to trade in my onesie for a pantsuit now.”

They paused their conversation when Emma came back with their drinks, and when she left, they continued. Both of them reminiscing some of the old times that they’d had together, and promising each other that no matter what the future held they would always make time for one another.

Amarie assured Chris that he would always be her best friend and that nothing would change between them. In assuring him, she was just as much assuring herself, because truth be told, she had no idea what the future held for her either. At that moment though, having polished off another Blue Smurf in record-time, she was too drunk to care.

“Enough of this depressing talk. Let’s dance!”

“Oh my god, I thought you’d never ask.” Chris jumped up, laughing and taking her by the hand. They made their way to the gorgeous technicolour dance floor and their bodies found each other like magnets, both of them easily attuning to the other’s rhythms. 

There was a pumped-up remix of an Adele song playing and Amarie let herself dance her stress away, she’d always loved music and dancing. It was one of the most freeing and inclusive things in existence to her. It didn’t matter who you were, or where you came from, when there was music playing and it made you feel something, you could totally lose yourself in it, letting the feelings play out through your body.

As her and Chris danced in tandem on the floor amidst an orgy of drunken, sweating bodies, that’s what was happening to her. All the happiness, worry, and uncertainty that she felt about her new job seemed to melt away, leaving her body with every swivel of her hips or twirl of her limbs. And Chris, as always, was right beside her, perfectly matching her moves, and making the experience that much more enjoyable.

She didn’t know how long they’d been dancing when they were finally interrupted. The song had changed and she was sweating due to the heat. She probably wouldn’t have noticed either of those facts if a handsome man in a black V-neck t-shirt and crisply ironed denim jeans hadn’t tapped her on her shoulder, asking to cut in.

Amarie looked at Chris for confirmation, although she could already tell that the man was his type. He shook his head subtly in affirmation and she broke away from him, letting the man take her place. The two of them began to dance, far more seductively and erotically than they had been before.

She wanted to make her way back to their seats, take a break, cool down, and rehydrate, but she found that was easier said than done. Without Chris to part the waves of flesh in front of her, she was like a tiny mouse trying to push its way through a cramped room full of elephants. Horny elephants, at that. Every way she turned there was an arm, or a leg, or a man in her way, showing no sign of moving.

Out of the blue and without warning, she felt a heavy weight on her, as a man beside her almost slipped and reached out for anything to keep him balanced. Unfortunately, he grabbed onto Amarie, who went teetering off-balance herself, and stumbling towards the floor. Which is where she would have found herself, if a set of strong hands hadn’t found her before she fell, steadying her, and then leading her out of the throng of bodies.

She followed him, not knowing who her savior was, but at the moment, willing to follow anyone if it meant getting away from all the people in the dance floor. She was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic. When they were finally and away, and the man who saved her turned to her, she was a bit shocked at how attractive he was.

He wasn’t good looking in the way of men like Chris, who seemed like they came specially ordered out of a male model catalogue. No, this man was a bit more rugged, unshaven, and haphazardly attractive, as if he’d just thrown on the first thing he saw in his closet--which happened to be a short-sleeve plaid button up and a pair of black straight-legged jeans--rolled out of bed without combing his hair, and yet somehow had everything work for him. 

“Hey, sorry, I know you don’t know me or anything, but you looked like you could use some help out there.”

“No, please don’t apologize.” She smiled at him. “I probably wouldn’t have been trampled if it wasn’t for you. Thank you.” She paused, waiting for him to say something, like his name. When he didn’t, she took the initiative. “I’m Amarie, by the way.”

“Hey. I’m Jesse. Nice to meet you.”

“So, Jesse, I was just about to go back to my seat and get a drink. After you saving my life and everything, the least I could do is buy you one. That is, if you want.”

“Definitely.” He answered, smiling. He had a nice smile, she noticed. This time, Amarie took his hand and she was the one leading him as they took their seats at the table. When she looked at the spot on the dance floor where she’d left Chris, she saw him, his hands raised high in the air, with a big thumbs up sign, and couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Jesse asked.

“Nothing, just my idiot friend out on the dancefloor.” Amarie pointed him out to Jesse. 

“It definitely looks like he’s having fun out there,” he said, laughing.

“Yeah, he is. He’s in his element right now.”

“And what about you? Where’s your element?”

“Probably either curled up at home with a good book and a cup of coffee or in the kitchen. I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself.” She caught herself smiling at him and inwardly scolded herself. 

Leave it to her, she thought to herself, to start flirting with a guy in a gay club. That just didn’t seem like it would end well for any of the involved parties. Thankfully, their waitress came over and saved her from herself. 

“Hey, I’ll have a water, another Blue Smurf, and...what would you like Jesse?”

“Just a beer for me. Thanks, by the way.” When the waitress left, Jesse smiled at her. “I have to admit, this is a first. I’ve never had a gorgeous woman by me a drink, usually it’s the other way around.”

She giggled. “Me and my friend were just talking about that actually.”

“My lack of attention from beautiful women?” He said jokingly.

“No, the weirdness of buying someone a drink to let them know that you’re interested in them. When did alcohol become the currency of attraction?”

“I’m not sure. But I get it. It’s a lot harder than most girls realize to just blatantly put yourself out there and be vulnerable in front of a girl. We hide it well, but guys are fragile too. I know, for me, it took me the longest time to even realize how to talk to a girl, let alone let her know I was interested.”

If Amarie hadn’t  been drinking at that moment, she probably would have spit it out. “Wait, you mean to tell me, you’re not...gay?”

Jesse laughed. “Oh, no. Definitely not, but I do see how you could get that--me being in The Pink Arrow and whatnot. But no, I just have a really good friend who’s having his bachelor party here. He’s getting married to his longtime boyfriend in a couple of weeks. But me, I’m completely straight.”

“What about you?” He asked. 

“I’m straight, too. My friend just thought it would be a nice place to come to, so we could enjoy ourselves without being hit on.”

“You mean, without you being hit on? Because he looks like he has quite a few suitors.” Amarie turned back to the dancefloor to see Chris sandwiched in between two guys dancing and laughing. “So, what’s the deal? Are you fresh from a break-up? Or just tired of guys for a while?”

Emma came back with their drinks and placed them on the table, giving Amarie a chance to think about how to answer the question. She definitely wasn’t fresh from a break-up. Her most recent relationship had ended two years ago, that wasn’t ‘fresh’ by anyone’s definition. And she couldn’t really say that she was tired of guys, either. In fact, it was the opposite.

A part of her really yearned to put herself back out there. To have someone to share her good news with, besides Chris, and who would be there to help her through the bad news. But, whenever she thought about it, she remembered how broken and depressed she’d felt last time her relationship didn’t work out, and she wouldn’t let herself go through it again.

Really, she realized, she was scared of being broken beyond repair. But that’s not something you tell a stranger over drinks. So, she just said:

“Nope, I just wanted a break from it all for a night, ya know?”

“I understand,” Jesse said. “Well, then Amarie, I should take my beer and go before I end up ruining your night away from the advances of guys. Thanks again for it. And you look gorgeous tonight, by the way--See? I’m already starting.” He laughed as he walked off.

She laughed too, but when he was gone, she felt the lonely feeling begin to seep back in, and she wished that she had asked him to stay. She wouldn’t have minded him hitting on her, she thought as she downed the sweet blue concoction and watched Chris on the dancefloor, having the time of his life.