Fatal Attraction

I stood in front of the club in a short black dress that revealed a little too much skin for my liking, but it was Gabriel's favorite, and it was his birthday after all.

A bright blue neon sign that read "Liquid" hung over the entrance, and loud hip-hop music could be heard blaring from across the street outside. I sighed and made my way over to the bouncers without bothering to wait in line.

Looking up, I see a huge, bulky, dark-skinned man with a shaved head eyeing me up and down, a smirk tugging at his lips, "Name." He said in a deep, gruff voice. His dark eyes had a look of disapproval. Probably due to the fact that I was underage.

"Annabelle Satcher."

He checked the list, nodded at me, and then turned to another bouncer that looked like Vin Diesel, "She's VIP, let her in."

The door that the bouncer swung open was inconspicuous, but once I stepped inside the club, the interior was enormous, lights blinking everywhere as if we were at a laser show. There were professional dancers, music that could have deafened anyone, but no one was complaining, it just made the beat course through your veins, so you'd want to dance all night long, no liquid courage needed. There was more than one stage with its own dance floor, even an underground room in the back for those who were into ganja, among other things. This here was my habitat. People with sketchy or hard beginnings in this town, we would end up here, burning our lungs out, tripping on acid. I would be lying if I said never wondered if this was what was all in store for me.

Vin Diesel moved out of the way and motioned for me to go in. Once inside, I met a crowd of overly hyped teenagers and college students, some already drunk or high. I made my way to the back of the club, where I had noticed a familiar redhead bouncing to the beat of the music.

"Angie!" I called for her, waving a hand in the air. She turned around and came bounding up to me with a huge grin plastered on her face.

"Anna! You're here, and you look so fine! Gabe is going to go crazy when he sees you!" She grabbed my wrist and turned to look for Gabriel, "Ugh, where is that boy when you need him?"

"Angie, calm down, let him socialize, he'll come looking for me eventually," I said, giggling at her pouty face.

"Fine," she replied, dragging out the word with her shoulders slumped and eyes slit, playfully glaring at me. Then she perked up and smiled cheekily, "Anyway, you're right. I mean, the boy can't get his hands off you."

"Angie, shut up! Let's just go enjoy the party."

"Oh, all right, come on, we have our own table."

We walked over to the table, and I smiled at the sight of my friends, all talking animatedly with drinks in hand. As soon as I stepped into view, a slender girl with dirty blonde hair who we knew as the bubbly, popular, socialite of our group came up to me and gave me a bear hug.

"Anna! Finally! We were waiting for you," she turned to the others, "Let's go dance, bitches!"

Gabby, always so proper.

I was occupied with dancing when I felt a warm body press up against mine, and muscular arms wrap around my waist, "Hello Annie, I think you forgot something," He mumbled against my neck.

"Gabriel!" I turned around to meet his baby blue eyes, "Happy birthday, babe!"

"How long have you been here?" He said with a frown.

"Only about fifteen minutes, don't get your panties in a bunch."

He smiled, "I just wanted to see you." Just then, the music changed to a slow, romantic melody. Gabriel smirked devilishly.

"Oh, no," I turned to walk away, but he pulled me back.

"Oh, no, you don't. You owe me a birthday dance."

"Fine," I said, sounding like Angie had a few minutes before.

Gabriel wrapped his arms around my waist and rested them on the small of my back. I wrapped mine around his neck and pulled him close to me. We were waltzing to modern music as if it were the 50's, an unusual sight in a discotheque filled with the young-spirited beginnings of the millennials. As we started swaying, my head resting on his shoulder, one of his hands left my back to trail along my side and then up and down my arm, moving up to my shoulder and then lifting my chin so he could look me in the eyes. He smiled tenderly and leaned in to kiss me.

As I was about to close my eyes, I got this strange feeling, as if somebody were watching me. I put my hands on Gabriel's chest and looked around the club. Everybody seemed to be minding their own business, dancing around drunkenly.

"What's wrong?" Gabriel turned to see what I was looking at.

"Nothing, I just felt... strange," I pulled his face back to mine and added, "Never mind, babe, I'm just paranoid."

He seemed confused for a second, but then he looked down at my lips, and all was forgotten. He mumbled an okay and leaned in to kiss me again.

An hour later, I felt a little out of breath and excused myself to get a drink. I walked over to the bar slowly, feeling a little tipsy from the alcohol my friends had snuck into some flasks and made a mental note to cut myself off. I had to dive Angie home, after all.

As I walked closer to the bar, a strange, but enthralling aroma took over my senses, and I noticed that the bartender across from me was a little young and way too handsome for reality. He looked so out of place as if he had jumped straight out of a magazine.

He must have noticed me staring and smirked, "Can I get you something?"

Yeah, your name and your number.

I mentally scolded myself for being attracted to the guy, Gosh, Anna, get it together, you're taken!

I smiled awkwardly, "Just some water."

He seemed surprised, "I'm the designated driver," I added.

"Okay, ma'am," He turned around and then turned back to me with a glass in hand, "Regular or sparkling?"

"Regular."

Because he seemed to stare into my eyes for a little too long, I smiled shyly, noticing how piercing his green eyes were, like he could see right through me.

He returned the smile, "Okay."

As he turned to get the water, I thought I saw him reach for something in his front pocket, but his back was turned to me, so I dismissed the thought as paranoia. He handed me a water bottle and a glass filled with ice.

I mumbled a thank you, so he smiled at me and said, "No problem, young lady. I'm at your service." He made a hand gesture as if he were a soldier saluting me, and I giggled.