17

Saturday November 26

My hair is sticking to my forehead, my hairstyle must not be as good as when I arrived and my skin is slightly clammy, but I don't care. I close my eyes and let myself go to the rhythm of the music that resonates in this club over and over again. I don't know what time it might be, it's probably the middle of the night or early morning, but I'm fine. My body has taken control of my mind and it has been agitated for long tens of minutes on this crowded dance floor where other silhouettes are swaying, all glued to each other.

I have practically no room, I can hardly move but I am fine. I meet my best friend's bright eyes and we smile at each other. Judging by her imprecise gestures and her blissful smile, I don't think she has enough fingers to count the number of drinks she's had. I'm almost in the same state as her and I admit that this mind-blowing intoxication does me a world of good. I feel like I'm floating and twirling to the sound of the music, I don't feel the sometimes wandering hands of the heavy men around me or the words my friends are shouting in my ear. I think only of myself and of this feeling of well-being which has gradually invaded me this evening.

I joined Cassiopée at her place at the end of the afternoon so that we got ready and that we nibbled a piece between girls. The jealousy mission she had planned was awfully well established. She pulled off a gold sequin mini dress that she paired with sky-high black pumps and the result is... wow! The word sexy takes on its full meaning when I look at her. Her smoky makeup only highlights her beauty even more and when Maxime saw the look of his better half for this evening, he was left speechless. She got a casual remark like, “Are you going out like this tonight? and she gladly nodded. He knows full well that the more he shows his displeasure, the more the My best friend's spirit of contradiction will lead them to an explosive argument. Wishing to avoid this kind of scene on a Saturday evening surrounded by his friends, Maxime preferred to grit his teeth and give up.

For my part, I also got into the game and Cass found me a skintight black dress with a vertiginous neckline that I would never have laid eyes on if my best friend had not pushed me. I admit that this dress is sublime and very...sexy too, but the maxi neckline made me spend my evening pulling up the fabric of my dress, too embarrassed to reveal more than usual. With my heels, my party makeup and my brown curls nicely gathered on my right shoulder, I like the reflection that the mirror sends back to me, even if I don't really recognize myself.

Cassiopée asked several of her friends to join us this evening and six of them responded. I've known these girls for a few years, some are ex-colleagues, some college pals. All are very nice and we often spend very good evenings together. One thing is for sure: when Cass and her friend Cindy are in the same room, prepare for an explosive moment! And tonight is no exception to the rule.

After arriving like a tornado to get us in the mood for the evening, Cindy first dragged us to a student bar because, I quote, "there's no better place to find fresh flesh !" We laughed a lot with all these students around us who took us for cougars on the hunt... Considering the girls' comments, maybe they weren't wrong after all!

The arrival of a team of young rugby players after their match was undoubtedly the highlight of this moment in this bar. When 20 handsome males walked through the front door, my friends completely changed their attitude and went "on the attack", Cindy in the lead! Highlighting the neckline, fluttering eyelashes, crossing and uncrossing the legs...they pulled out all the stops. And the least we can say is that it was effective. Three of them bought us a drink and sat down at our table, surely hoping not to end the evening alone. But we had other plans in mind and we left them a little later to join the club where we are now. Coming out of the bar, Cindy told me that she got the phone numbers of two rugby players, "

On the way to the club, I received a call from Gabriel. I was surprised to see his name pop up on my screen as I thought he was still traveling overseas but the few glasses of Cosmopolitan I had helped me respond to him in a more casual than usual.

-Bonsoooooiiiir

My drawl immediately betrayed my blood alcohol level.

-Good evening pretty Candice, answered me Gabriel laughing. I see you didn't wait for me to enjoy your Saturday night. You are quite right! So tell me, what's your program for the evening?

- Well tonight is girls night! We had fun in a bar where there were only students and now we're off to finish the evening in a club.

-Hmmm... which club?

-The Chill Time I believe. Apparently, it's a nice club and as we really want to continue having fun, we don't plan to return anytime soon!

My cheerfulness and my slightly pasty voice did not escape Gabriel who could not help asking me:

-I have the impression that you have already taken advantage of it in this famous bar for virgins so watch out for yourself. And if you need a bodyguard, I'm your man.

-"Bar for virgins"?? Are you kidding me? I have never seen so much muscle and testosterone per square meter! And you don't need a bodyguard, don't worry, I'm with the girls.

-Very well then, enjoy your evening and have fun Candice. I'll keep my phone with me if you need anything.

-Good evening Gabriel and don't worry about me, I answer him, touched by his benevolence.

When I hung up, Cindy and Cass both grabbed my arm and bombarded me with questions.

- Was it your mysterious stranger on the net? Cindy asked me with eyes full of curiosity.

-How do you know about this story? I replied, surprised.

-I'm the one who told him about your flirtation, the pretty blonde hanging on my arm cuts us off. So ? Where are you ? I hope you have passed the second, I want concrete me.

-At the risk of disappointing you, nothing happened since he was away this week and we didn't talk to each other.

The two terrible hurricanes hanging from my arm couldn't help but sigh upon hearing my response. Their sermon that followed was very funny. Imagine two completely sassy and slightly drunk girls giving me flirting lessons so that I can get a man into my bed in less than an hour. Of course, I'm not going to follow their advice, I wouldn't want to scare Gabriel by jumping on him from our first meeting!

When we walked into Chill Time, the club was packed and countless pairs of male eyes looked back at us. The arrival of six young women, each sexier and more tipsy than the next, obviously did not go unnoticed. My friends were quickly accosted by men with lustful eyes who did not hide their motivations. Me, I managed to escape this hunt by slipping away on the dance floor with my best friend. We chained cocktails, dances and bursts of laughter and even if we can't really stand up anymore, we continue to have fun like crazy girls.

That's how I got there, in the middle of the night, in the middle of this club, getting drunk on the music and forgetting about all the problems that's been eating me up this week. Cassiopeia gives me a little sign to let me know that she's off to get supplies at the bar and I take the opportunity to dodge the slightly too tight hands of a stranger who's been trying to lure me into his nets for quite a while. I catch up with her staggering and once we get to the bar, we order our umpteenth drink. I nearly stumble as I lean on the counter and we both burst into a memorable fit of laughter. I haven't had so much to drink in months, even years, and I know that the migraine that will seep into me tomorrow will make me regret my carelessness, but tonight I've decided not to worry. I want to drink? So I drink!

I'm toasting with Cass and laughing out loud at her barely standing when I notice her sudden change in demeanor. She freezes, eyes wide, and waves at someone behind me. I turn around but can't make out anyone I know in this tide of men and women drunk on alcohol and music who get lost in this dark, foggy place.

I see my friend's mouth moving but her blood alcohol level probably prevents her from speaking properly since I can't read her lips. Not dismounting for so little, she decides to go meet her surprised visitor and manages to make her way through the crowd while staggering. After jostling a dozen people and almost knocking over her glass at least fifty times, Cassiopeia comes up to a man who is now standing with his back to us and taps him vigorously on the shoulder. The tall brunette turns around and I don't understand the scene playing out before my eyes.