Chapter 9

David picked Amy up in the evening of the following day.

She had told no one where she was going except for the house keeper, and she had told the woman that she was going to be out with David, just in case her father asked. Though she doubted it. The issue that was going on with his work seemed to occupy his mind the most lately. And she was not complaining.

She considered taking the car with her driver just to avoid her father worrying, but decided against it. She did not think she would like to be the reason the man's night would suddenly become busy, ruining any possible plans he might have had. And besides, David was picking her up. If she happened to leave before David, then she would just call the driver or take a cab. The latter was more likely.

David watched her as she walked down the steps towards him.

"Hey", he greeted giving her a side hug. "You look pretty"

  

"Thanks", she smiled. "I wasn't sure how big this gathering is". She said looking at him knowingly.

He raised his hands in surrender. "I don't know either. Let's see how the night gets".

She got into the front seat of his car and as he started the car he said, "And it doesn't matter. You looked good for however the gathering might turn out".

She faced him and said jokingly. "Thanks. Even though I didn't ask for a confidence boost".

The club was not exactly what she had been expecting. She had expected hot, sweaty maybe smelly; but it was different. The club was hot, and it smelt like different perfumes mixed with the smell of booze. But that was the more crowded part of the place.

David spoke for a moment to one of the waitresses before they were led to a section with booths lined up. There the lights changed colors less often than the ones on the dance floor and at the bar and the air was more breathable there too.

A few of his friends were already there at one of the booths when they reached. They stood up exchanging laughs and handshakes. Amy noticed one girl amongst them. The girl smiled before offering her hand to Amy across the table. "Hi", she said in greeting "Hey"  Amy responded. They both sat while the rest of the greeting continued. It took about five minutes before the booth quietened down a little, Amy could not help but notice. And it was no more than a minute later before another group arrived, joining them at the booth.

The booth became loud again as another round of welcoming began. More girls arrived with this group but still, the males outnumbered the females. Amy did not bother standing, she did not know anyone anyways. She noticed Ava did not either. But she smiled and said hello to anyone who noticed and greeted her. After they were all seated, two waitresses scantily dressed approached their table. One of them carried a red tray, with drinks while the other had a bottle of alcohol. Already there was an ice bucket on a different stool that was already filled with beer bottles. The waitress dropped the tray on the table while the other placed the bottle in the ice bucket. Amy watched them work. They did everything smiling and seductively, moving their hips more while walking too.

"Who's your friend?" One of David's friends drawled. He was amongst the first that had been here when they had  first arrived and already he clearly seemed to be under the influence.

The guys groaned at him. "Seriously? Already?"

Another one laughed. "Let him be. The guy is going through a breakup".

At this some of them 'awwed' mockingly. "Its alright then. Tonight is for your liver". The one who said this clicked his glass with the one who was tipsy. She thought it would be polite to introduce herself, so she moved to do so. David beat her to it.

"Alright", David began. "This is Amy. Amy my friends and Ava from school. Another of my friend". He pointed towards the girl from before.

"Nice to see you again" Ava said.

"Same" Amy replied tipping her glass slightly towards her.

"What about us? We don't have names?" One of the guys said.

"You can do that yourself" David dismissed him. The guy, Amy later learnt his name was Jacob. He and a few others talked with her sometimes and she responded as much as she could, smiling and laughing along sometimes. Soon though, the music got louder and their voices more raised. They had shots, Amy had one before settling on just drinking her margarita. Amy leaned back on the chair, quietly excusing herself from all the talking. She observed instead, taking in all the lights and the people. The club had definitely gotten more crowded than before. She watched the bar and the dance floor, her eyes traveling upwards towards the second floor. She had not noticed it before and she could not see clearly the people and everything that was going on there. She did notice quite later though, someone, a man staring at her from the second floor. She felt his gaze for a while before she saw him turn his head back to continue his conversation with the person opposite him.

Amy felt the person was familiar. She could have  sworn it was Reynolds but she was not sure. She leaned a bit forward, staring intently at the second floor, but she still could not be see him clearly. The blinking lights were not helping either. She sipped again from her drink, leaning back and forgetting about it.

The lights, the drinks, the dancing, the atmosphere in general made her feel some way. It awakened her. She could understand why people would choose to spend hours and resources in places like this. With just the right amount of drunk, one would definitely see the appeal. She was just the right amount of drunk and that was how she could enjoy that moment. It scared her a little that she could enjoy this scene. She decided she had had enough drinks. As a matter of fact, she had had enough of the night.  She touched David, drawing his attention to her. Leaning towards him, she whispered in his ear.

"I'd like to go home"

"Already?", he whisper-yelled back.

"Yeah"

He made to stand up but she held him back. 

You dont have to go with me. You should still stay if you want to. I'll just take a cab or call my driver"

He nodded at her but still said, "Let's go"

"Alright", she agreed.

He said something to the person he had been talking with before leading her out, his hands on her shoulders.