~toast to that ~

**

Aria drove all the way to the island where the bar is located. The bar happens to be a normal zone where people go out with friends to drink during the day but  at night_it's a different ball game. Housing all the night crawler in Lagos who like to party from dusk till dawn.

Aria had to park at the far end of the parking space due to how crazily parked the place was. She looked herself over in the rearview mirror, making sure her makeup was still in tact before she got down and adjusted her gown a bit before walking towards the entrance.

Loud music was booming from inside as she proceeded further into the building. She retrieved her ID from her clutched purse and handed it to the bouncer at the door before she was allowed to walk inside.

Aria took a deep breath to steady her mind the moment her eyes settled on the crowd of people scattered inside the slightly dim hall.

She wondered if Lizzy was somewhere in the crowd as well as she continued to look around.

No one seemed to be paying attention to anyone as they were either drinking in groups at a table not to mention the dancers grinding against each other at the dance floor.

Aria couldn't help but marvel at the sight before her. She hasn't been to a place as that before but she has heard tales about activities that go down in places such as these.

She made a mental note to herself to be extra careful and avoid talking to stranger until Lizzy shows up.

As she continued to move along from side to side , making sure not to bump into anyone. She walked past the dance floor into the bar area.

The place was so loud that she didn't hear her phone ringing. She finally made it to the bar and settled on the stool in front of the counter before a young male of about twenty three years or more popped up like he was placed on a string and beamed a smile at her.

He was the bar man.

"Hey there, what can I get for you pretty lady?" The bar man had asked Aria with a polite smile.

"Oh no..am waiting for a friend so that will have to wait" Aria had replied with a smile of her own.

She looked really uncomfortable with her fingers tapping nervously against the counter.

"Are you sure you don't want something to drink while you wait for your friend?" The bar man had insisted while observing her nervous demeanor.

"Yes am sure. Thank you"

She turned away from the guy and pulled out her cellphone from her purse and was about to call Lizzy when she noticed her missed calls from earlier._cussing under breath, she redialled her number immediately.

"Hey Lizzy, you ought to have been here by now so where the hell are you?"

"Sorry babe, am running late"

"Hurry up girl or you won't meet me here"

"Chill am almost there"

"You better be"

Aria could only breath in total anxiety as she continued to wait for Lizzy to show up. She is always running late for something the last time she checked, so it's not surprising.

Turning to the bar man, she offered him a small smile.

"Let me guess, you just got ditched by your friend?" Asked the bar man as he turned his full attention at her again.

"Not really. She is just stucked in traffic" she answered with a shrug of the shoulder.

Aria wasn't sure why she was comfortable explaining herself to this man. Maybe it was because he seemed nice but he was still a stranger nonetheless.

"Oh okay"

Fifteen more minutes, her phone was buzzing with Lizzy's call.

"Tell me you are here already" Aria  had to scream into the receiver due to how loud the music was.

"Why are you yelling? Tell me where you are cos am outside"

"Right in front of the bar and no, am not yelling, it's just really loud in here so hurry up"

A minute more and Aria found herself getting wrapped up in a bear hug by Lizzy.

"Look  at you girl! You look so damn hot" Lizzy had complimented her, causing her to take a step back to look at her friend.

"You don't look so bad, your self Liz"

Lizzy blushed and gave a quick twirl before flipping her hair in dramatic manner.

"You know how we roll in the fashion world so it's inside our DNA"

"We have a lot of catching up to do so c'mon" she took her by the hand and pulled her towards the set.

"So what's the latest Ari because I can not believe you agreed to come here like_what happened to you girl?"

"Well you won't believe this but I quit my job at the company" she said nodding her head to confirm the doubt in Lizzy's eyes.

"Am I supposed to believe you are serious right now?" Lizzy had asked with a raised brow.

"Yup_I put in my resignation days ago and I don't regret it"

"Oh come here girl" Said Lizzy before wrapping her arms around her in sympathy.

"No, that's not what I need" Aria had replied, untangling herself from Lizzy's grasp.

"Uh?"

"Maybe you didn't hear me well but I quit Okay? I wasn't sacked! I left on my own after giving it a hard and long thought so yeah, am jobless and not searching"

She gave a short chuckle before continuing_"At least not yet"

A little bit of silent stretches on between them with Lizzy staring at her wondering if she was really serious.

After a few more minutes, she finally broke the silent but this time, she was full of understanding for her best friend's decision.

"Well what more can I say huh? Let toast to this shit shall we?" Lizzy had squeal while turning towards the bar with a mischievous grin on her face.

"Ready to place an order ladies?"

"Hit us with your best shot answered Lizzy with a full cheeky grin.

"My pleasure ladies" replied the bar man, winking at Aria in particular.

**

They both watched with great fascination as he mixed one or two bottle together before emptying some into two short glasses and slide in front of them.

"Here you go ladies. Round one is on the house so enjoy"

"Thank you" Aria had muttered under her breath before picking up her glass and rising it towards her friend who did the same.

"Here is to a new bold beginning and to freedom" Lizzy had cheered rising up her drinking glass.

"Cheers to that"

The first drop of alcohol on her tongue tasted like sewage water, burning down her throat like hot coal not to mention how it was evaporating right through her nostrils.

Determined not to make a fool out of herself, she continued to little and in no time, her glass was already empty began to water at this point.

She quickly wipe her eyes with the back of her hands and chuckled a little not believing she had just blown a glass of whiskey without rolling over or anything she has been made to believe while growing up.

But she must admit that the feeling is something else. She was feeling somewhat light headed and not so stiff as when she first got there.

"Another glass?" Asked Lizzy, still staring back at Aria who only nodded.

"At your service ma'am" said the bar man tipping his invincible hat at both ladies.

Lizzy couldn't believe Aria has a to-do list to back up her crazy act as she kept staring at her with wild eyes.

"So what else do you have in that list of yours?" Lizzy had asked out of sheer curiosity.

"A lot!" Said Aria with a nod.

"Is there still space for more ideas because I have a few of my own to add"

"No thanks" she said shrugging her best friend off.

"C'mon Aria, just one more!" She insisted while pulling at her hand.

After thinking about it for a moment, she is finally gave in.

"Alright fine, just one more"

With a wicked little grin on Lizzy's face. She pulled Aria close and she whispered into her ears causing Aria's eyes to grow wild with shock.

"What? No way! Can't do that" Aria had practically yelled at Lizzy realizing just how unbelievable she sounded.

"For a woman who just tender her resignation? Hell yes you can"

"Nope I can't" she reasoned.

It's going to be a little harmless thing and beside, almost all the guys here are either drunk or complete strangers and won't remember who you are so loosen up will you?"

"How in the world do you even except me to just grab hold of someone just like that and not to mention_" she took a quick pause and looked back at the bar man. He seemed to be focus on another group of ladies before continuing in a whisper_"kissing them!"

Lizzy only gave a little snort at how stuck up her friend sounded. "C'mon Ari, you are over thinking the whole thing. What's the worst that can happen heh? You should really loosen up and live a little. I mean, isn't that why we are here?

Aria gave a deep sigh and a knowing grin "I'm most definitely going to regret listening to you tonight if I ever go through with this idea of yours"

She got up on her feet and staggered towards a group of guys. Standing in front of one of them whose back was turned at her. She tapped him on the shoulder and held her breath while she wait for the guy to turn around and face her.

The new guy who seemed not to have noticed her presence at first, continued to chat with his friends not paying attention to her at all. Grabbing him by the shoulder, she turned him around and before she could over think her next line of action. She quickly locked lips with him while clenching her eyes shut.

Not knowing what else to do, she abruptly let go of his shoulder and muttered an apology before turning to leave.

She didn't make it far off before she felt a firm grip around her wrist, pulling her back.

"Hey! Are you going to just walk away after what you just did? No explanation given?"

Aria was startled by the voice holding her back as she turned around to face him only to find herself going pale as blood has suddenly drained from her face.

It's can't be!

She couldn't find her voice as she stood there. Her mouth slightly agape with shock and then came the confirmation.

"Miss Davis?"

Oh shit!

It's really him!

How did he even end up there?