Night Out
48. Night Out
- Natalie -
I want to get out of the house tonight. I avoided Jacob this week, thinking it would mellow down my thoughts about him. But Ira dropped her two cents this evening.
“More you avoid him, the more you will yearn for him. We want things we can’t have.”
Ok… She may be right.
I guess it’s high time to stop torturing myself and get out of the house. I glance out of the window, thinking if I should visit Jacob’s place. Then I see him. Ready for some party and hopping in the car with a girl.
Sigh!
What was I thinking? Normal people have plans for Friday evenings. If I want to spend time with him, I have to ask first. Book his slot. I am sure I ain’t the only one to fancy him. It’s a miracle how he is still single. He has been at school for two weeks. I gasp with realization.
Is he seeing that girl?
No wonder she looked gorgeous. Just like him.
Crap!
My shoulder slump with hopelessness. I won’t let this stop me from getting out of the house. I am sure I have many people to hang out with. I check my contacts list in hopes, then chuckle dryly at myself.
Who am I kidding? I have nobody…
After a while, I find an old text from a guy I hung out with, a few months ago.
Decent to talk-Good In bed: ‘Wanna catch up?? It’s been a while…’
He sent this text a few weeks ago. I guess it’s time to answer his booty call.
Me: ‘Wanna catch up?? It’s been a while…’
He replies after some time.
Decent to talk-Good In bed: ‘Soo original!’
Don’t be busy tonight. Please don’t be busy tonight...
Decent to talk-Good In bed: ‘FYI My parents ain’t home tonight.’
Sounds exciting…
Me: ‘Maybe we could catch up first. If I feel like it, I will join you at your place.’
Decent to talk-Good In bed: ‘Sounds like a plan… pick you up in an hour?’
I grin, reading his message.
Me: ‘Park away from my place. Text me when you reach.’
God… I am desperate. Hanging out with past hookup. I wince and push the thought away. My overthinking attitude is the reason I end up alone at home with no plans. I look into my closet enthusiastically and take out a new dress I haven’t worn yet. I rarely get a chance to wear nice dresses nowadays.
Once I get ready and tiptoe out of the house when I get his text after an hour.
“You look hot!” He says with a smile when I get in his car.
I glance at him. “You don’t look bad either, Nico,” I say, grinning.
“Someplace special in your mind?”
“I don’t know.”
“Party hopping or Long drive?”
I shrug. “How about both?”
He chuckles and says, “Alright… we will see about that!”
In two hours, we hop three parties and it’s freaking magnificent. Our plan is precise. Visit a place, grab something to eat, dance a little, then fool around a little more. We are keeping drinks to a minimum. Basically, he is drinking and I am avoiding it. Someone needs to stay sober to drive.
By the time we reach fourth place. I am craving a beer too.
“Stay here, I will grab one for you…” He says then adds hesitantly, “Long drive won’t happen. I’m tipsy. I guess we should head home once we are sober enough?”
I nod and stay at my spot as I see him move towards the kitchen.
I really had fun tonight. When he suggested party hopping, I never imagined he knew so many places to go. This city is an happening place. You need to know the right people to enjoy your time. I glance at my watch and see it is past midnight. I contemplate if I should go to his place or not. Do I want to sleep with him?
Soon enough, I see him coming back to me with another guy. They are talking. Probably friends?
As they come and stand next to me, I notice he isn’t holding any drink as promised. Soon a third guy joins us, holding two beer bottles.
”Here are your drinks…” He hands one to me and another to Nico.
He takes a gulp of his drink, but I stand there stiffly, holding my drink as they make small talk.
“How do you guys know each other..” I ask coolly after a while.
“Oh, they are party hoppers just like me,” Nico says. I don’t like his answer.
“Why ain’t you drinking?” The guy who bought me my beer asks. Warning bells go off in my brain as soon as these words come out of his mouth.
“You take a sip first.” I offer him my drink and see panic cross his face!
MOTHERFUCKERS!!
I want to yell at their faces. But I am feeling unsafe even if this place is packed with people. I grab and put down Nico’s drink and pull him out with me.
“Wh.. What Happened…,” His speech is slurred already.
“Fuck!” He says as soon as he realizes his steps are not steady anymore.
I didn’t drink anything from that bottle but Nico had almost finished his drink. I don’t know how long these things take to show effects. Fifteen minutes? Thirty minutes? I don’t know.
Why does some shit have to happen when I come out to a party?
We rush towards his car. I cannot handle him alone if he passes out. The thought itself makes me frantic. I get him to lay down in the back seat and I sit in front with doors locked.
“I was stupid… stupid to trust them…,” He mumbles. “Very dangerous…”
“We are safe. Don’t worry.”
Last thing I want for him is to have a bad trip or something. I don’t even know what they gave him.
Thank God I didn’t sip that drink. I shiver runs across my whole body in fear. I take deep breaths, trying to think. My mind is whirling about what I am supposed to do next. My thoughts are jumbled, so I call Ira. Maybe she or Liam could come over to help me get Nico into his home.
When She doesn’t pick up any of my calls, I call Jacob. I tap my fingers on the steering wheels in anxiety. I hope he picks the call. If he doesn’t, I would have to call Dad for help. He will probably ground me for a year or something. It’s a frightening thought.
“Natalie?” His voice is drowsy.
“Heyy... Jacob. I am sorry, but I don’t know who to call...” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.
I explain to him my situation in least possible words and hope he offers me some help. He asks me for my location.
Then asks, “Are you sober?”
“Yes..” Just scared.
“Can you drive?”
“Yes”
I guess?
“Yes…” I say again, trying to convince myself.
“Drive to his place... Send me his address and go there... Ok? I will be there. Don’t worry...”
His words make me feel better. Because someone is there to help me. Someone has my back tonight.
