Leaving the guys on their own, I walked toward the guy, playing the part of an oblivious drunk girl who needs someone to save her. But I'm not oblivious. I'm not drunk... yet. And I don't need anyone to fucking save me. I bumped into him, pretending to stumble as he got up and walked to the back of the crowded bar, stale smoke and beer wafting heavily in the confined space.
As I began to fall to the floor, the guy catched me, scooping me into his arms with a smile on his face like he's about to get lucky tonight. But he wasn't. I batted my long lashes, feeling a blush spread across my cheeks. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I looked at him, briefly noticing how young he actually looked. But his age doesn't fucking matter. I was only 23 when my life was turned upside down, and nobody gave a fuck about me or my age then.
"Shit, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, putting a hand over my face.
"Oh, don't be. Are you okay though?" He asked with the most sincere tone of voice I think I'd ever heard.
"Yeah," I nodded, smiling as nerves began to roll through me like waves of nausea. "I'm okay, just wasn't watching where I was going."
He looked at me, like he's seen me before, but I don't offer up any information because I don't need to be involved anymore than I have to be. The shorter, stockier guard from earlier just keeps looking at me, trying to pinpoint where he's seen me, and I knew I needed to quickly change the subject.
"Well, I'm sorry again," I tell him, making it seem like I'm heading back to the bar.
"Can I buy you a drink... ?" He paused, waiting on me to tell him my name, which stumps me, because it's the one thing I never thought of hiding.
"Carli," I blurted out, suddenly thinking only of the one girl who started the downfall of my life as I knew it.
"Carli, what a beautiful name. I'm Nick," he said, a boyish smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Thanks. It's nice to meet you, Nick," I lied, forcing a smirk while the dark parts of my mind replay the darkest parts of my past, taunting me.
"So can I get you another drink, Carli?" He asked again, and I aggressively nodded my head, needing something to take the edge off.
"Sure, a double shot of tequila please. I'm going to step outside for some fresh air." I waited for him to turn around before pushing the side door where more drunk fools hang out.
The chilly fall air feels refreshing against my skin, but it still feels like my throat is closing and I can't breathe. So of course, the smart thing to do is to make my lungs worse, right?. I take out a cigarette and find an empty picnic table, sitting on the top with my boots on the seat. I glance out at the woodline, nothing but darkness and sin waiting where no one can see or hear you. The thought alone begins to calm my anxiety. My throat loosens and the lump finally dissipates, allowing fresh air mixed with tainted smoke to enter my lungs.
I twist to my right to look at my surroundings, and the knife in my bra pokes into my skin, reminding me what I'm doing here. I forgot for a second, but as reality comes crashing down around me, all emotion leaves my body and I sit on the table like stone—living up to my last name.
I exhaled, the smoke curling up into the crisp air, merging with the shadows lurking in the corners of the bar's exterior. The night held a dangerous promise, an undeniable thrill that suffocated me like a straightjacket. I'd come here to be the predator, and the chill in my bones whispered that it was almost time to pounce.
As I waited, the door swung open, and Nick stepped out, his form silhouetted against the warm light spilling from the bar. Heshielded his eyes from the harsh glow, scanning the area until his gaze fell on me. The corners of his mouth lifted into that boyish smile again, and I couldn't help but scoff internally at how naive he looked. Little did he know he was stepping into my game.
"Hey, mind if I join you?" he joked, his voice full of eagerness, as if he were genuinely excited to connect with someone out here in the darkness.
"Of course," I replied smoothly, flipping my cigarette to extinguish it before tucking it into the pocket of my leather jacket. "I could use the company." I gestured to the empty space next to me, feigning a casual demeanor while my heart thundered in my chest.
He climbed onto the table beside me, somehow closer than I anticipated, and handed me my drink with another smile. I could smell the beer on his breath mixed with a hint of the cheap cologne he wore. For a moment, I considered if he might be worth it, but those thoughts flickered away like embers in the wind.
"What are you doing out here all alone?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to read my expression.
"I needed a breather—sometimes the noise gets overwhelming, you know?" I answered, deliberately keeping my tone light, enticing. "Especially with... the crowd in there."
"Yeah," he laughed, leaning back, relaxed. "Some people just don’t get how to have a good time."
His laughter echoed into the night, innocent and unaware, a stark contrast to the darkness in my heart. As he spoke, I felt the familiar tug of fear and thrill blend into a dangerous cocktail of adrenaline. I needed to stay light, to play the part.
Reaching toward him, I brushed my fingers against his knee, purring softly, "What about you? You seem like you could use an escape too."
Nick's eyes widened, surprise flickering across his features. "I mean, yeah. Sometimes I wish I could just get away from it all."
The trap was set, I realized, the pieces fitting together with ease. Time to close the distance. My fingers trailed lightly along his thigh, my gaze locked on his.
"Is that what you want, then? A little adventure?" I wink, keeping my eyes on his.
I leaned in, pretending to inspect my reflections in his pupils—searching for the exact moment when desire doused reason, when thrill obscured consequence. His breath hitched as I pressed closer, enough for him to feel the heat radiating off me.
“Sure... I’m always up for an adventure,” he replied, albeit warily now.
