Concentrating on the scene before me, I don’t even realize that someone is standing next to me.
“Hey, beautiful!”
Startled, I snap my head up, and see a very enthusiastic Knox looking down at me.
“Jesus, Knox, you scared the shit out of me!” I say, smacking him in the arm.
“Sorry, Myssa. So, what do you think?” He watches me take it all in.
“I mean, it’s beautiful—the lights, the moon, the new dance floor. Quite a unique setting and must have cost a fortune for the retractable roof. But I don’t understand why is everyone wet?”
“Oh, just wait. Hey you see over there?” He points to the right of the floor against the wall, past the bar.
“Yeah?” I say, squinting. “Are those..?”
“Lockers,” he said. “Yeah, put your backpack in there and meet me over at that bar.” He motioned to the right. Vix is bartending there tonight.
I see Vix dancing along to the music as she pours another drink. When Vix looks up in my direction, she smiles, and I give her a small wave. When she looks next to me, her smile drops, and her eyes narrow.
“Oh shit, what did you do?” I ask Knox.
“Who the fuck knows? I can’t keep up anymore,” he says, frustrated.
“Did you ever think that maybe it’s time to take the plunge and ask her out?”
“Yes. No, I don’t know. We’ve been playing this dance for so long. What if it fucks up our friendship?” he asks.
Before I can answer, though, he holds his hand to his ear and listens intently for a moment.
“Sorry, Myssa, they need me at the door. Talk later?” He walks over to the elevator.
“Yep,” I yell.
As I walk over to the lockers, I notice they’re like the old-time type of lockers that provide a key.After opening an empty locker, I put my backpack in, close the door, and twist the key out before putting it in my pocket.
Turning around to head to the bar, I pause as the overwhelming feeling that someone is watching me sends me searching for the source. I’m drawn again to the balcony where the owner’s office is, but no one is standing there.
“Get a grip, Myssa,” I mumble to myself, trying to shake off the feeling.
Walking past the dance floor, I take a second look. I get to the bar and sit down, trying to clear my confusion as Vix comes up to me, already putting down a whiskey for me.
“Thanks,” I say awkwardly. I turn back around, still searching, but something else catches my eye, and I turn back to Vix.
“Is that…?” I say, turning and pointing at the dance floor. “I mean…” I pause, still feeling like my eyes are deceiving me.
“Grass.” She laughs. “Yes, yes, it is. Z is big on grounding. It’s what ‘Wet Dream Night’ is all about. Just wait, you haven’t seen the best part.”
I pull my wallet out, but Vix puts her hand on mine.
“I told you before, Myssa, your money's no good here.”
“You and Knox can’t afford to keep paying for me.” I try to insist on her taking my card.
“As much as I would like to claim it, this is not from me or Knox. Seems you have an admirer.” She winks.
“Who? I don’t know anyone else here but you two.” I can’t help but wonder if this admirer is the same person who keeps making me feel like someone is watching me.
“Sorry, I’m not at liberty to say,” she says. “Gotta get back to work, get on that dance floor, and have some fun.” She salutes me and starts to walk to the other side of the bar.
