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The flashing lights were so bright and the music loud. It was like actually being in a movie a little. Fanciful thoughts or not, they made me giggle. The tension of the last few weeks had been bled away while we danced.
Swaying, I fanned myself as I strode across the room for the doors. The bathrooms were outside, and it was much brighter with the overheads on outside and so much cooler. I was burning up. Head back, I paused for a moment, free of the pounding beat.
It was like stepping into another world. Glancing around, I searched for the restroom signs and had to pass the faux sets area toward another hall that twisted around to find the girls.
The music faded even more to a distant hum as I slid into the bathroom. The colder air felt so good against my overheated skin. It was like someone had me sucking on a jalapeño. There were a couple of girls checking their makeup in the mirror when I came in.
One was a junior—Brittany? Bella? B-something or other, and Maddy. I only remembered Maddy’s name because of Mom. They cast me grins, and I gave them a little finger wave as I did the happy pee pee dance into a stall.
If I’d had to pee when I was on the dance floor, I was about to burst by the time I got in here. The dress stuck to me in places, and my hair was damp, but I just shifted things so I could empty my bladder.
Seriously, peeing should never feel that good, but it did. The girls’ voices faded as they left the bathroom. After I finished, I stumbled a little getting the dress straightened back out.
Damn, it wasn’t this hard when I put it on earlier. It was a dress, not a body suit. Out of the stall, I braced a hand against the door. The overheated feeling wasn’t fading, despite the cooler air, and dizziness assailed me for a minute. Ugh.
Food. All that dancing. I needed to eat.
With care, I walked over to the sink and washed my hands. A glance at myself in the mirror made me feel a bit better. The cosmetics Carol used had held up well, even if I had been sweating. Sliding a wet hand against the back of my neck, I sighed at the coolness.
Hair down might look pretty, but it was too warm. I leaned against the counter and blinked slowly. Tired swamped me all at once. Maybe the dancing and the lack of stress were just what I needed. Another couple of dances, and I bet I could talk the boys into heading out. Though…
Disappointment crept in. I kind of didn’t want it to end. Tonight was like the first really right thing in a while. It was perfect.
Soda. Maybe a snack. Then more dancing. Decided, I rinsed my hands again before blotting them dry with a paper towel. I wandered back out and the dizziness hit. Pausing, I leaned against the wall outside the bathroom.
“Hey, you okay?” A warm arm slid around my waist, and I blinked slowly.
“Yeah, I’m just…” The flush of heat hit again. The last time I felt like this, I’d had way too much of the whiskey at one of Archie’s parties. I’d puked that night, too.
Not pretty.
But all I’d had was some water. We hadn’t had any drinks.
“Here, why don’t you sit down?” He guided me farther down the hall. Maybe there were benches or something. “You want me to get anyone?”
“I can text the guys,” I said. “Really, I’ll be okay.” But he didn’t slow, and it was like stumbling through molasses. “Just pause for a sec…”
“You don’t look so good, hot stuff, we need to cool you off.”
I blinked, and my vision wouldn’t unblur. The music had all but faded. I tried to dig my heels in, but he kept moving.
“Hey,” I said twisting against his arm. Not that my body cooperated.
“Just cooperate,” he said. “Really, you don’t look so good. I’m going to take care of you. I promise.”
What the hell?
He pushed me through a door, and I gripped the wristlet. I still had my phone. This wasn’t right. Panic scrabbled through me.
“Really,” he said pulling me right up against him. “It’s going to be fine.” I pushed my hands against his chest.
“Let go.”
It was too hot. And I didn’t know him…
Then he kissed me.
Where the hell…
