Starring Role [ Ziall ]

Chapter 13;

Our destination — a honky tonk bar with country music — was a forty minute drive away from Rosemary. Which wasn't really surprising. The only thing that was a little country in Rosemary was the country club, and that didn't have anything in common with the one we were just entering. 

The bar was big and seemed to be timbered out of wooden board, or at least something that looked like that. The bar seemed to enjoy a cult status which might have been due to the fact that there weren't many bars like these in the region. Dazzling neon signs from different beer brands were decorating the walls, outside as well as inside. As we walked in, Miranda Lambert's Gun Powder and Lead was coming out of the loudspeakers.

"The live music starts in half an hour. It's great to dance to. So, we still have enough time to find a nice place and toss down a few tequila," Bethy screamed to me over the noises.

I had never drunk tequila before. Not even beer, to be honest. But this would change tonight. I would feel free. Enjoy the night. Zayn was walking close behind me with his hand rather low on my back. Was that still 'friendly'? I didn't think so. 

Since it was so hard to talk over the noise, I decided to let it pass. Zayn lead us to a free booth that was a little farther away from the dance floor. He stepped back, so that I could slide inside and take a seat on the shabby leather bench. Bethy sat in front of me and Zayn next to me.

Bethy glowered at him.

"What do you wanna drink?" Zayn leaned to me, so that I could hear him better. 

"I'm not sure," I replied and turned to Bethy for help, "What should I drink?"

Bethy's eyes widened. "You've never drunk alcohol before?" She laughed in surprise. 

I shook my head. "I'm not allowed to buy alcohol at my age. Do you?"

She clapped her hands. "This is going to be a blast! Sure, yes, I'm 21, at least if I trust my ID card!" She looked at Zayn. "You need to let him out. I want to go to the bar with him."

Zayn didn't move. He looked at me, astounded. "You've really never drunk alcohol?"

"No. But tonight's gonna be the night."

"Then you need to start off slow. You don't have a very high alcohol tolerance the first time." He stopped a waitress by her arm. "The menu, please!"

Bethy stammed her hands into her hips. "What do you need the menu for? We're not here for the food! We want to drink and dance with some cowboys."

Zayn turned his head to her. I couldn't see his face, but I noticed that his shoulders tensed. "This is his first time drinking alcohol. He needs to eat something if he doesn't want to puke his guts out and cuss you out in two hours time!"

Oh, oh, I didn't want to feel sick. Please not!

Bethy rolled her eyes and waved her hand in front of Zayn's face, as if telling him that he was being an idiot. "As always, you're being daddy Malik. Anyway, I'm getting myself a drink and I'll bring one for Niall, too. So be quick with the feeding!" 

Just a few moments later, the waitress walked over with the menu in her hands. Zayn took it, opened it and turned his body towards me. "Pick something. It doesn't matter what Queen of Liquor says, you need to eat something before drinking."

Giving in, I nodded. 

"Fries with cheese are looking good."

Immediately, Zayn held up the menu and the waitress came back to our table. 

"Cheese fries. Two times, please, and one big glass of water." 

As soon as the girl disappeared, he leaned back to face me. "So, now you are in a honky tonk bar. Does it live up to your expectations? Honestly, the music is horrendous."