Unseen Strings

Chapter 3

"Well..." I began, "that's... quirky."

"Well..." I began, a bit taken aback. "That's... unexpected."

Marcus smirked, "Don't worry, I know the doc here." He knocked on the door and pushed it open. "Hey, Doc!" he called out.

"Oh, Mark! Hey, what's up?" A woman with a warm smile greeted us.

"This is a new friend of mine," Marcus introduced me. "She took a bit of a tumble on the dance floor."

The woman, clearly a nurse, leaned in to examine my knees. "Ouch! Where exactly did you fall?" she gasped.

"Um, the middle of the dance floor," I replied, a bit embarrassed.

Marcus chuckled, "Right on the stone."

"On the stone!" The doctor heaved a breath. "At least it doesn't seem like you broke anything!" She took my hand and led me to an old table. She gestured me upwards. "Ouch," she repeated as I hoisted myself up onto the table. "Those look a bit deep."

"It's fine." I tried to wave her away.

"Let me clean them and bandage them." She smiled at me as she sloshed something onto a cloth and dabbed it onto my knees.

I cringed away at once and gripped the frilly hem of the dress.

"Don't worry, dear. I know this must hurt," she said softly, her smile gentle as she continued to clean my wounds. "There, that should do it." She pressed gauze to my knees, then wrapped them securely. "All better!" she announced, clapping her hands.

"Thank you very much." I smiled at her.

"Thanks Doc!" Marcus called as he passed something to her.

I couldn't make out what it was.

"Let's go, Angelina," Marcus said, taking my arm. "We should get you out of here." He led me back out into the main part of the club.

Laci rushed over, worry etched on her face. "Are you okay? Mandy said you fell!"

"I'm alright," I waved my hand a bit.

She looked to Marcus.

"Just a few scrapes," Marcus explained over the growing noise.

"Maybe we should go sit down!" Amanda came up to us and beckoned us with her.

"Good idea," Laci agreed, taking my arm and pulling me along.

"Where's John?" I asked her.

She gestured forward and he was guarding a table. The table was situated in an alcove and was a great deal quieter than the rest of the club. John looked out of place in the bustling crowd, his serious demeanor contrasting with the festive atmosphere. He looked more like a bodyguard than a partygoer as he stretched himself out in the booth seat and had Laci's purse in one chair and Amanda's jacket in another.

"John!" Laci shouted, bringing the man to attention. He sat up and moved over.

Laci slid in and snatched my arm, pulling me with her into the bench seat. Amanda and Marcus sat in the chairs across. I couldn't help but rub my knees a little, they stung and burned.

"I'm gonna get some drinks!" Marcus shot upward.

"I'll go with you!" Amanda got up and joined him.

"John," Laci whispered to him, signaling him to put on his headphones. She turned back to me, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh my God, Rosie!" she exclaimed. "Tell me everything!"

I was taken aback. "What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.

"The tall guy! You were dancing with him!" She gestured dramatically. "You two looked...close."

A wave of dread washed over me. I couldn't believe she'd seen him. "Laci, I...I don't know who he was. I didn't see his face."

"You know!" She playfully jostled me. "The big guy dressed all up in black."

"Laci." I deadpanned, realizing that Laci had seen my little problem with her own eyes.

"So who was he??" She beamed. "He looked like he was all up on you." She winked.

"Laci." I grabbed her face and turned it toward me. "Did you see his face?"

"What?" She laughed again. "Of course not! He was dancing with you!"

"I don't know who he was." I sighed as I held onto her face. "I didn't see his face. I don't know his name."

"What are you-?" She began.

"I don't know him." I repeated.

"Oh my god." It was a look of realization dawning on her. "Was that him?" She began to shout and I instinctively covered her mouth.

I nodded, my heart pounding. "I think so."

Laci's eyes widened, moving my hands from her mouth. "This is serious, Rosie."

"I know..." I turned away from her a bit as the memory of his hands on me reverberated in my mind. His fingers playing with me, the feeling of him on my back...

"This is escalation, pure and simple!" Laci hissed, her eyes narrowed.

I shrugged helplessly. "I don't know what to do. I never do."

"Last time you brushed it off, things got...well, more personal. But this?" She gestured wildly. "This is a whole new level! That guy was practically grinding on you!"

"Laci!" I shushed her and covered her mouth as Marcus and Amanda returned with drinks.

"What's up?" Marcus asked, setting down drinks in front of us.

"Nothing!" I smiled, reaching out for the drink he set down in front of me.

I could sense Laci's frustration beside me. I took a long, hard swig of the drink. Hard liquor and soda hit my tongue and burned down my throat. At once I coughed and hacked, but shook it off. The strong liquor burned my throat, but it didn't dull the growing unease in my stomach. My night, once full of promise, had taken a dark turn.