I swirled my "girly" peach drink, the ice clinking against the inside of the tall glass. I had been staring at her in my peripheral view, Raven had a strange citrus aroma around her that intoxicated me more then my drink. She giggled at something I had said, spilling some suds of beer on the wood floor. I could never get used to the taste of beer or strong alcohol. The burn and bland taste doesn't sit well with me.
Today is my twenty first birthday, my friends are all a year older so I'm the baby. They all have had a year of experience and stories of their misadventures of the adult life. Jade and Rue were also with us, we have grown up with Rue since elementary but Jade was a new addition since high school. Like me, they can't do the strong stuff. Jade, being the mother of our friend group, volunteered to be the driver for the night and keep Rue in check. Rue had a past of getting herself into trouble and being spontaneous. While Raven was the opposite, calm and thorough. Two of her many aspects that draws me to her. I would be finding out what I was like when I have alcohol in my system, since being drunk is like an extreme version of your personality with a mind of a toddler.
We're in a classy old fashioned bar customized with plush red leather stools and expertly carved dark wood with elegant designs. The bar is packed with a mix of people slithering in and out of the dense smoke and lights engulfing the place. Jazz musicians play on a raised stage hypnotizing the crowd of half dressed people rubbing up on each other.
Sipping our drinks and exploding in laughter whenever Rue says something terribly great. She has always been the entertainer of the group and my only source of happiness on some days. She stops talking and focuses her eyes on the mass of people on the dancefloor.
"Ew look at that old fuck coming over here," Rue points out, "I wonder which one of us is going to have to act lesbian for the other to get him off our asses." she says sarcastically.
We explode in laughter again as the smell of cigarette smoke and grease got stronger as he got closer.
"Well hello ladies." the man coos, he looks to be in his mid forties with grease streaked hair and sagging eyes.
"Hello!" Rue spurts out laced with fake enthusiasm.
"Can I get you lovely ladies a drink?" he asked, sending us a toothy smile as he shuffles closer to me and leans on his side against the bar.
Raven stands from her stool and gives the guy a hard look, "Sorry but we won't be needing more." she says sternly.
"Oh come on, I'm just trying to be polite" he leans in closer and rests his hand on my shoulder.
His hand didn't stay long before it was ripped away and Raven's other hand grabbed me by my collar and forcefully kissed me. I forgot the soft and smooth feel of her lips, the way they made me feel protected and secure. As soon as I felt the warmth of her lips they were gone.
"She's mine." Raven warned through clenched teeth.
The man stood there blanked face then slowly walks away trying to process what just happened.
I sat there frozen in my spot as memories of when her and I dated in highschool came back to me. I look at her dazed and she responds with a smirk of confidence.
"What?" She says, "Someone had to save you from his greasy ass and I've been wanting to do that for a while now."
