We leave around 9 PM for a club in Downtown Tulsa, about 45 minutes away. Leesha grabs my hand as soon as Darry stops the truck, and runs in with me in tow.
"I haven't been to a club like this in months," she said, looking longingly at the open door. But we have to wait. There's a line, with only one guy checking ID's. Dally walks right past us with the rest of the gang in tow. I can feel nervous energy in my stomach, I've never been to a place like this. I've been to the local bars in town, Charlie's and Buck's, and a few other bars with Leesha by the college, but she's never taken me somewhere like this. I watch the flashing lights of the club in front of us nervously.
"You coming?" He asks. I raise an eyebrow, but we still follow. When we get to the door, he snaps his fingers in front of the doorman. I give Leesha a quizzical look, hoping our crazy friend won't get us all arrested.
"Hey, Winston! How's it goin', man?" The doorman asks.
"Not too bad, man. Mind if we head in?" Dallas asks the man, who shrugs in response.
"Go ahead man. Just don't get us caught." The doorman winks, and the 8 of us saunter in.
"C'mon, let's go get drinks," Leesha says, taking my hand again. I sigh, the strobe lights above making me dizzy.
"I'll just take a soda," I tell the bartender, but Leesha whispers something to him, and we end up getting two glasses of the same thing, which is dark and smelly.
"What's this?" I ask her. She smiles.
"Try it." I do, and immediately wish I didn't. I feel a burning sensation as I swallow from my mouth, down my throat and all the way into my stomach. She watches me, and I begrudgingly chug until I finish the glass, just to make her happy.
"Oh my god, Leesha, what was that?" I exclaim.
"Nice job, baby," she says, kissing my cheek and completely avoiding my question.
"Woah, Annalise. For someone who doesn't drink, you sure drank tha pretty fast," Darry says. I jump, not even realizing that he was behind us, and worry for a moment that he saw Leesha kiss me. Without asking about it, I swat his chest for teasing me, and watch as he orders a beer.
"Says the one that can't hold his alcohol. You must just be jealous," I tease.
"Never going to let that go, are you, Ana?" He asks. I shake my head, laughing.
"That was four years ago. Almost five," he reminds me. I shrug.
"Either way, it still happened, little brother," I tell him. He shrugs, sighing, as he runs a hand through his hair. He lingers for another second, waiting for his drink, then goes off to mingle as soon as he gets it, leaving me with only a few words.
"See you guys later. Be careful, Ana. I know you aren't a big drinker, so try not to have too much," he warns. I roll my eyes.
"I'll be just fine, thank you," I say. Leesha laughs at both of us and the bartender hands me another of whatever I just drank. Then, Leesha suggests we take them and go towards the dance floor. I decide that's a good idea, and that maybe I could set the drink down when she isn't looking so I don't have to finish it.
I don't have time to, though, because my arm is grabbed and I'm being pulled away as soon as we get there. I scream and turn around to see who had be in their grasp. Ella. I gasp, but I shouldn't have been surprised. Ella grew up about two towns from us, in a small suburb of Tulsa. She's probably visiting family just like I am.
"Annalise Curtis, I've been watching you since you got here. Why the hell are you out with another girl?" She asks, taking my glass out of my hand. It falls on the floor, glass shattering into minuscule pieces at our feet, and spilling my alcohol. I give her an angry look.
"Because, Ella! We've been broken up for a year. I'm allowed to go out with whoever the hell I want!" I scream at her over the music. She laughs.
"See, that's really funny, because when you broke my heart, I never gave you permission to see anyone else," she says, digging her nails into my wrist.
"I can do what I want," I remind her. She walks up to me. Right up to me, so close our noses are touching. I try to turn my head, but it's too late, because she's already kissing me. My heart thumps angrily in my chest, because this feels wrong. I want Leesha. I want to get away from my crazy ex-girlfriend, and find my new girlfriend who cares about me. I push Ella off of me.
"You still like me, Ana. Admit it! Admit it or I'll tell your brothers what you've been scared to for years. Because I know they're here," she threatens. My nervousness almost gets the best of me, and my heart pounds so hard it hurts, but I don't let her phase me, hoping it was just an empty threat.
"I'll see you later," I tell her, yanking my hand back. I run over to Leesha, who's in the crowd, talking to Dally and Johnny, and put my arms around her. She looks down at me, engulfing me in her arms.
"Are you okay?" She asks. I whisper a quiet, "Ella," and point in the direction I just left, watching the anger flash in her eyes. I don't even have to tell her what happens, because I know she knows.
"That little bitch... She didn't hurt you, right, baby? God, I'm going to kill her one day... She really scares you, doesn't she?" She asks, mostly mumbling to herself. I nod, my cheeks turning red, although I don't know what for.
"Well, let's not worry about it now. Let's go get another drink for you, and then we can have some real fun," she suggests. I just nod. She goes over and orders it, with me in tow. I take a small sip, and it burns a bit less this time, although I still cringe. She laughs at me, and then screams.
"What?" I ask, giggling.
"I LOVE THIS SONG!" She shouts, yelling lyrics to a Beatles song as I take a sip of my drink.
Although loud, I had kind of tuned out the music by now. But hearing her cute voice singing Twist and Shout, I can't very well do that anymore. I decide to join her.
"YOU KNOW YOU TWIST SO FINE!
(Twist so fine!)
C'MON AND TWIST A LITTLE CLOSER NOW
(Twist a little closer now!)" We both yell.
I know what comes next, even before the line plays.
"AND LET ME KNOW THAT
YOU'RE MINE!" Leesha yells.
Looking her right in the eye, I bring my lips close to hers.
"I'm yours."
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I wake up to blue skies and sunlight, birds sitting outside on the window, singing, which is funny, since I don't even remember getting home last night.
"Shut up!" Leesha yells at the birds. Usually, I would laugh at something like that, but this time I just jump out of my skin, holding my head, which pounds from not only my concussion, but an awful hangover.
"Sorry, Ana. How're you feeling?" She asks, at about the exact time I realize that Darry can probably hold his alcohol a lot better than I can.
"Hold that thought," I say, rushing out of bed. And I bet you can guess what comes next. I'd blame it on the two cups of what Leesha got me last night, a few beers with Darry, eight mystery shots with Soda, Steve and Dally, and three shots of tequila.
Leesha rushes into the bathroom behind me, probably to make sure I'm okay. She sits down next to me, quietly, and all I can hear is the pounding in my head and the ringing in my ears from the loud music.
"Are you okay?" She asks me after a moment, rubbing my back. I nod, laying my head on her chest. She pulls me in and I sit close to her, almost on her lap. A knock comes from the other side of the door, and Leesha gets up.
"Just wanted to check on you. Ana okay?" I hear Darry's comforting voice asking. Leesha says that I am just as I get up to brush my teeth. When I'm done, I walk over to Darry and Leesha, who are discussing last night's events.
"You know, Darry? I think I'm just going to rest today... I'll see you guys tomorrow. I can't wait to give you your present!" I tell him. I expect him to smile, or ask about it, but instead, he stares at me with a serious look on his face.
"Ana, I don't need anything from you, other than the truth. I just want you to be honest with me," he says. My stomach drops, which is not a very good feeling, I might add, after just getting sick, and I feel myself pale, not knowing how to respond. He hugs me.
"I'm going back to bed. See you guys later," I whisper.
A/N: Since alexisissorandom picked scary ending, I didn't end my chapter with our cute Twist and Shout moment. But you did get a 1.6k chapter, so I guess it was worth it. What'd you think? -Katy