"Make you look like a girl?" Mrs. Hudson shook her head. "That's crazy, Saul! What are you up to this time and why are you dragging Emilia into your nonsense?"
I chewed on my nails, trying to suppress my fit of giggles. "It's girls' night tonight, Mom! It's gonna be Emilia's first time in the Rainbow and I'm gonna take her there." Saul said smoothly.
"I suppose you can't go unless you're a girl, huh?" Mrs. Hudson smiled and Saul and I nodded. "I'll do my best then. Come over here, the two of you."
"Enjoy your evening, ladies." The bouncer winked at us as we showed him our "identification cards".
We had our heads rotating to every direction. The place was full of girls and only girls! I elbowed Saul in his rib. "This is stupid! How can Steven be here when this place is only for girls!"
"He can, because he's friends with Steady, silly! I bet he's behind one of those doors banging some chick," Saul said as we checked on the closed doors.
Our deal was to make our friend like us which meant we had to do a bit of seducing. Saul said Steven will drool on anyone with red lipstick and sexy legs so we had to make ourselves look like pretty, sexy girls. Whoever makes Steven crack first gets the money. Saul was a little drunk when he proposed that bet and I was feeling like a rebellious, daredevil youth at 17 so I agreed to do it.
We waited for the doors to open until we were told that those rooms were locked for the night. Saul was pissed-- his Mom's dress was starting to itch, and his curls were starting to stick out of his black beret.
"Dang, he must have left." I muttered after more than ten minutes of waiting. I stuck my palm out at Saul, "Nobody wins the bet but I want my talent fee now sir."
"Here you go my starlet," Saul said, fishing out three ten-dollar bills from his pocket and giving it to me.
"How come you look more womanly than me?" I sort of complained. Saul proudly smirked. He was dashing; beautiful, whether he's in a man or woman's clothes.
We left the club disappointed. What a real treat would it have been if Steven did really try to hit on us. Though our target wasn't around, I can still say we did a fine job with our costumes, especially Saul. Because of him, we received a lot of catcalls and wolf-whistles on our way home.
Those were the days-- the days where my two friends would take me to their bar-hopping adventures, each sneaking in a bottle of their favorite tipple. I would have a little taste of their drinks then I'd watch them get drunk. And it was no joke to deal with them in their drunken stupor.
Now I was there sitting on the bar stool of the same club, finishing my second bottle of Pepsi. Some of the regulars couldn't help but stare at me, I must look like a dewy-eyed little girl lost and stuck in this night life. I saw the bartender pouring the customer beside me a glass of bourbon.
"Excuse me," I said to the bartender who quickly whipped her head to my direction. "Can I have something not pure and hard but just enough to put me in a good mood?"
The bartender grabbed a bottle of this and that, I wasn't really paying attention until she talked to me. "Had a rough night?"
"Few days ago..it's stupid I can't get over it." I said, letting out a timid smile.
"Ooh. Was it a guy?" I didn't answer. The bartender gleamed which made the piercing on her lower lip move a little. "Nothing stupid about it hon, it took me a month to get over my last boyfriend."
"Did it feel like forever?"
"It did."
She then placed a glass cocktail in front of me. I tried it and it tasted good.
"Thanks. What do you call this?"
"Brass Monkey, it's on the house..." I was taken aback by the bartender's generosity. I said a soft thank you. She went to serve drinks to the other customers then returned. "..you looked distraught the minute you walked in. If you ever need to talk, I'm here. My name's Jen."
"I'm Emilia, and thank you. I appreciate it a lot, Jen." I began to share some details about my break up with Steven. I mentioned no names, I just referred to him as "a famous personality like a rock star".
Jen shrugged, "I don't mean to judge but most of them rock stars are all ladies' man. They think they have too many "options", they just can't stick to one."
"Amen to that," I said and I drank my cocktail in one swig. The rum was strong but the orange juice took away the bitterness. It was good. It was very nice talking to Jen. Honestly, she was the first one I opened up to in days.
The man beside me left and a blonde man with a lion-like hair, red bandana headband and black leather vest took his place. He just looked like my dream boy, Jon Bon Jovi. The look-alike and Jen seemed to be acquainted for she knew what poison to give him.
"Here you go, Sychak," Jen said, giving him an entire bottle of Captain Morgan.
"Thanks Jen," this "Sychak" guy said. I couldn't get my eyes off him, his face was beautiful, I could just compare it with a barbie doll's. His smile was every school girl's dream. Our eyes met and I silently panicked.
But instead of turning away, I told him, "Is Bon Jovi your twin? You sure look a lot like him."
He chuckled and said, "You think so? I think I'm a little hotter than him."
"Maybe." I giggled. He's beautiful and cocky...the traits of your typical rock star. "I've never seen him in person really."
"Baby, you don't need to see him when you've got me," he grinned while pouring himself a glass. "Drink with me?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
He asked Jen for another glass. We drank together, me in my super-slow pace. I could feel the hot touch of the liquor run down my throat.
"If you want anything, just say so. It's on me." He told me before turning to Jen. "Can you put everything she ordered on my tab?"
"Hey, I can't let you do that."
"Just let him, babe." Jen winked and leaned forward to whisper, "I know I said something about rock stars but I've known Sychak for years and he's actually a nice guy. Let him take care of you." Then she left us alone to drink to satisfaction.
"I don't know why you're doing this, but thank you so much." I said to him.
He just smiled and we continued to drink. When the rum was gone, we ordered tequila. Before our every shot, I let him lick the salt off from my knuckles and I did the same to him. The lemon juice kind of burned my tongue but I went on drinking. We talked and laughed about the pettiest things that crossed our minds. He let me call him "Superman" as he didn't seem to fancy the name Jen called him.
"You're my Superman because you saved me tonight," I took another shot and shut my eyes. I was starting to feel light-headed but not close to drunk, or so I thought. Superman's hand rested on my thigh as he inched his face closer and I was seeing Jon's face. Everything just got better.
"Dance with me, my Superman!" I squeaked as I pulled him to the center.
We didn't mind the upbeat music that was playing; we did our own slow dancing, holding each other close, our lips almost touching. His hands were on my waist, while mine were around his neck. And the next thing I knew I was kissing him. We both drank the same stuff but his mouth tasted so foreign and when his tongue slipped between my lips, I gasped at the sensation.
"Fuck," he cursed during the kiss which sent vibrations to our lips. His kisses lowered to my neck, I had to tilt my head to the side. "We can get out of here if you want."
"Right now, I'm just happy to dance with you."
I turned around so my back was on him. I did a little grinding against him while his hands lingered just above my hips, keeping me in place. We stayed this way for a moment until he disappeared into the crowd.
"Superman?" I called him, not really expecting him to respond. I delved into the crowd to find him. I felt my head throb and my vision was becoming quite hazy. I would have fallen to the dance floor if it weren't for somebody rushing forward to hold my arm back.
"Oh my God. Thank you..." I said to the person who held me. "B-Brian May?"
"You're fuckin' drunk, Emilia," said Brian. I giggled because his dark, curly hair had a halo around it.
"Yay! You know my name!" I squealed, hugging him. Hysteria was building up in my system. I put my arms around him and let my head rest on his chest. "What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be with the Queen?" I was confused. Was I talking about his band or the Queen of England herself? "See what I did there?" I cackled.
Brian didn't look happy with my joke. "Let's take you home," he said and he walked us to the exit.
"Nooo, we can't leave yet... I wanna dance with you!!"
"We can dance later..."
"I wanna dance now!"
"Just stop!" Brian was now angry. He held me firmly by my wrist and dragged me to a corner. "Do you have any idea what you're putting yourself into?!"
I felt like a little child being reprimanded and about to be grounded. I whimpered and began sobbing.
Brian's face softened. He combed my hair back with his hand, saying, "Em, I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to shout..."
I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and kissed him. I was afraid he was going to yell at me again. I kissed him hungrily, with all my might. I kissed him like I didn't kiss Superman at all. His breath smelled like heaven with cigarette, spearmint candy and the unmistakable whisky. Out of my own breath and panting, I left his lips.
His expression was saying that what I did was a sin. From my hazy vision, I closed my eyes and saw pitch black. I felt being lifted from the ground as I dozed off. For minutes the only sound I could hear was the indistinct sound of a car while images of Brian May and my Superman Bon Jovi filled my dreams.
I woke up in my bed. Relief was the first thing I felt when I realized I still wore my clothes from the night. It only meant that I didn't sleep with anyone while I was in a tipsy state. The kick was still there, my head ached a tad and I was feeling parched. I needed a shower badly too.
"God I don't know what to do.." I moaned, head in hand. "Lennon, stop making the floorboards creak..."
"You can start by taking a shower first." Saul's voice startled me. He held a tray of toast, jam and a cup of coffee and placed it on the bedside table. "Don't worry. Lennon's in the other room so he won't bother you. How are you feeling?"
"I honestly don't know."
"Can you remember anything?"
"I was dancing," I said. "But before that I was talking to this bartender who was friendly and I met Bon Jovi, we had a drink...and..."
"I hate to burst your bubble, Emilia but it wasn't---"
"I think I met Brian May too. I can't recall if I said or did something wrong but he was mad at me."
Saul let out an exasperated sigh. "Look Em, you weren't yourself last night. You were seeing things, seeing people. You almost did something I know you'd regret... If hadn't got there sooner, you'd be.."
I burst in tears, cowering again in my hands. "I'm so sorry! I just feel so sad and alone that I thought I needed to forget, I had to take something to forget. Now I feel so terrible."
"You're home and safe now. And that's the important thing." Saul said and pulled me to a hug.
I moved between his legs, leaning my entire torso on him and continued to ramble. "Was it all my imagination? He really looks like Bon Jovi... I convinced myself that it was really him."
"A lot of guys look like him these days."
"Don't tell the guys but I think Axl looks like Bon Jovi. Steven looks like Bon Jovi-- just look at their lopsided smile, their chest-hair and the fact that they're partly Italian... Steven is..." My cheeks that just got dried became damp again. I was about to wipe my tears but Saul already did it for me.
"I got it, Em. I got you."
He was right. I felt safe. I felt comfortable. Right there. In his arms.
"How come you're always there to save me?" I laced my fingers with his. "Why can't Steven be like you?"
I instantly wished I didn't say it. We were just fine before. I should've kept my trap shut. Saul let go from our hug and moved to the edge of the bed. "You take a shower and eat. I can't give you an ibuprofen with your empty stomach."
"Thanks for taking care of me, Saul."
"No biggie. You've been doing the same for me for years."
I got off the bed and stripped into my underwear. I went to my drawers to grab some clean clothes. Saul slowly turned away and I chuckled. His face had a light shade of red.
"It's okay. You've already seen me in my worst," I said to him.