In The Darkness

I took off my long t-shirt and walked over to my closet door, pulling it open. Tonight is a well deserved night out. I had spent the whole week like I usually do, being touched and ogled by creepy old men as I got them their food and drinks.

I grabbed a short black dress and my phone started to ring. I looked at it and rolled my eyes, a familiar name popping up on the screen. Sam. I don’t want to answer it. Even though we’re broken up, we still talk to each other everyday. Trust me, not by my choice though.

I appreciate the check in calls but I want some space between the two of us. I of course tell him this every time I speak to him but he doesn’t listen, claiming to be worried about me. I waited for the call to go through and brought up the text bar.

I’m fine.

I chucked my phone on my bed and put the dress on. I looked in the mirror as I ran my hands down my waist and smiled, loving how it looked on me and how it hugged my body perfectly. My phone ringtone went off again and I threw my head back, groaning annoyingly.

“I swear Sam, this isn’t cute— oh, it’s Elle”.

I answered it promptly and smiled as I said hello.

"Hey, Kat! Are we still on for tonight?“., I can hear her beaming.

“Absolutely!...“., I said excitedly., “...Let’s get plastered!“.

"You know it!...“., Elle squealed happily., “...So have you talked to Sam?“., she asked and I sighed, shaking my head.

“Way to ruin it the mood”., she chuckled and I cleared my throat.

"So I’m going to get the cab?“., she asked and I nodded, sitting down on the small chair in my room.

“Make sure you get my address right this time, we’ve known each other for years and you still manage to get it wrong”.

"Make sure you get my address right this time. ...“., Elle repeated, mockingly and I rolled my eyes., “...Yes, don’t worry I will“., I chuckled and smiled.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon”., I hung up the phone and put it on my lap, grabbing my heels.

After I completed my outfit, I looked in the mirror with another smile, telling myself how hot I looked. To be fair, I do. I grabbed my purse off of the side, dropping my phone in there. I walked out of my room and sat on the counter top, dangling my feet.

Ten minutes passed by and my phone went off. It’s Elle again, telling me she was here. I texted her back and jumped off the counter, rushing down the stairs of my apartment. I saw the cab in the distance and rushed over to it.

“Hey girl!“., Elle squealed and waved with both her hands as I opened the door.

I got in and said hello to the driver, smiling at Elle.

“Are you ready to have some fun!“., she squealed happily.

“Oh absolutely!“., I nodded, not bothering to put my belt on and leaned against the door.

“Your belt”., Elle reminded, looking at me seriously and I just rolled my eyes.

“Oh, it’s fine. Like anything is going to happen”.

The cabbie started to drive and Elle gave me a look. That look meant she wanted to talk about something and I already knew the subject.

“Please, I don’t want too”., I begged her and she sighed, shaking her head.

“He called me before, asking how you were. ...“., I sighed, shook my head., “...He didn’t like that you used the two infamous words. I’m fine”.

The cab stopped at a red light and I heard someone yelling outside of the car.

“Ooo, someone is having a—woah!“.

The car door opened and I felt back but thanks to someone’s quick reflexes I was caught. I looked up at the person who saved my head from hitting the curb and my eyes widened, looking at the beautiful man above me, his grey tie touching the top of my head. I pulled my dress down a bit, suddenly it feeling a little to short.

“Uh...“., I bit the inside of my cheek, nervously and he smiled, Elle pulling me back up.

“You should wear a belt, darling”., he spoke, his voice deep, sending shivers down my spine.

“Mhm. ...“., I nodded, clearing my throat., “...Yes, okay”.

The man leaned against the car, shooting me another charming smile.

“Mate, are you getting in or what?...“., the cabbie spoke with a rough voice., “...The light is green and I’ve got car up my ass, so if you’re not, would you piss off!“.

I looked at the cabbie briefly, confused to why he was being rude, I mean he could’ve at least worded it a bit better. The man clenched his jaw and cleared his throat, tapping his hand on the top of the car and giving me another smile before tapping on the seatbelt.

“Buckle up”.

“Ok, uh thankyou!“., I looked at Elle as she waved him off, leaning over and grabbing the cab door, shutting it.

I looked back and saw him, rubbing the back of his neck and looking around, presumably for another cab, a frown becoming prominent on my face.

“I don’t know Elle, I think you could’ve been a bit nicer about it”.

I looked back at her and saw the confused features on her face.

“A stranger just opened the cab door”., she stated and I shrugged my shoulders.

“These windows are blacked out. He probably just thought it stopped, waiting to pick someone up, like they usually do”.

****

We arrived at the club and Elle promptly paid the cabbie, tipping him generously.

“Thankyou”., she beamed at him.

“Yeah, yeah”., he grumbled under his breath.

That attitude didn’t put a dampen on our excitement to much, the two of us getting out enthusiastically. We walked into the bar, loud music deafening our ears and flashing lights assaulting our eyes as we made our way through the cramped establishment.

“What would you like, ladies?“., the bartender yelled over the music, smiling at the two of us as we sat on those high chairs.

Elle looked at me briefly, shrugging her shoulders.

“To be honest with you, we’ve both had a horrid week and we’re looking to get—“.

“Absolutely plastered!“., I finished her sentence, resting my arm on her shoulder, smiling.

“Ah, I hear you, sweetheart. ...“., the bartender smiled, patting the bar., “...Won’t be long”.

“So, you never told me what was happening with you and Kenny?...“., I asked, looking at her., “...Are you back together with him?“.

Elle smiled softly and nodded.

“He took me out to dinner and we talked about how we needed to communicate with each other better for our relationship to work”.

I nodded, hiding my disapproving look from her. I know all to well why they broke up and she knows I do. ″Communication″ is complete bullshit. The bartender put two shots each of straight vodka in front of us.

“For such pretty ladies like yourselves, first two rounds are on me”.

The two of us smiled and thanked him.

“Alright. ...“., we each picked up a shot glass and clinked them together, downing them.

Elle scrunched up her nose and I coughed a little.

“Whew! Right, are you ready for the second one?“., I asked quickly.

“Yeah, in a minute”., she turned around, looking at the door.

“Are you waiting for someone?“., I questioned, spinning around on the chair.

“I...kind of invited Kenny”., she said, giving me a pan am smile and I rolled my eyes.

“Really?“., I sighed out.

“Okay okay, look. I know you two don’t get along but you are my best friend and he is my boyfriend, I want you two to get along”.

“Fine. ...“., I sighed., “... I’ll do it for you”.

“Thankyou. ...“., she smiled, spinning around in the chair and quickly spun back, passing me the other shot glass., “...Lets do this”.

The two of us downed them again, just as the door opened. I put the shot glass down and spun back around, seeing the man from before. My eyes widened and I slightly choked on my drink, rubbing my throat.

“Oh my gosh, it’s him!“., I hit Elle’s arm repeatedly and now she was the one to roll her eyes.

The man ran his fingers through his hair and looked around the club, trying to make his way between the sweaty, dancing and drunk bodies.

“He almost looks nervous”., Elle spoke, not that I was really listening to her as I was quite literally mesmerised.

“Hey!...“., Elle nudged me, shaking me out of my thoughts., “...Kenny’s here”.

“You made me look away from this beautiful man in front of me for Kenny?“., I asked.

“Yes, for my boyfriend”., she smiled, flicking my forehead.

“Hey babe!...“., Kenny called out, spotting Elle.

He walked over and kissed her forehead, looking at me.

"Hello, Kat. ...“., he said through gritted teeth., “...How are you?“.

I let out a deep sigh and waved.

“I’m fine...“., Elle gave me a ‘please’ look and I let out another sigh ., “...and how are you?“.

“I’m also fine”.

“Good, let’s never talk again. Elle, I—“.

“I thought you looked familiar”.

My eyes widened, hearing the same deep voice from before. I looked at him and smiled.

“I remember you too..uh s—sir?“., I tilted my head slightly, hating myself for calling him that.

I felt his hand go on my back briefly as he sat beside me, not bothering to ask and ordered his drink.

“So are you just going to sit there?“., Elle came off a little strong and he gave her an odd look.

“It’s a bar. People can sit anywhere they choose..especially if they own the establishment”.

"Oh“., Elle’s eyes widened a little and she cleared her throat.

“Do you really?“., Kenny asked surprised and the man shot him a superior smile.

“That’s correct”.

“Here you go, mate”., the bartender smiled, placing the man’s drink in front of him and he took a sip.

Wow, even him drinking is attractive.

“Oh and I apologise for opening the cab door. I thought it was empty”.

I shook my head and cleared my throat, shrugging my shoulders.

“It’s fine. Forgive me, but you don’t look like the type of guy that takes a cab”.

He chuckled and shook his head.

“Well I’m not usually, but my guy was like half an hour away and I didn’t want to wait that long”.

“You have a guy?“., I spoke surprised, looking at Elle and Kenny briefly who just rolled their eyes.

“Uh, two actually”., he said, scratching the back of his neck and looked around with the same nervous look Elle pointed out.

“He’s seem a bit arrogant if you ask me”., I heard Kenny mutter to Elle and she laughed a little.

“What’s your name?“., Elle asked and Kenny shook his head, standing up.

“Alright, let them get to know each other, babe. Come on, we’ll go to the dance floor”.

“Uh...“., Elle looked back at me and the man. I saw her worried look and smiled reassuringly.

“She’s going to be fine, let’s go”., Kenny muttered.

The man watched Kenny and Elle walk away, letting out a small scoff.

“What’s your drink, darling?“.

Hearing him call me that, I let out a shaky sigh, crossing my legs and resting my hands on my thighs, digging my nails into my skin.

“Uh, well maybe a Cosmopolitan?“., I spoke a little highly.

“Dan mate, a Cosmopolitan over here”., he patted his finger on the table.

“Sure thing”.

“What’s your name?“., he turned his full attention to me and smiled.

“Uh, Kathrine...Kat is fine though”.

“Pretty name for such a pretty girl”., he sent me a cheeky smile and I rolled my eyes.

“Charming...so original. ...“., he chuckled and smiled., “...So what’s your name?“.

“I’m Jackson, but I just go by Jack. It’s lovely to meet you”.

“You too”., I smiled, looking back at Elle worriedly and he cleared his throat.

“It seems like there’s no love lost between you and that man”.

“Kenny? Yeah, I hate that guy”.

“Hey, Kat?...“., I spun around in the chair, hearing Kenny’s voice, not caring that he just heard me., “...All the lights are making Elle feel sick, I think we’re going to go”.

“I’ll come with you”., I hopped off the chair and looked back at Jack.

He smiled reassuringly and put his hand on my back briefly, causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach.

“Go be with your friend”.

“It was lovely to meet you again”., I smiled softly and waved.

JACK’S POV

As they walked out, I looked at Kat, checking her out as she left the club.

“Fuck”., I muttered under my breath.

I really shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t—ah, fuck it. I grabbed a card out of my wallet and looked up, seeing Elle and Kenny fist bumping each other. I chuckled dryly and ran my hand across my chin, feeling anger rising up and seeping out.

“Fucking assholes”., I muttered, walking out after them.

“Kat!...“., I called out and she turned around, giving me a smile. I handed over the card and she looked at it briefly before looking up at me and giving me a smile., “...Call me anytime, darling”.