Saturday, December 29, 2012

Chapter 16: Do I Know You?


            I logged onto my Facebook and saw that Tammy was online- good. I needed a major venting session.

Claire-Bear: Hey

Tammy Robinson: Hey! What’s up?

Claire-Bear: You know- usual drama.

Tammy Robinson: Ugh! Seriously? Who is it? Imma cut ‘em!

Claire-Bear: Lolz, bro ^_^ But no cutting =P. Cain, who else? He said he heard you and Rhoslyn talking about… you know. And then he was being so weird! Trying to be nice and stuff, saying he made a mistake!

Tammy Robinson: God! Men these days… Hey, let’s go out tomorrow night- you need to go out. Obscurum ok? Cy wants to go for a pool competition and I need someone to keep me sane =P

Claire-Bear: Sure, sounds like a plan. I’ve gotta go, ok? Tired, need a maaajor nap =P

 Tammy Robinson: No prob, text me later and we’ll figure out the details ^_^

I signed off and crawled under the covers, letting drowsiness surround me and take me to a state of unconsciousness- one that I warmly welcomed.

*   *   *

      Final bell rang the following afternoon and I couldn’t wait to get out. The past couple days had gone off without a hitch- and without much of Cain. I could honestly say I had liked feeling in control. For once, I had made the choice of whether or not he could butt in on my life.

It had been so long since I had gone out on a Friday night that my mind was whirling. Tammy and Rhoslyn were waiting on the tailgate to figure everything out for tonight. Rhoslyn- always our voice of reason- cut right to the chase, “So, who is riding with who?”

Tammy jumped right to attention, “Okay, so, I was thinking that I could drive all of us but we could spend the night at Claire’s? I mean, we’ll have the garage apartment to ourselves because her brother is gone so I figured it was a good id-” She halted mid-sentence as her gaze drifted to someone behind me.

I turned, curious as to what she had seen that interested her so much. All I saw was Cain leaning into his car. It hit me when I looked into Tammy’s eyes- they flared with cold fury; she would make him suffer for sure. She hopped off the tailgate and I lunged forward in an attempt to stop her, but she easily maneuvered around me and continued on her path of certain destruction. Rhoslyn jumped to my rescue as I stumbled toward the pavement, grabbing my arm and pulling me into her.

I stood there, watching in horror as Tammy unleashed all her anger right into Cain’s face. The whole parking lot heard as she screamed, “Look, Pal, you need to figure your shit out because Claire doesn’t want to deal with you toying with her anymore. If you had really loved her, you never would have left, and you certainly wouldn’t have treated her like crap. So, tonight we’re going out and having a great time without you. Maybe you could have been a part of what is going to be Claire’s amazing life if you weren’t such a TOOL. Have a nice day.”

She walked away, her head held high, leaving Cain to ponder over their little chat. We all climbed into our separate vehicles and drove home- all eager to spend a wild Friday night together.

When Tammy picked me up around seven o’clock Rhoslyn was already in the car and wearing a totally-cute blazer over a white cami paired with some skinny jeans. Tammy graced a shimmery gold tube top, some bangles around her small wrists, and a black hip-hugging skirt. I wore a similar blazer, but over a sleeveless boho-style coral and brown knee-length dress. We were more than ready to have a girl-night-out. The ride there was spent blasting music and singing loud with the windows down.

Obscurum was pretty much packed to the max when we arrived, but we were quickly whisked inside because we were part of the regular crowd. It was dark inside, only illuminated by the lights streaming from the DJ stand. We all immediately fell into the beat of the music as it coursed through the floor and radiated the walls. My body shook and I smiled- how I had missed this feeling. My hips swayed and all the insecurities fell away. I forgot that I had cancer. That all my hair was gone. That there was huge scar on the back of my head. That my ex had finally snapped back to his senses, although far too late on his part. I was just me.

I regrouped with Tammy and Rhoslyn at the bar- Tammy ordered a virgin daiquiri (compliments of being the DD), Rhoslyn flashed her card for a rum and coke, and I slung back a couple of jello shots. On nights like these the bartenders were usually lenient on ID’s because the bouncers were supposed to be checking.

Between the lights and the music and people dancing around me, I felt so high on life that it was insane. I jumped right back into the pit, completely immersing myself in the atmosphere and life of the club. My heart pounded with the music as I screamed lyrics and danced with Tammy and Rhoslyn and only God knows who else. Nearly two hours and countless shots later, I was still going strong and never intended to stop. My eyes caught those of someone I hadn’t seen in nearly five years- but his gaze took my breath just the same. His freckled cheeks rose in a smile and I knew for sure it was him.

I stumbled slightly toward the bar and Rhoslyn steadied me as I tried to gather myself. I was shaking and my head spun in confusion. I didn’t know what was happening; everything around me seemed blurred and my eyes sagged in a daze. Somewhere in the distance I heard a shriek, “TAMMY!”

A shape came bounding toward us and I glanced between what I could only guess were my two best friends. My mind slipped away from me, darkness came slinking in from nowhere as I struggled to regain control over my body. And then it was dark.

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