Jade
"One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor."
George Carlin
I walk into my room and head over to the bed on the right. It is on a platform, lifted to the height of a bunk bed. Underneath is a desk and chair where I'll be able to do my homework. I pull out the bottom drawer of the desk and retrieve the backpack that I stuffed in here earlier. Digging through the few clothes I brought with me, I find what I'm looking for and pull out a short silk dress with a flowy skirt. It's light blue, almost grey, and shimmers in the light. It's the last item I tossed in my backpack before running away. I never even had the chance to wear it yet, and I never would have been able to if I was still stuck in my old life. But I brought it because deep down I always hoped my circumstances would change and I would be able to live a different life: one where I would have a chance to wear a beautiful dress. Maybe now I'll have the simple, safe life I always dreamed of.
Ripping off the tag, I slip on the dress and run my fingers over the delicate, smooth fabric, admiring how well it hugs my curves. I step into my checkered slip-on shoes and grab my phone before heading out in search of the party.
After asking a couple students where the fraternity houses are, I'm told they're in a neighborhood nearby named Isla Vista. However, I realize I'll either need to call a taxi or spend a good twenty minutes walking. The summer sun is still high enough in the sky to be blazing, and after checking my weather app, I see it's still 98 degrees outside. Even though I'm running low on cash, I'm better off calling a taxi or risk melting in a pool of my own sweat before I ever get to the party. The expense is worth it if I am able to find my book.
I arrive in front of a small, two-story apartment building. There are people scattered all over the lawn and the second story. I walk up closer and notice several open apartment doors with different music booming out of each of them. Starting with the room nearest to me on the right side of the building, I begin searching. Inside, I find people spread out around the room and lounging on couches. Quickly, I scan the faces and am disappointed when I don't find Nathan's. Keep your head up, you're just getting started. There's several more rooms I can check out. Slowly, I make my way from one end of the building to the next. But each time I search a room, I'm disappointed all over again. He has to be here somewhere.
The sun is low enough now that pink and purple paints the sky. I can't help but lose a bit of hope as I make my way up the stairs to the second floor and walk into the first room. There's a couch immediately to my right and a pool table against the far back wall. Someone is pouring shots at the kitchenette in the far left corner while a few others chant "shots, shots, shots!" I almost stumble back when a drunk girl sways into me unsteadily on her heels. She's tall and gorgeous: her curly, chestnut hair is cut to a short bob and her eyes are olive green.
"Whoops. Sorry." She hiccups and smiles drunkenly at me. "Heyyyy.. Do I know you?" She asks and leans into me, her hot breath fanning my face. My eyes water when the alcohol on her breath hits them.
"No, I don't think so. I just came into town today," I answer.
"Are you sure? You look soooo familiar." She slurs and puts an arm around me for support.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Maybe you can help me? I'm looking for Nathan. Have you seen him?"
Her eyes light up in recognition and her sloppy smile gets wider. "Oh, I know him! I'll tell you where he is if you take a shot with me."
"I don't really drink. Can you just tell me if you've seen him?" I ask but she ignores me. Instead, she grabs my wrist and pulls me towards the kitchenette where there's a small crowd gathered.
"I found a sober one! Pour another shot!" The girl yells and the crowd cheers louder. I'm nudged into the center of the crowd where someone hands me a shot glass filled with a golden liquid. I sniff it and realize its tequila. I mean since it's tequila, one shot couldn't hurt. Someone holds up salt and looks at me in question. I lick the back of my hand, and they sprinkle some on it. Then, someone passes me a wedge of lime. The crowd grows quiet for a moment. Looking around, I find they're all looking at me with goofy grins.
"Oh, well. Bottoms up I guess," I say. Licking the salt off my hand, I throw the shot to the back of my throat and cringe as I chase the burning alcohol with my lime.
The crowd erupts in cheers, louder this time. I hear whoops and hollers all around me, and the energy is contagious. I can't help but grin myself. Before I know it, my shot glass is refilled a second and a third time. I'm tipsy and swaying by the time I'm pushing the glass into someone else's hands and refusing anymore. Someone has turned on flashing disco lights on the TV and cranked up the music. A few people even made the middle of the room into a makeshift dance floor as they drunkenly bop, sway, and spin around.
The same girl that stumbled into me earlier drapes herself all over me in what I think is supposed to be a hug. "Hiii," she drags out. "My name's Isabella, but you can call me Isa. Now, come dance with me." She grabs my hands and pulls me to the middle of the room. She starts swinging her hips back and forth and bobbing up and down. I stand there awkwardly for a moment until she yells over the music, "Just close your eyes and feel the beat." She demonstrates by raising her hands and closing her eyes as she gets lost in the song. I watch as the contagious beat infects one person after the other. Before I know it, everyone is swaying and jumping to the rhythm and the whole room becomes the dance floor.
I close my eyes and tune out all of the voices and people around me. The only thing I hear is the catchy song when I start swinging my hips to the rhythm. I feel the beat pounding inside of me as it replaces my heartbeat. The tequila warms my body and fuzzes my senses, and I let go of all control. The feeling of freedom and excitement washes over me and I begin spinning and jumping.
Isa shrieks in excitement that I finally joined her. "Yes, that's how you do it! You go girl!" She grabs my hand and dances with me. We continue to dance through each song as they change.
I ignore the niggling feeling that I'm forgetting something, but I don't care enough to worry about it. This might be the best night I've ever had. My father never allowed me to be out past sunset. I once made the mistake of coming home a few minutes late from work only to find myself locked out of the house. I spent that night sleeping against the side of the house and curled up in between the garbage bins. Only, I didn't get much sleep. I was jumping awake at every scratching and chittering sound I heard. When morning came around, my father came stomping up to me and dragged me inside by my hair. His heavy fists pounded my body all morning and his sharp words broke my heart over and over again. Once he was done, he locked me up in my basement room all day without food or water. I never dared to be out past sunset again after that. I made sure that as soon as I clocked out from work, I would run home to make it back just in time. Once I handed over the cash I made that day waitressing at the casino, my father would be amiable enough to not bother me the rest of the evening. Most of the time.
I'm snapped out of my depressing memories when Isa bounces over to me excitedly. "Look," she points to the front door, excited that she finally found him. "There's Nate!" Nathan strolls into the room with a tall brunette hanging off his arm. Oh, my book! In my drunken haze, I remember the reason I even came out tonight. I need to get that book back, it's the only important thing that I own.
I untangle myself from Isa and start towards Nathan. I think Isa is trailing behind me, but I don't care to check.
I walk up behind him and tap his shoulder. He's already surrounded by a few people laughing and chatting. Slowly, he turns around and his face lights up in a goofy grin. Suddenly, he wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me up in a hug.
"Hey, it's you! You came!" I start to wriggle out of his hold, and alarm bells go off in my head at the sudden close contact. Nathan puts me down and steps back to give me some space, his grin stretching even wider.
"Yeah, I was hoping I would find you," I answer. "When I ran off earlier, did I happen to leave my book behind? Please tell me you have it?"
Nathan hears the desperation in my voice and he appears sober up a bit as his features turn more serious. " Oh, yeah I noticed you left it behind so I grabbed it. I remember you saying it was a gift from your mom. I couldn't leave that behind.. It's in my car." The relief that washes over me is short-lived when he continues. "But my car is at the shop. I dropped it off for an oil change, and I won't have it back for at least two days." He must notice my face fall at the upsetting news because he quickly continues. "But here, give me your number and I'll let you know as soon as I get it back." He hands over his phone to me and I add my contact in his phone under Natalia Book.
"Natalia," he repeats as he looks back up at me. "So that's your name." It's not, but he doesn't need to know that.
Nathan notices Isa walk up behind me and his attention turns to her. "And who's this?" He asks in a flirty tone and a smile stretching his face. I can't help but roll my eyes at him and laugh. What a player.
I notice her eyes focus on something behind my shoulder and her expression changes immediately. Her face falls for a split second before covering it up with a smile again and turning back to flirt with Nathan. Her body language changes as well when she crosses her arms over her chest and immediately becomes a bit more closed off.
How interesting. Curious at her sudden change, I turn around and see a handsome man approach us. He shoves his hands in his pockets as he does.
"Hey, Isa. I didn't know you were here. When did you get back?" The man rubs his hand through his hair, messing up his immaculate hair. He looks nervous. I look between Isa and Mystery Man for a second and notice the icy glare she shoots his way.
"Leave me alone, Tteo," she shoots back as she marches off into the void of dancing people. Frustrated at her sudden departure, he rubs his big calloused hand down his face and starts after her, saying something in a language I don't recognise. Is that Italian? I wonder how she knows him. An ex-boyfriend maybe?
I clear my throat in an attempt to focus again. "So… I should head back home. I have an early morning tomorrow," I say and Nate immediately protests. He complains that he only just found me and tries to convince me to stay a bit longer. But, I imagine it's already early morning hours, and the sun will rise soon. "I'm sure you have enough friends to entertain you. Maybe go to find the one you came here with", I tease. I plan to go out in search of a job today and need at least a few hours of sleep. I ignore any more of his protests and say my goodbyes.
Once I make my way outside, I take out my phone to call a cab, but it won't turn on. Great, now my phone's dead. I'll have to walk home. Luckily, I remember the general directions to Isla Vista and I'm sure I can work my way back to campus again.