We show up at the doors of the XS nightclub. Richard talks to the security guy and we jump the line. Lawrence is pointing to the bar and we follow like little minions behind him. He leans over to talk to a girl bartender. She is really pretty. Her hair is blond with pink and blue at the bottom. Her eyes are hazel and she is as tall as me. She looks at me and smiles. She holds up two fingers and a five I'm assuming she is saying the drinks cost 25 dollars. My dad passes a shot glass with clear liquid. The music is so loud I can barely hear him tell me to use the lime. I bite the lime like I see them all do and drink the bitter warm liquid. It burns my throat going down but surprisingly warms my belly. I feel this bubbly feeling come over me and makes me feel happy but sad. I push that sad feeling down before I start to miss my mom. My dad hands me a cup with green liquid in it. He tries yelling over the music I can barely make out liquid marijuana. I take a drink of it and it's not bad. Sweet and slight tint of alcohol in it but not bad at all. I chug it down like it's juice and ask for another for my dad. He just laughs and leans over the bar to ask for another. I'm halfway through this one when the room spins a little. My dad hands me a cup of water. "Drink!" He yells in my ear. I chug the water down and gesture my right hand to my mouth like I'm eating food. My dad gives me the gesture to finish my drink and we can go. I finish the last bit and stumble towards the door.
I feel my dad's hands on my shoulders guiding me through people to the door. We get outside and the air feels muggy and too hot compared to the club. My ears are finally adjusting to the outside sounds. I turn around to look at my dad but he isn't there. "Dad, where are you?" I pull my phone out to call him when I hear him "Nubia come grab some of these tacos." He shouts laughing. I laugh grab two chicken tacos and scarf them down. My dad hands me water and I swallow it down like it might run away. "Done already, we barely getting started." Says Lawerence. "She's a lightweight. She has never drunk in her life, plus we didn't have a whole lot of food today. "My dad sounds annoyed with his friend. Lawrence shakes his head, "Well Nova make sure you come back in when you are done sobering her up." I flip him off without thinking and we all start laughing. I look at my dad without even having to ask if he could get me more tacos. He walks back over with four more tacos and two more bottled waters. I never knew food could taste so good when you are buzzed.
As we start to make our way back to the door my hair on my neck goes up again as if something or someone is coming too close to my bubble. I try to ignore it as we are being let in again. The music is blaring when we step back inside. A girl comes up and whispers something in my dad's ear and he just walks away with her. I just shake my head and try to find a place to stand off to the side of the dance floor. Richard comes over and hands me a drink. I shake my head no because I am so not ready for another one. He shrugs his shoulders and slams it. He grabs my hand and leads me to the floor. He starts to dance to the music. I'm not sure if I want to dance with this man, although he is very attractive. So, I just danced in front of him with distance between us. All of a sudden these girls start to surround us and grind on Richard. He becomes preoccupied with a short-haired brunette pretty much fucking him on the dance floor. I have never seen Richard in this state. His hands are grabbing her hips pulling her closer. He then slides his hands up to her left breast and grabs it. I'm trying to look away. I have never seen dancing like this. Not even at the frat house parties. Or maybe I was just too high to notice them. My eyes move to his hands again, I see his hand is around her throat now. When I finally see who he is looking at, it's me. My throat feels tight. I feel I might throw up. A hand slides across my waist and guides me to turn around. I don't see who he is but I can feel his body is brood and muscular. I'm leaning into him and his touch is warm on my stomach. I feel like I'm in a trance. The song Lean on by Tiësto comes on. And I just start to move my body on his. I don't know what this is but I feel my body relax into him and slowly start to feel safe. His body gets into rhythm with me and we are free on the dance floor.
      Another and another song comes on. We don't stop moving with one another. It's like we are in tune with each other's soul. As I turn around to look this stranger in the eyes. I realize it's the asshole from earlier. I'm about to say something but he just leans down and his lips collide with mine and I just fucking melt. I just let this fucking stranger kiss me. I feel all these eyes staring but I don't care for once. I'm just going to give in. Just this once I'm going to lean in and kiss him right back.