Chapter 12 Just Friends, Right?
Play GLOOM by Dounia
We swerve our way through the crowd of people until we’re left in the back. A few stragglers try to push past us in an attempt to enter the wave of bodies, but with a harsh bump into me and a glaring snarl from Saint, they back off pretty quickly.
“I brought gifts!” Luke’s cocky voice sounds over the loud music. He prances up to Saint and I, three shots in hand. “Not Jager this time.” He finishes off, giving me a wink as he hands over the small glass container.
I look down at the clear liquid, my nostrils immediately assaulted by the smell. I watch as they both tilt their drinks up, letting the liquor slide down their throats. I sigh, giving into the fact that tonight is no longer about just Saint and I, and down the shot in solidarity.
“So what are you kids up to?” Luke asks as we follow him back to the bar. The surface is sticky, probably covered in spilled drinks. Bartenders zoom back and forth, pouring drink after drink. I’d almost feel bad for them if it wasn’t for the overflowing tip jar neatly placed in the middle.
Saint gives a kind wave to one of the servers, signaling to him that he has an order, but to take his time.
“Figured we could enjoy some music,” he starts off, slightly nudging me.
The nudge does nothing but serve as a reminder that his hands are no longer on me.
That they haven’t been since we had to leave the anonymity the crowd offered.
Luke’s eyes catch me, watching me with intrigue. “This doesn’t seem quite like your scene.”
I go to respond but before I can, the bartender approaches our group. “What can I get ya?”
I turn and respond, leaving the boys to further their conversation. “Three rum and cokes please,” I ask, not bothering to ask either of them what they would like. They’ve made plenty of decisions for me, and now it’s my turn.
I sit on a barstool that opens up, spinning back around to look at them.
Their voices had gotten quiet behind me, and while I had assumed they were listening to me order our drinks, the sight I found was much different.
With quiet voices, they both stare down at Luke’s phone.
I watch as Saint lightly nods to Luke before looking back to me.
“Hey, we’re going to go grab something real quick,” he lets me know.
I give him a puzzled glance in return, but before I can think too deeply into it, he leans forward and kisses my cheek.
My eyes catch Luke’s and they seem completely unamused, as if he knew this whole time.
“We’ll be right back. Wait for our drinks? ”
Whether it’s the optimism seeping through the venue or the drink I had getting the best of my tolerance, my confidence takes a big leap.
I snag Saint by his collar, pulling him in for a genuine kiss.
When he eagerly returns the gesture my heart soars.
His tongue swipes gently along my bottom lip as his hand gives my throat a light squeeze.
I feel his thigh press into my legs, pushing them apart until he can apply light friction to my aching core.
“Be right back, okay?” He asks, finally pulling away from me with swollen lips.
My head nods although my brain feels lost to the lust. I watch as he and Luke turn on their heels, heading closer to the entrance.
My eyes stay transfixed on the pair until they're out of sight. For the first time in a very long time, I can imagine a future. One that’s bright. One that has him.
The clink of glasses brings me back to reality, and I turn to see the three drinks placed in front of me.
Quickly snatching one up, I take a long sip, allowing the alcohol time to warm my stomach before gulping down another.
From the stool, I’ve managed to be just high enough to see the band.
I think it’s the second opener, but I had been so lost in the events around me that I hadn’t quite caught if they had finished up yet or not.
The lead singer belts out a haunting melody into the microphone.
It’s slower than the previous songs that had been played, but beautiful nonetheless.
I let my head sway with the music, pausing every now and then to take another drink.
Before long, the cup is empty and I’m asking the server for another. He side-eyes the two full glasses in front of me, but goes to grab another anyway.
“Miss me?” Luke teases as he slides into the barstool next to me. Saint comes up behind us, lightly dragging his fingers through my hair.
I tip my cup towards him, “nope. Morgan kept me company.”
Saint laughs behind me, his touch growing more firm. Luke grabs both drinks, handing one over to his pal before taking a long sip. The glass lands back on the counter half empty.
“Are you guys ready to head back in?” Saint asks, gesturing towards the audience. I quickly down the rest of my beverage and give him a nod as I hop off the seat. The movement leaves me feeling dizzy as the alcohol finally begins to register in my system.
Luke tosses a fifty on the counter, along with his now empty cup and follows behind us into the sea of bodies.
Together we all cram into an open space.
The pressure pushes Saint’s body into mine, and his internal heat rages against my skin.
His hands snake along my body, landing at the top of my jeans.
I feel his growing cock strain against his pants as our bodies stay compressed in the small space.
“If I were to touch you right now, would you be wet for me?” He whispers into my ear.
I gasp as his fingers intrude below my jeans and underwear, pressing against the top of my pelvic region. The euphoria of the night hits me, letting my arousal build. “Yes.” I whimper in response.
“Mmm,” he groans out, the sound shooting directly to my core. “Of course you are, my perfect girl.”
His fingertips dare to go lower and I instinctively part my legs to make room for him.
I’m dripping with need before his fingers even touch me where I need it most. So when they do, it takes everything in me to not moan.
At an agonizingly slow pace, he strums against my clit.
Back and forth with just enough pressure to leave me begging for more.
“Saint.” I growl out as I attempt to grind against his hand. His other arm loops around my stomach, holding me in place against his chest. I feel his dick rub against my ass and this time a moan does escape me. One that catches Luke’s attention.
“Not until you’re a sopping mess for me,” Saint speaks to me as though he’s soothing a child throwing a tantrum. He pays no mind to his best friend, who’s watching us without shame. Luke’s eyes stay fixated on mine, and I can’t deny how it heightens the pleasure.
Luke leans into Saint, his lips parting as he whispers, “have you tasted her yet?” I stare up at him, noticing now how his pupils dilate. Like black holes sitting in his different colored eyes, the irises slowly being overtaken by the darkness.
Saints fingers run down my slit, my juice coating his fingers. I press forward into his touch only to growl at the absence of it. He pulls his hand out, admiring how the red lights from the concert glimmer against the slick coating. He leans towards Luke and leaves me speechless.
“This will be the last time you taste her,” he groans out, swiping his finger across the bottom of Luke’s lips. Luke’s eyebrows raise as a mixture of amusement and shock sweep across his features. His tongue swipes slowly across his flesh, consuming the liquid.
“One last meal,” he laughs back, turning his attention to me. “What a shame.”
Saint doesn’t waste time diving back into me.
His touch has grown vigorous, rapidly swirling against my bundle of nerves until I feel my legs begin to wobble.
Even then he doesn’t let up. His hold tightens on me as he works harder to bring me to release.
Each movement winds me up tighter and tighter.
Before my release hits me, I twist myself sideways, biting down on his arm in an attempt to muffle the sounds of my orgasm.
I cum so hard I swear I see stars, and Saint doesn’t begin to ease up until tears begin to spring from my eyes at the overstimulation.
“Look how pretty you cum for me,” he whispers in my ear. My eyes roll with pleasure as my body begins to slump, completely spent.
He holds me in his arms, gazing down at me with blown pupils, ones that match Luke’s. Something about the sight of them leaves me feeling uneasy, but my head swirls with too much lust to connect the dots. So instead, I allow him to hold me as we sway with the music.
Play listen before i go by Billie Eilish
I look up at the stage as the music abruptly stops, The sound of a woman’s scream behind us follows the silence.
The jarring noise rips me back into the present, and my eyes follow the gaze of the crowd around us.
The bodies pile on top of each other, all curious to see what’s going on.
Two large men from the front begin screaming at the group of people to move.
Everyone picks a side, standing on the left or right as the men make their way to the back.
As they pass me I read the security badges attached to their black shirts.
Saint and Luke stand at the other side of the isle, looks of worry being passed between the two.
I keep my eyes trained on their path before they get to their target.
A young man, one who looks a little younger than me, is slumped in the arms of two women trying to hold him up.
The venue's lights quickly flash on, changing the comforting darkness around us to a bright white.
The illumination shoves the truth into everyone's faces as we watch them lay the man down. His skin has a blue tint to it, one I swear I’ve only seen in movies.
A gurgling sound escapes his parted lips as one of the security guards begins to perform CPR.
“Please help him!” The taller of the two women screams, dropping to her knees to be by the man’s head.
A raspy breath leaves me as a tear begins to fall down my cheeks. I watch her face as she searches the crowd, desperate to find a miracle worker. The crowd stays silent as we all watch the horrors of the event in front of us.
“I can’t find a pulse!” The man who had been performing the medical work shouts to his partner. “Call 911!” he screams before starting up compressions again.
The man pulls out his phone but his words blur into the cries escaping from the devastated woman.
I keep myself focused on her, watching as the weight of the situation completely destroys her world.
The second our eyes connect I know her face will haunt me for the rest of my life.
So full of anguish, full of hatred for the world.
She didn’t deserve this. I don’t need to know her to know this was inhuman.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper through a shaky breath, although I doubt she even realizes she’s staring at me. The skin around her brown eyes begins to turn red as the tears stain her skin. Her pain is so evident, so unmistakable. It feels forbidden to witness something so personal.
The security guard behind her flings himself up from the floor, stepping back just in time to give the crowd a clear view as the man begins to spew blood from his mouth. It sprays upwards, falling back down to decorate his face with dark red splatters.
“NO! NO! NO! Please God! NO!” The woman screams, crawling along the venue floor until she’s able to prop the man’s head in her lap.
His blood smears across her fingers as she pushes the hair from his eyes.
“Baby I’m so sorry,” she sputters out, gently rubbing a hand through his hair as though to comfort him.
I hold my breath as my jaw drops open. A silent scream in solidarity dances along the tip of my tongue. More blood leaks from his mouth, slowly falling onto the floor. An almost black puddle begins to form, slowly consuming the wood below it.
In the distance, you can hear the sirens as emergency personnel make their way to the building.
“It’ll be okay,” the woman stutters out, smiling at the man as tears shower from her eyes. “Do you hear that, baby? They’re coming. It’s okay.”
No one stops her, but we all know the truth. That’s too much blood. Too much to grant anyone hope. If he’s not already dead, he will be soon.
‘Hey,” a voice calls out to me, although it sounds like it was meant for someone else’s ears. Everything feels so far away, like I’m not actually here, like I’m just someone standing by and watching this all unfold.
“Hey!” The voice echoes itself, louder this time. “Nova, we need to go.”
I slowly blink and turn my head to the source of the noise.
Saint looks back at me, fear spread across his face.
“Come on, it’s okay.” He whispers as he tugs on my arm.
As if sending my body into autopilot my feet begin to move, carrying me behind him.
Luke takes up the back of us, following right on my heels.
I continue to aimlessly follow until the three of us are piling into Saint’s truck. It had begun to rain, and the streetlights distort inside of the droplets clinging to the windows.
“Fuck man!” Saint yells out, slamming down on the wheel with his fists. I turn my attention forward to see that we’re now stopped at a red light. The street seems so empty. “You said everything was all good.”
“He said he’d done it before!” Luke argues from the back seat. The words tumble around in my mind, slowly conjoining to make a bigger picture.
“What did you just say?” I whisper, worried if I was to speak in a normal voice I’d end up yelling. I twist in my seat, my eyes burning into Luke’s. He looks frazzled, his normally perfectly combed hair a mess. The top button to his shirt has come undone, allowing me a view of his reddened chest.
He rubs his hands up his face, gripping onto his hair as if he’s trying to come to terms with it all.
“He said he'd done it before. I told him it was top tier stuff. He promised.” The last sentence falls from his mouth with a rushed tone. I watch as his eyes widen with fear. “I didn’t mean to kill him.”