Soo. . . I've been bored with my free time and I've started writing. Here is the teaser:
Until Dawn
It was just past ten on a Friday and the night had just begun. I was sinking into the couch with a beer in one hand and the eight of hearts in the other. The door swung open and a rush of frozen air spilled into the room. A new group of guests began streaming in from the cold. I tried my best to appear unmoved by their presence. Is she here? I tossed the eight down on the cluttered table in front of me.
Eights a date so. . . Andy, I said, turning to him next to me, youre drinkin with me! I nudged him with my elbow and he pulled away, climbing onto the couchs sagging right arm.
Youre just trying to get me drunk so you can have your way with me! he chided, kicking at me playfully from his perch.
I ignored him and gulped my beer. Andy parroted me, swallowing his bright red concoction of grenadine and rum. As I lowered the can from my lips, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a familiar cascade of strawberry-blonde curls. Its her. On my left, Maria leaned forward to draw and reveal the four of clubs.
She rolled her eyes as she said Four is for whores."
I took my obligatory drink with the other women in our circle and tried to act casual. The portly guy across from me leaned forward to draw the next card and I tried not to stare across the room. I could sense her like an invisible force tugging at me. I was weak. My eyes drifted and I saw her sliding free from a shell of thick wool.
Drink! said Maria, snapping me back into our game.
I turned to my group who were all holding their fingers to their noses. Someone had drawn a nine. I begrudgingly sipped my beer and Andy, like a shadow, gulped his syrupy mess. I glanced back to look for her. She was now pushing boldly through the crowd wearing just a tank top. I could see the artwork etched into her delicate arms and I imagined touching her soft skin. She caught my glance, and winked at me flirtatiously. I felt a rush of excitement flow through me and I smiled nervously as my face began to burn. She turned away and pushed through the crowd into the kitchen. I returned to the game. As I took another card-prompted drink, my head started to swim. I was desperately intrigued by her. With each new card came laughter and many drinks but, I kept thinking of that wink. What had it meant?
I could no longer focus on our silly contest. I was lost in my own head. I felt confused but elated. Forsaking the game, I rose from the couch and made my way towards the kitchen. I could see a group of women taking shots of neon blue liqueur. I pushed past a cluster of men who were laughing boisterously and made my way to the refrigerator. I opened it and shuffled around the various alcoholic drinks and mixers until I reached what I was looking for. I grabbed the can of cheap beer, stepped out of the fridge and swung the door closed behind me. As I turned back to the kitchen, she was there, standing right in front of me. Dawn. Before the jumble of non-words began to spill out of my mouth, she flashed a scheming smile.
There you are! she said excitedly, come take a shot with us!
I grinned and nodded my agreement. She grabbed my arm and I felt electricity jolt through my body as if her fingers were live wires. She led me towards the table of women with strange blue booze. I was wary of the odd poison but hoped it would help to ease my nerves. We reached the table and she motioned toward the three jezebels gathered there.
Megan, Gina, Woody, this is Gwen, she said. The three of them beamed at me, glittering under the glaring lights.
Hi. I said meekly.
Releasing my arm, Dawn started preparing the shots while I shuffled my feet awkwardly next to her. I turned to the brunette who was the tallest of the three.
Did she say your name is Woody? I asked curiously.
She laughed. Yeah, its a family nickname. Its what Ive always gone by.
Its cool, I remarked, I like it. I smiled and nodded gracelessly turning quickly back to my right.
Next to me I watched Dawns strawberry curls spill over her bare shoulders as she leaned over to dole out the unpleasantly fluorescent liqueur. My gaze wandered and floated along the edge of her top. Her pert breasts moving under her camisole entranced me. The spell was broken when, from across the table, the tan one with a flaxen bob, Megan, cleared her throat. I met her glare and blushed sheepishly.
Alright, Dawn cheered, lets take some shots!
The other women collected their glasses. Dawn straightened and turned towards me with a shot in each hand. Looking up at me with mischief in her eyes, she extended one of the shots to me. I accepted it and smiled, gesturing my thanks with a tilt of my head.
No more finals! said Gina, raising her skeletal arm into the air, Cheers!
Cheers! we echoed, each of us raising our glasses to the center.
As I brought the sweet smelling liqueur to my lips I turned to my right and locked eyes, with Dawn. She smirked and gulped down her shot. I followed suit and my mouth burned with an artificial fruity flavor. I swallowed hard and quickly cracked my beer to wash away the abysmal taste.
So. . . I said, turning back to her, How were your finals?
Oh, they werent too terrible. Im just glad theyre over with she responded honestly.
Thats good. I said turning towards the rest of the kitchen as I took another sip from my beer.
The boisterous guys standing by the stove had begun to migrate in our direction. I watched as our two circles merged and a striking man with dark hair and broad shoulders positioned himself next to Dawn. I smiled politely through gritted teeth as they introduced themselves. Are you serious? I looked over at Dawn who began to laugh with the striking one apparently named Ethan.
Annoyed, I half-listened to one of the goons tell me his story about Vegas and some stupid movie Id never heard of while sporadically glancing over at Dawn. Woefully, I watched her gradually ebb away with the shining Ethan. I suffered through the pathetic one-liners of the oaf in front of me until, thankfully, Andy rushed over to ask for my pipe. He invited me out back for a smoke and I politely dismissed the awkward urchin Id been speaking to, agreeing to follow my friend. I glanced back at Dawn who was deep in conversation pointing to parts of her arm as she explained her tattoo. I sighed as I proceeded out of the kitchen and through the living room to the back door.
As the night wore on, she stayed close; every once and a while catching me in a brief glance. I orbited her, as I moved through silly conversations about school and holidays with other partygoers. A couple hours passed and we wound up positioned nearly next to each other beside the fireplace in the living room.
We were both soaking in our separate conversations, yet, I could feel her proximity to me as if she were sucking me towards her. Familiar faces began streaming over and our two couplets merged into a small circle. The conversation got heated and soon a debate about gun control devolved into angry shouting.
I looked over at Dawn and she met my gaze. She flashed me a devious smile and motioned towards the hallway on our left. She turned and started walking and for a moment, I was frozen. Was this happening? She stopped and motioned for me to follow her. My heart raced inside my chest as I moved down the hall. I wasnt sure where she was leading me but, I didnt care. I had been dreaming of this moment for months . . .
Until Dawn
It was just past ten on a Friday and the night had just begun. I was sinking into the couch with a beer in one hand and the eight of hearts in the other. The door swung open and a rush of frozen air spilled into the room. A new group of guests began streaming in from the cold. I tried my best to appear unmoved by their presence. Is she here? I tossed the eight down on the cluttered table in front of me.
Eights a date so. . . Andy, I said, turning to him next to me, youre drinkin with me! I nudged him with my elbow and he pulled away, climbing onto the couchs sagging right arm.
Youre just trying to get me drunk so you can have your way with me! he chided, kicking at me playfully from his perch.
I ignored him and gulped my beer. Andy parroted me, swallowing his bright red concoction of grenadine and rum. As I lowered the can from my lips, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a familiar cascade of strawberry-blonde curls. Its her. On my left, Maria leaned forward to draw and reveal the four of clubs.
She rolled her eyes as she said Four is for whores."
I took my obligatory drink with the other women in our circle and tried to act casual. The portly guy across from me leaned forward to draw the next card and I tried not to stare across the room. I could sense her like an invisible force tugging at me. I was weak. My eyes drifted and I saw her sliding free from a shell of thick wool.
Drink! said Maria, snapping me back into our game.
I turned to my group who were all holding their fingers to their noses. Someone had drawn a nine. I begrudgingly sipped my beer and Andy, like a shadow, gulped his syrupy mess. I glanced back to look for her. She was now pushing boldly through the crowd wearing just a tank top. I could see the artwork etched into her delicate arms and I imagined touching her soft skin. She caught my glance, and winked at me flirtatiously. I felt a rush of excitement flow through me and I smiled nervously as my face began to burn. She turned away and pushed through the crowd into the kitchen. I returned to the game. As I took another card-prompted drink, my head started to swim. I was desperately intrigued by her. With each new card came laughter and many drinks but, I kept thinking of that wink. What had it meant?
I could no longer focus on our silly contest. I was lost in my own head. I felt confused but elated. Forsaking the game, I rose from the couch and made my way towards the kitchen. I could see a group of women taking shots of neon blue liqueur. I pushed past a cluster of men who were laughing boisterously and made my way to the refrigerator. I opened it and shuffled around the various alcoholic drinks and mixers until I reached what I was looking for. I grabbed the can of cheap beer, stepped out of the fridge and swung the door closed behind me. As I turned back to the kitchen, she was there, standing right in front of me. Dawn. Before the jumble of non-words began to spill out of my mouth, she flashed a scheming smile.
There you are! she said excitedly, come take a shot with us!
I grinned and nodded my agreement. She grabbed my arm and I felt electricity jolt through my body as if her fingers were live wires. She led me towards the table of women with strange blue booze. I was wary of the odd poison but hoped it would help to ease my nerves. We reached the table and she motioned toward the three jezebels gathered there.
Megan, Gina, Woody, this is Gwen, she said. The three of them beamed at me, glittering under the glaring lights.
Hi. I said meekly.
Releasing my arm, Dawn started preparing the shots while I shuffled my feet awkwardly next to her. I turned to the brunette who was the tallest of the three.
Did she say your name is Woody? I asked curiously.
She laughed. Yeah, its a family nickname. Its what Ive always gone by.
Its cool, I remarked, I like it. I smiled and nodded gracelessly turning quickly back to my right.
Next to me I watched Dawns strawberry curls spill over her bare shoulders as she leaned over to dole out the unpleasantly fluorescent liqueur. My gaze wandered and floated along the edge of her top. Her pert breasts moving under her camisole entranced me. The spell was broken when, from across the table, the tan one with a flaxen bob, Megan, cleared her throat. I met her glare and blushed sheepishly.
Alright, Dawn cheered, lets take some shots!
The other women collected their glasses. Dawn straightened and turned towards me with a shot in each hand. Looking up at me with mischief in her eyes, she extended one of the shots to me. I accepted it and smiled, gesturing my thanks with a tilt of my head.
No more finals! said Gina, raising her skeletal arm into the air, Cheers!
Cheers! we echoed, each of us raising our glasses to the center.
As I brought the sweet smelling liqueur to my lips I turned to my right and locked eyes, with Dawn. She smirked and gulped down her shot. I followed suit and my mouth burned with an artificial fruity flavor. I swallowed hard and quickly cracked my beer to wash away the abysmal taste.
So. . . I said, turning back to her, How were your finals?
Oh, they werent too terrible. Im just glad theyre over with she responded honestly.
Thats good. I said turning towards the rest of the kitchen as I took another sip from my beer.
The boisterous guys standing by the stove had begun to migrate in our direction. I watched as our two circles merged and a striking man with dark hair and broad shoulders positioned himself next to Dawn. I smiled politely through gritted teeth as they introduced themselves. Are you serious? I looked over at Dawn who began to laugh with the striking one apparently named Ethan.
Annoyed, I half-listened to one of the goons tell me his story about Vegas and some stupid movie Id never heard of while sporadically glancing over at Dawn. Woefully, I watched her gradually ebb away with the shining Ethan. I suffered through the pathetic one-liners of the oaf in front of me until, thankfully, Andy rushed over to ask for my pipe. He invited me out back for a smoke and I politely dismissed the awkward urchin Id been speaking to, agreeing to follow my friend. I glanced back at Dawn who was deep in conversation pointing to parts of her arm as she explained her tattoo. I sighed as I proceeded out of the kitchen and through the living room to the back door.
As the night wore on, she stayed close; every once and a while catching me in a brief glance. I orbited her, as I moved through silly conversations about school and holidays with other partygoers. A couple hours passed and we wound up positioned nearly next to each other beside the fireplace in the living room.
We were both soaking in our separate conversations, yet, I could feel her proximity to me as if she were sucking me towards her. Familiar faces began streaming over and our two couplets merged into a small circle. The conversation got heated and soon a debate about gun control devolved into angry shouting.
I looked over at Dawn and she met my gaze. She flashed me a devious smile and motioned towards the hallway on our left. She turned and started walking and for a moment, I was frozen. Was this happening? She stopped and motioned for me to follow her. My heart raced inside my chest as I moved down the hall. I wasnt sure where she was leading me but, I didnt care. I had been dreaming of this moment for months . . .