Chapter 17

GRACE’S POV

By the time we stepped out, the night had already settled into its usual rhythm.

There was something about weekends that made the world feel louder and wilder, especially the nights. It was like everyone had been holding their breath all week, enduring and finally decided to exhale at once, letting go of all the pressure of the week. Music spilled from open doors, laughter echoed down the street, cars zoomed back and forth. It was just as beautiful as it was chaotic.

Susan practically vibrated with excitement.

“This,” she announced, linking her arm through mine, “is already a better decision than staying in.”

I sported a quiet laugh, glancing down at my outfit for the umpteenth time. It wasn’t that I looked bad, I thought I looked okay. Perhaps even good. It was just that stepping out like this felt like stepping into something unpredictable. It always made me feel like I was standing on the edge of something I was unable to see quite well. 

“That, I can argue for days,” I muttered, shifting my weight.

“Oh, don’t start,” she said, bumping her shoulder into mine. “You’re the one who agreed.”

“I didn’t agree,” I corrected, giving her a pointed look. “I was emotionally manipulated.”

“Same thing, same thing.” She defended. 

I shook my head, but a smile appeared on my lips anyway.

We walked to the entrance of the bar, because thankfully, she’d chosen a bar over a club, and the bass of whatever song was playing inside vibrated faintly through the walls. It wasn't exactly overwhelming, but just enough to remind you that the night had an entirely different world.

Inside, it was dim, but warm at the same time. Soft golden coloured lights hung low, casting a glow on everything in a way that emitted a kind of softness on everyone. Probably softer than they actually were. Conversations were being had, glasses clinked together, and somewhere in the corner, a group of people laughed like nothing else in the world mattered. I just wished I was in my apartment, with popcorn.

Susan inhaled deeply. “Ah. Do you smell that?”

I frowned, my eyebrows furrowing. “What am I supposed to smell exactly?”

“Several things, but let's start with opportunities first,” she said with absolute certainty, a wide smile on her face.

I snorted, twisting my lips. “it smells like alcohol and very badly made decisions to me.”

“Exactly.” She concurred and dragged me further in before I could protest. With her flawless guiding, we weaved effortlessly through the crowd until we found a small table just near the side. It wasn’t too crowded, and not too exposed. It had just enough space to watch without being completely swallowed by everything, and exposed. 

I sat down, exhaling slowly. I could do this, it wasn't hard. All I had to do was survive the night by drinking a little and just keeping my head low. I just hoped that Susan had the same idea as I did. 

This was what people did, they went out, laughed, met strangers, lived in moments that didn’t feel like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode in your face. This was normality. 

Only that my life didn’t work like that anymore. I wasn't the normal youth, but I didn't have to worry about a best friend and a future husband.

Beside me, Susan clapped her hands once. I groaned softly, because that only meant one thing. She wanted me to stand up and do something with her. 

“I'm aware you absolutely love sitting here and just watching, but if I wanted us to people watch, I'd take you to the park or to the zoo.” She said, and I paused. 

“The zoo? You keep animals in the zoo, Susan. Did you forget that?” I asked, confused.

“Of course not. I mean, where else would my boss and that good for nothing Luke be? The zoo, of course.” She huffed, crossing her arms.

I couldn't help but giggle. 

“But what I'm saying is that we should go out there, you know. We could mingle with other people, make friends. Hell, we could even meet men we don't want to date, but string along. Then, we could break their hearts.” She looked very proud of herself, very proud of the things she was saying.

I stared, hard, at her. “You're kidding me. That is not what you actually want to do.” 

She stared back at me, unblinkingly. “Try me. See that guy over there? At three o'clock, wearing a horrible looking blue and green sweater, sitting with a bunch of dudes who look like they eat cereal for dinner.” 

I choked back an exclamation, and immediately turned to the direction she was describing. And sure enough, I didn't have to stress my eyes to find the young man. He looked like he was just a little away from thirty, like a year or a year and two months. His sweater was honestly a horrible choice for a bar outfit, a horrible choice for the bathroom even. It was one of those sweaters that looked like they were made from an unskilled and loving heart. 

He looked like he'd be anywhere but here. Same, dude, same. But his friends looked like they were having the time of their lives, if smiling unstoppably was considered having a good time.

“Yeah? What about him?” I asked, looking back at Susan. 

“He's been making eyes at me since we stepped in here. I'd very much like to walk up to him, give him a good time, and then dump him in the morning. But I won't do that, because a hotter guy just walked in.” She added the last part, breathlessly. 

I hummed. “So, what are you going to do now?” I questioned, curious as to what extent she'd go.

“First, I'll see if he's single. If he's not, I'll go over there and talk to him. Who knows? I might not go home with you tonight.” She told me, fixing her eyes on said guy that I couldn't quite see. 

Before I could blink, she squealed, stood up, tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked away.