Chapter 2: I need to dance

(Claire's POV) 

I needed to get away from this house. I needed to get far away from all my problems, so I headed straight for the bedroom, where I had dropped my phone on the windowpane.

My hands trembled as I picked up the phone again to dial my daddy’s number. My thumb hovered over the call icon. I didn’t want to be alone right now. The walls were closing in on me, and I just wanted to get away.

When I got the courage and dialed her number, she picked up on the first ring.

“Maddie,” was all I could whisper.

“Claire, what is going on? Are you OK? You don’t sound good,” she said. Concern laced her voice. She was the only one that didn’t need to see me to know I was on the brink of losing my mind.

I cleared my throat, and the words began to tumble out. “Where are you? Please tell me you’re home.”

“No, babe. It’s Friday. I’m at the bar, you know that. Why do you ask?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. My tongue felt thick and my mouth was dry. “I just… I just need to see you right now.”

“Come over. You don’t have to ask. You know that.”

Maddie didn’t question me further, and this was the reason why I loved her so much. This was how it had always been between us. We were two girls who grew up in an orphanage. We fought for each other when no one else would. We shared ramen noodles during college and cried over breakups. Maddie knew me, and I knew her.

I grabbed my overnight bag that lay on the floor and put a few clothes in. In no time, I was outside. It was already getting dark.

Maddie’s bar was a cozy little place which was tucked between a tattoo parlor and an auto repair shop. Its neon sign blinked at me, calling me in—Maddie’s. It was simple and direct, no-nonsense, just like her.

I pushed the door open, and I was hit by the sweet, sweet scent of whiskey. The scent of sweat put me off it at once. The music pulsed inside me and outside me. The lights were dim as usual, and the familiar territory welcomed me with open arms.

Maddie was behind the counter, cleaning a glass. She hadn’t seen me yet.

“Claire, how are you? It’s been ages since we saw your face here,” a man with a scruffy beard and bushy eyebrows, who is called Johnson, said.

“I know. I’ve been quite busy with my job, that’s why. But I promise to always come visit—and here I am,” I said, faking happiness.

But he bought it with a smile. To me, it’s either that or he didn’t want to pry into whatever it is I was going through.

I dropped my bag and slid into a barstool. I didn’t need to say anything when she looked at me. She scrutinized my face, and placed a glass of whiskey in front of me.

“Babe, start from the beginning. Tell me everything,” she said, pouring a generous shot of whiskey without me asking.

I stared at the amber liquid for a while, trying to decide what story I should bring forth first. Tears ran down my face. Then I took a long swig of my whiskey. My eyes watered some more, but I held myself together.

“He left me. He took everything along with him. Not just the furniture—he took my savings. It took everything, Maddie.”

Maddie was pouring me some more drink when she froze after hearing what I said.

“Where did you hide the savings?”

“Just somewhere in the toilet. I didn’t even know he knew about that.”

“What? You told me you kept it hidden in the new makeup box I got you.”

“Yes, I did.”

“That bastard.”

“You think that’s all? He left me a breakup note as well. For a split second there, I felt like a summer fling.”

I handed the note to her so she could see exactly what I meant.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she asked, disbelief clear on her face.

 “Take. Here is the only thing that he left behind. A fucking note. And he couldn’t even construct the words properly.”

Maddie took it immediately from my hand, her eyes scanning the paper.

“ Why can’t I find the right man?” I said, drinking some more whiskey and placing my forehead on the counter.

Maddie extended her hands around me, rubbing my shoulders and my back in soothing circles.

“Everything will be OK, I promise you. And that idiot will pay if I get him. Your drinks are on me today. Drink as much as you want,” Maddie said, squeezing the paper and throwing it in her trash.

“That’s not all—the money I gave Ben to pay for our rent was never paid, so I probably would be houseless by tomorrow.”

“You can stay with me. I’m here for you. We’re sisters,” Maddie said, now giving me a hug.

It was like a dam was realized and more tears began to flow. I just couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears flowed. It was only with Maddie I could be vulnerable; it was only with her I could let myself go.

I wiped my tears and smiled. “Can I have two more shots, please?”

“Of course you can—as much as you need to get over that asshole,” Maddie responded.

In no time, I was on my 3rd, 4th, and even 5th glass of whiskey. They burned their way down my throat, each glass sweeter than the last. Maddie kept sliding each one to me as she wiped down the bar.

“You’re good?” Maddie questioned with a raised eyebrow.

I gave her a shrug. I didn’t really care if I was good or not. I didn’t want to care.

“Maddy, define good,” I asked her, sliding my finger across the rim of the glass.

“I am glad you are still breathing, so that counts for something.”

I laughed, although it was a bitter one—but I did. I hadn’t planned to drink so much, but here I was, sitting here, looking around at the bar. It started to fill up.

“I can’t believe he just took everything and left. I mean, what’s wrong with a proper goodbye?”

Maddie did not respond. She just filled up my glass again.

And this time around, I started to feel the warmth all over me. The ache in my heart dulled. The betrayal was still there like a bruise—still fresh.

What caught my attention was the group of people swaying on the dance floor. I stood immediately.

“I know what I need, Maddie. I need to dance,” I said.

Maddie’s eyes narrowed at me. “Are you sure about that?”

I nodded, slightly wobbling a little. “I don’t want to sit. I want to forget. I want to forget that this day ever happened,” I said, turning around before Maddie could object.

I rolled my hips to the beat. My arms were loose at my sides. I closed my eyes, imagining the world that was better than this one.

Suddenly, someone’s shoulders bumped mine, and I tried to step back, but I found myself spinning—and then I collided with a chest.