2: Who Is This Man

Sofia 

I couldn’t believe I had actually said yes to Clara. I stood watching Clara toss clothes around, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. What was I thinking? Attending a birthday party, at a club?

“Okay, absolutely not,” she finally declared, holding up a pale blue linen skirt that reached my ankles. “We are not taking you to a club looking like you just stepped out of a church social. Which, I know, is kind of your whole… thing, but tonight, we break the mold, okay? I will lend you something that shows off… well, you.”

“No,” I said quickly, perhaps too quickly. “You know I won’t wear short, tight dresses.” 

Clara sighed, dropping the top she was holding. “Sofia, seriously? You can’t go in one of those skirts. Trust me, you’ll feel completely out of place. More than you already will.”

“I have a pair of jeans,” I offered hesitantly, hoping it might be a compromise. I rarely wore them, but they were technically less formal than my skirts. 

I quickly searched for them and threw them to Clara, and she took them, holding them up. Her expression was a mixture of disbelief and resigned defeat. “These are the jeans?” she asked, her voice flat.

I nodded, hugging my arms around myself. “They’re comfortable.”

She let out a long, drawn-out breath, running a hand through her rainbow hair.  “Okay, fine. Comfortable it is. We’ll make it work. Just… promise me you’ll try not to look like you’re attending a bible study group that accidentally booked a club venue.”

I managed a weak smile. “I’ll try.”

Dressing felt strange. I wore the baggy jeans and a modest shirt I laid my hands on when suddenly we heard a knock on the door. 

“Sofia! Open this door we have to talk!” Louis loud voice pierced through the door and my heart flipped, I turned my attention to Clara.

“I can’t let him see me like this,” I whispered. 

“Then hide!” Clara whispered back. 

I quickly went inside the bathroom and shut the door silently, my heart hammering against my ribs. I heard Clara open the door and I placed my ear on the wall. 

“Hey, Clara! Is Sofia in there?” I heard Louis demanding voice. 

“Hey, Louis. Nah, I didn’t meet her when I came in, you can call her.” Clara’s lie was smooth, I wonder how she did it because I was already shivering. 

“Oh? I see. Ask her to call me when she is back,” Louis replied.

“Will do,” Clara said. I heard the door click shut, I waited a few more seconds, before slowly opening the bathroom door.

Clara stood there, leaning against the door frame, a devilish grin on her face. “Phew, close one. He looked like he was about to barge in. Are you fighting with your man?” I heard the tease in her voice. Clara had always found Louis funny, she said he dressed funny and it takes a lot from me not to tell her that’s how Louis sees her too. 

“I don’t feel like going anymore,” I looked away hoping not to see the disappointment in Clara’s eyes. “This is not my thing, I only agreed earlier because I was emotional, What if my parents find out I went to the club?” 

“It’s just for a night Sofia! No one is going to know and by tomorrow you are back to your ‘holier than thou’ activities.” She replied and I rolled my eyes. 

“I hope I don’t regret my decision.” 

*

We left the hostel and met a flashy bright car waiting for us downstairs, there were three guys already inside. I felt utterly uncomfortable, apart from my dad, brother, and Louis, I have never sat down close to any man. 

“Hey, guys! This is Sofia, my roommate I talked about. She’s with us tonight, be nice. Don’t make her feel uncomfortable.”

“Hi!” My voice came out smaller than I intended. I felt like an intruder in a space I wasn’t meant to occupy. I pressed myself against the car door, trying to make myself smaller, regretting my decision with every passing second as the car drove away with loud music enough to make me go deaf.

Finally, the car slowed and we came to a stop, It was obvious that Clara was regular here with the way she interacted with the bouncers. The moment we were inside, my senses were assaulted. The music wasn't just loud, it vibrated through my bones. The smell of alcohol, sweat, and something else I couldn’t identify filled my lungs. 

Was this the fun Clara promised?

I glanced around to see people dancing, and girls wore scraps of fabric that barely covered anything. I was wearing enough fabric for three people in this place. I felt completely, utterly out of place.

“Just one night,” I told myself, by tomorrow, I’m back to my life.

Clara pulled me towards a table where a group was already gathered with drinks in hand. They greeted Clara with cheers and laughter, their eyes briefly flicking over me with polite confusion before returning to Clara.

“She’s my roommate! I invited her over. Happy birthday Ginger!” Clara shouted over the loud music, I tried to muffle all the sound but I failed blatantly.

“Shot time! Take yours!” One handed over a drink to me. 

I flinched back instinctively. “Oh, no, thank you. I don’t… I don’t drink.”

A few people chuckled and Clara nudged me. “Come on, Sofia. Live a little! It’s a celebration.”

“Yeah, don’t be shy!” someone else added. “One shot won’t kill you.”

“It’s just juice… with a kick,” Clara grinned, trying to sound reassuring.

My palms felt sweaty, All my life, alcohol had been equated with sin, with giving in to temptation, with losing control.

“Let yourself go,” Clara whispered, leaning close. “Just for tonight. You will feel bad” she paused, her gaze earnest, “if you didn’t experience any of this before you graduate?”

The thought of going back home after graduation made me feel sick, and I swallowed hard. “Okay. Just… just one.”

A cheer went up, and the glass was pushed closer. I picked it up and then drank it quickly. It burned going down my throat and I coughed, my eyes watering. 

“See? Not so bad!” Clara laughed, immediately handing me another one. “Here, chase it with this.”

The second one was easier, the burning less intense. The third… well, the third one made the room tilt slightly. A strange warmth spread through my limbs, a lightness I’d never experienced. The music seemed less aggressive... The flashing lights were almost beautiful. I felt a giddy, reckless feeling bubble up inside me.

“Wow,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush. “I feel… light.”

Clara, whose own eyes were starting to look a little unfocused, giggled. “That’s the spirit! You having fun?”

I wasn’t sure I could define it as ‘fun’, but it was definitely something different and disorienting but freeing.

“I… I need to use the bathroom,” I said, my words slurring a bit, I feel pressed. 

“Back there,” Clara slurred, pointing vaguely towards the rear of the club. “Through that corridor.” She was too gone to offer to come with me. 

I stood up trying to balance the heaviness in my head as I made my way towards the restroom, I quickly used it and when I was done I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would clear my head a little. It helped, but the lightheadedness lingered. I pushed open the bathroom door and stepped back.

“Well, well. Look what we have here, little lost lamb?” I saw two men from nowhere stand before me. 

He reached out, his hand reaching for my arm. I flinched back, a jolt of fear cutting through me “Leave me alone,” my voice came out shaky. 

The second man moved closer, blocking my path. “Aw, don’t be like that, sweetheart. Just wanna talk.” His hand reached for my hip.

Panic flared and I tried to twist away, They grabbed me closer and I whimpered, Just when I thought all hope was lost a voice came through, “I am sure both of you want to get out of this club with your body intact.” 

A man stepped forward, and the unknown men’s eyes went wide and they quickly ran away. He was dressed in a suit, and he came closer and his face became clearer. He was tall with a strong jawline, dark eyes that seemed to see everything, and a mouth that was curved in a slight, dismissive smile.

My breath caught, those eyes… that face. It felt… familiar. I have seen them before but I couldn’t quite place my hand on it, maybe I was seeing things because of the alcohol in my system. 

“Naive little thing. What are you doing in a place like this?” his voice was filled with mockery, his eyes piercing through me like he could see my soul. 

“Naive little thing? Didn’t ask you to save me,” I retorted, “I can handle myself, don’t come here saying what you do not know.” 

His smile widened slightly, “A sharp mouth, I can see.” 

“Step away,” I muttered and tried to move but my legs got wobbly, and he held me just before I could fall.

“Are you sure you want me to step away, sunshine?” My breath caught in my throat at the way he said sunshine.  

Something sweet yet unfamiliar coursed through my body and lingered between my legs. Our gaze met and I couldn’t help but wonder…

Who is this man?