A WOlf Night

    It was Sunday 6:30 pm, Sun was about to set, I had already spent my Saturday doing home stuff, and my Sunday was also about to end very soon. Half my Sunday was also spent at home only, preparing meals, laundry, dishes. Emily aunt was right somewhere, I am just living life, not enjoying it. 

    I was just lying on the floor, thinking of what shall I make for dinner. Someone at the door rang the bell. I tried to see through door hole, it was Linda.

    I immediately opened the door in excitement, she was wearing a dark blue backless dress which ends above her knees, with her makeup on, and classy hairstyle. She looked stunning. 

    "Let me check the date, is it your birthday, you look sexy bae."  I said admiring her upside down. 

    "Get ready fast, we need to leave" she said, keeping her clutch on the sofa.

    "But where?" I asked him to turn off the television.

    "I will tell you once we leave," she said pushing me inside the room and locking the door from her side.

    I wore violet floral frock and knocked the door from inside, Linda stared me upside down as soon as I stepped out, 

    "How's it ? I asked, pointing to the dress and trying to figure it out from her expression.

    "Very beautiful" but keep it reserved for my funeral. She went into the room, and opened my wardrobe, she threw all my clothes out of the cupboard, Damn, I had spent my whole Saturday just to set it right. She started rating all my clothes by picking them one after one.

    "You are disgusting, you may look classy, but you are still disgusting only," I screamed at her, picking all the clothes she threw after rating them low.

"Wear it and get ready fast, you need to look sexy, anyhow, just go fast" Linda threw a black dress on my face firmly, I tried to catch it but failed. Linda vacated the room for me to change. And knocked 3 times, while me changing by saying, "Are you done?", "Do it fast", "We are late",

    I unlocked the door, she immediately got in.

    "Girl, this is it, what do you preserve such dress for??" she asked, looking at me upside down she asked, with a wide smile on his face.

    "Definitely not for this day." I replied. 

    I sat in front of the mirror, using all my makeup skills on my face. Linda was in her mobile, looking for quick hair ideas, she saw hair curlers lying there since monday.

    "Curl your hair." she said, handing me over the curlers.

    "Isn't it too much you are asking?" I asked her with one of my eyebrows raised. 

    "I have no other quick idea to get your hair done, please, I can't take you like this." She asked in a convincing tone.

    "Fine, first tell me, where are we going" I took curlers in my hand.

    "Wolf Night". I could clearly see the shine in her eyes when she said this.

    I turned immediately to her "Are you serious? Don't you remember what happened last time?"

    When Last time we visited Wolf Night Club, all I saw was stoned people dancing shouting like crazy but in a group. Only me and Linda were in pairs, stuck at the bar counter, looking for the group we can join, I saw some of our one officemate there. She invited us to join them, but we declined. Of course we don't want to be part of a stoned stranger group. She thought we are gay couple and we need some our time. I can't forget that night. 

    "Yeah I know, but this time we have a group with us." Linda said with a wide smile on her face.

    "Group?" I stopped rolling my hair around curlers, and continued "How many surprises are left, tell me all together" 

    "You know all of them, chill, only our office people, you promised me you gonna hang with them out." Linda said, calming me down.

    "Is Austin coming." I asked straight.

    "I knew you would ask for him first, I already invited him." She said, with excitement on her face and continued pointing at curler "Please do it fast"

    "You are bitch" I resumed curling my hair.

                                                                                        ***

    It was about 8:20, We stepped in, I saw Stephen and Iris standing near the counter. Linda waved at them, they waved back, we went to them.

    "You look so hot bae" Iris said, looking at me.

    "Thank you, you too" I replied, we shared a hug.

    "Where is the gang?" Linda asked, 

    "On the way, I will be reaching soon" Stephen replied, checking his phone.

Linda dragged me to the bar counter, "Beer?"

    The word 'Beer' gave me a flashed image of Denver in mind, maybe because the last beer company I had, was him. But then why did Emily's aunt's text remind me of him? Am I really missing him? I asked myself. 

    Beer??? Linda asked me again,

    "No, you know I am not a beer person." I said, pretending to check my phone.

    "So, what will you have?" Linda was waiting to Order for us. 

    "Let me mold in the atmosphere first." I said, looking around.

    I kept seeing everywhere, roof, floor, lights, looking for the reason why the Wolf Night is one of the top night clubs among cities, also controversial. Prices here are 3 to 4 times higher than any other club of town.     I see the crowd, full of rich brats dancing with overpriced drinks in their one hand, and waving other hands in the air, shouting loudly completely for no reason. This crowd reminds me of my graduation days. I used to be the same, or maybe more wild, the only difference was I never highlighted my hairs with such horrible bright colors. When I used to live in Frido, for my graduation at Emily Aunt's place, Emily used to run a hobby class, baby sitting at her home, I used to help her with that, so I can contribute in spite of rent. So my colored hairs wouldn't suit me being a babysitter.

    I saw Linda waving at entry, the rest of her group arrived, the excitement on her face had already reached on top. 

    She stepped towards them, with a glass of whisky in her hand. I saw Ausitin, he was looking handsome, as always, he was stepping toward us, I immediately turned towards the bar counter. I started rubbing my hair slowly to make it look straight. I remember Austin asking me to curl my hair once, and also asking me about my weekend plan, I just don't want to give him the wrong sign about me trying to fix things between us.

    "Hey" Austin sat on a chair beside me.

    I looked for Linda to come in between, so the conversation between me and Austin would be less awkward. But she was busy hugging and sharing greetings with everyone. Why is it compulsory that when you meet colleagues outside of office, then you must act like you are meeting after decades. 

    "Hello" I replied. 

    "You look beautiful," He said, avoiding eye contact.

    I smiled, wanting to end this awkward conversation soon.

    "Thank you" He continued.    

    "For?" I asked, looking at him for the first time since he came. 

    He looks charming. He was wearing Dark Blue Skin Fit, Half sleeve T-shirt with Z-Black Denim bottom, and Blue striped sneakers, Premium Club Member Band in one hand and his luxury overpriced watch in other hand.

    "You knew me coming here, right?"  He asked to make eye contact.

    "Yes, then?" I asked, raising my one eyebrow.

    "Though You did not rudely drop the plan like you always do" He smiled looking into my eyes.

    "Oh, so you are thanking me for not being rude." I laughed.

    "Aha maybe, But also for these curls" He tucked my strand of hair behind my ears. 

    I felt his touch, so warm and gentle. I kept looking into his eyes. I liked his touch, it always reminds me of our good time together, we were wild, we had 'couples less besties more' kind of relation. I remained silent for a while.

    "Linda forced me to do this." I replied breaking the silence, to make him realise it wasn't for him to be thankful.

    "So, thanks to her too." He said, and laughed. I smiled back. "But you are hot anyway." He added.

    'Not again Austin, Not again, Please, I beg' I wanted to say, but I remained silent. 

    The reasons behind me dating Austin in back were many, He is handsome, nice, caring, follows good ethics. But I never felt so loved for him. We were close, good together, but I wasn't happy. Maybe I said yes to his proposal, because I did not want to lose him as a friend. We both were never serious about us. Even breaking up was our mutual decision. Though I asked for a break up, he agreed.

    "Would you like to dance?" offering me his left palm, Austin asked, breaking the awkwards silence between us.

    You can never say no to the handsome man asking for a dance in this way, though you don't want to. I don't want to dance with him only because I don't want him to fall for me again, also I don't want myself to get in the same relationship drama, I am not ready for that, especially with Austin again. It had already spoiled my friendship with him. I understand remaining friends with your ex is the most difficult thing anyone can imagine. Every single regular stuff like coffee, clothes, books, movies, office, drink, every damn single thing is connected with your memory together. And even if you try to remain friends, to act normal casual, such friendship has more drama than relation.

    Though I wanted to say 'No', I moved my hand towards his, I heard someone calling my name from the crowd behind.

    I pulled my hand back and turned, it was Lucas. I did not know him coming, as Linda was a planner tonight, It surprised me that she counted Lucas too.

    I stood up "Give me a minute", I said to Austin, pointing to Lucas. 

    "Take your time' he replied, taking the drink card in his hand.

    I went to Lucas and hugged him, calling him a Life saver in mind. He hugged me back.

    "You are late" Linda said to Lucas.

    "Was busy in some family stuff, also will be leaving soon"

    "So, are you here to complete formality?" I asked him, making a face at him but I was happy Linda invited him

    I saw someone standing behind Lucas, wearing black leather jacket, facing towards the crowd, using mobile, he has the semblance of Denver from back, but I ignored it. I remember Lucas telling me they are acquaintances only. And this is not a place to hand out your acquaintance at all. Even though why am I expecting him to be here. 

    Linda dragged us to the dance floor. Me, Linda,  Lucas, Stephen, Iris we all had molded into atmosphere no. I saw Austin staring at us, still seated on the same chair. I waved at him, asking to join us. He lifted his hand up, showing me his drink with a smiling face. I smiled back and continued dancing.

    We all were dancing like crazy, we all had become the same as the crowd I observed before. 

    After dancing for long, I somehow left the crown, and sat on the couch kept in the dark corner of the club. I was busy enjoying the crazy dance steps of Linda and Stephen from here, when I heard the voice,  "Beer?"

    I saw a hand in the same black leather jacket I saw before, offering me a beer, I lifted my head up immediately.

    "Denver?" I exclaimed with a wide smile on my face. I grabbed beer in my hand. 

    "Yes, Miss Helena Smith" He replied, winking at me and being seated on the couch.

    I immediately closed my lips, when I realised the smile on my face had a wider smile unnecessarily.

    He was taking a sip after sip, looking at the crowd, screaming at the lucas, cheating him up for his dance moves.