Chapter 12

Fine tries to pull me on to the dance floor but she's too taken up by the effect of the alcohol.

"Happy birthday Becky!" Mia screams her lungs out trying to over take the music in the background.

"Becky it's your birthday come dance!" Taylor too shouts trying his best but I reject after convincing him that I will join in a minute.

I see people I know on the dance floor except for Benjamin. A hand taps my shoulders. On turning expecting to see Benjamin, I see a dark skinned tall man possessing large pink lips and blue eyes. He was handsome and looked like a million dollar bucks. He could be 23 years old judging from his looks. He is dressed in a grey trouser, white button up with a suit grey in color as well, hugging his muscles in the right places.

"Hey there," he leans on the counter looking me straight in the eyes.

"Hi," I kindly answer the stranger.

The gentleman puts his hand out for me to shake and I shake them.

"You are?" He asks.

" You can call me Becky, Becky Smith."

"I'm Bruno Mars." He states casually and I laugh with my hand still in his.

"Come on," I urge as I remove my hands from his. He chuckles before saying.....

"Ok I'm Tom Payne," I nod.

"Nice to meet you Tom." He smiles and I notice a dimple on his cheeks.

I smile awkwardly at him.

"Is it your first time at a club?" Tom asks.

"Maybe, maybe not."

He says because I look oddly uncomfortable and asks if it is because of his presence. I quickly dismiss his negative thoughts and confess to him that i have never been to a club before.

"Can I get you a drink?"

"No I don't drink." I inform him.

"Right," he smiles and his dimples reappear.

"Well I have to go to school sober," I try justifying my refusal to drink alcohol. He probably thinks I'm odd. Who comes to a club and just sits around staring at people.

"Okay," he interrupts my thoughts.

"So you're here despite knowing you're supposed to be at school? If you're a college student then there's nothing to worry about."

"I'm in my last year of high school." I tell him.

I hope he does not ask about my school. It is complicated.

"It's my birthday and I'm here with a few friends." I note pointing at Mia who is lost in Taylor's eyes as his hands are wrapped around her waist and hers around his neck. Their bodies were moving to the calm music.

"Oh happy birthday Becky!"

"Thank you Tom." He reaches for his pockets pulling out a very expensive wallet. He reaches in for whatever is inside and I feel embarrassed that he is going to give me money. Payne instead removes a sleek grey credit card and tells me to take it as a gift. I reject immediately. He keeps insisting but I stand my ground. I am not that brave to accept free things from people I barely know.

Tom whispers something in the bar attender's ears.

"Just Incase you change your mind, you can order a drink." He states.

"Give the lady whatever she wants," Tom instructs.

"Okay sir." the bar attender replies taking the card as refuge.

"Here, my business card, you can contact me for anything." Tom hands me a grey card having his company name printed on it.

PAYNE  ENTERPRISES

Being the well brought up girl I am I accept the card.

"Becky, don't over think it. I am just a well wisher."

"It's ok Tom. Actually I could introduce you to my friends but they seem.... busy," this time Ana is grinding and crashing with a stranger like she's known him for a long time. He smiles at Ana's dancing and turns back to me.

"They're interesting, Becky I hope we can be friends,"

"Sure, we totally can." I assure him. Tom has been nice to me the entire time and he has not done anything to make me not want to be friends with him.

Tom pulls out his phone that is ringing. His face turns to stress and sadness. He excuses himself to take the call.

What is up with all this kind, mysterious people. At first it is a girl called Ella who by the way Mena has deliberately avoided bringing up. He is not even talking to me because of that. Then Tom Payne. He is friendly. He seemed sad when he received a call.

I am unable to ask him about his abrupt call because he does not return. He disappeared in thin air leaving me by myself at the table.

I am staring at my phone when a voice calls out my name.

"Becky," I turn towards the direction of the voice only to see the person I have been wanting to see and talk to all night, all week. Benjamin Wadsworth.

"Happy birthday," he says softly. I smile at him, partly surprised that he is actually talking to me again and wishing me a happy birthday.

"Thank you,"

"You're not going to spend your birthday supervising people at a club are you?" He asks.

"Yes I am." I answer.

Two girls pass by giving Mena a flirtatious look and he responds more flirty. Then I roll my eyes at him.

"What?" He asks me like he has no clue of what he did.

"You flirt with every skirt Benjamin,"

"It's not my fault that I'm handsome Becky. Besides I'm social. I can easily talk to girls unlike you." He remarks.

"Excuse me Benjamin, I just spoke to a stranger who by the way is now a friend of mine. That makes me social." I note.

His corner of his lips curve in to a small smile.

"Let's have a bet then!" He states.

Where is this going? I wonder what the devil is going on in that mind of his.

In order to make him think that I am daring enough, I ask,

"What about?"

"Whoever flirts the most tonight or how can I put it?....." he slowly taps his forehead with his index finger continuously as if trying to think of an easier statement to say.

"Whoever has the most fun tonight will win the bet." Mena concludes.

"What are we betting on?" I ask silently praying that the bet does not involve me having sex with him or large sums of money because I am certainly not obliging to either.

"The loser has to do good to the winner." He informs me.

" I am not going to sleep with you Benjamin." The words leave my mouth causing Mena to laugh.

"They're tonnes of good things one can do but if sex is what you want....." he comes closer to me and his lips are close to my ears as he continues.

"... I'll be happy to oblige. I promise you won't regret it."  Mena goes back to his former distance which was 3 inches away. I was unable to think with him so close to me and he's still so close but I will myself to speak up.

"No thank you. I thought you don't sleep with every girl you see," I throw back his words at him from the first time we met.He ignores it.

"My offer still stands though," he offers before turning on his shoes towards the dance floor.

Mena spins Ana to him and she is much happier to dance with him than whatever number of person she was dancing with.

He pushes her lavender hair behind her neck rubbing his nose on her skin, holding her waist firmly as they grip and grind on each other's bodies.

Ana tries kissing Mena but he gives her a kiss-off and continues with the intense groping.

The two of them  laugh at something Mena says and I do not know why I feel like pulling her by her bright hair. Yes, it has to do with the fact that he is having spectacular fun which means his winning the bet and I am losing. Good thing I have a plan up my sleeves.

I put my phone in my purse and turn to the bar attender. He has Tom's card. I will thank  him in the future if we cross paths again.

"A glass of a strong drink please," I tell him. I do not know the names of alcohol so I let him decide for me.

In a few, I am passed a glass of colorless liquid. I down it instantly feeling the bitter hot liquid burn my throat till my stomach. I take another drink, then another.

I have had three glasses of the colorless liquid.

"What did I just drink sir?" I ask.

"Vodka." He simply states like the taste was so obvious. If he didn't know, that was my first time ever drinking.

I start to feel the effect of the alcohol. My mood brightens up and I feel excited.