Olivia clicked the off switch on her straightener, glanced at her perfect appearance, and then nodded. Ten minutes later they were pulling into a rather fortunate parking spot down the street from Chamber. Lexi twirled her own stick straight hair around her finger as she approached the door.
“Stop fiddling with it,” Olivia said swiping at her hand.
“My hair doesn’t look good straight like yours,” Lexi whined. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“Whatever, shut up. Everyone is going to love it.”
Lexi strutted to the door and smiled playfully at the bouncer. “Hey, Max,” she said kissing him lightly on the cheek as she breezed through the door without him even bothering to ask for her identification.
To say that Chamber was dead this Saturday night would have been an understatement. They had gone out a little earlier than usual, but it still seemed that everyone in the city had gone home for Thanksgiving break. Lexi passed the empty dance floor marveling at how hollow the room appeared without bodies swarming the inside. Music filtered through the speakers at a surprisingly reasonable volume for a Saturday night. The only constant in the place was the voluptuous woman behind the bar.
“What do you want, girl?” Chasity asked sidling around the corner to give Lexi a hug.
“Whatever you want to make me,” she responded easily.
“Dragonberry, Red Bull, Sprite, cranberry…the works,” she mumbled to herself. “Liv, you want one too?”
“I’m driving,” Olivia pouted.
“You volunteered,” Lexi said pushing her lightly.
Chasity shrugged her shoulders. “I guess that means you’ll stick to beer tonight then?” she questioned thrusting an open Bud Light at her.
“You know me so well,” Olivia said cheerfully.
“Oh dear, look at who just walked into my bar,” Chasity said fanning herself.
Lexi’s head swiveled to find out who she was making a fuss about, but she really shouldn’t have bothered. Jack was a damn good sight for anyone’s eyes, but with Seth and Luke flanking him they were a sexy set. Jack was gorgeously built with his shaggy black brown hair and steely blue eyes. Seth towered over the other two and had a very boy-next-door look about him that made him appear to be safe. Well, at least until he opened his mouth. Luke had tousled blonde hair and light brown eyes, and was extremely clean cut. Though Lexi knew that Chasity was whistling at the trio, her eyes were solely focused on one boy. His easy smile upon seeing her sitting at the bar sent unexpected butterflies in her stomach. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. She didn’t even have the excuse of not seeing him often. She just wanted to drink in his every feature. The way he looked right then and there in his worn jeans, tight fit t-shirt, and navy jacket.
“Hey,” he said nodding his head at the bunch. “Whoa, your hair.” He immediately went to Lexi’s side and fiddled with a straightened strand.
She smiled up at him, goose bumps kissing her skin at his gentle touch. “Do you like it?” she asked hesitantly.
“You look great,” he said before he could filter his enthusiastic response.
“See, I told you!” Olivia cried. Lexi’s smile widened.
“So, let’s start the night off right. Shots all around and give me a hug,” he demanded of no one in particular.
Olivia giggled and nudged Lexi forward as if he had been talking to her all along. She didn’t need much coaxing as she nestled into his arms. He squeezed her tightly around the middle before releasing her.
“Good to see you,” he murmured huskily. “Chasity, shots? Hug? What are you good for?”
Jack scooted around the bar as Chasity poured the clear liquid into six shot glasses. He wrapped himself around her from behind and whispered something in her ear that Lexi couldn’t discern. Chasity laughed boisterously and shoved him away. “Whore,” she murmured at his turned back.
“I’m not the only one,” he quipped eyeing her black crop top and tiny black and white plaid skirt.
“I’m workin’ here. Cut me a break.”
“I would if you could count,” he said sitting in the chair next to Lexi and leaning across the bar.
“What are you talking about?” Chasity questioned glaring at him.
“Seven,” he said gesturing to the group.
Chasity’s eyes scanned the set in attendance, and then frowned. She quickly shrugged her shoulders and poured another shot. “Not my fault you were hiding the little brunette mouse. Who is she anyway?”
Lexi jerked around to find out what they were talking about. “Sandy,” she squealed enthusiastically. Despite the girl having zero common sense, she was beginning to grow on her. Apparently, she was extremely intelligent when it came to book smarts. She just wasn’t capable of showing that to anyone. Once you finally got her to open up, she was a real riot.
“Lexi! I didn’t know that you were going to be out.”
“I didn’t even know you were still hanging out with Seth,” Lexi said raising her eyebrows up and down suggestively.
“Oh, you know,” Sandy said blushing furiously, “here and there. Whenever he’s not with some other girl, I’ll give him a chance.”
“I don’t know how you do it. I would die if I had to share.” A chuckle emanated from behind her. She glanced warily at Jack, and the smirk on his face grew.
“It’s not the sharing that I mind, because I like to sleep with whoever I want. It’s just you know how Seth is and how he treats girls. Sometimes he forgets that we’re whatever…not trying to be exclusive. Then the lying starts and ugh,” she told her shuddering, “I just can’t even get into it.”
“Bottoms up ladies,” Chasity said pushing shots, several limes, and a salt shaker towards them.
“Tequila?” Lexi asked anxiously turning from her conversation with Sandy. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Nah. Just loosen you up a little. You’ve been way too uptight lately,” Chasity declared licking the crease between her thumb and first finger and pouring a generous amount of salt onto the space.
“Yeah, let’s loosen you up,” Jack said nudging her playfully.
Lexi glanced up at him and licked her lips provocatively. “I thought you didn’t mind me being a little tight,” she whispered loud enough for him to hear her.
His eyebrows shot up and he groaned a little at the mental image she was leaving him with. “Don’t tease me, Lex.”
“Who’s teasing?” she asked raising her glass to meet the rest of the group.
“To gettin’ fucked up,” Chasity yelled as they clinked their glasses together.
Much to Lexi’s surprise, Chamber did end up filling up considerably compared to the amount of people who arrived early enough to get personal attention from their sexy bartender. The townies were coming out of the woodworks knowing that much of the college population would be away for the holiday break.
As much as Lexi wanted to relax into their evening, something continued to nag at her. She couldn’t figure out what it was. Ever since that fateful night back in May, Lexi had been very careful in situations around Jack. She tried to keep her distance so that Clark wouldn’t see straight through her. And though he had never specifically stated that he thought something was up between them, he still commented on her behavior. He complained of her being distant and closed off, among other things...of a more sexual nature. Yet, that wasn’t what was bothering her. Every time she would begin to stop thinking about Clark, it was like she could feel eyes on her. The idea was ludicrous. Chamber wasn’t full by any means, but there were enough people in the place that no one specifically would be staring at her. She was recognizable from gymnastics meets, but she wasn’t the star. There was no real reason for anyone to be watching her.
Olivia left early complaining that she wasn’t feeling well. She asked Jack to take Lexi home smirking devilishly. Jack obliged her appeal. Seth and Sandy had not so discreetly located a corner to make out in, leaving Luke as a third wheel. Not too long afterwards, Luke was closely dancing with a large-chested blonde. Even with all of their friends occupied, Lexi still couldn’t get over the feeling that someone was watching her.