The night Before.

Chapter Soundtrack: Sean Paul feat. Beyonce: Baby Boy

I wove my way gracefully through the club, the music was in my body, from my nose to my toes. I let the crowd move me, as they gyrated rhythmically around me. Alcohol ran through my system with the liquid fluidity of the songs baseline. I scanned the room, looking for my best friend, Jared Brown. I couldn't see him, but it didn't bother me. There were men all around me, they were like currency in this club, and they didn't mind moving with me, holding my body.

I stumbled, but felt arms catch me as I fell forward. I turned, ready to thank my saviour with a kiss on the cheek, but I met the brown eyed gaze of my best friend.

"Dance." I muttered the word, and he nodded. We stood together in the club, I rolled my head around my shoulders, and we parted, letting the music carry us. We rejoined, closer than close. We were one, one with each other, with the music that twisted and rose around us. I span, and I was facing away from him as we moved. I reached a hand up into his hair, and leaned further into him, I could feel every inch of him. Feeling bold, I looked at him, my head close to his. I could see the moisture on his lips.

Loosing my nerve, I pulled away from Jared, and headed over to our table. I lifted the bottle to my lips. I didn't know how much I'd had, but it was all beginning to taste the same. I didn't mind.

I looked up as Jared sat down beside me, almost missing the chair. I smiled. We didn't usually drink the way we'd done tonight. I could remember sliding into a taxi, and meeting Jared at the door. we were celebrating, he'd been promoted and I'd been willing.

I finished my drink and tried to slide gracefully off my stool, landing in a heap on the floor, I cracked up.

"Oh Jared, I think it's time to go home. I have to be at work in four hours!"

"Relaxsh Mel" he slurred, and I could tell that I wasn't the only one the alcohol had gotten to.

I rolled my eyes, if only he had this attitude when he was sober. Out of the two of us, he was the uptight one! He was dreadfully moral, and never, ever drank milk straight from the carton.

He helped me to my feet and we staggered out into the late night air. We hailed a taxi and fell into it, laughing as Jared's shirt got caught in the door.

I opened the door to my apartment.

"Shoosh! The neighbours!" I muttered, and turned to him as I began to laugh.

"You owe me twenty bucks you know." Jared told me as I walked over to the refrigerator.

I turned to face him, and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah? And why is that?" I challenged.

"You couldn't handle your grog, remember that little wager we made?" he reminded me, and I turned back to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. I remembered, but I wasn't going to let him know that.

"Are you sure? I don't recall anything of the sort." I smiled to myself.

"Porter, I've known you for twenty of your twenty four years, you're lying to me." He answered, and I grinned. He wasn't as drunk as I thought he was, and it was gonna cost me twenty bucks.

I turned to face him, taking a sip of water.

"Double or nothing." I challenged. This would be easy, he was drunker than I was.

"Tequila?" He queried, cocking an eyebrow.

I grinned and made my way over to my cabinet, pulling out the bottle.

"Of course."

I watched as he staggered into my kitchen and pulled out the shot glasses. He sat down heavily at the table, putting the glasses in front of him.

I grinned to myself and sat down.

"You're gonna lose forty bucks tonight Mr Brown." I told him with a smirk, and he just shrugged, and poured out the first two shots. He threw his back, and I grimaced, maybe I'd spoken too soon?

I threw back my shot and shuddered. The stuff was like paint stripper.

An hour later we were still at it, shot for shot. Jared looked like he was going to slump sideways off the chair, and I had noticed that the room was spinning like a discotheque.

The bottle was almost finished, so I got up to get another. I heard Jared rise behind me, I didn't turn around, I could feel his hands on my hips. My mind was foggy, I turned to face him.

"You're beautiful." He murmured, and I looked up into his brown eyes, and felt all my reservations melt away.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

I felt him stumble, and I laughed as we fell to the ground. I watched as he fumbled with my top, and I knew that this was going to go further than I thought.