Chapter 9: Chaos

The drive to New York City is bursting with laughter and belting out songs on the radio at the top of their lungs. However, things quieted as they drive through Manhattan as the girls stare all about them in awe. Buildings Sera has to press her face on the glass to see and so many people wandering back and forth.

Then she notices steam spiral out of grates on the sidewalk. Trash piled so high they look like buildings themselves. She is starting to think New York City isn't all it's cracked up to be until the car finally drives into Times Square, which is lit up with probably more lights than her entire town could ever hope to power. The billboards flash and draw her eyes in. A yellow M&M waves to her as they pass and all too suddenly, the streets dim again. All Sera can do is stare. Amanda is of course, un-phased.

"Small town girls in the big city, watch out New York." Amanda hums to herself to the same tune as the song on the radio. She weaves the car through a few more turns. How she is veering in and out of lanes while avoiding the million pedestrians, Sera will never understand. The GPS keeps blaring directions and Amanda obeys every single one, even from the wrong lane. Ignoring the gasps escaping Sera and the obscene gestures she's receiving from other drivers, her best friend continues cutting people off like it was in her DNA. It's like she belongs here. Sera steals a look at her closest gal pal. Drop dead gorgeous with a what-the-hell attitude. It's a shame she was born a small town girl, when everything about her screams tough-skinned-city-chick.

Finally, the black sedan pulls up to an industrial neighborhood and miraculously, finds a spot a few feet from the brick single floor building with Chaos scribbled in green graffiti. Splotches of paint splatter around it in assorted colors.

"Are you sure this is it?" Sera turns to her friend. There's no windows, no line out front—nothing to indicate that this is indeed a nightclub.

"Yup, looks like the website."

"Oh." She finally climbs out of the car glancing about with concern. Because, websites are never wrong. Uneasiness settles in her stomach, something inside of her is telling her things are too easy.

She ignores her sudden unrest; this is going to be good night she reminds herself.

The bouncer gives their ID's a passing glance before allowing them entry.

Definitely too easy.

With one last glance behind her, Sera turns to the black curtain and passes through. On the other side, the club comes into view. The ambiance holds true to its name—Chaos. The whole place reeks of sweat and booze. Music thrums through the speakers above cascading down onto the dancers as they gyrate against one another. The opposite side of the club is where the huge bar lies, with mismatched stools and a bar lit up from the inside with a black light. The bottles lining the wall are also lit up from underneath, highlighting the premium bottles in ranging color scheme. Amanda begins weaseling her way to the bar.

"Are we late?" Sera screams into her ear to be heard over the music.

"Just in time." Amanda is still facing away, but Sera can still hear her with precision. Amanda continues to squeeze through two guys before turning back, "Oh, excuse me." With a push, Sera moves her forward.

They finally reach the bar swarming with patrons striving for a drink. "Is that paint?" Sera studies the brick wall beside them.

"And graffiti. Chaotic isn't it?" She shoots Sera a wink. "Ben says this place is all the rage since it opened a few months ago."

"A few months ago," Sera repeats. "You would think they'd be able to afford a mop," she mutters, picking her heel up from the sticky floor a few times.

"You don't get out much, Ser-, just live in the moment tonight, promise?"

Her big brown eyes explore Sera's. "Promise," she finally answers. Live in the moment. That's Amanda's way of saying leave your panties at home. The song changes and Sera's eyes dart to the DJ booth on a raised platform protected by a wall covered in graffiti. By the time she turns around again, Amanda has snuck over to two stools by the bar as a couple escapes to the dance floor. Amanda pats the smaller stool beside her.

"Why do I get the small one?"

"Because these babies." She wiggles and her new push up bra is pushed to the brink, "are the only thing getting us drinks tonight."

"You are ridiculous." Sera hides a laugh and takes another glance around. Maybe it's her first time in the big city, but her anxiety has risen. Amanda has already turned her attention to that phone of hers. No doubt texting Hot Guy #150, if Sera wasn't 'living in the moment' she would shove that piece of plastic...

"Hey, Doll." Sera glances up to the bartender's green eyes gazing at her. The bar behind him is currently green, causing an eerie feeling to creep into her. "What can I get-cha, Doll?"

Amanda finally looks up." Two Redbull vodkas please."

"Redbull?" Sera interrupts.

"Live in the moment," she taunts, eyes wide.

"Oh, double trouble. For a second there I thought this siren was alone."

"She'll never be alone," Amanda informs him, reaching over to grab Sera's hand in hers.

"I see." He turns shooting Sera a sly smile before swinging around to reach for the cans of energy drink behind him.

"Are you trying to cramp my style?" Sera asks. Amanda knows very well Sera is hopeless at flirting.

"I'm saving you. Bartenders are players."

"You sound like you know from experience."

"Unfortunately." By the time the bartender turns back around, Amanda has her credit card out. "First round is on me, Doll."

She turns to scan the crowd and sip her drink. Sera does the same. With one last smile in her direction, the bartender turns to help someone else. The light from the strobe lights reflect off his eyes, and for a fleeting second, Sera thinks she saw his eye blink—sideways. She blinks, hard, a few times, but he has retreated to the other side of the bar. Curiosity causes her to study him for a few more seconds. He pulls out his phone from a back pocket. His fingers fly across the touch screen. Damn, he's a fast texter. In one swift motion, his phone is back in his pocket and two drinks are in his hand.

"Hey there, can I buy you a drink?" a brown-eyed stranger intersecting Sera's line of vision asks. His baby blue collared shirt is stark against his tanned skin.

Automatically, Sera turns to Amanda who is still typing away on her phone.

"Sorry, I have one." She lifts her cup to emphasis her point.

"What's your name?" he shouts into her ear. Sera flinches. She could have heard him from two feet away.

"Sera."

"Sarah?" He leans his ear closer to her mouth.

"No, Sera with an E!" she tries again.

"Yeah, Yeah, Sarah. I'm Jon. Nice to meet you." He extends his hand out to shake hers. As much as Sera hates it when people get her name wrong, she doesn't see the point in correcting him. Sera places her hand in his.

"Nice to meet you."

"Who is your friend, Sera?" Amanda becomes suddenly interested in the handsome guy next to her.

"This is Jon. Jon—this is Amanda." After introductions, he returns his attention to Sera, whispering more questions into her ear.

Amanda pats Sera on the back. They exchange a glance that tells her all she needs to know. Amanda scoots off the stool, heading for the door to meet someone. Sera watches her friend's retreating back reluctantly. There's nothing wrong with Jon, he's actually super cute, but flirting always makes her uncomfortable. He's asking her something else.

"What?"

"I said—"

Someone comes up on the other side, "Hey Angel." A blond haired, blue-eyed Adonis slips next to her. His arm wraps itself around her shoulders. Her eyes stare down at it before looking up to meet his cocky gaze, completely awed at his forwardness. Awe is probably the wrong term—she's more like disgusted.

From a small town, you don't tend to encounter these problems. A guy knows if you catch him acting inappropriately, everyone will know about it by breakfast the next day. Good luck to him getting a date ever again. Sera's definitely not used to this kind of attention.

"Hi." The rudeness is implied as she picks his hand up between two fingers and moves it off her.

"What are you drinking, Red? Let me get you a new one." His confidence never waivers. Who does this guy think he is? He waves and in one second, the green-eyed bartender stands in front our strange trio.

"I have a drink." Dismissively, Sera turns back to Jon. Jon's appears shocked as well. Apparently, even this is not a city thing.

The blond beside Sera takes the drink between her hands and throws it back with one gulp, slamming it down on the counter.

"Not anymore, Red." He smirks before turning to the bartender, "Two of the specials." The cocky stranger and the green-eyed bartender exchange a creepy laugh.

"What the—"

"Hey, bro, Sarah and I were talking here."

"So, Red, what brings you here?" His eyes focus on her, completely ignoring Jon like he's not even on his level.

"Stop calling me that."

His fingers twirl around the tips of Sera's red hair. "I mean, I'm not complaining, but you're a little far from home."

"How do you know?" He never responds. His head slides from side to side like a cobra ready to strike his prey. The green-eyed bartender places two strange fizzy drinks before them and shoots her that weird wink again.

Don't Drink That.

A strange fizzy green drink? Sera wouldn't drink the concoction if you paid her. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell they are laced with something. "No thanks. I may be from far away, but I'm not an idiot," she responds, pushing the drink to the side.

Jon tenses beside her. Sera gets the feeling this obnoxious guy isn't a guy to mess with. From the blackness of his pupils, to the way his fists clench itching for a fight. She turns to say something to Jon, something to get him out of the line of fire.

"Sera here, was drinking with me." Jon is pushing between the blond and Sera—wrong move. Even she can see that.

"Not anymore, bro," the blond emphasizes the sarcasm, not yet losing his cool. He's creepily calculated, and she can't shake his eyes no matter where her eyes turn. When Jon dives in-between them, Sera takes advantage by sneaking away. She continues to press through the crowd trying to become anonymous with the random gyrating bodies. Her eyes scan the people she passes; Amanda isn't one of them. Fighting the burning curiosity, she weaves her way to the glowing sign for the restrooms.