23: Minutes Go By, Hours, Who Knows

I’m unaware of how the night went or how long Gabriel stayed. I wake up in my bed, still clothed in what I wore yesterday and Gabriel gone. These blood blackouts are not good. For some stupid reason I give Gabriel the benefit of the doubt and trust that he didn’t snoop or take advantage of my unconscious body.

In a panic, I rack my fingers over my neck and arms searching for bite marks. I come up empty, but my mind still races with disturbing thoughts.

It takes several minutes to gather those rambling thoughts. Should I stay home? Should I go to work? Should I go back to bed? Should I find Gabriel? I shake that last thought away. Gabriel is the last person I need right now.

I decide to go to work and face the speculations of my mysterious illness. As I walk the blocks, I try to formulate a reasoning, an excuse, but there isn’t one. The stomach bug thing is the best I have.

Cautiously, I enter to only find Monty at the shop. She beams a mischievous smile my way. “Feeling better?”

“A little.” It wasn’t a lie.

“Gretchen has off today if you’re wondering.” She tells me before my eyes have a chance to roam the open floor. “I have a few readings today, but otherwise I’m open to help you out today.” She’s being awfully nice.

“Thanks.” I’m not going to turn it down.

In between Monty’s spying eyes, I go against all my morels and take the first step in finding Tessa. I reason with myself that if I find her, I don’t have to turn her over right away. Maybe she’s right under our noses and I can talk to her, reason with her, try to get both of us out of the horrid situation we’ve found ourselves in.

I lay out a map on my table, go back out onto the floor pretending to be looking for customers to help, but I’m really scanning for Monty. When I don’t see her I figure she’s in her office, so I go back to mine and ramage around my shelves in search of a scrying crystal. I hum the few words that send the crystal into a circular motion above the map. Circling in search.

After a few minutes, I go check the sales floor again. This time I get stuck checking a customer out at the front counter before I get back to my search. I try again, but I know it’s no use. If she was to be found the crystal would’ve picked her up the first time around. It’s not something that you need to pour magic into to make it stronger. It either works or it doesn’t.

Apparently, Phillip was right. She’s hiding herself and she’s doing a pretty good job of it.

I don’t give though and I keep up my search. I keep up my search all week. A few more scrying sessions, a few enchantments mixed with a few summoning spells. Nothing. The days are long and dreadful, the yearning and ache for Gabriel is twice as strong. It’s a feeling I don’t miss. I’m starting to see this blood oath more as what it’s truly meant to be. An initiation into the family.

But as Friday night approaches a light and airiness washes over me. A promised girl’s night is a promised girl’s night I won’t miss or feel guilty about. I deserve a little break...right?

“I’m heading out. I have to get ready for tonight.” I shout into the shop. A few customers look my way, but other than that I get the short replies of acknowledgement that I seek.

I have just under an hour to get ready before I have to set out to meet Avery at Young & Restless. A simple dress, nothing too fancy to draw attention, but not too casual that would make me easily stick out in a crowd for the wrong reasons.

A smile still stays on my face even when I see Avalos with Avery as they both wait outside the popular club. Just like the last time all three of us went out, but hopefully some jackass wolf doesn’t ruin it. Or a jackass vampire for the matter.

The greetings are short and sweet. A hug and squeal is exchanged between Avery and I, whereas Avalos gives me a slap on the back in an annoying brotherly kinda way.
“Shall we?” I say striding right up to the door. The harmonious groans from the people waiting outside in line quirks the corner of my lips. There’s no better time than now to be proud of being a witch.

Icky stands at his usual spot in front of the entrance. He must have recognized Avery and Avalos from last time, because he’s let them linger in front, out of line, for too long. I approach him with a rueful look. “You haven’t called Gretchen yet.”

“I’ve been busy.” Is all he says.

“Busy stalling.” I mutter before flashing him a smile as I enter the building. I hear his grunting laughter seconds before the roar of music deafens me.

I let the warm, muggy air engulf me, the loud music dulls my senses and lets all my stress ease away, even if it is just for a couple of hours.

It might be Friday night out with friends, but it’s four days until the next ingestion of blood and it’s only been three days since the last drinking. Instead of finding a spot to dance, I veer off and head straight to the bar. It’s best to be a little tipsy to help relax my mind.

I pass the same warlocks that guard the bar area, secretly IDing every one that enters. One of them gives me a sharp, quick jut of their chin in greeting. Sadly, the other thing that is the same tonight is the bartender.

As we approach he ignores us for girls that are barely clothed. It annoyed me then and it annoys me now, but I wait patiently for him to decide when it’s our turn.

He strolls up to us after helping four more girls that just reached the bar. “What can I get you lovely-” His eyes lift from the bar to meet ours, or I should say, Avery’s gaze, he pretty much ignores Avalos and myself. “I remember that pretty face. Let me think. I know it.” He makes himself look as if he’s straining to remember her name.

“You’re not going to remember, because we didn’t tell you our names before and we’re still going to tell you them now. Six shots.” How many girls did this guy need? Or should I say how filled with cash do his pockets need to be.

He nearly gives me a glare as he gets to work on getting those shots. Once annoyed he actually works pretty quickly, but he doesn’t fill the little glass as full as it should be because I bruised his ego. On the count of three Avery, Avalos and myself throw back the first shot. Our glasses are not in sync as we slam them back down on the counter top, but they’re all empty and that’s all that matters.

Avery hisses from the burning, Avalos smacks his lips clearly eager for another. I on the other hand, am still hollow. The shot did nothing to make the ache go away. The bartender skips on the small talk this time around as he quickly refills the glasses. He gives Avery a wink before dashing away to help other customers.

“Shall we dance?” I say seconds before putting the glass to my lips.

But Avery’s sweet voice stops me. “First a toast.” She yells. “To best friends and adventures and drunken dancing.”

Oh boy.

She flashes me a sassy smile after taking the shot in one gulp. I barely have time to tip mine back before she grabs me by the elbow, dragging me to the dance floor. Brief eye contact is made with Avalos as she cleary leaves him behind.

Avery picks the most crowded spot possible. We squeeze and shimmy between sweaty bodies. I barely make it out of some sleazeball’s grasp before she finds a spot where we’re not getting elbowed by oblivious dancers.

We quickly get in rhythm with the music. It always seems to know what everyone wants and maybe it does with a little enchantment.

Minutes go by, hours, who knows. All I know is that for the first time in days, I feel happy. A true, genuine happiness. All my worries about not being able to find Tessa wash away. My neediness for Gabriel becomes a small nagging, but not painful itch at the back of my head. The guilt I have about Caleb is easily brushed off.

It’s just me and my friends and the music. Nothing could ruin it.