An open flame by Shanice, C Ward (essential reading .txt) 📕

'' We should totally go out and celebrate, my treat.''

             I wasn't surprised in the slightest that my best friend was already making plans to hit the nightclub scene, we had barely even finished college with two days left and she was already tossing around ideas of what to wear and where to go. Leila Brooke always found excuses to go out and dance the night away, spending more money than she could afford. I on the other hand much preferred to sit at home and indulge in a good book maybe even splash out and order in a Chinese takeaway. However, I could never resist her charms, she was very persistent and very beautiful with her shoulder length wavy blond hair with multiple highlights of blond and bold brown eyes. Whenever she wanted to do something she would pout and look so childish, she could get anybody to do whatever she wanted, it was her hidden talent to be able to twist people around her little finger. It's why she always left boys broken hearted. ''I'm pretty sure we actually have to finish college and have our qualifications in our hands before we can go out clubbing, wouldn't want to jinx it or anything.'' I stated as I flicked over the page of the book I had been trying to finish all week, I pulled my attention away from my book to see Leila pouting at me whilst fluttering her long thick eyelashes with her hands on her hips, ‘’Come on Lottie, stop trying to put a downer on everything, you should get out there and enjoy yourself, we’re not going to be young forever and we’ll only finish college one- unless you plan on being one of those adult learners..’ I placed my bookmark firmly in my book and closed the book then turned to face the most frustrating girl on the planet, ‘’honestly, I’m not talking about a bender or a manhunt. I just think it would be good to let our hair down and enjoy ourselves before Friday’’ she insisted.  I rubbed my forehead with my index finger clearly showing my frustration, ‘’Fine, but I’m not getting wasted’’ Leila flashed me her winning smile, clapped her hands and ran down the hall to her room. I blew a wayward strand of hair from my face, picked myself off the couch along with my book and headed off to my en suite bathroom.

I stared into the mirror above the sink at the pale girl staring back, my big green eyes looked too big for my small face, my lips were puffy but small and pale pink, I rarely needed lip gloss because they looked fine without. My inky black hair fell in waves around my face, it was well cut and shoulder length, very easy to tame. I removed all my clothing and chucked It into the basket and stepped under the warm spray of the shower, showering was my favourite pass time, the only place I could really think and have peace and quiet. Washing and shaving quickly I showered within ten minutes because I knew how impatient Leila was when she wanted to go out, I took a big fluffy towel and switched the shower off, cautiously stepping onto the tile floor I wrapped the towel around my body I headed off into my bedroom in search of a hairdryer and my straighteners to make my hair look semi-presentable. Once I found them, I headed off to my vanity table to tackle my hair and face, sitting in my towel I dried my hair and straightened the ends, gripping the sides to keep my hair from falling into my face as it gets very hot and sweaty in a crowded club. Applying mascara and blusher to add colour to my face I was finished, all I needed to do now was to found a decent outfit.

After half an hour, we were both ready to leave, Leila called a taxi whilst I impatiently drummed my fingers against the kitchen countertop, considering I didn’t want to go out this evening I was pretty edgy to leave and get on the dance floor. Perhaps it was the killer heels and my fitted silver backless halter neck dress which had gotten me in the mood, one dressed up there was no backing down. Once we arrived we were lucky enough to find a club where the queues were quite short so it took less than fifteen minutes to get into the club. We headed straight to the bar to buy our drinks, Leila suggested that we took it in turns so I agreed and asked for a vodka lemon and lime, I waited at the end of the bar for her to return with the drinks. At twenty past eleven I was in full partying swing, dancing the night away and very tipsy. Leila had wandered off exchanging phone numbers in the far corner of the club with a guy, all dancing and grinding by the looks of it. After a while my feet started to feel numb, so I walked over to the seating area and took off my heels. ‘’ Hey, Lottie, I’m going to head home, want to come back with me or are you fine here?’’ I looked up at Leila, she was grinning from ear to ear and the guy from earlier was standing behind her looking slightly impatient, I guess he was going home with her, totally didn’t need to witness that. ‘’No I’m good for a while, you carry on, have fun, but not too much’’ I winked at her and she laughed, waving me goodbye as she left with Mr. Impatient.  After a couple more drinks, I threw myself back into clubbing like it was going out of style. I continued to dance even when my feet felt like they were going to fall off, I got talking to a few people my own age which made me feel more comfortable rather than seeming extremely lonely. A few man grabbed my waist and tried to dance with me, by which point I headed off to the bathrooms to get away from them, I definitely wasn’t on a manhunt. It was getting late, almost half two, so I decided it was time to head home. I waited outside the club whilst I rang a taxi and sat on the curb whilst I waited for it. A stream of quickly moving pedestrians flowed around me, I didn’t know why I had do much reservation about going out when I always had so much fun. I was staring across the road when I heard somebody come up behind me, ‘’Hey, are you okay?’’ I turned round and stared into the eyes of the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, I lost my balance and fell onto my back, still staring into his gorgeous face. I tried to snap out of it, ‘U-umm, yeah I’m fine, just waiting for a taxi, thanks’’ I barely managed to speak, he was so breath-taking, his eyes were mesmerising, they were a stormy grey, his lips a perfect shade of pink and so beautifully shaped, he smiled at me and offered a hand, his thick brown hair was long and fell beautifully across his face, complementing his cheekbones and stubble. I gave him my hand, his skin was so soft, I almost thought I felt an electric charge, but I must have had one to many drinks, he pulled me off the floor almost in to an embrace, he placed his a=other hand on my shoulder to steady me. My mind wandered for a moment, I was thinking of how it would feel to kiss him, his lips looked so soft and plush. ‘’My name’s Tobias, Tobias Reed’’ H smiled at me, so genuine. I pulled by bearings together, ‘’I’m Charlotte, my friends call me Lottie’’ I managed, this time more firmly. ‘’Well that’s a lovely name, for a pretty girl, want me to wait with you whilst you wait for your taxi?’’ Oh right, my taxi, it had almost slipped my mind. ‘Um, yeah, sure, unless you have somewhere to get to, I wouldn’t want to keep you from anything.’ I looked around, it didn’t seem like he was with anybody. ‘’No im good, I was heading home myself, I saw you sitting on the curb and wandered if you needed any help with anything’’ I could see his eyes sweeping over me, I felt so attracted to him, usually I’d get pissed if someone even winked at me, but his eyes were different, I enjoyed the way he looked at me, like I was something to eat. ‘’Thankyou, that was kind of you.’’ I placed my hands over my arms feeling the chilly breeze, I seen his brows furrow together and then he shrugged out of his leather jacket and placed in around me, he smelt so good, I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. ‘’Thankyou’’ I muttered again. We stood in silence for a couple of minutes just looking at each other, I wander if he’s attracted to me too- What am I thinking, of course he isn’t. I shook away the line of thought just as my taxi arrived, I offered Tobias his jacket back, ‘’No you keep it, that way we have an excuse to see each other again.’’ He gave me a warm smile flashing his brilliant teeth and shoved his hands into his ripped jeans, which amplified his arms muscles in his tight black t-shirt. Mm, positively delicious. He offered me his number and I gave him mine in return, I smiled up at him after our transaction, ‘’I hope to see you around Tobias’’ He kissed my cheek, ‘’Please, call me Toby, and I very much hope to see you around too Charlotte, goodnight.’’ And with that he opened the taxi door to allow me inside, closed it behind me and waved as I drove off.

I had a brutal hangover on Thursday morning, it was nothing more than I deserved, I should have gone home with Leila and saved myself all this unnecessary headache and nausea. However, if I had I’d have never met Tobias although I’m probably being foolish to think I’ll ever see him again. After a very long shower, I made my way into the kitchen to make myself a cool glass of lemon water. Still no sign of Leila, I supposed she was still her room- maybe with Mr. impatient, if he hadn’t already bailed, not that she’d care, she hated being attached to people, it’s why she insists on casual fucking or one night stands. With her looks, she could get anything she wanted. I stumbled towards the living room, placed my drink on the coffee table and slumped onto the sofa, luckily today was our timetabled day off from college so I didn’t have to brave my college tutors or the humming noise of the college atmosphere. After tomorrow, college is over and I’ll be looking