Five hours had passed since Kimmie and I finished eating. We'd already taken our baths and, in our casual clothes, stretched out lazily in the sitting room with nothing to do.
It was Saturday, and the weekend silence was too peaceful.
Kimmie sat up suddenly, her voice bright. "Let's go to the club tonight."
I raised an eyebrow. I didn't respond right away.
Truth is, I wasn't really a club person. I went, sure, but only when my friends insisted — on birthdays, or random nights where saying no felt worse than showing up. Maybe four times a year, tops.
Kimmie knew I wouldn't say no to her, and she also knew I wasn't a club person, but she still asked.
Also, considering the boring day and the fact that I knew she wanted to clear her head after that situation with her ex, it wasn't really a bad idea.
I replied with a straight face, "yeah that sounds fun. What time should we leave?"
"Maybe 8:30. I think that should be fine. What are we gonna wear?" Kimmie asked,giggling.
Me, getting annoyed by the excitement from Kimmie, cut in. "Calm down, it's still too early for that."
Kimmie turned, looking all stern at me. "I'm not concerned about me, it's you I'm concerned about. You always take ages to pick out a dress."
I faced down, mumbling, "Not all the time, at least"
Kimmie raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… but it's most of the time."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure I have something to wear," I said, while Kimmie stormed into the room, saying, "Let me search for you."
I shouted, "I'm gonna order pizza!"
Kimmie gave no reply.
I picked up my phone and dialed the pizza place's number. A few seconds later,
"Hello, good afternoon. Please, could I get a large pepperoni pizza? …Yeah, usual address, thank you."
Kimmie shouted from the room, "Shelly, come here first!"
Hearing my name,I stood up and walked to the room.
As I walked over, I saw pile of clothes scattered across the bed.
"You have so many pretty things, but you don't ever wear them out," Kimmie said.
"First of all, thank you, and also, I don't have anyone or anywhere to wear them to," I said, with a smile across my face.
"You still haven't changed," Kimmie said with a half smirk, half sigh.
I smiled, going to rest on her shoulder. "That's why I have you."
Kimmie raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… you've had me forever, and you still haven't changed." We both laughed.
Forty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I quietly went to the door and got the pizza I had ordered.
"Thank you," I said, as I carefully took the pizza from the delivery guy. The delivery guy was ten minutes late, but the pizza was still piping hot.
I quickly placed the box on the coffee table and called for Kimmie.
Kimmie walked into the sitting room, sat on the sofa, and grabbed a slice of pizza.
I also grabbed a pizza and started chomping down while it was piping hot, letting out a happy sigh between chews. "Hmm, this is always so good."
Kimmie followed suit, saying, "Yeah, it's very nice," as she chewed.
A thought suddenly hit her. "Have you already made a decision on what your boss — I mean, your principal asked you about?" she asked.
"I don't really have a choice. He said he was asking, but really, he was just telling me, and he already has. I'm also sure he's made a decision already, just waiting to tell me — probably on Monday," I replied with a scoff.
Letting out a short laugh, I added, "He probably knows that I've figured it out, but he just doesn't care."
"So, what do you wanna do now?" Kimmie asked, her face soft with concern.
"Well, I'll just have to get ready," I responded as I picked up a third slice of pizza.
"But what do you want?" Kimmie asked, her face suddenly serious.
"Well…" I shrugged. "I don't think it's a bad idea to leave Australia. I mean, I've been here a long time. Should I say I don't really care? I'm more concerned with the fact that I have to pack. I honestly don't have the strength for that."
Kimmie burst into laughter. "Are you serious? That's what's bothering you? Not the move, just packing?"
"What did you think would bother me?" I asked while smiling.
"I actually forgot who I was talking to.Besides you may be assuming things" Kimmie laughed while picking up another slice of pizza.
"Maybe, maybe not" I laughed
After just twenty minutes, we were already tired from eating pizza. Two slices were still in the box. I picked it up, about to open the fridge.
"Will you eat these later?" I asked.
"Yeah, I would. Just help me keep it in the fridge. I know you don't like leftovers," Kimmie replied, looking behind her as I opened the fridge and put it in.
"Let's go get ready. Time is moving fast — it's already 6:30 p.m.," Kimmie said.
An hour had passed. Kimmie and I were already fully dressed. I stood tall in front of the mirror, admiring myself with quiet confidence. I wore a black velvet night satin slip dress that hugged my curves with effortless grace, paired with gold strappy stiletto heels with a delicate ankle strap.
On my right wrist, two sleek gold bracelets complemented the simple gold necklace resting just above my collarbone. In my right hand, I held a gilded clutch bag that went well with my light brown skin tone.
I screamed elegance.
My hair was swept into a curly, slightly messy bun, soft tendrils falling around my face — carefree, but intentional.
I looked at my face, fixing the gloss that had smudged over my downturned lips. I didn't wear makeup, just the gloss, and I knew it was enough.
My long lashes complemented my eyes.
I turned around and saw Kimmie fixing her makeup. She was wearing a backless silver sequin short bodycon dress with clear crystal heels. Her hair was blonde, with big curls that fit everything perfectly — to a hundred.
"Wow, you look so good," I said while admiring her beautiful face. You could tell she wasn't here to play.
"Thanks, love. You look good too," Kimmie responded with a smile on her face.
"Okay, I'm ready now, let's leave," Kimmie said, as she stood up from the chair and picked up her bag from the bed. We vanished from the room.
After some time, a yellow cab rolled in front of La Casa Club. People were bustling about, and long lines pushed forward.
It was crowded, but we still had to go through the usual entry checks, so we joined the line. Ten minutes later, we were inside.
The disco lights shimmered across the room, casting colors over the crowd. The smell of vodka hung heavy; the air was thick with a sharp tang of liquor — but not in a bad way. It gave that familiar scent of a night out.
I looked around, searching for empty seats so we could sit down, still hovering at the entrance.
Just then, I sighted empty chairs and table at the far end of the club. Kimmie was still scanning the room when I called out to her and pointed in the direction of the open spot.
I grabbed her hand, and we hurried toward the open spot and sat down. Next to us was a table packed with men buzzing with conversation and clinking glasses.
Beside us sat another man, his back to us and alone. I couldn't see his face, but from the cut of his shoulders, you could tell he worked out. In between the folds of his shirt, I could see something like a scar or tattoo. I squinted my eyes to check properly until a voice cut my focus.
"Shelly! Shelly!"
I turned, and Kimmie was calling out to me. "He sent a drink," Kimmie said. I followed her gaze and saw a fine young man raising his glass in my direction. I gave a fake smile. It was awkward — I'm sure he could tell I wasn't interested.
Many eyes stared at our table. Kimmie kept flirting back, and more drinks came to us. At a point, the music got serious; we stood to join the crowd and danced with each other.
Looking back and seeing that Kimmie wasn't behind me anymore, I noticed men lingering around me.
I scanned the crowd and saw she was dancing with someone far away, smiling and laughing a lot. I felt happy for her.
I left, going back to my seat and observing the crowd. Just then, a man came by and sat next to me.
"You're looking beautiful tonight," he said. I gave a small smile.
I could smell the alcohol from his mouth to his clothes. It was disgusting.
"Thank you," I replied, letting the words rest gently.
"Why are you all alone here?" he said, coming closer to me, trying to snake his arm around my shoulders. Quickly, I stood up, leaving him alone and trying to figure out where the bathroom was. I just prayed he'd leave before I got back.
I see a pretty lady near the bar and asked,
"Excuse me, please could you tell me where the restroom is?"
She smiled, pointed out a room, and said something, but due to the loud music, I couldn't quite hear her words.
I turn, going towards the room she had pointed out earlier for me. I pushed open the restroom door, expecting the usual quiet, tiled calm.
Instead, a shrill cry split the air—high-pitched, breathless, and far from innocent. My feet moved quickly.
More moans followed, echoing off the walls, tangled with gasps and frantic shuffling.
Heat flooded my cheeks while I turned on my heel, ready to get out—but then silence.
I left the restroom but suddenly collided hard with a solid chest.
No response. No apology.
As if I wasn't even there to begin with.
And he kept going.
Instinct took over; I raised my hand, pulling him back.
"Excuse me" he caught himself, his brows furrowing.
"Did you not see me?" I said, looking angry. He turned away.
"You seemed to have been enjoying yourself? making all that noise, right?"
The disgust in his voice was sharp enough to slice through my shock.
I squinted my eyes, trying to make sense of what he meant.
"What?" I said, the confusion thick in my mind.
He leaned in, eyes sharp. "You know," he said, "if you're gonna be hooking up in the toilet, the least you could do is keep your mouth shut."
"Thump, thump…" My heart was beating; my mind went blank. I was having a feeling—one I couldn't yet name.
Before I could come back to reality, he had already left. I looked behind me, searching for him. I was angry—a bit,though.
I sighed, deciding to forget the rude man from earlier. Turning back to my seat, I checked if the disgusting drunk man had left my seat, and to my relief, he was no longer there.
I went back to sit down, feeling bored and tired already. I remembered the rude man again, feeling angry.
"Thud!" Kimmie's force from the table woke me from my reasoning. "Why are you smiling?" Kimmie asked.
"Smiling? Who, me?"
I replied, smiling back at her. She asked again, "Why are you smiling?"
I laughed this time around. "Sorry, I don't even know why I'm laughing." Kimmie laughed along while going for her seat.
I cut the laughter. "I could see you all laughing and dancing over there. "Did you have fun?" I asked.
"Obviously. This night really gave it to me," she said, smiling vigorously.
I looked at her while smiling. She seemed to have really enjoyed herself a lot. I was happy for her.
"What about you? The guy that bought you a drink, what about him?" she said.
"I didn't pay attention to him. He also seemed to notice and left me alone," I said with a concerned face.
"You and pushing people away—I wonder how we're still friends," she scoffed.
I leaned back, drumming my fingers against my glass.
"When are we going to leave? I'm tired already," I said in a deadpan tone.
"Let's leave already. I'm tired too," Kimmie said as she stood up.
I followed suit, walking behind her as we left the club together. The disco lights annoyed me as I passed through the crowd and toward the glowing exit signs. Soon, we stepped outside.
The night air wrapped around me—cold and sharp—seeping into my skin as I stood. It was the same for Kimmie. She didn't say anything. We lingered for a moment, half standing, half shivering before flagging down a cab I had called from my phone.
Finally, I slipped inside, Kimmie by my side.
It was 11:45 when we got home, Kimmie's head rested on my shoulder as she slept against me. I didn't want to wake her up.
The heat from the car covered us as we were inside. I called softly, "Kimmie, Kimmie," and at last, she blinked awake, her eyelids fluttering in sleepy confusion.
We stepped out and immediately the cold slammed into us, quickly rushing towards the house. I fell onto the bed. Kimmie didn't even bother taking off her clothes and she was already fast asleep.
I, on the other hand, laid there awake, sleepy but also not ready to drift off. I tried fighting it, but I eventually succumbed to it.