Chapter Three: A Stranger I

In a few minutes, I was out in the cold again, roaming the dark street like a lost wanderer. I had lost the ability to think and so I wished for a memory loss, to forget all that I had seen. Angela was out of state and would be back in the morning and since there was nowhere else to curl up and cry, I walked into a bar. My mood certainly did not match the mood of these people. With loud laughter and merriment, strippers and dancers littered the dance floor. But I headed for the counter. “Tequila please?” I ordered and in a bit, I was served. “Another please?” I gulped down the second waving for another. "No please, not for the lady,” I heard a voice just behind me. “Why?” I turned to find the solid chest of a young man in front of me. He had beads of sweat on his golden skin that sparkled as the lights from the bulbs reflected on them. His nipples were pointy from his translucent shirt. His pants were just below his abdomen revealing a carved out trail to his groin. He looked more like a telenovela movie star or a fictional character created by a dreamy teenage girl. “How would you get home if you take in that much?” “And who said I want to go home?” I noticed the strands of hair that fell on his eye. “Well, a lady like you wouldn't be spending the night outside of her home.” “And why would you say that? You don't even know me.” “I might not know you but I have seen you and I know you are not one of the ladies of the night.” "Oh, I see where you are going with this. So you mean I can't have fun?” “No, not that. You are homely.” “Homely? I don't know how to feel about that.” "Trust me it's a good thing.” "Says the stranger I just met at a bar in a club. Another glass please.” I turned to the counter. “I see that you are a hard nut,” He chuckled and passed some dollar bills to the lady behind the counter. “Thanks, well I wasn't always a hard nut” “Then what changed?” "I guess life has a way of changing people.” I gulped down my glass again, “ Now I feel like asking for your permission before taking another.” "I won't drive you home,” He chuckled. “And who said I need the help of a strange man I just met?” "The name is Evans, I'm tired of the stranger shit.” “Regina.” “Nice name for a pretty lady.” "Mmm... I love this song.” I nodded rhythmically to the beat of the song playing in the background. “Me too. Come dance with me.” “Dance?” “Yes, come on. The dance floor is open.” "Oh no, I can't remember when last I danced and besides, I’m not good at it.” "No one really cares how much of a good dancer you are here you know.” “Well, I do. I can't just wiggle my booty in front of everyone.” "It's not that serious but it's fine though. After all, it's not your thing.” “What's not my thing?” "Fun.” “That’s not true, I can have fun.” "Then join me on the dance floor.” He joined the people on the dance floor but did not take his eyes off me. "Oh no,” “Come on,” he signaled. I could barely hear myself speak nor could I hear his words, maybe I didn’t need to as my eyes read his words from his lips. I watched the other girls, free-spirited like they had nothing to worry about. I wish I could be like them and not let Thomas' actions weigh heavily on my shoulders. And just then I realized it, Thomas was out there having the great time of his life and it pained me that I stood thinking about him. “You coming?” Evans asked and I stared at him for a while. This was a chance to get out of my head for a second and it was worth every action. “Hell yes.” The song soothed my mood and it matched my every step. I turned, raising my hands in the air as I danced to the beat of the song. Evans' eyes did not leave mine, I guess I had somehow impressed him as he gaped. He wrapped his arms around me and moved with me as I led him in my dance steps. We twirled and turned colliding on the bodies of other people who danced beside us. Evans trapped my waist feeling it in his hands while I swayed my hips to the rhythm. Even as I danced, I always raised my head to find his face in the dim lights of the club. Sometimes I didn’t clearly see but other times when the flash of yellow club light would rest on his face, I’d catch a glimpse of his eyes. “I want to use the pole,” I demanded. “What?” “I want to dance with the pole,” I said again and without waiting for a response, I was holding the silver stripper pole in my grasp. Holding the pole firmly in my grip, I began moving my hips. Whirling around the pole as my jiggling waist pulled attention towards me. Even with the other ladies around, my fears as well as my insecurities had somehow evaporated. With all this, Evan's eyes never left me. There was something about his stare, so firm like he would devour me if he got the chance and the thought of that caused a thrill through me. I didn’t realize I bit the edge of my lower lips taking slow steps around the pole. Then I held the pole with one hand slowly squatting in front of it with my legs apart. Right there, at that moment, nothing mattered. Just me against the world. And for the first time that day, I had a real smile on my lips. “Hey Evans, " I called out to him as soon as the song was over. He had already walked over to the counter to get a glass of drink. “I never knew you were such a good dancer.” Evans commended. “Well, I used to be a really good dancer back in college. I think I still have a few skills up my sleeve.” "A good dancer huh? You killed it out there. Even with the pole.” "Let's just say I can do a lot of things and dancing with the pole is one of them. You can dance too. Saw the way you move those hips to the rhythm of the song. Loved it”. I winked, he had a smile already stretching his lips. "Oh please don't patronize me. But I’m really happy that you got to dance. I literally couldn't take my eyes off you.” “Why?” "Why would I want to look away when something gorgeous is right in front of me?” “Oh the flattery,” I looked away, hiding away my growing smile. “Well, it sounds flattering but did I tell you that I don't flatter anyone? It's meaningless. So I just speak the truth.” He raised my chin looking into my eyes. His pinned gaze sent chills, being skeptical about my next move, I only shifted my gaze. “Let's go somewhere else,” I said.