Her foot pressed against the wall, the blackness of the paint merging with her three-inch heel, as she swayed to the music only slightly and glanced around the club. The band on stage was singing and pounding out chords and rhythms that made the entire place shake and they were shouting their lyrics and everything about it just dripped sex. All the pretty little girls around her had their hair done up just right, their faces on, their clothes tight and sucking in any problem areas just like they sucked on their cigarettes, embers at the end glowing more orange with every inhale and the filters stained with lipstick. She was wearing her own slinky outfit, horizontally striped stretch pants with a long and flowing shirt over top, and she had her own cigarette, which she dropped while scanning the crowd. Removing herself from the wall and chipping the paint with her spike as it slid away, she crushed the burning butt. She pressed off from her space with her back and it quickly filled with another body as she moved further out onto the floor and entered the hundreds of sweaty, dancing bodies.

      The music pounded and vibrated the floor. Someone was pressing up against her back and she didn’t care at first but then the guy started getting grabby when she tried to move away. Whatthefuck ya doin, buddy? Just having a little fun, sweetchips. And she kept dancing because there wasn’t any harm in dancing a little and plus she knew people and if this guy was gonna try anything he’d definitely be sorry and eventually she was bored and decided it was time to move on. Hey where ya goin? I’m tired. Oh no you don’t, you’re the prettiest girl here and I’ve gotya to myself. She pulled away and he grabbed for her arm again but she was thin and quick and ducked between bodies. Seconds later she was out the door and on her phone, purse swaying on her arm, tangling with long red hair that blew wildly about and he was behind her now, coming out the club door and his hair caught in the breeze, tufts of black lifting up and twisting about. Hey slow down I don’t mean any harm I wanted to dance, wanted your number maybe. I said I’m tired and leaving you have no right to follow me okay? He paid no attention and followed while her phone dialed the first person she could think of and now she was shaking and the wind was so strong her eyes watered and smeared mascara across her cheek and she pushed tears away with the back of her wrist. Hey what’s up? There’s some guy from the club following me will you (Hey I’m not just some guy baby hang up) come help me out here? I’m getting (Hang up it’s okay you don’t need protection) worried now. I’ll be right (Dollface, I’m not going to do you any harm I’m looking to have fun) there. The guy slurred his words and she wondered why she hadn’t noticed it before because she was not drunk, one cocktail maybe and half a pack of cigarettes definitely. She walked fast as she could but taking public transportation was a bitch and her heels clicked noisily and his shoes thunked just as steadily behind her and she was pretty sure her eyes weren’t watering because of the wind anymore. Hey where ya runnin (Leave me the hell alone!) offta? I could giveya (I don’t need a ride) a lift if ya need it (I don’t need it) ya don’t have to run so fast and hurt your pretty little feet. People were on the street but everyone kept their heads down even though it was obvious someone was looking for help so she kept moving and hoped her friend would catch up to her in time before she boarded the el train and got stuck with this guy and she looked for a taxicab but they were all taken and she was crying now out of frustration and anxiety. Every corner she turned she pictured her friend rolling up to the stop sign in his black Mazda 6 to sweep her off the street and drive her home but the guy behind her was getting closer and didn’t give her much distance but yapped away like maybe she’d give in but she wasn’t giving in without a fight that’s for goddamn sure.

About the author:

Kayleigh Gardner is a Fiction Writing major at Columbia College Chicago. She is a huge technology geek who happens to be rather literate. For her, sunny weather is the only thing ever created correctly in the world, and yet Chicago is her favorite city. Check out her blog at kayleighownsyou.com to keep up with her writing or to stalk her, whichever you prefer.