You Make Me Whole

Chapter 3

The music could be heard from the bar as they turned on to the corner, despite it still being halfway down the street. It was still fairly early into the night, but there were already drunk men and women staggering around outside. Women desperately trying to keep their balance as they tottered around in heels, men loudly sizing each other up as they carelessly threw cigarette butts into the road.

Carter couldn’t have seemed more out of place if he tried. It seemed that he had realized just as much as he nervously looked around. Ray suddenly felt a flicker of nerves that she had made a stupid decision bringing him here. Carter probably assumed that going out for drinks was going to a respectable bar with a calm, sophisticated atmosphere where everyone could join in a deep, intellectual conversation. This wasn’t the kind of bar Ray brought him to. Here, people came to get drunk and to dance their asses off to music so loud it would still be thumping in their ears the next morning.

They briefly looked at each other before entering the bar. Carter threw a quick, unconvincing smile at Ray, as if desperately trying to convince her that this was completely normal to him. The gesture brought out a genuine smile in Ray, and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that he wanted to impress, as if she was worth it. Fueled entirely by instinct, she stepped up onto her toes, and planted a quick kiss on his lips. His combined reaction of surprise and happiness made her blush, but before he saw, she walked ahead, pulling him along by the hand, into the bar.

It was hard to see inside, the only source of light was the rotating disco lights that passed by at such speed that it was hard to make much senseof anything. Luckily, Ray knew the bar so well that she could easily guide Carter through the crowds. She knew it was likely that Marcie, Annabelle, and everyone else was likely to be on the roof terrace, where they could smoke and talk with a little more ease. She knew it made more sense to check there before trying to find them in the crowds of the dance floor. She was eager to have a smoke herself. She only ever did it when she had been drinking, stemming from her love of the smoking areas in clubs and bars. It was the perfect place to drunkenly meet your new best friend for the night, and provided a break from dancing to cool down in the open air. She worried about how Carter would react to her smoking. She kept reminding herself that she shouldn’t care, and couldn’t understand where this new found lack of confidence had come from, but the night had gone so well with Carter so far, she almost hated the idea of blowing it at this point.

They climbed the three flights of stairs; quickly learning to not touch the banister after discovering it was sticky with the residue of clumsily spilled drinks. They moved at a frustratingly slow pace, patiently waiting for the crowds to stumble up and down the stairs. One girl making her way down slipped in her skyscraper heels and Carter caught her in one swift movement with his strong arm.

“Oh my God, my hero!” she slurred as she steadied herself. She looked up at Carter with a slow smile, and her hold on his arm quickly became a caress. Her other hand reached up to touch his face, and Ray felt herself explode with jealousy. It was, again, another feeling that she hadn’t felt in a while. She didn’t often hold on to someone for long enough to consider him ‘hers’. Resisting the urge to yank Carter’s hand towards her to move Carter away from the girl, she was relieved to see Carter politely nod at the girl, edging his face away from her clammy grasp, slow enough to avoid offending her, before turning to smile at Ray. The girl looked confused as she looked between Carter and Ray, before shrugging, winking at Carter, and carrying on her journey down the stairs.

Ray continued to lead the way up to the terrace, not wanting Carter to see how infuriated the girl had left her. The last thing she wanted was to come across as an angry, jealous monster when it contrasted to her normal behavior. It made her briefly wonder if she had ever angered someone or misread a situation like the girl had in her own drunken state. She had always been naturally flirty, especially after a drink or two, but in her eyes it was harmless; just a bit of fun. She hoped she had never overstepped the line in anyone’s eyes like that girl had. The thought made her stomach turn in guilt.

They opened the door to the terrace and were greeted with the refreshing chill of the evening air. It was a welcome change to the stuffiness of the bar, even after their short journey cutting through the crowds. Ray quickly spotted her group of friends in the corner. Marcie was stood up on a bench chugging a beer while everyone else cheered her on. As she finished the last of the bottle, she raised her arms in triumph and let out a loud “whoop!” to which the rest of the group cheered.

“Found them!” Ray said to Carter, gently pulling him in their direction.

“They look like they’re having fun,” he replied, smiling. If he was apprehensive to go over and join them, he hid it very well. He beamed down at Ray, though she was convinced that this was not going to be his scene. Why had she pictured this so differently in her head back at the restaurant? Either way, he was making the effort to at least convince her that this was his scene, and for that she was determined to make sure he had a good time. Her friends were good people, and they would treat Carter like one of their own, but they always seemed a little loud and intimidating to start off with. She hoped he would be able to see past that.

Annabelle spotted them first and came rushing over. She was wearing a crop top and leather mini skirt, despite the less than ideal weather. Her eyes were cat-like with thick, dark eye shadow, and her dark purple lipstick gave her the gothic look that she rocked so well.

“Ray-Ray! You made it!” she said giving Ray a sloppy, one-armed hug, as she used the other arm to hold her beer at a safe distance. She squealed with shameless excitement as she locked her eyes onto Carter.

“Oh my God! You must be Carter the Accountant!” she said grabbing him into his own sloppy embrace. Carter chuckled loudly.

“Yes, I suppose I am! You make me sound like a superhero!”

“Well…maybe you are!” Annabelle laughed loudly, poking him playfully in the chest. “I’m Annabelle.” She was drunk, but unlike a lot of people here, she could handle her liquor, just like Ray could. She put an arm each around Ray and Carter, guiding them over to the rest of the group. “So the date must have gone better than expected?” she said loudly into Ray’s ear, under an obscene illusion that she said it loud enough for Carter not to hear.

“Really, Annabelle? Keep it down, will you?” Ray dared to sneak a look at Carter, he was grinning to himself, making her stomach flip.

“What? It’s a good thing, no need to be embarrassed,” Annabelle continued before turning her attention to Carter. “Honestly, she worries too much. It’s so good you’re here. You know Ray hardly ever brings guys to hang out with us?”

“Wow, then this really is an incredible honor to be here,” Carter replied to her, whilst looking directly at Ray, smiling. She held his gaze, unable to look away. She felt a smile slowly creep along her face to meet his, despite the fact she was still nervous as hell.

“Aw, Ray, isn’t he sweet? I like him, already!” They reached the group and Annabelle finally released them from her grasp. “Guys, guys!” she said, getting everyone’s attention. “Ray’s here…and she’s brought a friend!”

“Ray-Ray!” Marcie squealed, wrapping her arms around Ray, “And Ray’s friend!” she said before greeting Carter with the same gesture.

“You must be Marcie, happy birthday!”