02

Dwayne was standing with a young girl. She was maybe my age, had a really nice smile and long straight brown hair. He seemed very shy from a distance, not at all like I knew him. Normally he had the biggest mouth ever and a few hours ago he was able to give away a few plastic roses from the shooting range to pretty strange girls without any problems. I had never seen him like this before. So embarrassed, walking from one leg to the other and running his hand down the back of his neck.

I spotted the others and ran to them. My mood was gone. I was totally impressed by a total stranger, overwhelmed with a kiss and then left there. Crap.

"Josephine!!!!! What the hell was that? Did you kiss that guy ?' Kirsten was beside herself.

'Please... Not now! I'm just so stupid I know!!! I have absolutely no idea what just happened... I really thought there was something between us...” Dan and Steve laughed at me. I looked down sadly and sighed.

»It's something new, just kissing a complete stranger! What did you think you were doing? ...Did you at least make sure he didn't have herpes?” Dan gave me a little nudge on the shoulder to get me to look into his eyes again. He winked at me, "You know we're just teasing you! I'm sure we're all confused by what we just saw of you, but there's no undoing it now! ....haha... You know you'll still be able to listen to this in ten years?' I shook my head.

We walked back to the car and I was happy to finally be able to end the evening. Dwayne actually got this girl's number and was grinning from ear to ear.

“Her name is Deborah! ... Such a beautiful girl I tell you ... Unfortunately, she already had to go. She still goes to » Heaven« with a few people ! Do we want to go away too? I'll let my dad know we're going to Heaven , okay?” Dan nodded and grinned at him.

"You want to see her again right away, don't you?"

"Yeah, she really did it to me!" Dwayne's face turned red. I put my arm around his waist as we walked and he automatically wrapped his around my shoulders. I looked up at him with a grin and whispered to him in a low voice that no one could hear.

"I saw the way you looked at her, I hope you can meet her again!" It really was the first time I've seen Dwayne so nervous and excited about a woman.

'I'll see her in a moment, Joe. Im Heaven !« He whispered his answer to me and my eyes widened.

"But... I just want to go to bed!" He laughed his most familiar laugh, and my heart warmed. He's just like a brother to me. Everything is so familiar and I really hoped for him that he could meet Debora again. For his sake, I would definitely go with him, no matter where. If he's happy, so am I!

We got into the cars and drove downtown to Heaven. This is a club where Dwayne's father also belonged. He had allowed Dwayne and his friends - us - to go to the club from 18. Our parents didn't mind because Neil, ie Mr. Stafford, promised everyone to keep an eye on us and he told them at the time »...at least we know where they are and what they are doing! I'd really rather they come to my club and be given a few rules to abide by before they go anywhere else and fuck up!!' and of course he was right about that. But our parents had one important rule: No hard alcohol!

So there was only champagne and beer for us, which was completely okay. We were all happy to get such an exception at all and to be allowed to go to a club at the age of 18. The staff knew us, of course, so we never had to stand in line, fool our parents with the alcohol, or anything else. I really liked Dwayne's father, Neil. He always tried so hard to be "cool" in front of us and also to give Dwayne everything he could, he was always like an uncle to me, just Dad's best friend.

Arriving at the parking lot, Dwayne, as always, led the way toward the entrance. There was always a small queue in front of the door. Jamal, the big-closet-of-bouncer was already grinning at us as we approached him. He was bald, huge, darker skinned, and always wore a suit. He was the main bouncer and was allowed to decide who got into the club and who didn't. I really loved Jamal from the whole security team, he always greeted us warmly and looked forward to seeing us. He was also the one who always had to let Neil know when/who/how of us was coming to the club, regardless of whether Neil was actually in the club or not.

He opened the barrier in front and we went through one by one. He gave the boys a firm handshake and we girls got a kiss on the cheek, as always.

»Heeeeeey! ....Come on in... Enjoy yourself!” Jamal gave us the popular gold drink tickets that Neil insisted on with us. Our consumption was free and he could control what we had to drink. A really smart man.

Jamal winked at us as we accepted and went inside. We were already used to the looks of the snake, so I didn't pay any more attention to them.

All hell broke loose and the club had a really good vibe. We meandered through to the back bar and made ourselves comfortable on a couple of stools right at the counter. Kirsten and Jane immediately hit the dance floor and Dwayne's neck was already stretching. He was already looking for Deborah. Dan ordered us all a beer first and we enjoyed ourselves as much as we ever could.

By the time it was just after midnight, Dwayne was getting more and more nervous.

"Joey! Hey, would you like to walk around the club with me?” He probably wanted to go look for her. I nodded at him and told him we would find her.

After two huge laps through the dancefloor and bars, she was still nowhere to be seen. As we passed the stairs to the VIP area, Dwayne nodded to the security guards who stood at the bottom stair and only let people with VIP bracelets upstairs. In this VIP area there were really only people who had a lot of money. From up there you could see the whole dance floor, you had your own smoking area, your own dance floor and your own bars. So far we've really rarely been up there, and most of the time there wasn't that much going on with the VIPs.

"DWAYNE? Heeeeey...” There she was. The sweet beautiful Debora. She just came down the stairs. "I've been looking for you!" And Dwayne grinned at her with a sweet smile. He hugged her briefly in greeting and introduced me to her. He pulled me by the hand to her on the stairs. I saw her eyes on our hands and I broke from his grip.

“This is Joey, my best friend! We were just checking out the club...' Such a prick. He won't admit in front of her that we were looking for her? Oh man. I shook her hand and grinned at her.

"Hi, I'm Debby!" Her eyes looked familiar, and I saw in her eyes that she wasn't quite sure what to make of me.

"Are you coming upstairs with me? It's not that busy at the bar and we could have a drink?” Dwayne went after her and slapped one of the security on the shoulder as he passed, who just winked at Dwayne and me.

At the bar, Dwayne ordered us a bottle of sparkling wine which, unlike downstairs, we got in a drinks cooler to keep cold. He gave us a glass each and we toasted. He sat down next to Debby on a bar stool and they started chatting. I stood next to the two, didn't understand a word but kept rocking along with the music. What a bit of sparkling wine could trigger. I felt really comfortable because there was no jostling or crowding.

"Hey Debby, who are you with anyway?" She tore herself away from Dwayne's gaze and smiled at me while she gave me a few details.

“With my brothers and their band. They're all sitting back there in the lounge! Actually, I'm much too young for the club, only 17, but there are advantages to having Known Brothers...” She winked at Dwayne. Tape? Known brothers? Dwayne's curiosity was piqued.

“Your brothers are in a band? Which ones?...” She took a sip from her champagne glass.

» The Heartbreakers ! You know that, right?” Dwayne and I both laughed briefly and Dwayne shrugged.

“Of course, I certainly do!! …...Only... Joey... She doesn't know anything about bands!...« I got red cheeks and he grinned cheekily at me »...if Steve finds out he'll go crazy!« I had to laugh at his comment about Steve. He would go nuts if he knew this band was here! Dwayne and Debora continued chatting happily.

I look around. I spotted the corner where the lounge was, but there were so many people that I had no idea who was supposed to be in the band.

I danced along with the music again, until I got so bored that I walked around the VIP room for a bit. I was like air. No one cared that I was gaping and staring. When my glass was empty, I made my way back to Dwayne and Debby.

I simply helped myself to the champagne bottle and poured myself another one. I then sat down on the bar stool next to Dwayne, who had his back to me.

A young man was standing next to me at the counter between the bar stools and ordering drinks. His arm was tattooed up to his neck. It looked really good on him, including his eyebrow piercing. As he waited for his order, his eyes went to me. He gave me a slight smile. Oh, was I staring at him while looking at him like that? Shit.

"Hi, I'm Craig!" He shook my hand, but he didn't want to know my name. He really believed in himself and really started flirting. It was easy for me to do too much of everything he was doing. "Would you like something to drink?" I declined and pointed to my champagne glass.

"...I still have, thanks." He leaned against the counter and closer to me.

"Secure? I can order you whatever you want!« Who does he think he is?

"I don't know if you can do that, but I'm really well taken care of!" He laughed briefly and ordered me a long drink.

"You're really quick-witted... Were you at the concert?" I nodded to him.

“Yep.” He handed me the long drink I had ordered and clinked glasses with me. Then he put his hand in his pocket and stood more casually next to me.

"And? Did you like our music?” I almost choked. Squinted my eyes briefly and thought. People were already calling him from the corner where his lounge was. The drinks cooler with a full bottle of vodka was now on the counter and his friends could hardly wait. He nodded to them and turned back to me. He was the pure macho and ripper. "And? Do you like our band?” Was he in TheHeartbreakers himself? Or just a friend of yours? This time I winked at him and leaned towards him.

»Well, to be honest, I have absolutely no idea who you are! Do we have to know you?” He burst out laughing, dimples appearing on his cheeks.

"It was good!..." Oh man, how do I get out of here? That voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Man Craig, will there ever be anything more important to you than women? Taylor's waiting for the bottle!” He ordered several juices, presumably to mix with the vodka. I couldn't see the guy next to Craig clearly because he was in my way, but I was sure it was his voice and my heart was racing.