Chapter 2. CLUB SCENE
Nothing is more boisterous or attention-catching than 30 tipsy study abroad students, a mix of all ethnicities, arriving at a club in Shanghai.
We are all connected with various promoters inside and can quickly cut the line. Sam's hand is in mine as we scan our IDs and wink at the hunky body guards that move aside to let us through.
Inside the club we enter an infinity mirror hallway reflecting laser lights off rotating disco balls hanging from the ceiling. The designs of foreign clubs are always "quirky", Shanghai club owners try to fashion them to appeal to Americans and Europeans so they end up just being a weird mishmash of attempted luxury and some sort of outdated décor.
We had taken separate cabs from Hunter, James and other boys, which is a relief for me. Talia is close behind us, reminding me of how she always goes for what I go for. I play along sweetly, maybe if I get her drunk enough, she'll leave me alone.
Once she got so drunk and desperate, that she grabbed Sam to make out with in front of a boy she was trying to attract. Ugh, trashy.
"Where's that guy Jack who's the promoter who totally wants to fuck you", I giggle with Talia.
"He's back here!" Talia shouts, and leads the way.
Our usual table is near the back right next to the main stage in the club. Promoters place attractive girls near the main stage to bring in male interest. It's kind of gross actually but I love being right next to pumping music and having a seat to watch drunk people in action.
We push through the crowd to our table.
"Hey Jack!" Talia yells and throws her arms around a tall kid from our grade.
"Hey guys, glad you could come!" he replies.
He's one of those kids who is usually quiet in school but turns loud and boisterous during parties, making him excellent promoter material. I like him, we had worked on a project in the beginning of the semester together.
I sidle up to him and smile nervously and flutter my lashes at strangers at our table.
"Hey Jack!" I give him a quick hug and he smooches my cheek. "Can I please have a cranberry vodka?"
It's not really that hard I would actually prefer to make it myself. The juices and alcohols are right in the middle of the table, but I have to ask. Jack fills a few glasses with ice cubes and finishes them off with a flourish.
I look around, some of strangers at our table look like students from other schools, one is a staff member from the club responsible for keeping up a steady supply of drinks, and others are locals who have befriended students. There is always, ALWAYS one weird old local guy who shouldn't be there but shuffles over quietly in an attempt to mingle.
"Here you go Jessie, extra cranberry!"
Jack hands me my drink and I sit down on plushy leather couch with Sam.
We giggle and survey the crowd, predicting which girls will get way too drunk and which guys will go for them.
In Shanghai, very often local men will stand in a ring around the club just watching their phones or other girls in a creepy way. I look around and see other club patrons taking photos of themselves being at a club but not actually doing anything. It's pathetic. I watch Talia sitting on the promoter's knee, giggling and befriending boys at the table. I down my drink and grab Sam to head for the glowing paneled dance floor. Like I said, retro.
Songs played in clubs in Asia are always from the early 2000s in the US, but I prefer it that way, that's when music was at its peak of wild fun. I bump and grind, swaying my hips with the music.
I love dancing and loosing myself in the music, another reason I love wearing comfortable grungy boots instead of high heels.
I hear them before I see them, a rush of boisterous boys coming from the entrance. James and his crew have arrived. I spot among them, a tall dirty blonde figure. He lost the hoodie and wore a simple white t-shirt that reflected the club lights, his flash tattoos shining. He was smiling and laughing.
My mouth waters a bit at the sight.
Alex detaches from the group and he saunters up to the us, "Hi baby!" Alex exclaims, grabbing Sam and twirling her. "Hey there you are! Ooh you look good let's get you a drink!"
I sit down on a leather plush seat next to our table. I'm not sweating yet, clubs are kept cold for a reason, but I want some alcohol to keep the buzz going.
As I lean over the table to shout my drink over the loud music, I have to hold my boobs in my dress to make sure they don't fall out. I feel a tap on my shoulder and I look up, still cupping my boobs.
Hunter stands over me, smirking, and leans down. I smell something sweet and spicy.
"We finally got here, they got drunk and started a rap battle with guys outside it was crazy!"
I laugh and shout back, "That sounds about right, wish I could have been there to see!"
When I laugh my boobs jiggle and his eyes dart down. Oops!
I realize and quickly stand up, dropping my arms. I look around and accept my drink.
"You want one?" I shout to him, pointing at my glass. "Here try it!"
He tries some and his face scrunches.
"The alcohol's not real, it's Chinese shit so mine is mostly cranberry juice! Well, it's not really real cranberry juice either..." I try to explain.
I don't really know where I'm going with this.
"What? I can't really hear you!" He gestures to his ear and waves his arms.
I smile and grab his arm, pointing to the bar. He nods and I pull him through the crowd.
It is always easy for me to get through crowds. In New York I have plenty of practice rushing to class around Washington Sq Park.
I smile sweetly, winding my way through the crowd, boobs first. I pull Hunter along behind me, feeling his warm skin and raised tattoos under my fingers. My mind wanters: what is he going to think when he finds my tattoos and realizes I'm more than just a pretty package. I imagine him kissing the dagger tattoo at the nape of my neck hidden by my hair, pulling up my dress, fingers tracing the fox tail winding up my hip, kissing the rose on my belly, heading south—nope don't go there!
I shake my head clear, it feels good to be in the lead.
We approach the bar where it's a lot quieter and pretty much empty apart from a bartender cleaning glasses. It is situated a bit higher from the club so you can view the main stage and activity at other tables.
The bar counter is a sleazy neon blue color with lights reflecting off an American Johnny Rockets retro diner counter top. It feels somewhat like home to be sitting in a retro-style bar. It actually reminds me of some bar in Atlantic City.
I like it, it's interesting that our skin reflects blue from the lights.
