Eva drove toward the campus and parked near the main drag, figuring she could walk up and down the main drag checking out the bars. Eva decided not to carry her ID, hoping she could fake her way into someplace that would let her have a drink or two. Eva left her coat in the car, too, not wanting to try to keep track of it. Eva figured she wouldn't need her purse either, since she was sure that she could get guys to buy her drinks, except she did have protection in there if she decided to use it.
It was early really, only 9:30 and the bars didn't seem to get really busy until 10. Eva went to one of the bigger dance clubs and walked in. The bouncer, a big broad shouldered guy, met her at the door.
"My, my, you are a looker," he complimented Eva looking her up and down. "Have your ID?"
"Oh, I left it in the car. As you can see I have nowhere to carry it in this dress," Eva explained.
"I haven't seen you before, are you a freshman?" He asked, trying to determine Eva's age.
"I transferred from a junior college," Eva offered, suggesting that she might be a junior.
"Well, you are putting me in a difficult position," he explained, "And I hate to argue with a pretty girl like you, but I can't let you drink without something. We can't afford to lose our liquor license." Eva batted her eyelashes at him and gave him her best puppy dog look.
"Stop that, girl, you know that's not fair, and it's not going to work anyway," he said as he tried to stay firm, but Eva could see he was capable of folding.
Eva leaned up close to him and whispered quietly, "If you let me in, I'll owe you one." He smiled at Eva.
"Like I haven't heard that one before," he laughed. "Funny how girls never pay up on favors. If I could call in all my favors I could live like a king." Then he leaned forward and grabbed her hand firmly, stamping the back of it with red ink. He whispered, "If anyone asks, I never saw you and you snuck in. I will call in the favor someday."
Eva quickly kissed him on the cheek and whispered, "I hope so!" and whisked past him into the crowd at the bar. Eva found a seat at the bar and waited for the bar tender to come around.
"What can I get you?" the bar tender asked.
"Honestly, I'm not really sure," Eva replied. "I've really only had wine and champagne before. What do you recommend for a newbie trying a mixed drink?"
"Ah, well," he started trying to be helpful. "Do you like sweet wines or dry wines, white or red?" he offered. The puzzled look on her face was probably apparent, and Eva suddenly thought this might not be a good idea.
"It's okay," he said, seeing her uncertainty. "I will take good care of you and we'll figure it out together, ok? Of course, we won't figure it all out tonight, but we will figure it out. The first one is on me." That was a relief, Eva thought, since she didn't know how she was going to pay for it. "We'll start you off with a simple vodka drink and go from there. A '7and 7' which is Seagram's vodka and 7Up. I will just give you a little taste."
Eva took a sip. "Not bad," she said.
"Okay, I will check back on you later," he said and moved quickly to someone else.
Eva leisurely scanned the room. The dance floor was starting to fill up and the music was loud and pumping. Eva soon found herself swaying to the beat. It had been awhile since she had danced in a place like this, probably not since high school, since the dancing at Aunt Mables parties was obviously different.
Eva had always felt a little subconscious at school in front of everyone she knew, but it was likely she didn't know anyone here. Eva waited until she finished her drink and the floor was pretty crowded, since she felt she would be less conspicuous, except for maybe the dress she had on. But Eva wasn't the only one in a dress, though there were lots of jeans in the crowd.
Eva had to shuffle her way onto the dance floor, and once she started moving she relaxed. A good song came on and Eva lost herself in the movement and the throng, lightly brushing up against people as she danced. A guy danced around her, leaning against her back, followed by a girl who seemed to be with him across her side.
"Nice dress," the girl yelled, and Eva could barely make it out. "Thanks," Eva said, realizing the girl couldn't hear her but figuring she might be able to read her lips and her smile. Eva was getting hot and thought it might be time for another drink. Eva stood near the bar, near where she had been before, but her seat had been taken. There was a guy in the chair facing the other way. Eva decided to see if she might be able to get it back.
"Hey, I was sitting there," Eva said in a flippant way, obviously not too serious. The guy turned, and Eva was standing in front of her economics professor.
"I'm sorry I didn't see anyone here. It's kinda crowded to reserve seats, don't you think, Miss..." he paused and smiled as though he suddenly recognized Eva. "Hey, Econ 101, Tuesday, Thursday, right. I almost didn't recognize you.. Wow, aren't you a little young to be getting a drink at the bar anyway?"
Eva flashed the back of her hand and said firmly, "I'm old enough. I almost didn't recognize you, and I didn't expect to see you in a place like this."
"Oh, wedding party my wife was invited to. I got dragged along. I'm not much of a dancer. Just tell the bar tender to put it on the Wheeler tab" he said with a wink and disappeared through the crowd with drinks in his hand. Eva sat back down at the vacated spot. Eventually, the bar tender came back by.
"What's your name," Eva called out.
"Sam," he announced over the noise.
"Well, Sam, what's next?" Eva asked.
"Something sweeter, maybe?" he cocked his head to one side in a question to make it more clear. Eva opened her hands in a 'whatever' gesture. He soon came back with a red drink.