Casey was a very attractive young woman. With her long wavy brown hair loose around her shoulders, and her dark eyes sparkling with the lights of the club, it was hard to find her anything but attractive. She was dressed much more modestly than her friends, wearing a long-sleeved, slightly low-cut red top and a knee length black skirt, but still managed to ooze sensuality. Because of this, many hot and not-so hot guys had asked her to dance that night, all of whom she politely turned down. She just wasn't interested.
For Casey this was just her routine night out with her girlfriends, the one night a month they had made a pact to go out together. Her friends were the great sort who would never bitch behind her back or keep a secret from her. Friends throughout high school, they had vowed never to drift apart, or miss their sacred night out. Together the five girls made a very attractive group, and when Casey would turn a guy down, one of her friends would usually be asked instead.
About two hours after arriving, when her friends had all hit the dance floor, Casey spotted a young woman sitting alone at a table near the toilets. She was bent over a red drink, and looked to be on the verge of tears. Her long dark hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, and the short black halter-neck dress she was wearing was both revealing and flattering to her slim body. A little black bag rested over her shoulder, the overall effect making her look sophisticated yet fun. She was obviously dressed to impress someone, and by the looks of things that someone had not been impressed. Casey walked over and sat down opposite her, getting her attention with a brief touch to her hand.
'Are you okay?' Casey asked.
The woman looked over at Casey and managed a weak smile.
'I'll be alright,' she replied.
She looked down at her drink and then back at Casey.
'You want some of this?' she offered.
'No thanks. I don't drink at clubs. It's my number one rule.'
The woman nodded looking back at her drink.
'Probably best that way. Waste of money really. It tastes awful.'
The woman laughed half-heartedly at her feeble joke and continued to look at her drink, almost as if the answer to whatever was bothering her would magically appear at the bottom. Casey couldn't help but feel for the girl.
'Cheer up,' she said with a reassuring smile. 'It can't be that bad. Come and dance with me.'
The woman looked up at Casey and studied her for a moment, before breaking into a genuine smile. The effect it had on her appearance was immediate, lighting up her face and brightening her eyes.
'I'm Tash,' she said, holding out her hand to shake Casey's in a silly mock-formal manner.
'Casey,' Casey replied, grasping Tash's hand and gently shook it.
Casey kept hold of Tash's hand as they stood, the drink left forgotten on the table. Tash allowed Casey to lead her to the dance floor, where the music was much louder. Just as they found a space on the crowded floor, the pumping techno beat faded away into a soft lover's melody. As Casey was unsure of what Tash would expect to happen, she started to walk back to the table when Tash stopped her. She grabbed hold of Casey around the neck, embracing her and beginning to slowly move to the music. Relieved and delighted, Casey placed her arms around Tash's waist and swayed with her.
Casey couldn't help but notice the different looks she received by the other dancers as she and Tash continued to sway. There were looks of disgust, looks of realisation, and looks of understanding. Among the sea of people she spotted her friends, whom she waved away when they mimed to her that they were leaving. They smiled at her as they left the club, leaving her embracing Tash.
The soft music eventually faded back into the familiar techno beat, but Tash still held Casey tightly, as if the slow song were still playing. The thought crossed Casey's mind that Tash might be drunk. Gently pushing Tash away, she checked her eyes for any telltale signs.
'What are you doing?' Tash asked, her eyes sparkling and a cheerful smile on her lips.
'I just wanted to make sure you were okay. What were you drinking earlier?'
'A strawberry dackery. Don't get one if you're thinking about it. It was awful.'
'So you told me. Do you want some water?'
'Yeah, but not here. The noise is getting a bit much. Can we go somewhere else?'
'Sure,' Casey said cautiously. 'We can go back to my place if you want, or to a coffee shop. I'm sure we could find one that's still open.'