"So do you want to try something tonight or not?" asked Thalia.
Catherine stuffed her dried clothes into her hamper. Thalia helped her carry the load of laundry, barely contributing, back towards the elevator.
"I guess it's Friday. I can make up for lost time tomorrow," said Catherine.
"That's what the daytime is for," replied Thalia. She dropped her end of the hamper and pressed the button for the 12th floor. "It'll take you like five minutes to get ready. Then it's the thirty-minute subway ride."
Catherine met Thalia her freshman year at Stuyvesant University. Thalia lived in Jersey before moving into the dorms in Manhattan, so she showed the inexperienced Catherine around. Frequently. The Knitting Factory was last week. 35th before that. Tonight was a bee club, but Catherine assumed the worst: amazing night, horrible morning.
"Do you think I could get my hair to your color?" Thalia checked her reflection in the mirror.
"I think it'd take seven bleach bottles. I'm ready."
You can take the L near Union Square directly towards the place in Brooklyn. Catherine endured the subway ride. A business student kept giving her looks.
"You wanna step off here with us?" he asked. Catherine shook her head before Thalia could agree.
"He wasn't half bad," she pressed. "You need to get back into the system."
Catherine said, "My standards aren't low enough for a business school baby, let alone one from the subway."
Thalia shrugged.
Catherine's friend knew the bouncer at Sunny's. They cut the line stealthily since Thalia always felt that move didn't make her feel like VIP compared to the people she wanted to flirt with viewing her like a jerk.
Catherine started a tab with shots. "Bottoms up."
Catherine couldn't hear Thalia, but she could read her lips chanting shots, shots, shots, shots-shots. "I'm so grateful for you. I'm a year older, so you make me feel younger and I can get you a jumpstart on cool places. It's the best situation."
"Cheers!"
(A hour later, factoring in dancing while drinking)
Catherine lost Thalia on the dance floor and couldn't leave. Catherine enjoyed dancing by herself enough. She thought she saw a crop of spiked black hair and fought her ways towards her. It wasn't Thalia.
"Shit."
"Are you okay?"
"Sorry did I pump into you?" Catherine apologized to the random person asking. Catherine had to look farther up at the head a foot above her.
"You're good."
At the next song, the crowd grew incensed. Someone pushed Catherine into the person. She felt up the leather jacket accidentally. "I love your jacket."
"Thanks. My name's-"
Catherine couldn't hear. "Do you want to get out of here?" Catherine asked.
"What?"
"You're a giant! Can you get me back to the bar?"
The person nodded. They placed their arm around Catherine and escorted her to alcohol. Catherine saw past their chaperone's messy crop of brown bangs. She had a freckled face and tiny black eyes. She caught Catherine staring.
"Thanks," said Catherine. "I'm buying you a drink."
"Okay. What's your name?"
"Uhhhh." Catherine's brain struggled to answer, changing focus from this to the DJ and possibly Thalia climbing onto the stage. Catherine dig into her purse and pulled out a business card. Her new friend read it over.
"You're a tutor? Cool. Are you okay? You seem on edge. I didn't know back there if there was something wrong, or if you're distracted and very drunk. I try to pay attention."
"Yes," Catherine blurted. "I came here with a friend. She's gone. You?"
Catherine followed the pointing finger to a lanky guy dancing with some other men, all in beanies. Catherine drank.
"You can do better," she said.
"You think?"
"Oh yeah. I mean, A, you're gigantic. That's very desirable. B, you're very considerate, and patient. I know that's two, but I think those are very intertwined. C. You've got great tits."
Catherine's new friend didn't know how to respond and was caught somewhere in the middle of a chuckle. She did brush her hair out of her eyes in a display.
The music was getting louder. Catherine rubbed her biceps. "Do you work out!?"
"Yes!"
Catherine continued to shout-flirt through the night. The target could half-listen but loved the attention. Catherine almost remembered their faces drifting closer towards each other.
"DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?!" Catherine shouted hoarsely. She stumbled away from the bar and into the mob.
(Saturday Morning)
Catherine woke up on Thalia's couch. Thalia hadn't woken up yet, so Catherine passed out again until she needed to bother Thalia about borrowing an aspirin.
Thalia bounced back quickly and thought about ordering bagels. Catherine struggled against her hang-over.
"Where's my phone?"
"You plugged it in last night," answered Thalia. Catherine hobbled over and checked her messages. A few from Thalia during the night. One from a random number early in the morning.
**Unknown (04:13): Hey Cat. I got this number off your card, I hope it goes to your phone and not a machine? idk. I had fun :)**
Catherine pinched her bridge intently for a minute. This earned nothing.
"What?" asked Thalia.
"I have a completely random message from last night. I have no memory of giving out my number. What do I do?"
"Have fun with it! Play along, embrace the mystery."
Catherine shook her head.
*Catherine (11:03): Sorry but I think I was a little too drunk last night. Who is this*
"I need to swing by the library later today to use the scanners."
"After breakfast?" Catherine grumbled.
Later in the library basement
Catherine checked her phone.
Unknown (12:15): This is Abagail, from last night. We kind of hit it off. Do you want to grab lunch?
Catherine waited for her document to finish scanning, bouncing on her toes. She weighed her options.
Catherine (12:18): ~~Ill be honest, I don't really remember~~ that's okay. Sorry if i led you on.
Unknown (12:20): No worries. Maybe we will see each other around. I'll stop now. Bye. Sorry.
Catherine felt slightly guilty for shutting down this stranger, but then remembered the keyword "stranger" and the other documents she needed to scan. Catherine did, however, update her contacts with Abagail.
(Somewhere in a Hard Bodies Gym)
Abagail slammed her fist down against the foam-covered pillar. She hid her phone to avoid a rant from her manager and returning to repairing the treadmill. She would try not to think about it or embarrass herself any further.
(Sunday Night)
Catherine scrolled through the readings for the next class. Her roommate was watching Netflix in the neighboring bed. Catherine finished the chapter when she received another message from Abagail.
Abagail (09:35): image sent
A toned, muscular ass, a few freckles, a small leopard print triangle thong.
Catherine's initial thoughts: intrigue, disgust, curiosity, embarrassment, annoyance, intrigue. She didn't know if that was them (though signs pointed to), and if she should reply.
Abagail (09:35): PLEASE IGNORE! I meant to send that to my boyfriend. I'm so sorry, your names both begin with C