Like Gravity(13)

“You didn’t even pay for those shots,” he noted. “So technically—”

“Oh, just shut up.”

He laughed, turning away from me and taking a few steps toward the entwined form that was Lexi and Tyler.

“Yo, Ty! We’ve got a set to finish man,” he called. “Break’s over.”

Tyler broke away from Lexi and shot a lengthy glare in Finn’s direction, finally turning back to whisper something in her ear. Whatever it was had her beaming brightly. She gave him a final, lingering kiss before he walked away.

“Oh, and Brooklyn,” Finn called out to me as he followed Tyler to the stage, ignoring the desperate girls flocking around him. “Why don’t you get yourself an Apiphobic Treason shirt and wear it all day tomorrow to commemorate our new friendship. Then we can call it even.”

I flipped him off in response. He laughed – as usual, he was completely unaffected by my disdain – shaking his head back and forth as he walked away.

Lexi wandered over, still slightly flushed from her blatant PDA session.

“Well, you two looked…friendly,” I laughed.

“Oh. My. God.” Lexi whispered, a goofy grin spreading across her face. “I think I’m in love.”

“Lexi, you’ve known the boy for less than 24 hours,” I noted.

“Time didn’t matter to Romeo and Juliet,” she sighed dreamily. “They only knew each other a few days.”

“Yes, and look how that turned out -- they both ended up dead. Have we learned nothing from history?” I asked incredulously.

“You’re such a cynic, Brooke,” she said, “One day, someone will break down all those walls you’ve surrounded yourself with and worm his way into your heart. Then you’ll understand.”

I chose to ignore that comment. Clearly, Lexi was now a certified love guru. By this point, the band members had regrouped onstage and were preparing to finish their set. I welcomed the distraction, glad for a brief respite in what I was sure to be a night of endless, lovesick Tyler-worship.

“Can we go home now?” I asked.

“What? No! We have to stay for the end of the set, Brooke. Plus, Tyler said he’d see me after the show.”

At this point, I was too tired to argue with her. Last night’s lack of sleep was finally catching up to me, as were those final two shots. I grabbed her hand and led her back to the dance floor, maneuvering past several drunken couples shamelessly hooking up against the club walls.

After pulling us into the heart of the throng, Lexi and I began to dance. Within minutes, two cookie-cutter blonde frat boys had joined us. Mine – either Jason or James, it was hard to hear over the music – snaked one arm around my waist and pulled my body flush against his, grinding his hips into mine. He was cute enough, but I wasn’t in the mood to be mauled on the dance floor tonight.

I looked at Lexi with wide eyes, signaling for her intervention. Her eyes flared with understanding and she moved away from her own frat boy, grabbed my hand, and pulled me from Jason-James’ grasp. Quickly leading me toward the stage, Lexi tossed a parting wink and goodbye wave over her shoulder in the boys’ direction.

“Thanks,” I said when we were safely hidden from their view.

“Don’t thank me, it’s in the wing-woman job description,” she said, looping one arm around me. “I’m so happy we came tonight.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Aren’t you? What were you and Finn talking about at the bar?”


“Um, mostly we just insulted one another,” I said, “I’m surprised you came up for air long enough to notice.”

“Very funny,” Lexi muttered.

The rest of the set flew by. I was feeling the full effects of the tequila, and everything was slightly fuzzy around the edges. Before I knew it, Lexi was tugging on my arm, waving a hand in front of my face to capture my attention.

“Brooklyn! How drunk are you?” She looked sternly down at me, hands planted firmly on her hips. “We’re leaving now, the set’s over. Come on,” she ordered.

I trailed behind her, one hand loosely clasped in hers, and we were carried along with the crowd as they poured out the club doors and into the night.

“Come on, drunky,” Lexi chided as we cleared the exit, leading me around a corner and down a dim alley between buildings.

A few yards into the alley, a side exit door opened into the narrow passageway. Tyler and the other band members were laughing as they walked outside, lugging instruments and stereo equipment into a waiting van.

“Tyler!” Lexi called out, announcing our arrival.

He finished storing his drums in the trunk before turning to greet us, swooping Lexi up into his arms and spinning her around like a child.

“Did you like the rest of the set?” Tyler asked, placing her back on her feet.

“You were so good!” Lexi squealed.

I began to tune them out, leaning back against the cool brick building and closing my eyes. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sleep, even if it only was for a few brief hours. Drunk and exhausted, my legs felt almost as heavy as my eyelids, which had begun to drift closed of their own accord.

“You look like shit,” a voice said. Cracking open one eye, I took in the sight of Finn standing directly in front of me, an amused smirk on his lips.