After Math by Denise Grover Swank Page A

protests.
    “Scarlett’s smarter than you give her credit for. She’s not that drunk, and we’re in a public place. She’ll be fine.” Tina sighs. “But if you think she needs watching, you take the first shift.”
    After we pay to enter, Tina heads straight for the bar, and she and Caroline order drinks. I’m tipsy but not drunk. Contrary to what Caroline thinks, I’m no stranger to alcohol. You don’t grow up in the home of an alcoholic and her friends and not become acquainted with it. I had my share of drinking binges in high school with the handful of people I hung out with. I just left it all behind in Shelbyville when I came to college.
    Leaning against a tall table, I look around the room. We’re on a raised level that surrounds a sunken square floor, which is half full of dancers. A DJ is set up on the opposite side of the room.
    Tina comes back and hands me a drink. “There’s a good selection to choose from tonight.”
    I turn to her in confusion.
    “Guys. We’re here to look for guys.” She says it slowly as though I’m deaf, which I partially am from the roar of the music and the crowd.
    “I thought we were here to dance.”
    Tina grins and sips her drink.
    I taste mine and realize she’s gotten me another Long Island Iced Tea. She doesn’t just want me drunk. She wants me wasted.
    Caroline stands next to me, swaying to the music. She leans toward my ear. “I trust you, you know. I just worry about you.”
    I give her a smile. “I know.”
    We stand at the table and finish our drinks, then Caroline grabs my wrist and tugs me toward the dance floor. We descend the stairs and stop close to the edge. Since I’m not used to wearing heels, and I’m on my way to being drunk, it takes me a second to regain my balance. Caroline begins to dance, watching me. I close my eyes, and let my body move to the music. The anxiety-ridden me, currently drowning in alcohol, claws to get out of this loud, crowded place. But I stuff her deeper while the newly liberated me basks in her freedom.
    Someone stumbles into me, and I totter on my heels, but a hand grabs my elbow and helps me find my balance. My eyes fly open, and I see it’s a guy I don’t know, but he smiles and shouts. “Sorry.”
    In my fuzzy head, I recognize that I should be horrified and mortified, but this new me smiles.
    I like the new me.
    The guy stays next to me and dances, keeping his gaze on my body and my face.
    An undercurrent of anxiousness prickles my nerves, but I decide to ignore him and dance. When the song ends, he leans close to my ear. “Want to get a drink?”
    I’m still sober enough to question if this is good idea, but the liberated part of me shouts that he’s asked me to get a drink, not sleep with him. I need to loosen up. “Sure.”
    We make our way to the bar, and I lean my elbow on the counter to steady myself. The loud noise is starting to make me restless, adding to the unease over the situation I find myself in now. My shoulders tense, and I tell myself this is not a big deal. Men buy women drinks all the time.
    “I’m Ben,” he says as he waves to the bartender halfway down the counter.
    I force a small smile. “Scarlett.”
    The bartender stands in front of us, and Ben glances at me with a raised eyebrow.
    I realize I need to slow down and be in control of the situation, contrary to Tina’s plan, so I ask for a Diet Coke.
    Ben orders a drink and speaks into my ear. “You come here often?”
    It’s a ridiculous pickup line, and I start to giggle. Some of my tension slides down my back, unknotting my shoulders in the process.
    He gives me an odd look, but thankfully doesn’t look offended.
    I shake my head. “Nope. First time. What about you?”
    “Every week.”
    I may be slightly drunk, but that tells me all I need to know. Not that I’m interested in him anyway. I’m here to appease Caroline and Tina. I have no idea what’s going on with Tucker and me, but even if it’s over before it’s begun,