Chapter 13

The hall was filled with people, teenagers and older people. The smell of cigarettes and vodka filled the air. Loud music and rhythmic beats blared in the room. Nick trembled when he entered and had to shout for Mike to hear him, “Didn’t you say a bar?”

“Looks like we got more than it, bro. I wasn’t going to let you waste all that nice outfit.” He pushed people aside, evading the smell of people’s body and their clothes.

Nick held his shoulder with his right hand and pushed people like Mike was doing with his left so he didn’t get lost in the crowd. The last time he came to a place this crowdy and sweaty and hot was in high school. He liked the cool comfort of his space, “This is not a good place for someone like me to be in.”

“Who said it is too bad to relax a little bit?”

Their voices were swallowed by the noise and the meshing of bodies. A young girl stripped and left with just shimmery panties and a handless bra approached Nick. Mike stepped out of the wa