Obedience: Chapter 5

Another knock on my door.1

“Why won’t you let me sleep?” I shouted out, “Leave me alone!”2

“Caleb!” Aqua shouted back, “You were supposed to take a shower! Mark is waiting downstairs in the car! Get ready and come downstairs immediately.”3

I didn’t bother replying. Letting out an exasperated sigh, I got up and fell back down again. 4

“Wake up!” Aqua shouted again, banging the door this time.5

“I’m up! I’m up! Jeez!” I replied, running my hand through my damp hair, “And I took my shower before I went to sleep, so shut the fuck up!” 6

I got out of bed, a towel wrapped around my waist. I could hear Aqua’s high heels clicking outside as she walked down the corridor out into the main lobby. I rubbed my eyes and tried not to fall asleep again. My head hurt like crazy. Either I had slept too much that my brain had stopped working, or I didn’t sleep enough that my brain was still tired. 7

I looked at the clock placed high on the wall in front of my bed. 8

8 o’ clock.9

“Definitely, slept way too much,” I said to myself. 10

I walked over to the mirror and stared into it. My hair was a mess. Going to sleep with wet hair never really worked for me. One side of my hair was completely pressed against my head, while the other end was still puffed up and fluffy. I grunted, and rushed to the bathroom.11

*12

“Oh, here he is now,” Aqua turned around to face now, “What took you so long?” 13

“I’m sorry, Aqua, but my hair was a total mess and I was just very tired,” I replied, tiredness still reflected in my voice, “But do I look good?” 14

Aqua eyed me from my waxed hair to my button-down black shirt, to my faded jeans. 15

“You look totally you,” she replied charmingly, “What about me?”16

Aqua was wearing a strapless peacock green dress that accentuated her breasts and hips. It went down to her knees and was adorned with silver sequins on the sides. Her hair was let loose and was extraordinarily shiny that night. One might say she actually looked hot. 17

“You look totally do-able,” I replied with a smirk. 18

Aqua laughed and gave me a little push, “Asshole. Come on, Mark’s waiting for us in the car.” 19

“Can’t we just take a cab?”20

“What? Why?”21

“I mean, why bother Mark?”22

“Trust me. It’s his pleasure.” 23

She pulled my arm and led me out of the main door. 24

I could see Mark’s car parked across the street. He waved from inside and signaled us to hurry up. We ran across the empty wet road and sat in the back seat of the car. In the passenger seat was a blonde guy who looked almost Mark’s age. I didn’t see his face until later, but I knew who it was immediately. 25

“Aqua and Caleb, this is Eric,” Mark introduced him. 26

“Hey…” Eric greeted us without even bothering to look back. 27

I frowned and looked at Aqua who seemed just as taken aback by his bad manners as I was.28

“Mark, our curfew is 11 pm…” I pointed out. 29

“Don’t worry; we’ll be back by then.” He replied assuredly and started the car. 30

*31

We arrived at Club Nirvana about fifteen minutes later. Aqua and I gave each other inquisitive looks. We weren’t old enough to be in a club. We were only sixteen years old, and you had to be at least eighteen to enter. Mark apparently knew what we were thinking about and gave us a slight nod. I guessed he had it all figured out. 32

We made our way through the queue and Mark went over to the bouncer. He was a huge man, wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans. Mark talked to him about something for a few minutes and then signaled us to come over. The man opened the door and we were inside in a matter of seconds. 33

“That was impressive, Mark,” Aqua spoke cheerfully, “Connections, huh?” 34

“He’s a friend. His name is Ted” Mark replied with a confident I-am-your-hero look, “You look really hot by the way.” 35

Aqua giggled flirtatiously and I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. She knew he was gay, yet she wouldn’t let go. 36

“You’re so desperate,” I whispered in her ear.37

“Shut up, I’m just being nice.” She snapped back. 38

We found a couch near the dance floor. It was a semi circular couch covered with black silk velvet. Mark ordered apple margaritas for Eric and himself and sodas for me and Aqua. Somehow I had landed myself next to Eric and he was in no mood to talk so I had to sit quietly while Aqua flirted with Mark to her delight. 39

I had almost drifted into another slumber when I noticed Eric take out a little white paper and unfold it to reveal a white powder. I frowned and immediately wanted to inquire what it was. 40

I had only opened my mouth when Eric spoke. 41

“Yeah, it’s coke,” Eric replied looking at me with a serious look on his face, “You wanna try some?”42

I shook my head and Eric smirked, amused somehow. I took a sip out of my soda and sank into the couch, trying not to think about the drug addict sitting next to me. 43

“Eric!” Mark shouted from the other side of the couch, “We talked about this.”44

Eric shrugged indifferently, got up and left. Mark got up and followed him. Aqua and I looked at each other but stayed quiet. 45

“Dance with me?” Aqua asked, putting her hand out in front of me. 46

“Sure, I guess…but I’m no good, you know that,” I replied, grabbing her hand and lifting her up. 47

We made our way to the dance floor and began to dance. My eyes shifted occasionally to the bar where Mark and Eric were going at it. They were fighting for sure, but Mark seemed more frustrated than Eric who was too busy folding the paper. What made me so interested in them? I don’t know. Maybe it was the drama. The drugs, the sex, Eric’s attitude. I don’t know, but it sure caught my interest. I watched as Eric left and Mark sat at the bar, head in his hands. 48

Aqua said something, but I couldn’t make out what because of the loud jarring music. I gave her a blank look and she grabbed my hand and we went back to the couch. 49

“Why are you so interested in Mark?” She asked me. 50

“What? Interested?”51

“You’ve been staring at him all night. I thought you were straight.”52

“I am straight.”53

“Then what’s the deal?”54

“I don’t know. I don’t get him. I mean, he’s nice and all, but we hardly know him, and we’re at this club with him and his addicted to drugs boyfriend. It’s weird.”55

“I guess, but isn’t it good that someone’s actually giving us the time of day, Caleb?” 56

“Well, yeah, but why a random stranger?” 57

“Maybe he has a soft side for orphans.”58

“Yeah…maybe” 59

“Come on, he seems upset. Let’s go cheer him up.” 60