The clock was counting down and the midnight hour was quickly approaching. Everyone was dancing their last dance and looking for someone to share the first kiss of the year with. 2001. Woohoo! A New Year. Another twelve damn long boring months. Oh joy!
5...
4...
3...
2...
1!!!
The fireworks exploded in the air and kisses were smooched. Everyone kissed a stranger. They figured it would be better that way. No one would ever see the other person again, and there would be no awkwardness in the group. More than there already was. At around two in the morning Erika no longer had the urge to party *gasp! * It wasn’t like she really could to begin with, but hey, a party is a party no matter how cripple one may be. She looked around for someone that would go back to the hotel with her. Rachel and Chelsea were definitely drunk and were making fools of themselves, but it looked like they were having a hell of a time doing it. Erika laughed inwardly at the sight before her.
Rachel had a martini to her right and cards in her hand. Chelsea sat next to Rachel with a huge grin on her face obviously happy with her hand of cards. Around them at the table were several guys that had o their poker faces.
“I fold.”
“Fold.”
“Too much for me.”
“I’m out.”
“Rachel, you’re still in?”
“Yup.” Rachel simply answered to Chelsea’s question. Her opponent glared at Rachel, meeting eyes with her for what seemed like forever.
“Two pair.” He put his cards down for everyone to see.
Rachel put her cards down, never leaving his gaze.
“Sweetie, you have nothing.” The young man’s deep voice announced.
Rachel fell into a fit of giggles, “I know, I just always wanted to do that!”
“You’re such a nerd.” He said it with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Aww, c’mon now Usher baby, you know you love me!” Usher ran around the table and enveloped Rachel into his arms giving her a tremendous hug. She took in a good wiff of his sent and sighed, “It’s just like I always dreamed it would be.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, keep hugging.”
Erika continued to scan around the room. She griped onto her crutches and slowly made her way through the crowd towards the figure standing by the speakers.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“You doing ok? I mean after all of that before?”
“Yea, I’m ok.”
“So, what’s up?”
“Nothing really. Justin, will you just take me back to the hotel please?”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Alright. I’m going to go get my jacket.”
“No, you go wait by the door, and I’ll get it for you.” Justin brushed past her and went towards the coat closet in search of the two jackets in the tremendous mounds.
The walk to the door, on the other side of the club, seemed to take forever. Losing her balance and almost being knocked over by several people was the only thing on her mind to surpass. As she passed each person she said a loud ‘thank you’.
“Thank you...thank you...thank you...thank you for not moving for the cripple!”
No one even looked up when she yelled.
“Whatever, inconsiderate bastards.”
She let out a loud sigh and continued through the club. Making her way past the bouncer and the door, Erika sat on a bench directly outside.