Pretty Little Lies

by Jennifer Miller

  I take a deep breath and admit, “The other part is that being here… back in Chicago… is just…I…”

  Pyper puts her arms around me. “I know. It’s Luke memories. Say no more. I get it.”

  I nod, letting her know she hit the nail on the head, “I’m lucky to have you, Pyper. Thanks for loving me. I don’t know what I would do without you. And on a side note, I hope to God I never see anyone that was there last night ever again!”

  Pyper laughs at me. “I hope you never see anyone from there either. No doubt you left quite the impression. And I’m the lucky one. Now come on, get up, I’m going to make you some breakfast. You need to put some food in your stomach to help soak up the left over alcohol in there.”

  “I am the luckiest girl in the world.”

  “Yes, you are! Now get moving!” She smacks me on the thigh, emphasizing her words.

  I wince. I think while she may say I don’t have to be sorry, she’s making me pay just a little.

  Several weeks have passed since my epic breakdown at speed dating and I’m feeling much better. Finally, Chicago is starting to feel like home again. Pyper and I have settled into a routine, taking turns making coffee in the morning, she goes off to work at the spa, while I write like mad for the magazines that employ me and the blog that started it all. The condo now feels more like ours instead of just hers. I’ve even been on another date since the never-to-be-forgotten speed dating. Noah contacted me through ‘Date Me’ and he and I went to an Imagine Dragons concert. We had a really great time and I wouldn’t mind seeing him again.

  I flip another page in the magazine I’m browsing through at Shimmer & Soothe while waiting for my manicurist Bridget to begin. Pyper planned a relaxing girl’s day after a long week for the both of us, and it was just what we both needed. It is really awesome to have a best friend that owns a spa and constantly hooks me up. I’m not ashamed to admit it.

  I have been massaged, exfoliated, cleansed, and slathered. After a body wrap to remove the toxins from my body, an amazing smelling skin softening cream was applied. It smells like lavender, my favorite. I feel fabulous.

  Pyper and I just put our feet in warm water to begin our pedicures and our backs are being massaged by the vibrating chairs we are sitting in. I set my magazine down when Bridget places small bowls on either side of my chair and gestures for me to place my fingers in the water, to begin soaking my nails. My whole body feels like jello. Ahh, this is the life.

  I really love spending time like this with Pyper, just enjoying time with one another. Our hair isn’t done, we have no makeup on, no cell phones, no computers - just the two of us and conversation. It’s a connection on a whole different level. We’ve been looking at magazines, talking about the articles, asking each other silly survey questions from Cosmo, all just very girly things. It’s perfect.

  Flipping to the next page in her magazine, Pyper looks up at me, “Do you think you would be up for going out tonight? We can go to a club, have a couple cocktails, flirt and get our dance on!”

  “That sounds fun! We haven’t had a girl’s night like that in ages! I think it would be fun to get dressed up, go out, and get our groove on.” I laugh at the thought of us shaking our booties on the dance floor. We are way overdue for some fun.

  “Great! I was thinking we could go to a new club Caroline just told me about, on Hubbard Street called Zero Gravity. She said she heard it’s amazing and I’d love to check it out.”

  “Sounds perfect, I’m game!”

  Several hours later, Pyper and I are ready. We’ve really done ourselves up for our night out. I’m wearing low-rise, silver coated skinny jeans with a black sequin tank, and black heels so high that I will likely pay for wearing them later. My hair is flat ironed straight and is flowing down my back. I’ve done my makeup heavy with dark eyes and a nude lip. Simple stud earrings complete my look, as I’ve got enough bling going on with the tank and pants. My license, lip gloss, and debit card are in my pocket, leaving my hands free. I don’t like having to worry about carrying around a bag or clutch in a dance club.

  Pyper looks amazing in a strapless, grey and black leopard print mini-dress. She’s curled her hair in waves so it barely touches her shoulders. Her makeup is opposite of mine. Hers is light on the eyes and cheeks so it showcases her bright red lips. She’s also wearing high heels that are black sequined and quite fabulous.

  She smiles at me, “Look at you!”

  “No, look at you!”

  She laughs. “I want to be someone else so I can look at both of us!”

  I laugh too.

  Looking at Pyper’s dress it occurs to me, “You don’t have pockets, do you need me to hold anything for you?”

  “Nope I’ve got it covered,” then proceeds to reach into her bra and shows me her license and cash, “I’m good to go!”

  I giggle again, shaking my head at her. We are going to have fun. I’m really looking forward to a great night. “Alright then, let’s go! We’ll go to the front and have Henry the doorman grab us a cab!”

  When we walk inside the nightclub, my mouth falls open. I look at Pyper and she has the same look on her face. Zero Gravity is amazing. The club is a huge rectangle. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling; the color palette of the club is white, light blue, dark blue, and silver, which creates a very sophisticated look. White leather couches surround the outside of the dance floor with light blue and dark blue pillows thrown on them for added comfort. Sporadically placed around the room are tall, white tables without chairs, so people can use them to stand on or lean against while chatting and they offer somewhere for people to rest their drinks. On top of the tables are large white flower arrangements and flameless candles, which cast shadows on the faces of people standing nearby.

  The dance floor in the center of the room is already full of writhing bodies dancing to the music thumping from the sound system. I’m no audio guru, but the strong bass and balanced treble leads me to believe the equipment is top of the line. On the other side of the room from the entrance, there is a stage. There is a DJ up there tonight, but I’m guessing Zero Gravity has its share of live bands as well. There are bars set up on both sides of the room, comprised of large white squares with frosted glass blocks on the inside of each square. Eight of them align to create one long counter for people to lean against as they are waiting for the bartenders to get their drink of choice. In addition to the bars and gorgeous bartenders – male and female - there are waitresses walking from couch to couch and table to table, taking orders. All of the waitresses are wearing dark blue pants or form-fitting, not too short skirts with white collared, slim fit, button down shirts with a silver bow tie. The pocket of the shirt displays the club’s logo, clearly identifying them as employees.

  On either side of the stage are spiraling metal staircases that lead up to a second level. One side is clearly a VIP area with couches and tables set up and various areas roped off. The couches are set up in u-shapes facing the dance floor below. I wonder if there is a bar up there too? On the other side, there is one wall that is all glass and doors sporadically placed down the wall. There is a rope prohibiting access to that side with a man that must be a bouncer protecting the blocked entrance.

  “How about we start with a drink?” Pyper motions to the bar at our left.

  “Definitely!”

  We maneuver through several bodies, making our way to the bar. It amazes me what some girls will wear to a club. I pass one girl wearing a dress so tight it looks like it’s painted on her body. The mini-dress is red and the material looks plastic. It’s molded to her large breasts, making the fact she isn’t wearing a bra painfully obvious. I can practically see her areolas through the material. The skirt is so short I wouldn’t be surprised if her ass and lady bits show when she bends over. To complete her outfit of awesome, she’s wearing heels that are so high she almost hobbles when she walks. She looks ridiculous, so of course, I discreetly take a picture of her with my cell phone so I can use it as inspi
ration for writing a blog post later about keeping it classy.

  Another girl is wearing a halter dress that ties behind her neck and at the center of her back like a swimsuit. Two pieces of fabric come from the back of her neck to cover her breasts, meeting a crystal buckle at her navel. The dress is completely backless and the skirt is a mini. How her breasts keep from being exposed is a mystery. Oh my gosh – maybe they don’t!

  To each their own, I suppose, but I can’t help but shake my head. How about leaving a little something to the imagination? Geesh!

  I look at Pyper and she rolls her eyes, having seen the same women. I smile.

  Pyper and I reach the bar and she orders us each a vodka cranberry.

  “This club is amazing!” I can’t keep from looking around, trying to take it all in. “How long did you say it has been open?”

  “Not long, maybe a couple weeks now.” Pyper speaks loudly into my ear to be heard over the loud thump of the bass, “There was an article in the social section of the Tribune talking about the opening I guess, but I didn’t see it. A restaurant that closed down a while ago was here and the owner did a complete renovation, it seems. Caroline was talking about it at the spa the other day.”

  “Well I’m really impressed, it’s fabulous. I’m glad we came.”

  The bartender hands us our drinks and Pyper pulls bills out of her bra and slaps them on the counter. The bartender grins slyly at her, but Pyper turns and we start making our way to look for seats. With perfect timing, a few girls have just vacated a couch, so we snag their places before someone else beats us to it.

  Pyper turns to me, takes a sip of her drink and then asks, “What article are you working on right now?”

  “Funny you should ask, because I thought I would ask for your help on this one. I’m working on an article for Martini magazine. Each month, their magazine is comprised of a lot of sex related articles, along with the usual fashion fluff and celebrity interview.” I take a sip of my drink and continue, “The article I’m working on is Things You Should Never Say to a Guy. Want to weigh in?”

  Pyper immediately smiles devilishly at me, “Absolutely. What do you have so far?”

  “Well of course the worst thing you can say to a guy is, ‘Is it in yet?’”

  Pyper laughs loudly, almost spitting out her drink in the process, “Yes! Definitely not a good thing to say! You may as well kill him instead. Less painful!”

  Her reaction has me laughing too, “True. That would certainly be more humane! I don’t think I could ever do that to a poor guy! Next is the ever popular, ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’”

  Pyper laughs and then admits, “I may or may not have used that line once or twice myself.”

  “Why does this not surprise me, Pyper?”

  “Hi ladies, excuse the interruption, but can I get you another drink?” A very petite blonde-haired waitress asks us, interrupting our conversation. Pyper answers, “That would be great! We are drinking vodka cranberries. Thanks!”

  “Sure. Be right back.”

  “Okay Olivia, what else have you got?”

  “How about ‘Does this make me look fat?’”

  “Oh! There are sixteen thousand possible answers to that question and any one a guy would mutter would be incorrect.”

  “Exactly!” I laugh.

  “How about ‘Size really does matter!’” Pyper suggests.

  I snort at that one! “Yes, that or, ‘That’s it?’”

  Pyper and I laugh so hard we can barely breathe!

  While we are trying to catch our breath, a couple of guys walk up and stand in front of us. We look up into their smiling faces to see one guy has blonde hair and blue eyes, while the other has brown hair and brown eyes. They aren’t bad looking and they seem friendly. “Hi ladies, my name is Dylan and this is my buddy Ken. We couldn’t help but see you two laughing over here and we thought we would come over to see if we could be let in on the joke,” says blondie.

  “Yeah. What are you two hot girls laughing so hard about?” says Ken. I really want to ask him where Barbie is. That would be rude though, and cheesy.

  Pyper looks at me with a smirk. “Actually, I bet you boys would be able to contribute to our conversation. My friend Olivia here is writing an article for Martini magazine about the things a woman should never say to a guy. Care to weigh in?”

  They both take seats, a little too closely, one on either side of us and we proudly tell them the answers we already have.

  “Well you forgot, ‘You remind me of my Dad,’” Dylan suggests.

  “Ewww! Don’t tell me you’ve actually heard that before!” Pyper gasps while wrinkling her nose in disgust.

  Dylan just shrugs in answer, and Pyper and I giggle in response.

  Ken says, “Oh my personal favorite, ‘Oh my God, thank you for the drink! I can’t believe the bouncer fell for my fake ID.’”

  We all break into hysterics. I can’t help but ask, “Oh my gosh! What did you do?”

  Ken looks at me like that is a crazy question, “Well I ran, of course.”

  We all laugh harder, the alcohol we’ve consumed adding to the humor.

  “Good contributions guys, thanks for being such good sports.” I definitely have some good material for my article.

  While we’ve been chatting, the waitress returned with our replacement drinks we ordered, plus Ken and Dylan bought an additional round as well, slippery nipple shots for all of us. I’m definitely starting to feel more than just a buzz. I’m slightly nauseated and realize I haven’t eaten anything since we had a light lunch of a salad at the spa. Not good.

  “So tell us ladies, how good of friends are you?” Ken asks raising his brows at us.

  “We are best friends, pretty much sisters,” Pyper says. “Why do you ask?”

  Ken looks at Dylan and the look they exchange makes me feel uneasy. “We were just wondering if maybe we could interest you in a foursome. You are both gorgeous, and with the way you two were laughing and talking with us, I know you find us attractive too, so what do you say the four of us get out of here and go make some fun of our own?” Dylan asks.

  Pyper and I look at each other, totally grossed out and speechless.

  “Hell to the no.” I tell them.

  Before they can utter a response, Pyper tugs on my arm, “Come on, let’s go get our dance on!”

  I smile and nod at her, words seem beyond my ability at the moment.

  Pyper grabs my hand, tows me to the dance floor, and keeps going until we are in the middle of the moving mass of bodies, safely escaping the two creepers we left sitting on the couch. The speakers are blaring techno music and it feels like it’s echoing inside and outside my head. I close my eyes, trying to center myself and end up losing myself to the music. I raise my arms above my head and move my body to the beat. Pyper links her fingers with mine so we can make sure we stay together and not get pushed apart. I squeeze her hands gently and keep dancing.

  I feel a body come up behind me, pressing flush against mine and it startles me. I open my eyes just in time to see Pyper being pushed flush against the front of my body because Ken is behind her pressing himself against her, which means the asshole at my back is Dylan. “What the hell?” Pyper asks.

  “Dance with me baby,” Dylan slurs into my ear.

  Dylan grabs my hips and slams his pelvis into my ass. I can feel his erection against me, and I am immediately uncomfortable and pissed off. “Pyper…let’s go.”

  “Guys, we don’t want to dance, we are going to head home,” Pyper tries reasoning with them.

  “I don’t think so,” says Ken. “You ladies have been teasing us all night, we know you want us, now let’s dance.” Ken smashes his hips into Pyper’s ass, making her slam against me again. Her head smacks into my mouth and I taste blood almost immediately. I cry out and cup my mouth with my hand. I can feel the inside of my mouth where my tooth just cut it starting to swell.

  “Oh God, Olivia, I’m so sorry! BACK OFF YOU FUCKING
ASSHOLES,” I hear Pyper start screaming, trying to get us away from Dylan and Ken, but they just won’t listen. People around us start to realize there’s a problem and finally, I see someone pull Ken away from Pyper. He’s a big guy and I hope he is a bouncer. I’m still struggling to get away from Dylan when I hear, “Get the fuck off her.”

  I freeze.

  I can’t move.

  I know that voice.

  It haunts my dreams and my memories.

  I am still cupping my mouth and I look over at Pyper, eyes wide to see her eyes matching my own while she’s looking at the person standing behind me.

  I feel Dylan get pulled away from me and the voice I could never forget says, “Ian, escort both of them the hell out of here. They are not to return again, ever.”

  I very slowly begin to turn around and look right into the eyes of Luke Easton. The first boy I ever truly loved. The first boy that ever broke my heart. My high school sweetheart. The boy that I’ve never been able to forget. The boy that was supposed to love me forever.

  That boy is now a man and he takes my breath away, his blue eyes as mesmerizing as I remember.

  I sucked in a breath. I feel sick.

  “Hello, Olivia.”

  I remove my hand from my mouth, open it to respond…

  And throw up on his feet.

  livia! Olivia! Wake up! Wake up right now!” Pyper is whisper yelling at me.

  “Ughhh,” I moan and struggle to open one eye and stare at her. My head hurts, plus my mouth feels like sandpaper, rough and dry, and the inside of my lip hurts for some reason. I glance through the same, now barely-open eye at the clock next to my bed and see it is only eight thirty in the morning. What the hell is she doing waking me up this early? She knows I’m the world’s worst morning person until I’ve had coffee. And why does my head hurt so much?