One Summer in Paris » Places

         

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Lily inhaled deeply, taking in the heady scent of alcohol, people and excitement. Her body throbbed with bass as it thudded through the room. People were all sides of her, constantly colliding with her and brushing past her. She could feel them against all her bare flesh, most of her body hardly covered by the scrap of material barely worth calling a dress. Lots of people would be scared by the atmosphere, but not Lily. This was where Lily felt at home. In college, she seemed to spend all her time partying, and each one tried to be bigger and better than the last. But nothing was too big for Lily. Nowhere made her uncomfortable, or made her think maybe she was taking it too far this time. This party was just like all the others. Except, she was here with her friends, which made this party better than any people threw at college, trying to impress her.

Lily watched Minnie shimmy through the club, dodging people and weaving through the crowds. Lily, Chris and Minnie’s little sister followed her towards the bar, which Lily was very much glad to see. As Minnie went to order for herself, Lily fell against the bar and waved flirtatiously in order to get the attention of a bartender.

“Something strong, and bitter,” Lily told him, not caring if he struggled to understand her English. “And did I say strong? Yeah, really strong,” she laughed to herself. Needless to say, this was not her first drink of the evening, let alone the day.

Thankfully, the bartender managed to get the gist of what she was trying to say and handed her a glass. Lily didn’t even hesitate to look at what was in it. She simply knocked back the liquid and put the glass back down.

“Another one, please,” she said, handing him money and collecting the drink to make a toast with Minnie. “To new beginnings and the Triple Threats!” Lily joined in, giggling.

"Let's dance," Lily heard Minnie say before quickly telling Elsa something. Then, her friend grabbed her arm and Lily pulled her towards the centre of the dance floor. But instead of paying Lily the attention she wanted, Minnie turned back towards her sister to say something. However, Lily had already been distracted enough to forget her slightly drunken annoyance towards Minnie for bringing her boring little sister with her and treating the kid like a five year old.

Lily had spotted a man stood at the edge, strangely attired as if he were out for a business dinner rather than frequenting a busy club at the heart of Paris’ nightlife. She glanced to his left and saw a sign for the V.I.P lounge. Now there was somewhere she certainly wanted to be. Older, wealthy men loved girls like her and she could definitely find herself a suitable man to spend the night with. She glanced back towards the man, wondering if his attire and position meant he was, in some way, to do with the V.I.P lounge and able to get her in. Without thought, Lily approached him and grabbed his tie, pulling him towards the crowds with her, and towards her friends, so she didn’t end up losing them completely.

When they had reached where she wanted to be, Lily pulled him towards her and began to dance. She looked the suit up and down clearly and then looked back up at him. “Come from a funeral?” she teased, laughing, not thinking for a minute he might not speak English.