The club was dark, barely more illuminated than if they had just lit the whole place using votive candles on all the tables. After they double and triple checked our ID cards and pointed us up the stairs, we both had to linger around the outside of the archway into the bar area to wait for our eyes to adjust enough not to have to stumble around. It seemed that they very highly regarded anonymity, the low light and masks was going to make it impossible to clearly make out most identifying features. I was glad that Joannie had chosen a very flashy dress that would sparkle and reflect what little light there was so I could at least always find her, that’s probably why she had chosen that outfit in particular. Most everyone else that was passing us on the stairs and going into the club were generally dressed in darker colors, probably to further eliminate the chance that something about them would stand out.

“Okay, so this is it,” Joannie said, voice full of nerves as we slunk our way across to the bar. “What do you think?”

Like any club in the city there was the unmistakable smell of old spilled beer and liquor in the air and music playing over the speakers, though I did appreciate that the music was both something a bit slow and jazzy and not blaring. Far too many clubs hung their hats on the idea that they should all play whatever electropop artist was trending at the time at a decibel that forced you to scream directly into the faces of everyone so you could be heard. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t some wet blanket who whined about clubbing, it just never failed to give me a headache before I even got to the hangover stage. There was already a decent crowd of people seated at various places around the club, a few at the bar itself, and several people swaying to the beat on the dance floor, but it looked like the place was designed to hold many more people, I wondered just how hip and happening the place would get as the night went on. I couldn’t imagine it would get packed, it wasn’t the kind of place that would get much promotion outside of word of mouth and even then you would have to find bravery to show up and see for yourself.

“So far so good,” I said, my eyes sweeping around the room. I felt irrationally worried that someone might look up and recognize me, not only would that be extremely unlikely given the circumstances, so what if someone did find out I was here? I was a single, consenting adult and could do whatever I pleased, besides, they would have to explain why they were there in the first place to tell anyone. Still, there was some sort of embarrassment or shame I couldn’t seem to shake, society was not too kind in how they regarded women who are confident in their sexuality. “Do you see that friend of Patsy’s who dragged you along?”

“No and I don’t think I’d even recognize her if she was standing right next to me, when we met up we were already wearing our masks. She’s just some blonde to me and she split from us as soon as we got in. Think she was was more interested in the advertised activities than making a new friend.”

At the bar, the bartender, who was interestingly also wearing a mask, smiled at us, flashing brilliant white teeth. Once my eyes figured out what was going on, I realized that they were not just wearing a mask, but a full hood that covered everything expect their eyes and mouth down to where their neck met their chest. He also wasn't wearing a shirt, his chest glistening from the weak overhead lights above the bar like it had been resently moisturized. His outfit gave me a chill down my spin, there was something so deliciously taboo about it that was appealing.

“What can I get you ladies?” he asked.

“I’ll take a vodka soda, please.” Had to give her credit, Joannie sounded much more confident that I was feeling in the moment. “What do you want Cici?”

“Uhh a gin and pineapple, please.” I assumed she was asking me, but I had never been called Cici in my entire life.

“Just go with it,” she muttered under her breath with the bartender turned to start making the drinks, “I think everyone uses a fake name. Call me Jenny or something.”

Drinks in hand, I followed Joannie over to an empty table near the edge of the dance floor and we took a seat facing the people dancing. A few heads turned as we passed tables, but no one seemed to take much notice and quickly returned to their conversations.

“You’re following like I know what I’m doing.”

“You’ve actually been here before, I have no clue what I’m doing.” I took a ship of my drink for some liquid courage.

“I sat over in the corner all night last night, I have no idea what to do either, I guess try to look appealing and attract someone? I seemed to have failed at that last night though.”

“Were you literally hiding in a corner?”

She let out a soft laugh and shrugged sheepishly. “Yeah, kind of, that might have been part of the problem, but I didn’t know if I actually wanted to join in on anything last night. Being basically alone in a strange club wasn’t the most comfortable, but I feel more confident with you here.”

“That’s because I’m going to make you look even better in comparison.”

“Hardly,” she snorted, “how can you say that in that dress?”

“What? What about my dress?” I looked down and tugged the fabric down that had ridden up in a kind of weird way when I sat down.

“I normally think your tits are kinda big in your jumpsuit, but christ they’re enormous when you let them loose.”

I was very grateful for the dim light as I felt my face flush. “Oh shut up.”

“No really, you have to already know it, how could you not? If I was you I’d never stop feeling myself up.”

“You can always feel me up if you want.” Maybe the drink was made extra strong or the atmosphere was just conducive to letting words fly out of my mouth.

“Are you serious?” she asked, a note of excitement in her voice. “I mean, I’ve always kind of wanted to, but how exactly do you just casually bring that up with someone at work, you know?”

“Umm…” I stammered. I didn’t know what I had expected her reaction to be, but being all for it and maybe even excited to do it weren’t exactly what I had imagined.

“Oh you were joking,” she said with a choking laugh. “Oh my god I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on that right away, I’m so sorry.” She covered her face with her hand and started giggling from embarrassment.

“No it’s okay,” I said quickly, not wanting her to feel like she messed up the night, “I just didn’t expect your reaction for being down for it so easily.”

“You know I like girls too,” she said, still covering her face, “you’re a girl and a pretty hot one.”

It suddenly dawned on me that all the times Joannie had been angling for me to go out clubbing with her after work might have been a ploy this whole time to get me alone with her into some kind of date without calling it a date.

“Jo- Jenny,” I corrected, “were you hoping this would turn into a date?”

She didn’t move a muscle, like a prey animal who had been cornered by a predator and hoped that by not moving a single inch it might just go away and the situation would be over. Whatever answer she would give didn’t matter, I knew I had hit the nail on the head.

“Oh,” I said softly. I honestly didn’t know what else to say in the moment and I didn’t want to end up blurting something else out and sticking my foot in my mouth.

“This is so awkward,” she whispered between her fingers.

“Take a drink, it’ll help,” I suggested.

She nodded and moved her hand from her face long enough to grab her drink and gulp down most of it in one swallow. Thinking she had the right idea, I tilted my own drink back and let it flow down my throat. It burned in the best way and was distracting enough a sensation to make me feel like I could think with just a bit more clarity. I did always have kind of a thing for her that I kept quiet about, but if she felt the same, it felt like it might be a shame to let the opportunity pass on by.

“Better?” I asked.

“A bit,” she said quietly, “I’m still so fucking embarrassed though.”

“Don’t be, it’s not like I hate the idea.” My voice was remarkably smooth for how nervous I was, I was lowkey impressed at how suave I was managing to sound. “I never wanted to make our friendship awkward, but I am attracted to you.”

Finally removing her hand from her face, she looked at me with wide eyes. “Seriously?”

I nodded. “I love having you as a friend though and didn’t want to end up fucking that part up just because I wanted to get into your pants.”

“Oh shit,” she said with a laugh, “same. I can’t believe this is happening, I honestly thought someone like you wouldn’t be interested in me.”

“Someone like me?”

“You’re so naturally beautiful and confident,” she explained. “People notice you when you walk by, you’re probably the most desired girl at work by far.”

I raised my eyebrows in confusion and looked at her like she had grown a second head. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“See, this is part of why,” she said with a sexy sigh, “you don’t even see it. You walk around oblivious to what you do to other people. You just don’t care about what people think while being devastatingly gorgeous, it’s a wicked combination.”

“I think you started drinking before we got here, you have to be drunk.”

“I knew this would probably happen if I ever managed to get you out with me, not even five minutes into sitting down and I’m already throwing myself at you.” Her hand returned to cover the bottom half of her face, but her eyes stayed on me. “What you must think of me.”

“That you’re hot?” I said. “Look this might be the worst idea that we’ve ever had, but let’s see where this goes.”

“Really?” She looked at me suspiciously. “You’re not just telling me what I want to hear?”

“Really.” To illustrate my intentions I got up, scooted my chair over to be right next to her, and sat back down while curling my arm around her shoulders.

“Oh fuck,” she whispered.

“That’s the idea for later,” I said with a wink.

She tensed up beneath my touch and let out a long, airy giggle, suddenly unable to make eye contact with me. “Do you want another drink? Or… umm… maybe do you want to go to a back room?”

It was my turn to tense up and feel the blood rush to my face. “Already?”

“We can wait, sorry, just excited I guess.”

After a moment of thought I squeezed her shoulders and stood from my seat, taking her hand in mine. “No time like the present, lead the way.”