The Piper Hour

Lost in Her

Now

Her hair curled at the nape of her neck, the humidity settling in like an unwelcome guest. If only the line moved faster, she would feel the welcome blast of air conditioning and drown her discomfort with disco. But for now, they were at the mercy of the man behind the rope. She chewed impatiently on her gum, the cool mint disguising the amount of tequila that passed her tongue just an hour before. She looked at her phone and saw nothing but the time, no messages, no calls, no snaps. She didn’t think there would be, but the reality still hurt.

“Piper. Come on.”

Her friends were already disappearing behind the door, all ushered behind the red rope. She slipped her phone back into her small purse and threw her shoulders back. No more checking the phone tonight. Nothing but forgetting her past and losing herself in the present. She deserved that. Piper grabbed her friend’s hand and followed her in, the cool blast of air conditioning raising bumps along her bare arms and midriff.

*

Before

I miss you.

I know baby, me too.

You sure you can’t come out tonight?

I’m sure. It’s been a long day at work, and I just need to rest.

Well, I can keep you company? ;)

I bet you could babe. But go out with your friends, have a good time.

You sure?

Positive.

I can always come over after.

I’ll be asleep by then probably. Let’s see each other tomorrow babe.

Okay. I love you.

Love you too.

Piper slid her phone in her jeans and looked in the dirty mirror. The walls were covered in marker scribbles and stickers, the tightness of this bathroom reminding her the tightness of her clothes. The jeans, the top. All fitted to her like a second skin. She had hoped he would see her tonight. That he would arrive, spot her on the dancefloor, and be drawn to her alone instead of all the beautiful women around her. Instead, she blinked away the tears that threatened her mascara and unlocked the door.

*

Now

Her skin was glowing pink and the room smelled like smoke and sweat. The last two shots made her unaware of her insecurities and let Piper move freely about the dancefloor. She stopped adjusting her halter each minute, she let her skirt ride up naturally against her thighs. She smiled with her friends, throwing her head back in drunken happiness. Her ears rang with the bass, the shouts, the energy that pulsed around them.

The room was bathed in neon pink lights, the checked floor packed with bodies. Surrounding the dancers were leather couches and lounges, relaxed men in trousers and dress shirts leaning back to enjoy the show. Their money and power oozing stronger than their expensive cologne.

Piper shimmied to her friend Louisa and turned back her ass into her playfully. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glanced past Louisa. Her eyes locked on the another, sitting in one of the loungers with one foot over another. Piper turned away and swivels her body to the beat, back to face her small circle of friends. She chanced another look to the wall and saw that he was still watching, now leaning forward with his forearms resting on his knees. She knew he was looking at her. She knew he saw her do the same. She wanted to turn away. She wanted to lose herself in the friends she came with, the music that was playing. She wanted to forget who she was. She wanted to leave the past version of herself behind. She wanted to; she really did. But the old Piper came out to play when tequila was involved.

She turned her body to give him a better view, locking eyes on him. She moved with purpose, knowing that he was watching. She never broke eye contact. She knew this game very well. And soon enough, he downed whatever expensive liquor was in his glass, standing slowly like a cat choosing its prey. She watched as he purposely stepped out from behind the comforts of table service. The second his leather shoes stepped onto the chessboard of a dance floor, she smirked and diverted her attention back to the girls. She lifted her hair off the nape of her neck and turned her body away from him, she swayed her hips to the beat and watched as her friends’ eyes went wide.