Chapter 24: Party time!

“Where the hell are we going and what I’m supposed to wear?” I say once I recover a bit of my composure but I’m still totally lost.

“Fufufufu,” Leeloo laughs, “Go for it Ana.” She says casually and then sits in the couch.

“Okay,” Ana says shyly again and then goes to Leeloo’s room. I follow her with my gaze and after some moments she returns with a paper bag in her hands. “Wear this.” Ana says handing the paper bag to me.

I receive the bag silently and then take out the contents, as I do, my eye begins to twitch madly while my hands tremble slightly. In front of me I’m currently holding a pink cowboy shirt. “Is this a joke?” I say staring at Ana and then at Leeloo.

Ana lowers her head and covers her mouth with her hands. Leeloo turns to look at me and then says, “Hey, we carefully picked that shirt, it will be actually helpful for you tonight.” She tries to say it casually but I could see that she is holding a laugh. I turn to look at Ana again and notice that she is covering her mouth because she is trying to hold a laugh too.

“You… you know something that I don’t, don’t you?” I ask at Ana.

Ana just waves her hand saying no without looking at me.

“Fine,” I say and then I grit my teeth, “I’ll see where this will lead me, I’ll play your game tonight.” I say pointing at the pink cowboy shirt, then I turn and enter my room once again. As I close the door I could hear Ana and Leeloo bursting into laughter. I clench my fist but then I pay them no more mind.

I throw the paper bag to the floor and I notice that it moved unnaturally, there was something else there, but whatever it is, is very light. I open it and notice something white. As I take it out, my jaw drops. I was thinking of using a pair of black jeans in order to at least make a contrast, but in my hand I’m holding a pair of white linen pants.

“Are you kidding me?” I yell loudly. Upon hearing me, Ana and Leeloo burst in a loud laughter.

I throw the outfit in my bed and stare at it. I clench my fist once again. ‘Pink cowboy shirt, white linen pants, this is…’ I muter slowly in my mind. ‘It will be helpful for me tonight? What the heck is this about?’

Fifteen minutes later I get out of my room with the singular outfit. Both of them try to hold laughs but they cannot. ‘Whatever, let’s see where Leeloo wants to go.’ I roll my eyes and I decide to pay no more mind to her obvious laughs.

After eating some sandwiches, Leeloo says it’s time to go. We go out of the apartment complex and immediately she stops a cab. She gives the driver some instructions and then tells me to get inside. Leeloo and Ana sit on the back seats while I sit on the front one, they don’t say much on the way and neither do I.

A while later the cab start slowing down and Leeloo gives more precise instructions to the driver. I frown deeply as I notice where we are. ‘Isn’t this the red light district?’ Although I don’t know the whole city, this sort of places are hot topics between men. ‘Ugh, this doesn’t seems good.’ I start paying attention to my surroundings.

The cab drives for another 15 blocks and then Leeloo orders it to stop. ‘At least is a bit far away from there, this doesn’t seem to be so bad.’ I think and sigh inwardly. I’m not an elitist and I’m usually thrifty when it comes to myself, but I will never, never in my life go to a dangerous place just to save some money, even less if I’m with someone else, in this case, Ana and Leeloo.

Ana grabs my arm and Leeloo leads the way. We go to the entrance of a two story building and Leeloo talks with someone that is making guard. She pays up a cover and points to Ana and me, and then the guard puts a paper bracelet in her wrist. Ana and I go closer and then each of us receive a paper bracelet. I start looking around before going in and I start to feel anxious, as if a lot of people is looking at me. ‘Maybe is because of this damn outfit.’ I say inwardly and shake my head.

“Well, here we are.” Says Leeloo with a smile and then grabs Ana’s hand. Ana frees my arm and goes to Leeloo’s side.

I stare at Leeloo with a confused look. “What is this about?” I ask to her.

“Fufufufu, let’s enter.” Leeloo says and then she leans closer to Ana, guiding her inside.

Seeing how Leeloo was so close to Ana my suspiciousness grows to another level, and then something comes to my mind. Before going inside I look to my right and my left hastily, and my head starts to ache. Although my attire is very singular, I could say that I’m normal amongst everybody. But that’s not the real problem, in reality I don’t care how each one decides to dress, the real problem is that men are holding men hands and woman are only chatting with other woman.

‘This is a gay disco!’ My face pales as I notice the stares I’m receiving from other men. Without thinking twice, I try to pursue Leeloo, but there is a tiny row now at the door. “Leeloooo!” I see her in the distance and call her name loudly, but she doesn’t hear me because of the loud music or just doesn't want to turn back. I grit my teeth and clench both of my fist, she just went too far this time.

A few moments later I make it past the door. I look around impatiently and I find both ladies in the distance, at the same time if I had any doubts that this was a gay disco, those doubts are completely gone. I shake my head trying to pay no mind to my surroundings and go after them, they seems to be making a row to an internal door.

I hastily make my way to them but there’s just too much people and it proves to be difficult. After a while I get to the internal door and a guard stops me. “This area is just for couples only.”

“What?” I ask dumbfounded as my eyes grow wide.

“Are you Marcus?” Says the guard after looking at me from feet to head.

“Yes I am.” I say while gritting my teeth.

“Someone left this for you just moments ago, didn’t think it would be so fast.” The guard says and extends me a slip of paper.

I accept the slip of paper and then I read it: “There is a special event on the second floor for couples, with your good looks and your refreshing clothing I think it will be easy for you to fish someone in this extravagant sea of people and meet us there. Kisses, Leeloo.”

I rip the slip of paper, “God damn it Leeloo, I knew it, I knew that something was off!” I curse loudly and then I walk away from the door that leads to the second floor.

I make my way out of the disco cursing everything. ‘Why can't she be normal for a day?’ I sigh inwardly. After going out I walk some steps away from the entrance and then I take a deep breath. I walk back and forth trying to come with an idea, I’m not homophobic, but the hell will freeze before I take the initiative and invite someone upstairs as my couple.

I take out my phone but anything comes to my mind. I don’t have any friend that I could ask to make a favor of this caliber. Or do I?

I skim through my contact list and then my gaze fixes in one name. My thumb hovers over the call button and I forcefully close my eyes. “God damn it, there’s nothing to lose anyway.” I say loudly.

*Click.*

*Tuuuut, tuuuuuuut, tuuuuuuuut.*

“Hey Marcus, what a nice surprise.” A relaxed voice comes from the other side of the phone.

“Sorry to call you so suddenly David, how is it going?” I say with a nervous tone.

“Ah, nothing much, I just had dinner and now I’m driving home.” David says raising his voice, he is hearing music while driving.

“Are you free right now?” I ask suddenly.

“Yeah, why, got any plan?” David answers quickly.

“Sort of…” I tap impatiently my right foot on the floor and then I take a deep breath, “I’m at a gay disco.”

There’s an awkward silence from both sides of the phone for a while.

“… Sorry Ken, but I really like Barbie.” David says with a annoyed tone.

I slap my face, “It’s not what you are thinking, it’s just… I… sort of… trap…” I try to organize my thoughts but I just let out incoherent words.

“You are a trap?!” Says David loudly, “I didn’t see that coming.”

“Want a straight answer? HELL NO.” I yell at the phone and the surrounding people look at me, I lower my head and I walk slowly to another side, “Trust me: I. Do. Not. Like. Sausages.” I say the last lines in a low voice.

David lets out a relived sigh, “Ok, ok, I think I get the point, so why are you there?” He asks quietly, lowering the volume of the background music.

“Come and I’ll explain you, I’ll send you my location through the phone GPS, do you have the Locator app?” I roll my eyes, truthfully is not something easy to explain.

“Sure, just send it.” David says in his relaxed tone once again.

Without hanging out, I slide my finger and do some taps, then I open the app and send David my location. “Did you get it?” I ask him expectantly.

“Yeah, I just got it, luckily for you I’m not that far, see you in 20 minutes.” David says.

“Okay, thanks buddy.” I thank him. I finish the call and then let out a relieved and long sigh. “Sooner or later you will pay for this Leeloo.” I say in a voice only I could hear.

END OF CHAPTER 24.