Off Limits (Off 2)

Fil harrumphs. "That guy is a psycho, I'm telling you. Do not underestimate him. No one spends that much time chasing after a girl that clearly wants nothing to do with him. I hope he doesn't go all John Hinckley on you."

"As long as I have you to protect me, I'm not worried."

"Damned straight," Fil concurs.

We get to The Blue Room around 9:30 p.m. and the line to get in is wrapped around the building. We walk to the front and hold out our invitations. I feel so sophisticated as the large bouncer unhooks a velvet rope and lets us pass through.

Our group is eclectic, that's for sure. You have me, the rich, snotty girl. Fil the lesbian. Tina and Tonya, twin sisters from Arkansas who were raised on a farm and are still incredibly intimidated by the big city. And finally, my chemistry lab partner, Kevin, who is on Columbia's Lacrosse team, and he brought two of his teammates who I don't know very well, Sam and Breckan.

Our friend who knows a friend whose father owns the place and got us the tickets, reserved two tables for us and we feel like movie stars. We sit on an elevated deck above the dance floor and have our own personal waitress who caters to us all evening. She never asks for our ID's even though we all have our fake ones prepared to deliver at any time.

I don't even finish my first drink when I get pulled out onto the dance floor by Kevin. Before too long, the rest of the gang is there and we are bumpin' and grindin' to Vassy's We Are Young. I hold my arms out and twirl in a circle, my face lifted to the flashing electric lights. I feel so alive and thankful to have the freedom to be myself. It wasn't until I came to college that I realized I was a prisoner.

After several dances, I motion to Fil I'm going to take a break and she follows me off the floor. The rest of the group shows no signs of slowing.

We order more drinks and chat while we watch the clubbers.

"So, how did your job go this week?" Fil asks.

She is the only person I told about my accident and my deal to work for Nix. But I haven't told her much about him. With two mixed drinks in my system, I feel like a Chatty Cathy all of a sudden.

"He is about the most gorgeous man I've ever laid eyes on. But he's so distant and he seems on edge all the time. I don't know how to communicate with him."

"Why? What's his childhood trauma?"

I shrug my shoulders. "Hell if I know. I know he served over in Afghanistan and he doesn't want to talk about it. But he's so intriguing that I want to know more."

Fil twirls her fingertip around the edge of her drink glass. I notice she has on black, sparkly nail polish but it's chipping around the edges.

"Well, who says you need to communicate. Just do your job and keep your head down."

I take that in and then say, "I suppose."

"Wait a minute," she exclaims. By the look on her face, I know where she's getting ready to go. "You like him, don't you?"

"What?" I act affronted. "No. No way. He's too...too...he's not someone I'd be interested in."

"Liar!" she yells out, pointing at me. "Liar, liar...pants on fire. I see that look in your eyes. You're smitten." She's laughing because she knows she's busted me.

I smack her arm and she yelps. "No I'm not. And who uses the word "smitten" these days? I just find him interesting, that's all."

"So do something about it."

I look at her skeptically. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, dummy, make a move on him. If you like him and you're interested, make a move."

I just stare at her. That's preposterous. I couldn't make a move on a guy like that, much less one that radiates an arctic freeze when I'm around him.

"I couldn't..." I say, but I'm pretty sure I want her to push me to do it.

"Em...I love you like you're my own sister. So please believe me it is only with love and affection when I say 'get your head out of your ass'. You're always bitching and moaning that you want to be free. That you want to try new things. That you want to be adventurous. This is your chance, girl."

Her words sort of pump me up. Although it could be the alcohol. "Really? Do you think I should?"

"Absolutely!"

I grin at her. Come Monday afternoon, I think I just might try a little overt flirting with the elusive Mr. Caldwell and see what comes of it.

I slug down the last of my drink and we both hit the dance floor again.

***

I'm having a blast. Fil ended up getting stinking drunk after slamming several shots and Kevin and his friends left about an hour ago to take her back to our apartment. Poor girl was practically falling out of her chair. I hope there's not going to be a pile of vomit for me to navigate when I get home.

Tina, Tonya and I were burning up the dance floor for quite a while, and then we met some guys. They were a lot of fun and were buying us drinks, so we kept hanging out. We'd all go dance, then come back and do shots, although I stopped drinking over an hour ago so I wouldn't end up sharing the toilet with Fil.

One guy in particular, James, keeps dancing with me. He's really cute and he's a senior at NYU. His friends have paired off with Tina and Tonya, and they're all getting drunker by the minute. I hope to God that I can get those stumbling fools home. That thought alone makes me break out into a fit of giggles. Which then makes me realize I need to pee. I motion to James and the others that I'll be back, and make my way off the dance floor.

The bathroom line is long and I feel like I stand there forever. I'm so glad I had stopped drinking or else I'd be dying right now. It takes me a good ten minutes to make it to a free toilet, do my business and then freshen up my appearance.

I make my way back out to the dance area and see James sitting at our table. I plop down in the seat next to him. He motions to the waitress to bring another drink but I tell him I'd like a water instead.

Glancing out to the dance floor, I don't see Tina or Tonya anywhere, or the guys they were dancing with.

I lean in toward James so he can hear me over the music. "Where's Tina and Tonya?"

He slides his seat a little closer to mine and puts his arm around my shoulders. "They took off with my buddies. Said they were going to go grab some food."

What? I can't believe Tina and Tonya would leave me here. I dreaded having to walk home alone this late at night. But I suppose I could just get a cab. Even though my trust was cut off, I still had some cash on me.

"Well, I probably should be heading home." I give James a small smile and reach for my purse.

Before I can grab it, James leans over and places a hand on my knee. He wraps his other arm tighter around my shoulder and draws me close to him. Placing his lips near my ear, he whispers, "Don't go, baby. You and I can still party together."

His hand starts sliding up my leg and when it hits the hem of my dress, I reach down and grab his wrist firmly. "Sorry, James. I'm not into partying like that."

I still have a slight buzz but nothing to the extent that I would miss the flash of anger in his eyes. His hand grips my leg hard for an instant and then he releases me. "It's no problem, baby. How about I walk you home?"

He gazes at me and I note how bleary his eyes look. He has been pounding liquor all night and I hate dealing with drunks and their unpredictability.

He moves his eyes down my body, resting on my breasts while he licks his lips. That's just nasty and I sense danger. I'm not sure why I'm so uncomfortable though. I'm sitting in a packed nightclub. He's released my leg and he's offering to walk me home, but ultimately my instinct tells me to leave this one alone for the night.

"That's alright. I can make my way home," I assure him.

His hand goes back to my leg and he squeezes it again. Not hard, but it's menacing to me. "I insist. It wouldn't be right for me to let you leave out of here all alone.

" His voice is oily, like a used car salesman.

I sit up straight and try to look as tough as possible. "No, James...I'm going home by myself."

He just grins at me then runs his eyes down to my chest again. His hand squeezes and relaxes, squeezes and relaxes. "Darling...you can walk out of this club, but I'm coming with you. Now, do you want anything before we leave?"

My mind is racing. The intimidation from this guy is causing what little bit of a buzz I had to quickly fade. For all I know, he could just be a weasel that will walk me home and try to cop a feel. Or he could be something far more sinister, hoping to take advantage of me.

I could kill Tina and Tonya for leaving me.

I also know that he's very drunk and I need to deal with him delicately so as not to incite him. I try to put on my most flattering smile. "Okay, have it your way. Let me run to the restroom one more time. All that water just runs right through me."

"Sure thing. I'll settle up our tab. Just meet me back here."

I stand up and I'm dismayed that I'm a little shaky, but it's not from the alcohol. It's from extreme nervousness. I walk toward the bathroom and when I reach the hallway that leads to the facilities, I take a glance back. James is still sitting there, watching me. Leering. I give him a small smile and enter the hallway.

Once I'm in the bathroom, I pull my phone out. I can't call Fil because she's probably passed out. Ryan is at an away game in Philadelphia. There's no way I'm calling Danny since she's pregnant. She's not getting anywhere near this mess.

I call the one person who I shouldn't but more than anything I want here right now to rescue me from this mess.

The phone only rings twice before it's answered.

"Hello," Nix says. I've clearly woken him up.

"Nix. I'm in trouble I think."

"Emily? Where are you?" He sounds worried. Not pissed off, as I'd expected.

I tell him the name of the club and give him the address.

"Do not leave that building. I'll be there soon."

He disconnects without saying anything else. I estimate it will take him a good half hour to make it here and I'm fine hiding in this bathroom until then.

I wait, standing near the sink. I splash cold water on my face and pat my skin dry. I can't believe I just called Nix. He's not even a friend but he seemed like the person I should have called. Part of it was probably that conversation I had earlier tonight with Fil and maybe this was just my first move toward flirting with Nix. Ultimately, James probably would never have done anything to me, but I feel much safer knowing I don't have to even put myself into that position.