This was the first chapter of a proposed novel I planned on writing about a year ago. A year later, the first chapter is all that exists.

Though the room was dim, it wasn’t dark. How could it be, I thought, with the flashes of red, green, and blue strobe lights. Smoke filled the air — it was one of the few places you could still smoke inside — and my eyes began to water. Smoking was a nasty habit, one I’d started and stopped more times in my lifetime than you’d believe possible.

I cut my way through the dense haze, pushing my way to the bar. It was a very ornate thing, a dark wood — cherry, maybe? — that had been ruined by one too few drink coasters. Off-color rings were scattered about the top layer of wood; nothing a good buffing wouldn’t take care of, I thought.

I motioned toward the bartender and was promptly ignored. His attention was on a hot young blonde at the end of the counter. She was tough to miss — hell, she caught my attention the moment she walked in the door. Shoulder-length hair, a slender waist and legs that seemed a mile long. Sure, she was a dime-a-dozen here in Los Angeles, but there was something different about her that I just couldn’t put my finger on.

The bartender, after what seemed like forever, made his way to where I sat. He seemed annoyed that I had taken him away from his flirting, though, honestly, he had no chance with this girl — overweight and balding, the man had a deep scar that began just over his right eye and continued south of his mouth. He was a hideous thing.

Being the nice guy that I am, I smiled at him. His sour expression didn’t soften.

“Appletini?”

Now that got a reaction. The man bit back a laugh, gave me a queer look — in multiple uses of the word, mind you — and turned his back to me as he made my drink. And I know what you’re thinking — appletini, really? And the answer is, yes, I really drink appletinis. I’ve done a lot of drinking in my life — from sake to moonshine — and when you find something you like, you stick with it. Even if it does garner you a few weird looks from time to time.

The bar was one I’d never visited before, but was definitely a popular place. The music was loud and the beats irregular — today’s music does nothing for me — but you couldn’t tell that to the people on the dance floor. The bumping, the grinding, it was so incredibly sexual that dancers might as well have not been wearing anything at all.

Those who weren’t on the dance floor — like myself — were seated at dozens of small tables around the establishment or at the bar. Most people came with someone; I, however, came along unattached tonight.

I hoped, of course, that would change by the end of the evening.

The bartender, who I’m going to say is probably named something like “Dennis” or “Keith,” returned with my green concoction and slid it to me. I paid him double for his trouble; remember, I’m a nice guy.

Despite his demeanor, the man could make a drink — the icy liquid burned down my throat, making me feel alive for the first time tonight. The intoxication was quick — I didn’t drink that often, so the few times I would allow myself to, inebriation was quick and effortless.

By the time I finished my third drink, I noticed the blonde at the end of the bar had spared a few glances in my direction. It wasn’t terribly surprising — I’d been told a few times that I had an appealing face, and thankfully had genetics that never allowed me to have more than 9 percent body fat. Attracting women had never been the problem; keeping them, on the other hand…

I’m also terribly egotistical, a trait that becomes more and more evident depending on the alcohol in my system. I held up my drink toward the woman, a toast of sort, and smiled. Thankfully, it was returned, with a set of perfectly white teeth.

I returned to my drink, debating on ordering a Lava Lamp — they probably don’t make it where you live, so don’t ask — when I felt a presence sidle up in the seat next to me.

The blonde, I thought. I was right. And honestly, she was more attractive up close than she was at the end of the table. The red dress left little to the imagination, hugging every curve perfectly.

“Hi,” she said. Her voice wasn’t overly feminine, and had a bit of a rasp to it. Seductive, I thought.

“Good evening,” I replied. Now, remember how I talked about the whole “attracting women but not keeping them” thing? Well, here’s the thing — I’m terrible with women. I like women, I love women, but I don’t get women. And worse yet? I don’t really know how to talk to them without sounding like a complete idiot.

“I know you probably hear this a lot,” she said, leaning in just a few inches from my ear, “but…appletini?”

I laughed. “The taste buds want what they want — who am I to argue?”

She smiled — she really did have a beautiful smile, I thought. “So do you typically give in to things that you want?”

Now that was a loaded question and, honestly, one I would typically screw up. Like the time the cheerleader for the UCLA football team asked me if I’d help her study Geometry. At 3 in the morning. On a Friday night. Want to hear my response? “It’s a little late, I need to get home.”

Idiot.

Tonight would be different, though.

“When it’s something I really want,” I said. Yeah, that’s my best shot at giving a smooth response. Glad you were here to witness it.

She twirled a lock of golden hair and leaned in even closer — I could feel her breath in my ear. “Is there anything you want right now?”

I smiled. Twenty minutes and a cab ride later, we were at a small apartment complex off Ventura Boulevard. She opened the door quickly, kicked off her shoes, grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me close. She tasted wonderful.

The bedroom was down the hall, first door on the left — at least I assumed it was the bedroom as the bathroom would have made little sense — and I soon found myself allowing her to push me onto her bed.

Thoughts raced through my head — I probably had a few too many to drink — and I could feel my heart racing. Not a common occurrence, I thought.

She unbuttoned the top of her dress and allowed it to fall freely to the floor, and moved her hair to one side, leaving her slender neck exposed on the right side. She dipped her shoulders as she moved to kiss me again, but her lips never reached mine.

My teeth sank into her neck furiously as I allowed my animal instincts to overcome me.

She tasted wonderful.