ADAM

He’s drinking champagne during Ramadan.

Again.

Adam Said has never been one to follow rules; he’s been expelled from his previous two Universities, been charged for drink driving twice, half disowned by his family and he can’t even remember the last time that he looked at the front cover of the Quran, let alone read it.

His parents had hoped that it was a stage, but now it’s morphing into a lifestyle. He’s becoming a reckless disaster and there’s no stopping his demise.

This is the fourth party he’s been to this week, despite it being Thursday night. All the drugs, alcohol and cigarettes are slowly fuelling the train wreck that will come his way someday if he doesn’t get his act together. But for now, he’s immersed in the moment.

Letting himself go in the middle of the rave, his excitement reaches a peak when his favourite song begins to belt out over the speakers.

The neon green buzz cut sticks out like a sore thumb. One of the “cool kids”, he’s wearing a colourful over shirt, khaki shorts and a pair of high tops he stole — sorry borrowed from one of his best friends, Marco, who’s sipping on the cocktail that some hot girl left with him and never claimed back.

Opposite them is Georgia, his other best friend. She’s enjoying watching Marco drunkenly waltz out of time to the beat of the music:

“This party’s sick! I’m glad you dragged us down here, Georgie.”

She smirks. “I know the best spots, don’t I?”

“You do, considering how you always seem to be at home studying all the time.”

“Eh? It’s not my fault that exams are coming up.”

“At least painting naked models is part of your criteria. I’m swapping courses.”

She can hardly contain her laughter. “Of course you are. Would Salazar even be able to tolerate you?”

Marco shrugs back. “Am I that bad? Look at me — I’m loveable, tall and sexy — “

“ — And a Narco. Marco the Narco. How high are you right now, dude?” She asks with a smirk etched across her face.

“Higher than the Himalayas.”

She looks at Adam. “And you’re K2.”

“You’re not exactly sober yourself. What is this? Your fifth drink?”

Marco scoffs. “In the last hour, knowing her.”

Adam laughs. “At least I’m not a loser.”

“I’m the loser?” He looks at Adam. “You were a virgin up until last year.”

“Hey, I may be a late bloomer but at least I’m not stupid. Imagine getting a D in Biology. The easiest subject around.”

Georgia winks at Adam. “He isn’t the only one getting Ds.”

“I don’t swing that way.”

Marco smirks at him. “Prove it.”

“How?”

“You see that girl in the middle of the floor?”

He looks across the club. “The blonde one?”

Marco nods. “I want you to go and make out with her. I bet you twenty euros that you can’t pull.”

“Forty.”

“Okay, you’re on.” They shake on it. Marco counts the money and slips the bills into his other pocket. “Think of all the free drinks you can get.”

Adam nods confidently, smirking as he strides towards the prize. Georgia shakes her head. “You two are unbelievable, you know that?”

Marco shrugs as he watches Adam approach the destination. “If anything, it’ll be entertaining whether he succeeds or not.”

“Well that is true.” She adds, leaning back and settling in beside an excited Marco. “Now I know why you’re getting so jittery.”

“I know right? It’s great.”

Their conversation trails off into the distance as Adam weaves his way through the crowd of zoned out zombies. He pauses for a moment to weigh up the scenario unfolding in front of his thirsty eyes:

An attractive young lady with cropped hair and a perfectly proportioned hourglass figure, getting down to the beat of a reggaeton song, not giving a care who’s watching. She exudes both confidence and sensuality well beyond her years.

Even to a guy who doesn’t usually hit on strangers in steamy clubs, she really is drop dead gorgeous. An assassin in her own right, she has the attention of every eligible bachelor in the place.

She knows all the killer moves and is executing them perfectly.

Men drop down at her feet, screaming as she crushes them with her irreplaceable beauty. Hypnotised by her seductress ways, she grabs them by the shirt, seducing them in the moment as her hips sway to the beat.

They get caught up in the rush of euphoria, and become addicted to her aura like a magnet. The woman’s a living drug and everyone wants their fix. She doesn’t give away anything. Nothing at all. There are no winners here.

Just a bunch of horny losers trying their luck.

And he’s ended up as one of them.

Approaching the middle of the floor, he becomes lost in a sea of testosterone, cologne, desperation and sweat.

Swallowing his heartbeat, he thinks to himself: Is it any wonder that all the pretty ones have died and went to hell?

Dancing alone, she doesn’t need a man. But he wants to take his chances anyway. Prove to Marco that he isn’t just some shrinking violet that lets once in a lifetime opportunities like this slip by unnoticed.

Reaching out, he touches her on the arse. He can barely see as the lighting begins to dim down. He’s glad that he’s made it over in time for the beginning of the blackout party.

He wants to take advantage of the situation, as he starts grinding up against her. Harder and harder with each hitting drumbeat. Close enough to rub against those big cheeks.

She begins to turn around. Now’s his moment to shine. Meeting her halfway, he decides to kiss her on the lips but she’s having none of it.

She decides to shove him away. He sinks lower than the underworld itself. She must have hated his delivery. He tries to come onto her again but gets a slap on the face. Backing off, he starts rubbing it like crazy.

The hyena collective are laughing at him when he backs down again. He walks over towards the bar, trying to keep up appearances as he sits back down in front of them both.

Marco high fives him when he returns: “I’m giving you fifty for your confidence.”

“Thanks.” Adam adds with a smile. “I feel like you’re both taking pity on me, though.”

“You did get a good whack.” Georgia adds. “Maybe we felt your pain from across the room?”

“Good one(!)” Adam adds sipping on the drink that Marco has left out for him. He’s enjoying it. It’s not too strong but not too weak either. Just right. “This tastes good.”

“Like the pussy you could have had if you’d tried a bit harder.” Marco jokes as Adam approaches the stairs to the VIP section. “Get back. I didn’t come here to watch you sulk.”

Running up the steps, he laughs as Marco begins to catch up with him. Looking down at everyone else, he feels so tall. Watching the dancing silhouettes wave their neon glow sticks hypnotises him to the point that he doesn’t feel the hand creeping onto his shoulder.

“Hola, Primo.” Turning around, he jumps in shock. The figure bursts out laughing. “Sup?”

“Dude, you scared the crap out of me.” Adam says to Adnan, his favourite cousin. A year and a whole class system might separate them, but Adam doesn’t mind. Adnan and his family have always been generous to him. “Don’t do that again?”

“Fine. I won’t.” Adnan adds, turning around to greet Marco with a high five. “And how’s the birthday boy enjoying himself?”

Marco smiles. “He’s loving it. Thanks for getting us in here. You’re the best.”

“Anything for my family — “

“ — I’m in your family?”

“Extended family, Marco. You’re still counted as my family, though. You’re great.”

“I know I am.” Marco adds, watching the champagne fountain spill into pristine glasses. “Can I have one?”

“You can have as many as you want.”

Marco picks up a glass and scoops as much as he can into it. He takes a big gulp and drinks more. He’s loving life. Adam laughs, shakes his head and takes a glass over to the sofa by the window.

Someone else is sitting there. He plonks down beside them; a man, seemingly around his age with deep, blue eyes, messy, brown hair and a smile that would melt through even the iciest of hearts holds out his soft, pale hand. Adam shakes it, pausing for a moment to examine the work of art in front of him.

“Cat got your tongue?” The man jokes back. “I’m David. Nice to meet you…”

“…Adam.” He adds back with a yawn. “You new here?”

David nods. “Moved here recently. My stepdad and Mama dragged me here for business reasons. This country’s nice. How about you?”

His sultry, French(?) accent slides through Adam’s ears like a golden knife spreading itself through melted butter, onto a piece of golden toast. It’s satisfying. He wants to hear more:

“Adnan’s my cousin and I’m here with my friend, Marco,” pointing over to the idiot by the champagne fountain, Adam tries not to laugh, “that’s him. He’s finally a big boy.”

David chuckles. “Nice. Do you go to the Institut by any chance?”

Adam shrugs. “I used to. What are you doing down here?”

“A few chicks here and a few chicks there.” Marco slurs, walking over to them, not even caring about how much drink he spills. “Marco, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

David nods. “Yeah, Adam told me you had a birthday today? Happy Birthday.”

“Thanks. I like this club, the chicas are hot. The drink’s good and I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else right now.” Marco shoves Adam to the side and slides in between them both, creating a segue between the conversations. “Escapism is great, especially with what’s going on at the minute. In the midst of a segregationist movement, we’re all united here under one roof and it’s great.”

“Sorry about him being rude. He gets obnoxiously political when he’s wasted enough. Narco’s a real liberal.”

David’s very relaxed. “Hey, no need to apologise. He’s just out having a good time like the rest of us.”

“Yeah, Adam. It’s still my birthday.”

Adam checks his watch. “It’s actually one minute past midnight.”

“But we’re still all here, celebrating the fact that I was squeezed out of my Mama’s birth canal twenty years ago and have been awesome ever since.”

“It’s actually two minutes past now — “

“And you’re a grumpy buzzkill because you haven’t gotten laid in months.” Marco laughs, drawing himself closer into Adam. “Grumpistan.” His breath’s been tainted by cigar smoke and expensive liquor. “You could have got laid by the sexiest woman in the club if you hadn’t have been so awkward — “

Adam shoves him away. ‘’ — I’m not like you, okay? I’m not a freak.”

“I’m a freak? At least I’m not a mariposa like you — “

“ — At least I can respect women.” Adam hisses, punching Marco on the gut.

Within seconds, a fight breaks out between the duo. Adnan rushes over and tries to pull them apart, alongside David and a few others but they’re as strong as bulls.

Hearing the commotion, Georgia rushes upstairs quickly. As do some kids with their phones out. They almost trample her into the ground, in the name of getting some ‘viral moment’ out there first.

By the time she manages to get into the VIP section, most of the drama’s died down. The crowd are dispersing and they’ve managed to be separated. Tensions are running higher than they’ve ever been and emotions are flowing from their sweaty, substance drenched pores.

Lalo, one of the owners bursts onto the scene just as the space between the duo grows further apart. David restrains Marco and Adnan grabs Adam. Heavy footsteps and strong arms clear the scene. Georgia steps back as a muscular shadow looms over them both, darkening the atmosphere of the fluorescent room.

He shakes his head and stares at them both. “You’re truly pathetic. I want you out of my club, immediately. You’re barred from this club for three months. Go home, sober up and think about what you’ve done.”

Walking away from the mess, the stairs creak as he makes his way back down. Adnan and David let go of them and stand back as Georgia grabs a wobbling Adam by his hand. “Take me away from here.”

Georgia nods as she tightens her grip around him. As they approach the bannister, a loud, sudden thud draws their attention over to Marco, who’s now slumped over in the white, leather chair.