Noah enjoyed his light buzz in the corner of the bar while Rachel danced with some of her newly met friends. He wasn't sure how he felt going to another party, especially considering the rumors spreading around campus. It took more than one pep talk in the mirror to remind himself that he couldn't become a recluse. They needed to go out, they needed to experience life. Most importantly, he knew he couldn't keep Rachel in a cage. Love it or hate it, this was their new life, and it was one that Noah would need to learn to embrace.
And that included watching Rachel dance amongst the many leering eyes of men at a bar.
She wore a white crop top with baggy jeans. A trend that seemed to be popping up on campus. It did wonders for her figure, accentuating her hips and complimenting her cleavage. Noah couldn't blame everyone for staring, as always, Rachel looked like she was taken out of a modeling ad. That, coupled with her warm laughter and infectious personality, Rachel was a gravitational force that pulled both men and women alike. It would only be a matter of time before someone made a pass at her, and Noah secretly hoped it would happen.
It wasn't long until they did. As Rachel excused herself from her friend group to head over to the bar, a tall, burly man followed her there. Noah couldn't make out what they were saying, but it was clear by how close he stepped towards her that he was interested in one thing. He caressed her shoulder while leaning into her ear to whisper something. Rachel threw her head back and laughed before shaking her head and pointing towards Noah. The man looked at him, the smile on his face dimming when they made eye contact. Noah raised his empty glass, and without a second word, the man politely smiled at Rachel before walking off.
Noah and Rachel caught each other's eyes. She gave him a playful thumbs up as the bartender handed her two drinks, Noah couldn't help but laugh as she made her way over to him.
"Hey mister! Having a fun time over here?" She asked, placing a drink down in front of Noah before sliding into the booth next to him.
"You know me, I absolutely love a loud bar," Noah said jokingly. Rachel laughed as she rubbed Noah's back.
"Thank you for always being such a trooper with these things. I love having you here with me."
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Noah replied, Rachel looked at him longingly before leaning in for a kiss. Her lips were sweaty and slightly chilled from her drink.
"Did you see that guy at the bar?" Rachel asked.
"I did. What was that about?"
"He was asking if I was here alone and if I wanted to go with him somewhere more private," Rachel replied. "That's when I let him know you were over here."
Noah's heart raced as he pictured Rachel leaving with another man. He did his best to hide the bulge forming in his pants.
"I wonder what he would've wanted to do," Noah said passively, Rachel's eyes lit up as she smiled brightly.
"Noah!" She shouted, pushing on his arm playfully. They both laughed. "You wouldn't have been bothered by me leaving with a complete stranger?"
Noah shrugged.
"What about being left here completely alone while everyone watched another man take your girlfriend from you?"
"I don't hate the idea," He answered. Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Something about our latest venture tells me otherwise," She said.
Noah raised his hands. "In theory, ok?" Rachel laughed as she adjusted one of Noah's loose hairs.
"Fair enough. I don't know how comfortable I am with it but maybe a future talking point for us," Rachel kissed Noah on the cheek. "I'm going to head back out to the dance floor, are you going to be ok here by yourself for a little while longer?" She asked.
"Oh yeah, I'll be alright, go have fun!"
Rachel gently squeezed his arm. "Kiss me before I go." Noah happily obliged.
"Have fun," He said.
"Don't worry, I will!" Rachel scooted out of the booth and headed to the dancefloor once again. Noah watched as she and her friends enjoyed the DJ's haphazard music set. Overall, the night was turning out to be fun and uneventful.
Until Mike came through the front door.
Being the biggest partier amongst his friend group, Noah wasn't surprised to see him turn up. He also wasn't surprised how quickly Rachel caught his eye. Without any hesitation, he beelined for her.
It didn't seem like Mike had noticed him yet. Noah wondered what Mike would do if he thought Rachel was here alone. The music blared overhead as Mike cut through her friend group and grabbed Rachel by her waist. At first, Rachel was caught off guard. But upon seeing it was Mike, she expertly changed Mike's sexual energy into a friendly greeting with a warm smile and a gentle hug. She placed a hand on Mike's shoulder as the two spoke, and Mike in return kept his hand on Rachel's hip.
Noah's heart raced, but he didn't move from his chair. A part of him wanted to see it, he wanted to know how far Mike would take things. Rachel glanced over at Noah, he knew the look well. She was gauging how he felt about the situation, she wanted to know if he was ok with what was happening.
Uncertain if she would understand, Noah gave her a thumbs up. Upon seeing it, Rachel winked back at him and turned her attention to Mike, placing a hand on his neck. Mike took it as a queue to make a move. His hands immediately wrapped around her waist, Rachel's friends, in somewhat of a shock, looked over at Noah in confusion.
Right, their friends. He hadn't thought through this part. But at this juncture, there wasn't much he could do except smile and let them know he saw it and that he was ok with it.
He was actively letting an entire bar know he was ok with Mike taking Rachel. Upon seeing that Noah was aware, Rachel's friends slowly went back to their own business, having fun and dancing while Mike wrapped his arm around Rachel's waist and guided her to a more open part of the dance floor.
They danced in each other's arms, their bodies touching as Mike's hands became more adventurous with where they explored. The music slowed. Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck, Mike in turn pulled her close and squeezed her ass tightly. Noah felt his stomach lurch, particularly when several confused spectators looked at them, and then back at him.
They pointed. They laughed. They carried on with the night. All the while Noah watched with a racing heart and uncomfortable bulge in his pants. Memories of prom night flashed in his mind. Images of finding out the truth, of walking into a basement and never really leaving it. Only this time, he was in control. This time, he was doing it with someone he really could trust.
It also helped that Mike was relatively harmless in Noah's eyes. There was an innocence to his carnal desire. Mike was existing in the moment, getting as much as Rachel would give, and nothing more. For that, at least, Noah was grateful.
Moments bled together, and as Noah finished his drink, he watched Rachel pull away from Mike's beefy arms, her fingers sliding down to his hands as she spoke a few more words to him and walked over to Noah. It was only then that Mike spotted Noah, and as soon as he did, he put a hand over his mouth, before promptly pulling out his phone. Noah felt his phone buzz and pulled it out.
Mike: Dude, I'm so sorry. She kinda came onto me and wuz hot so I touched her butt and shit. Not cool I know.
Noah chuckled under his breath and shook his head, at least he was honest.
Noah: It's cool.
Noah pressed send as Rachel approached.
"So... how was the show?" She asked. Noah smiled.
"It was pretty good, what did he say to you?" Noah asked, glancing at Mike who looked up from his phone and gave Noah a sloppy salute before stumbling into the crowd.
"He asked if he could fuck me several times. Then asked if we could at least make out if we asked you first," Rachel slid next to Noah and wrapped herself around his arm.
"Well that was nice of him to consider me," Noah said. The two laughed together as Rachel moved her fingers between his.
