Chapter 7: Girls Night Out
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The scent of stale beer and cheap perfume wafted through the lavender-hued air of Emily's bedroom, a pungent reminder of the night's escapades. The bed, a relic from a time when they were still a couple, creaked and groaned with each shift of the sheets, as if eager to share the sordid details of the evening's festivities. Dean lay sprawled on his back, his mind racing with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
He was still reeling from the conversation he'd had with Emily earlier that day, and the raw, honest words that had passed between them.
Emily had been right, of course. They couldn't keep dancing around the issue, playing this twisted game of push and pull, jealousy and denial. But the thought of letting go, of truly moving on, was like a physical pain in his chest.
Tonight Emily usually did bar night with the girls. He knew she said she likely wasn't going but he had heard that song before. He should probably go out himself. He wasn't in the mood to sit around here wondering if Emily would come home alone or not alone.
Emily drove around the same block three times, no real destination in mind.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, each one fighting for control. She knew what she needed to do, but the thought of it made her stomach twist into knots.
She took a deep breath and pulled into the nearest parking lot, turning off the engine and sitting in silence for a moment. Emily's phone rang breaking the silence. She glanced at the dashboard clock and realized it was almost 9pm. Where had the time gone?
She reached for her phone, hesitating before finally picking up. It was Emily's friend Stacey. Emily could hear music in the background. "Girl where are you?," Stacey asked, her voice slurred.
"Hey, Stace. I'm just... out and about," Emily replied vaguely.
"Out and about? Girl, your voice sounds like you've been crying. Spill the tea, what's going on?" Stacey demanded.
Emily sighed, leaning her head against the steering wheel. "I don't know, Stace. I'm just... confused. I had this conversation with Dean earlier, and it was like... it was like we were finally being real with each other. But then... then I went and had a great fuck with Marcus, and now I'm just...
fucked up, you know? I don't know what I want anymore. I thought I did, but then Dean and I have moments like that, and it just...complicates everything."
Stacey sighed dramatically on the other end of the line. "Girl, you are so fucking complicated. But you love it, don't you? You love the drama, the back and forth. You're like a fucking soap opera heroine."
Emily chuckled despite herself. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm fucking ridiculous."
"No, you're not ridiculous, Em. You're just...you.
You're just a hot mess who loves to fuck and then feels guilty about it. But you're my hot mess, and I love you for it."
Emily laughed, wiping away a tear that had escaped during their conversation. "Thanks, Stace. You always know how to cheer a girl up."
"That's what best friends are for, bitch. Now, are you gonna sit in that parking lot all night, or are you gonna come join us? I promise we're not as fucked up as you are right now."
Emily smiled, wiping away the last of her tears. "No, I'm good.
I don't think I'm up for a night out tonight. I'm just going to head home and… relax, I guess," Emily said, still staring blankly at the parking lot.
"Relax? Honey, you never relax. " Stacey chuckled.
"Well, maybe this time I'll try. It's not like I have anything better to do," Emily replied, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Well, if that's what you want.
Just remember, when you're sitting there all alone, trying to figure out what to do with yourself, that it was your choice. Nobody forced you to sit in that parking lot and wallow in self-pity," Stacey said, her voice filled with mock sympathy.
Emily shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "You know what? Fuck it I'm in. I need a drink.......or ten."
Emily hung up the phone, a determined look in her eye. She had been sitting in her car, wallowing in self-pity for far too long. It was time to get out there and have some fun. She had always been the life of the party, and tonight was no exception.
She pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards the bar where Stacey and the rest of their friends were waiting for her. As she drove, she blasted her favorite playlist, singing along at the top of her lungs and swaying to the music. By the time she pulled up to the bar, she was already in a better mood.
She spotted her friends inside and made her way to the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. The music was loud, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of cheap beer, and the crowd was already well on its way to drunken debauchery. Emily grinned, this was her kind of place.
As she slid into her seat at the table with her friends, Stacey looked up from her drink and grinned.
Emily shot her a sarcastic salute.
"Cheers to that, Stace. Here's to being a hot mess and loving every minute of it."
Stacey clinked glasses with Emily, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, who's the lucky guy tonight? Marcus? Or are we branching out to new territory?"
Emily rolled her eyes, "Actally, I'm thinking I might give my vag the night off Stace." Emily smirked. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm thinking of going on a 'dick detox'. You know, just to... clear my head, that sort of thing?"
Stacey nearly choked on her drink, her eyes widening in disbelief. "A dick detox? Emily, are you having a stroke? Since when do you go without dick for more than, what, an hour?"
Emily laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Hey, I'm serious! I need a break, okay?. Not that I don't love your casual inference that I'm a whore."
Stacey waved her hand dismissively. "You know what I mean. You're like a junkie, Em. You need that daily fix. So, what's the deal? Did someone break your little heart again?"
Emily sighed dramatically, staring down into her drink. I had this... thing with Dean the other day. We actually talked like real people, not just exes trying to throw shade at each other. It was nice, he was sweet, he made me cry, but then I went and had a mind-blowing fuckfest with Marcus, and now I'm all confused and shit."
Stacey nodded solemnly, taking a sip of her drink.
"Ah, the classic fuck-it-all-to-hell breakdown. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."
Emily snorted, "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Stace. But no, I'm serious. I need a break. From everything. Guys, drama, even beer. I need to detox my life."
Stacey's eyes widened in mock horror, "Detox? Emily, are you sure you're not about to join a cult or something?
Because this sounds like the beginning of a Lifetime movie," Stacey said, her eyes wide with mock horror.
Emily laughed, "No, no cults for me. Just a little R&R, you know? Recharge and relax. And no guys, no drama, no hangovers. Just me, a good book, and maybe a spa day or two."
Stacey shook her head, "I don't know if I've ever heard you talk about a good book before. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
Emily laughed, waving Stacey's concern away. "I mean, it's not like I'm going to become a Nun overnight. I just need a little breather, you know?"
"A breather, huh?" Stacey raised an eyebrow, signaling the bartender. "Well, if that's what you need, then let's give you a proper send-off. We can't have you going all cold turkey without a little help, can we?"
The bartender walked over, and Stacey ordered a round of shots. "What are we drinking to?" Stacey asked, turning to Emily with a grin.
Emily rolled her eyes, but she was already laughing. "I don't know, to my vagina's retirement?
Maybe a moment of silence for the brave pink soldiers who have served my vag so valiantly?" Emily joked, as she downed her shot, the burn of the liquor warming her throat.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message from Dean. She hesitated for a moment, her heart doing a little flip-flop in her chest. She hadn't expected to hear from him tonight, especially not after the way they had left things earlier.
Stacey noticed her pause and nudged her, "Who's that? Your dick detox hasn't even started yet and you're already getting messages from guys wanting to give you one last send-off?"
Emily tried to play it cool, but her cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced down at her phone. "It's just Dean. He must want to talk about something," she said, her voice a little too casual.
Stacey's eyes widened in amusement as Emily quickly ordered another shot, her cheeks still flushed from the previous one.
"Well, well, well, look who's trying to drown their feelings," Stacey teased, clinking glasses with Emily.
Emily's phone buzzed again, this time the ringtone she had set for Dean chiming loudly in the crowded bar. She glanced at the screen, her heart pounding as she saw his name flash across it. Her initial reaction was to ignore it, to push it away and continue with her plans for the night. But something deep inside her made her hesitate. She knew she couldn't keep running from her feelings forever.
"Who is it?" Stacey asked, noticing Emily's pause. "Is it Marcus already trying to change your mind about the dick detox?"
Emily shook her head, her eyes still glued to the screen. "No, it's Dean.
He wants to know if I'm okay," Emily admitted, handing her phone to Stacey, who took it with a smirk.
Stacey read the message aloud, "'Hey Emily, just checking in. You sounded a little off earlier. Everything okay? Let me know if you need to talk or anything.' How sweet, he's being all concerned and shit," Stacey teased, handing the phone back to Emily.
Emily rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed slightly. "Yeah, yeah, he's a real piece of work. Always trying to be all caring and shit," what an asshole, Emily said touched by Dean's message.
Stacey clinked glasses with Emily again, a knowing smile on her face.
Emily took another shot, feeling the warmth spread through her. She pulled out her phone and quickly typed out a response to Dean.
"I'm fine, just detoxing. Don't worry about me," she sent, adding a wink emoji for good measure. She showed the message to Stacey, who laughed and clapped her on the back.
Dean replied
"Just detoxing, huh? That's your code word for 'I'm drunk and feeling all the feels, but I don't want to talk about it.' Got it."
Stacey winked at her "Now let's get you really fucked up, so you can't remember any of this tomorrow."
Emily grinned, feeling the alcohol starting to take effect. "Sounds like a plan." Emily winked at Stacey, signaling the bartender for another round of shots. "Keep 'em coming. I'm on a mission tonight!" She laughed, the sound echoing through the crowded bar.
Emily continued, A daring mission to what, exactly? Obliterate my liver? Or just my common sense and good judgment?"
Emily rolled her eyes and downed the first shot, the liquid fire burning a path down her throat. "Nah, I'm on a mission to forget. Forget about Dean, forget about Marcus, forget about every guy who's ever given me a second glance.
I just want to have some fun tonight." She slid the empty glass across the sticky bar top and grabbed the next shot, a determined look in her eyes. "So, who's up for a game of 'Never Have I Ever'? Stacey?"
Emily laughed loudly, drawing attention from nearby patrons. A few heads turned her way, and she just grinned, giving a little wave. "You've all heard about my 'dick detox' right? Well, let's send these boys off in style, shall we?" as the people nearby gave her a puzzled look.
Stacey chuckled, shaking her head at her friend's antics. "I'm game. Who's with us?" She scanned the table, a mischievous glint in her eye.
A chorus of approving shouts and whistles erupted from the group, and soon enough, a lively game of "Never Have I Ever" was in full swing.
Emily giggled as she took another shot, the room starting to spin slightly, but in a good way. She had always loved this game, the thrill of revealing secrets, the chance to see her friends squirm.
As the questions grew more and more outrageous, Emily found herself laughing harder and harder. She was already several shots deep and feeling no pain.
"Never have I ever... given a stranger a Nick name during sex," Stacey said, and Emily's eyes widened. She took a shot, laughing as she did. "What? I thought it would be funny to call Marcus 'Thor' because of his...mighty hammer."
Her friends erupted in laughter, and Emily grinned, feeling her cheeks flush. She was having fun, and that was all that mattered. She didn't want to think about Dean or about the way he had gazed into her eyes.
As the game of Never Have I Ever continued, the shots kept coming, and Emily's inhibitions continued to melt away. She found herself laughing louder, talking dirtier, and feeling more and more alive with each passing second.
"Never have I ever... fucked someone I just met," Stacey said with a wicked grin.
Emily hesitated for a moment, her mind flashing back to the many times she had done exactly that in the last month. She looked around the table, finally, she met Stacey's gaze and nodded, "Fuck yeah, I've done that. Many times." She winked and downed her shot, the liquor burning like hellfire down her throat.
As the night wore on, the questions got dirtier, and the shots flowed like water. Emily was already pretty wasted, but she didn't care.
She had always loved the freedom that alcohol gave her, the way it loosened her inhibitions and made her feel invincible. She was the life of the party.
"you know, Stace," Emily slurred, "I need to just decide. Do I want my love with dean, or do I want excitement and good boning, really that simple."
Stacey raised an eyebrow, "Love with Dean, huh?
Emily continued trying to focus beyond the haze, "Dosn't matter who's going to hurt, Doesn't matter about the past, what do I want Stace, really it's that simple" Emily said, draining another shot.
Stacey looked at Emily with a smirk. "Well Em, you're the one who has to decide that, but let me ask you something. Would you rather be with someone who makes you happy, even if that means giving up some of the excitement and spontaneity?"
Emily pursed her lips, deep in thought. "Dean-----what if I get hurt again Stace?, I can't end up heartbroken again.-------I can't," Emily said her eyes quickly filling with tears.
"I can't go through that again, Stace. The pain, the heartache, it's just too much." Emily wiped away a stray tear, her voice wavering with emotion.
Stacey looked at Emily, her expression softening. She reached across the table and grabbed Emily's hand, squeezing it gently. I know it hurts like hell. But you can't let that stop you from finding happiness. Dean makes you happy, doesn't he?"
Emily nodded, her eyes meeting Stacey's. "Yeah, he does. More than anyone else ever has. But that's the problem, Stace.
He makes me happy, but he also makes me hurt. And I don't know if I can handle that again. I don't know if I can open myself up to that kind of pain again." Emily's voice was barely above a whisper, but it was filled with emotion.
Stacey squeezed Emily's hand tighter, her own eyes reflecting the pain in her friend's. "Trust me, I know. But you can't live your life in fear of getting hurt. You said it's simple and it is. Do you love Dean?" Stacey asked softly, looking straight into Emily's eyes.
Emily bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the table. "Yes, I love him Stace, but I choose FREEDOM, final answer " she cried out in a weak, drunken, whispery voice.
Stacey raised her eyebrows.
She took another shot, downing it in one gulp, wincing as the alcohol burned a trail down her throat. She grimaced as she slammed the glass back down on the table.
"No more looking back!, no more second guesses!, no more pain!, no more crying during my awsome dictox party!" Emily cried out.
The crowd around her fell silent for a moment as all eyes turned to Emily. She laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that cut through the silence.
"Can't a girl have a fucking revelation in peace?" she slurred.
The silence was broken by a round of cheers and clapping from some of the bar patrons, who had been silently witnessing Emily's drunken outburst.
"To Emily and her revelation!" someone shouted, and the crowd echoed the sentiment, raising their glasses in a toast to Emily's declaration.
Emily laughed, a little too loud and a little too long, before finally subsiding into a fit of giggles. She looked around at the sea of strangers cheering her on, and for a moment, she felt a sense of camaraderie. As if everyone in that bar was on her side, rooting for her to find happiness.
A warmth spread through her, and she smiled, holding her glass up in the air in salute. "To Dick," she declared, before downing the rest of her drink.
Emily leaned into Stacey and whispered, "Speaking of dick that's exactly what my awesome dictox party is missing Stace. Time for me to do something about that"
Emily hiccuped, her eyes scanning the crowd.
Stacey rolled her eyes and laughed "Em, make up your mind woman!"
Emily straightened up, her eyes locked onto something or someone across the room. "I know what I want. You just keep the shots coming," she said, pushing off the barstool and making her way towards the familiar face that that had caught her eye.
Stacey watched Emily weave her way through the crowd, her hips swaying slightly with each step.
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As the bar's lights flickered on, signaling last call, Stacey found herself squinting against the sudden brightness. She took a quick look around the now mostly empty bar, her eyes searching for her friend.
"Hey, have you seen Emily?" she asked the bartender, who was already busy stacking glasses and wiping down the counter.
He shook his head, not even breaking his stride. "Nah, she took off a while ago. Said something about needing some fresh air."
Stacey's eyebrows knit together in concern. She knew Emily well enough to know that her friend's definition of "fresh air" was likely code for "drunkenly stumbling around in search of a hookup."
She pushed her way through the remaining patrons, most of whom were already well on their way to blackout territory, and stepped out onto the street.
The cool night air hit her like a wave, sobering her up just enough to make her realize she was in no state to be driving.
She looked around the alley behind the bar, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of her friend. She heard a muffled moan and followed the sound, her curiosity piqued.
Stacey felt a smirk tug at the corners of her mouth as she rounded the corner and found Emily bent over, her dress hiked up around her waist, as Mike pounded into her from behind. Her eyes flicked over to Stacey, and she bit her lip, trying to hide her amusement.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," Stacey said, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms over her chest. "How's that dick detox going, Em?."
Emily shot her a glare over her shoulder, her cheeks flushed with a combination of alcohol and exertion. "Shut up, Stace.
Can't you see I'm busy?" Emily moaned loudly, drawing the attention of a passersby, who paused to watch the spectacle.
Emily's words were slurred, but her hips moved in sync with Mike's thrusts, her body eagerly taking everything he had to give.
Stacey rolled her eyes, barely containing her laughter. "Busy? The only thing you're doing is giving this alley a free show, Emily," she teased, waving to the guy who had stopped to watch.
Emily glared at Stacey, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and arousal. "Fuck off, Stace. I don't need your commentary," she snapped, trying to refocus on Mike's cock buried deep inside her.
"Oh, God, I'm so close," Emily moaned louder.
As Emily reached her peak, her body convulsed with pleasure, and her loud moans echoed through the alley. She felt Mike's grip on her hips tighten as he, too, climaxed, their bodies shuddering and gasping for a release that seemed like an eternity. When it was over, Emily leaned against the cold brick wall, panting and trying to catch her breath.
Stacey rolled her eyes, "I swear, Em, you're the easiest woman to please. It's scary."
"Shut up, you're just jealous," Emily responded, grinning as she readjusted her dress.
"Well, well, well, looks like someone's a happy girl again," Stacey chuckled, smirking at Emily's obvious post-coital glow.
Emily rolled her eyes but couldn't wipe the smile off her face. I've just always been the kind of girl who needs a good fuck to make everything better."
Mike zipped up his pants and gave Emily a lingering kiss on the neck. "Dude, you're fucking amazing," he said, his voice still raspy with lust. "I'd hit that again any day of the week."
Stacey raised an eyebrow at Mike. "Nice to know you're up for it, but I think Emily's all set for now."
Mike smirked, winking at Emily.
Stacey scoffed, "You do know Emily thinks you're a tool, right? That's why she dumped you in the first place."
Mike's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Yeah, well, maybe
Emily finally managed to steady herself enough to step away from the wall, her flushed cheeks now a stark contrast to the cool night air. "You know what, Stace? I think I'm done with this detox shit.
Stacey put her head in her hands and cackled "Ok girl so you're good? You choose dick?" Stacey asked, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Emily let out a drunken shriek and raised her fist in the air and yelled, "I choose dick! I make a declaration, a fucking manifesto, if you will."
Stacey smirked, looking at Emily with a mix of amusement and pride. "My girl knows what she wants."
Emily grinned, her eyes shining with mischief. "Damn right, I do.
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Emily flung herself onto her bed, the tears she had been holding back finally spilling over. She buried her face in her pillow, her body shaking with silent sobs. The room was dark, save for the dim light filtering in through the window from the street below. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, but she ignored it, refusing to acknowledge the light or the sound. All she wanted was to be left alone with her misery and the feeling of empty loneliness that gnawed at her insides. She craved connection, warmth, and understanding. She craved Dean.