The Boy Who Broke Me

Explode

                                                                                   MADISON

"Why aren't you parking out front?" Emily asks Ben as we pass by the club, continuing around the block to a dark and deserted street.

"Because I don't want some drunk guy to scratch my beamer pulling out this dump later, that's why" he answers her, probably more rudely than he intended. Instead of snapping at him she just rolls her eyes and shrugs it off.

"Bennet's precious baby" she mutters just loud enough for him to hear.

It seems like we're quickly headed into nowhere, but after driving through some side streets for a while we finally find an empty parking spot. Emily and I shoot each other skeptical glances, but the excitement of the night washes away any misgivings. Giggling, we excitedly climbing out of the car and into the night air. The second my feet hit the ground, my plain of vision tilts a full 30 degrees, making me realize I'm probably way more drunk now than I was when we left my house. So much more in fact, that as soon as I start walking I nearly lose my balance and have to grab Emily's arm.

"Here" she says, passing me the near empty bottle, "last one for the night."

I hesitate for a second, not wanting to end up sloppy, but finally put the cool glass against my mouth, sucking down one last sip. Each of us takes another drink from it before Ben hucks the empty bottle into a person's front yard, laughing as it shatters against their porch.

"A charitable donation." He smirks, acting like this neighborhood is beneath him. I smile, pretending it doesn't bother me, but a wave repulsion ripples under my skin.

Normally I would never try to get into to a club underage, but tonight I've had more than enough liquid courage. It's probably stupid, but as we're walking, I start to feel like I've got this in the bag. Confident off Vodka and the heat of summer, I tell myself there's no way I look only 17. I think about how much more mature I am and how easy this will be to pull off while we trudge together through the darkness. Emily and I wobble and weave across the sidewalk, blindly following Bennet through the shadows of a sketchy looking neighborhood. I've never been to this part of the city before, and I have no idea where I am. That, and between the alcohol and lack of streetlamps, it's too disorienting to recognize any landmarks. It might be babyish but less than five minutes after leaving the car, I'm starting to feel nervous. Emily may not be scared, but I know she's about to complain too because she hates walking in heels, and she keeps stopping to pull her dress down. Finally, after several blocks we're able to see the bar ahead. Even from a distance it's clear that the place is packed with people. All down the street, tons of college kids are standing around the place, either waiting to get inside, talking, or smoking. The music is so loud we can hear it from where we stand, but it only sounds like a thundering bass with some muffled noise rising over the din.

"Try to look sober." Ben snaps at us before taking my hand and leading us up to the door.

Sober is about the furthest thing from how I feel right now, but I do my best to stand up straight and walk without swaying. Bennet drags me along by the wrist as we push past the crowd of people and make our way to the entrance. Sitting on a stool outside is the bouncer I assume Bennet was telling us about earlier. He's a middle-aged looking bald guy with a beer gut and I can practically feel him undressing me with his eyes the entire time he checks us in. He looks at Ben and Emily briefly, waving them inside before taking a long look at me. At first I'm nervous, thinking that he must know I'm underage. After a second it's clear what he's thinking though, as he slowly checks me out from my head to toes. His eyes scan my body like an x-ray, sizing me up and down at least twice, making me feel naked.