The ride was amazing. Arlo loved the feeling of excitement as the car was speeding on the road. Actually for the first time, since he moved,  he felt as if he belonged here. He wasn’t alone, he felt important and wanted. They were going to a club, Till now Arlo only heard about places like that but he never actually was in one. 

“Ready to have some fun?” Tod asked.

“Always!” Arlo couldn’t stop smiling.

“Have you ever been to a club?”Tod inquired further.

“No to be honest it’ll be my first time.” Arlo brushed his hair from his forehead.

“Then let’s make it a night to remember.” Tod suddenly turned left.

“Man slow down!” One of the team members shouted from the back.

“Yeah, yeah. Stop nagging grandpa.” Tod responded harshly however he slowed down. They parked in front of the club. It was a huge building with bright neon lights. The club was called Midnight and Arlo felt a strange tingling in his stomach. The rest of the party were slowly gathering. Tod, Arlo and the other two entered the club. It was just as they show in the movies. The music was loud and the lights were flashing. There were quite a few people there already despite the early hour. Arlo was looking around trying to imprint everything in his memory. He suddenly felt someone’s arm around his neck. Tod pulled him closer and said right into his ear.

“So do you like it here?”

It was loud so Arlo tiptoed to answer him.

“It looks cool, better than I expected.”

“Let’s go to our room”

They were going up taking a wide metal stairs, yet Tod kept his arm around Arlo’s neck. It felt kind of uncomfortable and made Arlo feel like a little kid. He wanted to take his arm off but Tod was so nice to him recently that Arlo decided to endure it.

The room looked stunning. There were huge purple sofas arranged in a half circle, a few smaller tables in the middle and the walls were actually pitch black. on the walls there were sconces which light made the room look mysterious and intimate. 

“Oh my goodness, so cool!!” The girls were screaming. 

The whole party poured into the room, Arlo was pushed and pulled till he landed in the corner next to Tod.

“I think it’s time to celebrate!” Tod shouted and soon two waiters came with some alcohol.

“Wanna grab a drink?”

“I’m not eighteen yet.” Arlo admitted.

“Well I am. Just one, comme on, I won today. Drinks on me.” Tod in an instant hugged him to his side and his arm was back on Arlo’s shoulders. It was for the first time Arlo was invited to a club and all the others were drinking so he decided to give the forbidden fruit a try. After all there was something they all were celebrating and it gave him a sense of belonging.

The alcohol drink tasted not bad, both sweet and bitter which caused him a bit of burning sensation in his throat. Tod was watching him carefully.

“How is it, your first time?”

There was something in Tod’s eyes, a fleeting mood that lasted for a second or so, yet Arlo felt some unpleasant tingling in his guts.

“Nod bad, it tastes good.” He managed to answer hoping that Tod didn’t notice his hesitation.

‘Here have some more.” Tod pushed another glass into his hand. Arlo smiled and decided to drink it really slowly.

The atmosphere in the room was getting higher. They all were drinking and some girls were dancing. A few went out to join the fun on the dance floor. Tod was talking loudly with other members of the team and they were making a toast for their victory, however Tod wasn’t drinking at all.

“Aren’t you going to celebrate as well?” Arlo asked, pointing to the alcohol.

“No. I'm a driver so I need to be sober.” He responded with a smile.

“I can take a taxi and so can you.” Arlo added. 

“ No need, I like driving.” Then he turned to Andrew and made a nasty comment about Ned, one of their opponents.

All of them laughed and Arlo felt hot. The alcohol was getting to him. He needed some fresh air. 

‘I need to go to the toilet.” He said to Tod and wiggled himself out of Tod’s one arm embrace.

Arlo left the room and went slowly along a narrow corridor, following the toilet sign. 

In the toilet there were some people inside but Arlo didn’t wait long to finally relieve himself. When he was about to leave the toilet somebody bumped into him. Before Arlo managed to say something, a low voice made him sober immediately.

“Watch where you're going, punk!” 

Arlo looked at the guy, he was tall and well built.  A lot of angry looking meat and muscles.

“Sorry.” There was no point correcting that rude guy, so Arlo wanted to move away but was shoved rudely.

“Not so hasty, you should apologize properly, on your knees and beg.” The man smirked and Arlo felt rage. 

“I said sorry even though you pushed me sir. Now let me go.” He wanted to move aside but was held back again.

“I will punch you straight into your pretty face.” The man grabbed Arlo’s shirt and pulled him closer. 

Shit. Arlo knew he had already lost. He closed his eyes expecting a blow any minute now but suddenly something completely out of line happened. 

It was Tod. He grabbed that bulky man and with a few strikes put him down. Arlo was too shocked to say anything so he just stood there with his eyes wide open. Tod looked like a war god. He was so quick and he acted without a bit of hesitation.

The man was down on the floor wailing and unable to get up.

“Come Arlo, it’s better we leave this place.” Tod grabbed Arlo’s arm and led him out of the bathroom.

“Are you alright? Nothing happened to you?” He looked concerned.