Everyone at our booth immediately began to whoop and cheer and generally make noise. Some of the patrons took to screaming in a delayed, attention seeking way long after the lights were out. The cacophony of the hoots and hollers in bar quieted quickly when a figure appeared onstage. They were tall, with long limbs swinging gracefully as they approached the microphone, the lights cutting back on abruptly, now in bright shades of violets and pinks. HIs shirt appeared to be made of multiple pink shirts stitched together in a Frankenstein-esque creature cropped right above his navel with matching shorts. His dark brown hair cascaded over his shoulders with a matching pink ribbon holding it back in a half-up half-down style. It was a look, to say the least.

The boy standing on stage pointed at the bar haughtily “This one’s for you baby.”

A man sitting at the bar next to the aforementioned group of bachelorettes waved half-heartedly back, an unamused grin matching his eye roll. This bar was adding to the ever-increasing list of ways it is unlike most bars in the deep South.

The boy on stage stuck out his full bottom lip in a mock pout “Anyway my name is Gabe and I might be single after this number.”

The audience erupted in laughter, the man at the bar included. This was probably pretty common for these two. They seemed so night and day.

A techno type beat began softly, steadily getting louder with every moment until it was as blaringly loud as the music had been previously, the performer now swaying his hips to the beat. Bringing his lips to the mic, he began to sing, long notes that sounded as soft as they were enticing. I couldn't quite make out what he was saying, I just knew he had a beautiful voice. I wanted more than anything to sing along to a song which, up until this point, I had never once heard in my life. I made a mental note to ask him if he had his songs anywhere for download after the show. I glanced around the rest of the bar. Save for the man referred to by the performer as ‘baby’ and a few others, as well as the eclectic group of women at my booth, the remaining patrons of The Island seemed transfixed on the stage. It was a strange, almost hypnotic view of so many people staring blank faced and sitting so still at a performance such as this. People began slowly making their way to the front of the stage, drinks in hand. It was an odd spectacle to say the least. This was far tamer than most of the shows I had been to. One girl waved her arm frantically onto the stage as if asking to be hauled up, only to give up halfway through the gesture. The rest of the audience standing at the edge of the stage swayed gently with the music. A few people started offering up ones and fives. My attention on Gabe was torn away by an encroaching figure behind him.

Another figure joined Gabe on stage, a mirror in frame, this one wearing a matching black version of their pink clad counterpart with black thigh high boots clacking dramatically with every step. A baseball cap obscured the upper portion of their face, a wicked smile peeking out beneath the brim. Dragging a chair to the middle, the second performer sat, legs splayed and arms hanging lazily to their sides. The boy in pink never missed a beat, grabbing the mic in one hand while running the other through his hair, taking the ribbon out and dropping it dramatically on the stage as he went. A hand darted out from the crowd to grab it before disappearing back into the fray. A jarring gesture superimposed on the nearly still group it had emerged from. His hips swayed gently as he sauntered over to the seated observer, his voice turning progressively more sexual with each step. I knew what was about to happen and I couldn't look away. The boy in pink sat in their lap, straddling them while flipping his hair over his shoulder, as the other figure continued to smile like the cat that got the cream. Grinding on their lap, Gabe stood up suddenly, taking the sitting figure’s hat with them and placing it on his own head. The women at my table began cheering and hooting as they stood up, clapping furiously. I had previously assumed the second figure was also a man, their frame being lanky and almost muscular under the loosely stitched fabric but upon seeing their face, i wasn't so sure. Their face was angular with thick brows framing wide almond eyes and challenging expression. The sides of their head were buzzed with long waves of black hair were pulled up into a slick ponytail that left no room to hide any of their sharp features. They had eyes that looked like they were questioning you with every glance, as though even praise from their amber lips would also mean a challenge to do more, to do better, to impress them. Those sardonic eyes met mine for the briefest of seconds before moving back to the dancing boy in pink and, in that moment, my heart gave out. I wanted, more than anything, to impress those eyes.

They both stood up languidly holding hand as Gabe led the other nearer the front. Returning the microphone to its cradle, the pair danced, smiling at one another like an oddly matched set of dolls.

“That’s my girl!” YR shouted next to me, jostling me out of the trance I was under. I hadn't noticed her getting up and coming to stand by my side. She bumped me with my elbow while gesturing to the stage “What did I say? One of a kind.”

It took me longer than I cared to admit it to put the pieces together.

Oh no

The buzzed hair. The eccentric outfit. She did look kind of mean. I felt like an idiot for not putting it together sooner.

That had to be Tess.

I felt instantly so much smaller. I couldn't be her roommate. I couldn't even share a large open public space with her comfortably let alone a small space. I couldn't say why but, in that moment, I knew she wouldn't want me as a roommate. A million thoughts ran through my head, most of which were me imagining her day to day life in an apartment. She scared me, she intimidated me but most of all, she thrilled me and that was far more terrifying than just thinking she's scary. She looked like the kind of person who eats coffee beans whole and uses vodka to clean cuts. She probably had parties every other weekend and uses drugs. I couldn't know. She was the kind to grind on strippers in a bar onstage on the weekends who knew what else she was doing?

I realized I was thinking all of these things while simultaneously staring at her directly. The real dilema was that she was staring right back. Her previously relaxed pout pulled into a sudden grin as she winked at me. It was the second time in one night an attractive person winked at me.

“I’ve got to go.” I hadn't realized I’d said that out loud until I heard YR shout to my side.

“No stay! You haven’t even gotten to say hi yet.” The music cut out so her already loud tone was made even more so jarring as she tried to match the volume of a music that had simultaneously cut out.

“Is everything okay?” Lila had appeared by my side, her eyes sympathetic. I didn't know how to voice how I was feeling in my head let alone explain my anxieties to anyone in hearing distance. I looked to the stage and, to my horror, Tess was walking down the steps and towards us. She had her arm wrapped around Gabes waist with his arm thrown over her shoulder. I noticed he too was wearing heels that had to have made them well over six foot tall. They were carrying on with their laughter plastered on their faces. The lighting on stage had made his outfit seem much more vibrantly pink than it actually was and had washed out Tess’ otherwise glowing olive skin. A few members of the group rushed forward to meet them before they could reach the booth including Kennedy who flipped her pink hair flirtatiously over her shoulder in greeting. YR raised her arms above her head and practically skipped over to the pair. Wrapping her arms around Tess’ neck, I could see her whisper something before they both looked over to me. Tess wrinkled her nose in a smile before waving casually. I should have gone over to introduce myself. I should have smiled or waved back but all I could muster up was a clearly uncomfortable smile and a nod. I knew I’d kick myself later with how I was acting but once I got nervous I knew there was no turning back.

The bar settled as people returned to their tables and the background music returned to a lesser degree. I took this as my chance to order a drink. I knew I wouldn't be able to leave without suffering something far worse than Lila’s wrath; her disapproval. I might as well be buzzed while I ruin any chance at meeting new people and gaining a possible roommate and friend. I wasn't the only person who had the thought ot get a drink at this time, however, as the bar was lined with more people than it had been before the musical number. I seized the opportunity to get to the bar when two men stepped away, a literally bucket of beer in each of their hands.

“What’s your strongest drink?” the woman behind the bar raised one of her dark brows in question but said nothing. I assumed at first that she was ignoring me as she walked to the other end of the bar until she returned with a small bottle in hand. Placing a shot glass in front of me, she began pouring a thick, syrupy purple liquid.

“Eight bucks love.” her voice was gravely and as apathetic as her attitude. I handed her a ten and told her to keep the change, glass already in hand. It was, by far, one of the most disgusting things I had ever drank. It ghosted my tongue briefly as it slid down the back of my throat causing me to shutter visibly.

“Oh god!” I shouted, gagging over the texture, slapping my hand on the bar as if it would abate the burn swimming in the back of my mouth. Acid probably tasted better. “It looks so sweet, why is it so bad?” I whined.

A haughty laugh to my side made me jump “Didn’t peg you as the kind who can’t hold their liquor.” Tess rested her weight on her elbows which were leisurely propped up by the bar “I'm Tess by the way.”

Up close I could see that she wasn't wearing any visible makeup despite her dark lashes brushing her cheeks with every heavy lidded bat of her eyes. Her smile could sell satan a timeshare in Hell.

“I know.” My tone was short and I instantly kicked myself “I mean, yeah YR told me about you while you were onstage.”

She nodded, causing the curls in her ponytail to bounce slightly “Yeah Lila and Vonny were telling me about you too. You’re looking for a roommate still right?”

“Uh, yeah.” I was attempting to act nonchalant but I knew it was coming off as short and disinterested. The terrible part about being this kind of anxious is I knew what I was doing wasn't what I wanted to do in a social set but it was exactly what my brain was allowing me. I could tell she was trying politely to keep up the conversation.

“What did you think of the show? Have you been to The Island before?” she shifted so she could sit on the stool next to where I stood.

“Do you get lap dances often?” I had meant to ask her if she got lap dances here often and if she had another act but the slip up was apparently humorous enough to elicit a laugh.

“I mean, I wouldn't really say I get lap dances often but I make exceptions.” her tone implied something that made my stomach clench up. Tess looked up and made eye contact with the bartender, her eyes lighting up as she raised her hand “Astrid, two shots of tequila please!”

“I really shouldn’t” I spat out, a little overwhelmed “I mean, I really am a lightweight.”

The bartender, Astrid, sauntered over, two shot glasses in hand “Hey suit yourself. We should really get back to the table before Lila gives the stare of doom.”

“Oh so I’m not the only one who calls it that?” I was humoured that she must have levied her stare at Tess at some point for her to be that familiar with it, but the thought of the two having a glare-off almost made the mental picture that much more humorous.

Before Astrid could pour the shots, however, a man came out from behind the ringing doors that led to the backroom behind the bar. He wore a button up shirt and horn rimmed glasses. Shouting in Korean, the man approached us, staring right at Tess.

“No no no no no no shots no drinks, not after last time jesus fucking christ no Tess.” he shouted emphatically “I will not have the cops called again.” He looked too well put together to be this much of a mess but I was coming to realize this was the kind of reaction Tess must elicit in people.

“Your hearing is almost a little too good Clive.” Tess huffed out “Can’t I persuade you to change your mind?”

He proceeded to shout further in a mix of korean and english making every other word of scorn understandable, with a tone that would melt the face off of a weaker person. Tess, all the while, had a smirk on her face taking this all in like it was just another conversation. I envied her confidence. Every glance had a weight to it and her stance never wavered. If anyone spoke to me that way, I knew I’d end up crying and here she is, smiling like she knew she'd get what she wanted in the end.

“Theo might let your shit slide but I’m not Theo goddamnit.” His face was a bright red by the end of his second rant. I didn’t envy his cardiologist. They were both so absorbed in their argument that I took it as my chance to once again escape only this time to return to the table like a frightened baby bird to their nest. If they noticed me walking away, they didn't make it known.