As I approached the table, Lila stood up and gestured for me to sit between her and Andy, a comforting choice that I knew she was asking for my own sake.

I wish there were more people like her. Lila always had a way of knowing how I was feeling and trying her damndest to make me feel better. If I was to rate people on their emotional intelligence, Lila would be the one writing the test. Sitting on the plush red seating of the booth, I rested my head on Andy’s shoulder.

“Talk to me dear,” she intoned “are you having fun?”

Nodding, I smiled at her “Yeah, I just get overwhelmed.” She smiled sympathetically before returning to the conversations of the table. I appreciated that she could tell that if she had pressed for further information it would have made me even more uncomfortable. I don’t know what I’d do without Lila. The conversation was light, little things about work and relationships. Kennedy chimed in from a table over every so often about her own life. I could tell she was one of the people i referred to as terrified of silence. As if pink dreads on a white girl didn't say that enough.

Just as my anxiety settled like static on an old tv clearing up, I spotted Tess and Gabe approaching the table, a shot in each of their hands. Tess wore a shit-eating grin at what must feel like the ultimate victory. I just wanted, more than anything, to know what had gotten her banned initially. They sat down on the other side of the rounded booth, allowing them to interject themselves into the conversation seamlessly. Lila and Tess began a mock argument about the proper pronunciation of the word ‘squirrel’ that wrapped the entire table in an energy so infectious, I even found myself smiling at each miniscule point.

Every time I would go to chime in, however, I would notice Tess gaze would land on me right as I was about to open my mouth, effectively shutting me up. She couldn't be waiting on me to say something and it was likely a coincidence but it was nice to fantasize about someone this interesting being interested in what I might add to a conversation. It was as unlikely as it was pleasing. Still, every time I peared up from the glass of water Lila had given me, I would catch her staring.

“You really don’t like saying much do you curly?” I realized with a start that she was speaking to me directly. Everyone else’s conversations halted suddenly like they were watching some kind of spectacle. I couldn't help but hate her in that moment. They stared at me for my response. My face heated up and I knew it was probably red at this point.

“I mean,” she continued “I’m not wrong.” she took a third shot on top of the two she had already consumed “You’ve kind of just sat there this whole time not saying a thing. Don’t you get tired of being that creepily quiet?” she laughed cruelly. Gabe snickered into her neck, equally intoxicated. She made a few more snide remarks, all in regards to how quiet and meek I was. It was as if my awkwardness offended her in a way that made no sense whatsoever.

“Good thing you’ve got Lila though. How else would you meet anyone like that?” she laughed out.

Lila barked a command and levied her glare at Tess who, to her credit, seemed intelligent enough to put her hands up in a gesture of surrender. The conversation continued as if the little moment of embarrassment never happened, but it did, and it left a nugget of anger in the pit of my stomach. Tess continued catching my eye, staring me down, like she was analyzing me. Something about the anxiety from the evening mingled with the disappointment that someone as interesting as Tess would be just as rude as every other bully I’ve encountered snapped something inside of me.

“So are you actually looking for a roommate or were you just looking for an excuse to be around people for once?” Once again, Tess said unprompted.

“What is your problem?” Andy said between gritted teeth.

“What?” Tess’ hands flew up dramatically “just trying to make small talk.”

Something about her grin broke what little patience I had.

“Well I guess I know why you got cut off because clearly drinking makes you an asshole. Or are you just always that way?”

The whole table went quiet. Clearly they weren't expecting me to level an insult let alone speak. Tess raised an eyebrow, intrigue clear on her face. Rage boiled up further partly because she seemed humoured by my anger but mostly because i hated myself more and more with each passing moment because no matter how angry I was, I wanted more than anything to see her make that face again. That weighted glance was appraising me and it was impressed.

“See? Was that so hard?” Her tone implied she thought she was somehow the victor in this little spat and that only burned a brighter flame in my hatred.

“Talking to the winner of the worlds worst first impression award? Not particularly.” I spat out “Why? Are you hoping to also get the award for most unlikable person here?” my insults were making less sense the angrier I got but she seemed amused through every single line.

“Says the girl with only one friend here.” She said matter-of-factly “Oh wait I think Andy might count as two. Good for you sweetheart.”

“Tess!” Lila started.

“Fuck you.” The venom in my voice had lost some of its potency as I could tell I was close to crying. Her smirk wavered with the break in my voice. The silence at the table had a bitter flavour. Everyone seemed uncomfortable. Tess, for the first time that evening seemed at a loss for words. I felt a tear run down the side of my face and the thought of how embarrassing it was that I was crying in front of someone who openly mocked me moments before made me want to cry more.

Tess made to open her mouth and say something but was cut off by the front door of the bar slamming open, a group entering boisterously. They looked like any other patrons of the bar, but something about the way everyone at our booth stared them down with a look so quick it bordered on obsession. I could only compare the look to that of a lion staring down its prey. I didn’t want to ask anyone why they were all so invested in the happenings of what appeared to be a normal group of bar goers. I had had enough of the tables oddities. I wanted nothing more than to be away from the girl with pink dreads, the boy in tattered clothes who grind up on his friends, the various people who always had something to say and most of all, I wanted away from Tess.

The group had moved to the bar, wedging themselves in where they could. Gabe swallowed nervously.

“I could, you know, talk to them.” he said meekly. It struck me as odd that he was suddenly so quiet.

“No” Tess said in a serious tone “they’ll leave on their own. We just have to wait for them to make a mistake to move.”

I was confused by it all, but I didnt care to wait to ask for an explanation. I was done with this whole mess.

“Speaking of leaving on your own,” I muttered, trying my best to not sound weak “I’ll see you on Monday.”

I squeezed myself over and around her to get out of the booth. I could hear Lila call after me but I ignored her please. I could just barely make out her saying something along the lines of “why do you have to ruin everything?” at Tess. I hoped that hurt her.

As I walked towards the exit, a pair from the group that had just arrived at the bar waved me over. I had to walk past them to get to the door so it was unavoidable. The pair was comprised of a man who’s shaved head reflected the neon signage behind him and what I could imagine was his girlfriend who’s blond hair was taller than her heels.

“Hey doll, let us buy you a drink.” he hollered from his seat. I decided the best approach was to ignore them but that just seemed to annoy the female half of the equation.

“Let us buy you a drink, baby.” she said, grabbing my wrist. Her gaze intensified as if that was going to convince me to ignore her harassing tone.something about the action made me snap further.

“What is with this bar and its fucking asshole customers.” I spat in her direction “Get the fuck off of me.” she released me and stepped back. That seemed to draw some attention and if there’s one thing that stops people in their tracks, its public shame.

The pair just smiled. There was something about their smiles that unnerved me greatly. There may have been a reason the group I just left was unsettled by their arrival. I just needed to get out of this bar. I all but ran out through the front doors and cursed myself for not bringing a jacket.

This was just another shitty factor to add to a terrible night. Nothing went as planned and the disappointment was palpable. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't me leaving crying with even more anxiety than I had arrived with. I hated Tess. I hated this night. What I hated more was that it seemed as though I hadn't left the bar alone.

I certainly hadn't noticed them at first, I was too upset with my interaction with Tess to realize something was wrong. I didn't notice that I was being followed to my car until I made it my floor of the parking garage. I was still a floor away from my car when I saw them from the corner of my eyes. The couple from the bar. Standing near the stairwell I needed to go through to get to my car, I noticed them staring directly at me. The smiles on their faces could have only been described as inhuman. I turned, ready to run back to the bar or anywhere in case they meant trouble, but I was stopped short by an even more terrifying image behind me. The woman, who had moments before been standing on the other side of the parking garage was now standing behind me, predatory smile still planted on her face. Before I could register what was happening, the man was behind me, pressing me against the wall.

The man placed his arm on the wall to the side of my head, the other hand placed firmly on my neck. The woman behind him smiled wickedly, her perfectly straight teeth glaringly white against her bright pink lipstick.

“You owe us a drink for being so ride to us like that babydoll.” she said in a sickenly sweet southern twang “I know exactly what’ll hit the spot too.” The man pinning me to the wall laughed as if her comment was the most hilarious thing he had ever heard.

I tried to kick out at the man but his legs were already pinning me to the wall further. He was impossibly strong and it didn't help that I was a five foot three woman to his six feet of redneck trash. I was losing oxygen fast. Being dangled by your throat did that to you and my vision must have been going spotty because I could have sworn that the woman’s eyes had turned black. It should have registered in my brain as a trick of the light but when I looked up into the eyes of the man strangling me, his eyes had also turned impossibly dark. That was when he opened his mouth impossibly wide, revealing not one, not two but three sets of impossibly sharp teeth that layered over one another. My brain went blank with terror. A smoke emanated from his throat, an impossibly thick cloud of noxious fumes that slithered their way up to my face. It wrapped its way around my head and added an unexpected pressure to my already oxygen deprived brain before I felt a tugging sensation. I don't know how to explain it, but I knew I was dying.

Not like this. I didn't want to die in this alley with these ugly rednecks. Granted that's how a lot of black people in the south have died but not me, not like this. My head drooped to the side and I could only just barely make out a bright spot of color to my left.

A green door.