A story about love, family and overcoming your fears.

Kaitlyn, Courtney, and Kiana had already been to two other nightclubs before entering Setay. 

The second club they arrived at was heaving. After waiting for a couple of minutes before the door attendant would let them in, they entered the club and had a wander round. Courtney decided she could not see anything of interest to her and suggested they left quite quickly.

As they exited, Courtney pulled her cell phone from her bag.

“Hang on, I’ve got a message,” Courtney said. “It’s my friend Mark, says he’s in Setay if we want to join him.” 

Kiana and Kaitlyn gave each other a look, “Pretty fancy friend you got if he can get into Setay,” Kiana joked. Kaitlyn and Kiana laughed as Courtney caught up and the three girls headed in the direction of Setay.

Kaitlyn had to admit that she was a little excited. Setay was a club for the ‘privileged’ and was set apart from all the other clubs that were open. She had also heard that many wild things happened there, and on a number of occasions the police came to deal with it. The thought of what just might happen caused her stomach to do somersaults as she walked towards the club. She was definitely feeling anxious, and she did not know what she was going to be walking into.

As it turned out Setay was more of a pub than a club scene.

“Wow,” Kiana said. “It’s not what I was expecting.” Kaitlyn could understand why. Unlike the previous two clubs, Setay had a gentler, almost seductive, feel to it.

The women already there walked to the bar in alluring dresses that showed off their feminine attributes but set them apart from the girls at the previous clubs. Even the men at the club looked more debonair.

Kaitlyn felt that the three of them looked underdressed in their jeans and evening tops.

The music playing was a mixture of r'n'b, hip-hop, pop remixes as well as songs that no one would rightly admit that they liked except if they had alcohol in them and their inhibitions had fallen slightly. It was quiet as well; the focus was on the dance floor and at the bar. Although she could forget most of the stories, she had heard about the club Kaitlyn still did not feel completely at ease.

“So,” Kaitlyn said, “Where’s your friend?” She could hear the trepidation in her voice. She had never met these people before and that always makes her uncomfortable.

“There he is.” Courtney said noticing her friend, Mark, seated just off to the right of the doorway. The area was set out like a lounge with a corner sofa and low table set-up. The sofa was a rich burgundy colour and was a corner piece that had three seats on both sides. Conveniently, there was enough space to seat the three girls, Mark, and his two friends.

Courtney and Kiana fell comfortably into their surroundings. Courtney had the advantage of already knowing Mark but she did not seem to mind not knowing his friends.

Kiana was the same; she thrived on meeting new people. Se also seemed expectant, like she was just waiting for someone to hit on her.

Removing her coat, Courtney looked to Kaitlyn who was keeping back. Courtney thought she looked a little scared. She made a mental note to herself to put her at ease when the conversation got started.

Not wanting to be too close to the door and catch a draught Kaitlyn took the seat to Mark's right hand side as Kiana took the seat to his left. Courtney took the corner place with Justice and then Michael to her left.

I just wanted some time out. I was thinking a shopping trip at the weekend. How’d I end up on a night out on the town? Kaitlyn asked herself. When the girls said they had organised the night out she did not have the heart to say no. Oh well, she thought, it is only one night and it is a break which is what I wanted.

“Mark, guys these are my friends, Kiana and Kaitlyn.” Courtney introduced each of the girls.

“And, ladies, these are my friends Justice and Michael.”

Everyone said their “Hi’s” and “Hello’s” and then relaxed into their seats, the girls taking in their surroundings.

“Well, I think this is a good time to get in some drinks, what would everyone like?” Michael asked.

Justice, a tall man of about 6 feet and dark brown skin requested some whiskey shots. Courtney, a girl with jet-black hair and a tanned skin tone to go with it ordered a glass of vodka, to get going.

Kiana, fair-coloured hair and quite light coloured skin went with red wine. Mark, who was vain, had tanned skin and a head full of hair where there was not a single strand out of place, ordered a beer.

Kaitlyn, who was short, had ginger hair which she tamed from its normal wild self but still left quite casual to suit her outfit for the night, requested an orange squash.

Michael then headed to the bar with everyone's orders.

“You’re kidding, a night out on the town and you’re ordering orange squash?” Mark asked Kaitlyn looking a bit flummoxed.

“What can I say, I don’t drink.” Kaitlyn said with a chuckle in her voice. Everyone choked on the fact that she did not drink. She never understood why, it was such a small detail.

Drinking had never been something that Kaitlyn had undertaken. When all her friends were getting drunk, she was studying or spending time with her family.  Many people had thought that was why she was so ‘uptight’ but Kaitlyn did not see herself that way. She was just self-conscious and did not like making a fool of herself.

Mark, looking somewhat shocked and even, Kaitlyn thought, disapproving, started a conversation off with Courtney, which everyone started chiming in on and so each person became relaxed. The topic turned to business and Courtney and Kaitlyn somehow ended up talking about a project they had been working on.

“The thing is if we want that contract then we need to get moving on the specifics otherwise we could lose out on it to rival company.” Courtney was saying. Kaitlyn went to answer, however Mark turned to an angle towards Courtney saying:

“Do you realize that nights out require you to not think about work?” Kaitlyn could not believe what he just did; he had completely blocked her out of the conversation. She wanted to say something and have him apologise but she did not have the guts. Besides, she said to herself, you‘d make a scene. It would not do you any good anyway.

Not being able to carry all six drinks at once Michael came back with the first set and handed them out, handing the last to Kaitlyn, he smiled and said, “There you go.”

Kaitlyn could not help but smile back; she thought she saw a look in his eye but was not sure. It felt like they had shared a truth when they looked into each other’s eyes. Sensing that she kept her eyes on him as he headed back to the bar to get the second set of drinks. He was wearing quite a casual outfit, just a t-shirt and jeans that had a faded design. She had also noticed a leather jacket with beige stripes going across the chest and down the arms that he had on the back of his seat. He wore his hear short and a little spiky, that messed up look, so many men have.

Kaitlyn had felt her pulse speed up as she took a longer look at Michael. He had sexiness to him that she could not deny but she could feel warmth radiating from him that she felt calming.

Courtney, always one for dancing, got bored with just sitting and talking quickly.

“This won’t do, we gotta dance.” She pulled Kiana by the hand and dragged her off to the dance floor. Mark, his eyes glued on Courtney, followed leaving Kaitlyn and Justice alone at the table.

Rather than shouting across the space, Justice moved over to where Kiana had been sitting.

“Hey, we haven’t really had a chance to talk.” Justice had a gentleness to him that contradicted his exterior. Looking at him people could quite easily put him into the ‘thug’ category but she could already see by a softness to his smile that he did not have that tendency in him. 

“So, I saw you checking Michael out earlier. You interested? Because I can give you some tips.” Kaitlyn could not believe how he had just come out with that! She felt her face blushing and she laughed as she said, “I don’t know what gave you that impression…”

“Relax,” Justice said laughing along with Kaitlyn, “thought I’d break the ice. Though, if you are interested then my offer will still stand.” They continued with their conversation flinging jokey comments at one another.

Shortly afterward Michael returned from the bar with the final three drinks. He joined Justice and Kaitlyn in conversation, though neither mentioned Justice’s earlier comment. What he did bring up was how Mark had acted earlier. When Michael’s eyebrows rose, Justice explained the situation.

Justice did not take long to down his whiskey shots and he then excused himself to join the others on the small dance floor. As he was leaving the table though, Justice shot a Kaitlyn a look that said, go for it. She felt herself blushing again.

Scooting along the sofa to continue her conversation with Michael, Kaitlyn found herself more at ease than she had been the entire night. Michael spoke to her in a gentle tone and had a slight shyness to him that Kaitlyn could relate with easily. Kaitlyn felt as if she could be herself and that she didn’t need to worry about what she said to him. She knew that he would accept it and move on without making a big deal out of things.

“Sorry, again for the way Mark cut you off earlier, it was rude of him. I would have said something if I had been here.”

“I shouldn’t worry, it happens all the time,” she said half looking away but she was also amazed that she had told Michael. Wanting to continue the bubbling sensation she could feel in the pit of her stomach, she asked Michael where he worked.

“I actually work with Justice at a small music studio just five or six blocks from here. We’re both producers.”

“Wow, work with anyone I might know?” she asked.

“Probably not, I’ve only worked with small-time groups. However, I am hoping to work with some bigger names soon. So what about you, what do you do?”

“I work for a large organisation in the centre of town as a Licensing Co-ordinator.” Kaitlyn saw Michael’s eyes widen.

“Sounds, important.”

“The name is fancier than the job. I just get the paperwork together for contracts we are trying to get or have got for various marketing deals.”

The two continued talking and soon ended up on the topic of what they did for fun. As it turned out, they were both into TV re-runs and could spend hours watching them without even knowing it. When their eyes landed on one another’s in between sentences. Kaitlyn felt herself starting to stare and so quickly looked away toward the bar area. Find something to focus on. You were staring at him.

“So, where are you from, anyway, I can’t help but notice an accent to your voice?” Michael asked shuffling along his part of the sofa and his knee brushed up against Kaitlyn’s. He could see a slight blush appear on her cheeks but did not attempt to move his knee.

“Um, yeah. I’m from the UK,” Kaitlyn said. “Don’t ask where because you’ll never have heard of it. It was a little village in the country; you had to travel for anything remotely fun. Hence me moving to this city, this country in fact.”

“Do you realise you were rambling then?” Michael chuckled.

“Oh, no, can’t say I did. I guess I do that when…” before Kaitlyn could finish speaking Michael had leant in and kissed her. It was not a big kiss, just a subtle brush against her lips.

“You’re doing it again,” he said, nonchalantly, as if he had not even kissed her. “So, do you have any family over here or is it just you?”

“Um, actually I have a…” Again, she could not finish her sentence. This time it was Kiana sitting back down in her original seat.

“God, I’m exhausted. That’s some beats out there tonight,” she said as the other three dancers returned to the sofa.

“Michael, shoot along,” Mark said wanting to get between Michael and Kaitlyn. 

Kaitlyn was not sure if anyone had seen Michael kiss her. She hoped no one had as undoubtedly it would become conversation between the group. She looked over toward Michael but he was already in conversation with Mark and was not looking in her direction.

Soon, everyone decided that it was getting late and they should all think about heading home. Grabbing their coats, all six of headed out the door and into the pedestrian area outside and to where the taxi stand was. 

With the decision made for the girls to go in one taxi and the men to go in another, Kaitlyn missed the chance to say goodnight to Michael and he did not seem to make the effort to say goodbye either.

Kaitlyn was quiet on the journey home, thinking over her night and conversation with Michael. Did Michael’s kiss mean anything or was it just his way of shutting me up. If only I’d been bold and asked for his number at the end of the night but I couldn’t even pluck up the courage to say goodbye.

Stepping out of the taxi at her home, she said goodnight to the girls and paid her share of the fee to the driver. Turning toward her house, she noticed the light was still on in the living room. She figured her babysitter must have fallen asleep on the sofa instead of taking the guest room upstairs.

That reminded her of Michael again, she was just about to tell him that she was a mother and had a five-year-old daughter when Kiana had returned and broken-up the conversation.

Though as she opened her front door and saw who was inside she instantly forgot all about the night out.