“Um…” I contemplate that before Mackenna grabs the money out of my hand giving it to jock boy in front of me.
“Here you go.” She hooks her arm in mine leading me forward. “Problem solved.”
“Kenna!” I exclaim trying to stop her from leading me away.
“No Maddy, I am sure it is his money and if its not that’s between him and the person. Let’s go.” She pulls my arm a little closer to her and down the beach.
I glance at jock boy over my shoulder and see him staring at us walking away. Most likely he is checking out Mackenna in her playboy centerfold bikini. He winks when he catches me staring at him and I quickly turn around towards the beach ahead.
That night after an exhausting afternoon of shopping with Mackenna we are getting ready to go out to a club Kenna has heard people talking about. I am a little wary after hearing the rumors about Cancun’s city and how dangerous it can be and since we don’t have Bryan or any other guys with us I think this is a terrible idea but Mackenna won’t take no for an answer. She even buys me a new dress to wear which I think is a worse idea. The purple dress is entirely too short and shows off way too much of my skin.
“You look smokin’ Maddy.” Kenna says when I come out of the bathroom wearing her purchase.
“Mackenna.” I breathe. If I think my dress is too revealing Mackenna’s is lingerie. It is a stunning red that stops well above her knees and comes off one shoulder leaving it bare. She straightens her long dark hair so it rest right at the middle of her back. I pull my dress down a little feeling self-conscious about my outfit. It is hard to walk around with such an exotic stunning best friend.
“Stop it Mad.” She hisses my way grabbing her clutch.
“Stop what?”
“Stop trying to cover yourself up or pull your dress down. You look hot. The guys will be drooling.” She hooks her arm through mine.
“I have had my fill of boys this year. I am good until next year.” I confess.
“Oh some innocent flirting won’t hurt you.” Before I notice we were on the other side of the door in the hallway.
We get a cab right away once the bellhop imagines Mackenna naked under her dress not that he has to take off much fabric in his mind. Once we get to the club one kiss on the cheek to the bouncer and a swing of her hips from Mackenna and we are in leaving the line of guys and girls behind us.
The club called The City is massive. It has three floors and bars are in every corner. Girls dressed in more clothes than Mackenna pass by selling shots in different colors. Guys are grinding on the girls to the disco music. Even though we are in Mexico almost everyone here is in their early twenties and American. The girls on the dance floor make Mackenna’s dress looks like a ball gown, making me feel a little more comfortable.
“Let’s go get a drink.” Mackenna pulls me over to the bar that is at least four rows deep.
“This is going to take forever, let’s grab a shot from one of those girls and dance.” I point to one of the neon shot trays.
“Awesome idea” she tucks at my arm and I follow her.
We buy two shots a piece clicking the alcohol filled test tubes together cheering to our friendship. Under normal circumstances I am not into dancing in public but the music is so loud and there are so many people on the dance floor it is the people who aren’t dancing that look out of place. For some reason I push all my inhibitions to the side tonight. I don’t want to think about school, my mom or the Basso brothers. I don’t want to care what I look like or what people are thinking to consume my thoughts. I just want to feel the music and dance. Be carefree and fun with my best friend.
I am doing a great job of doing just that until some guys come up grinding behind us. I never understood why guys thought they could do that to girls. Like because we are shaking our bodies to the music it is an invitation for them to rub their junk across our asses. Isn’t that some sort of sexual harassment?
Mackenna quickly shakes her finger back and forth telling the guy behind her no surprisingly me how polite she is being. My cling on grabs my hips pulling me closer making me gasp. Anger starts running through my veins and my hands ball into fists besides me. I turn around putting my hands on his chest shoving him away from me.
“Get off me.” I scream but he probably hears a whisper over the loud music.
“What the fuck bitch?” He comes towards me again.
“Did I ask you to grind your dick against my ass?” I ask him not backing down.
“If you don’t want it you shouldn’t shake it like that.” His words are slurring and I just want him gone.
“Whatever, just go away.” I put my hand in his face.
“Bitch” he murmurs before finally walking away from me.
“Way to go Maddy!” Mackenna comes over putting her arm around my neck. She is clearly surprised and happy I stuck up for myself. It is an unusual occurrence. “Let’s celebrate with a couple more shots.”
I am downing my fourth shot picking green this time completing all the colors. I am buzzed but the dancing has kept me sober enough that we won’t get in trouble. Scanning the crowd I see all the young adults dancing with each other some closer than others. It is nice to see some guys have the decency to not grind up to a girl unless asked. I am amazed at how many students venture down here for spring break. We didn’t know anyone else coming down here from our school and I guess when you factor in how many colleges in the United States and then how many students it isn’t as many people as you think.
“Maddy? Right?” I deep voice comes up next to me and I step back hesitant. Mackenna is carrying on a conversation with the shot girl not paying attention and I don’t know who would know me here. A familiar face besides me smiling.
“Hey are you trying to pick pocket people here. I can imagine you would clean up pretty good.” I smile at jock boy from this afternoon at the beach.
“Yeah, I have my whole team here tonight.” He laughs showing a dimple in his left cheek. It’s adorable.
“I better keep my money close to my chest then.” I pat where my money is hidden between my boobs in my bra. I don’t know if it is the shots making me flirt so blatantly or just being in a different country. I haven’t been myself tonight but I am loving who I am.
“Careful. That’s the first place a thief might look.” He stares down at my chest raising his eyebrows in humor.
“Well, I keep it well guarded.” I smirk back to him.
“Let me buy you a drink. I was fortunate to find some money on the beach.” He motions over to a small bar a couple feet away that only sells beer and pre-mixed bottle drinks.
“You have to buy my friend one too.” I point over to Mackenna still chatting the shot girl up about what I have no idea.
“Of course.” He says.
“Mackenna!” I scream over the music waving her over to me. She says goodbye to the waitress who I am sure is happy to start making money again.
“Hey, if it isn’t the crook.” She laughs.
“He is going to buy us some drinks with his new found money.” I tell her and she nods her head in agreement.
“Miles Clybourn.” He holds his hand out to me.
“Madeline Jennings and this is Mackenna Ross.” He shakes both our hands.
“What do you prefer? Beer or wicked lemonade?” He asks having to whisper it in my ear for me to hear him.
“Beer for me and wicked lemonade for her.” I get close to his ear and when he turns his head showing me he heard me our lips are so close it would take the slightest movement before they would touch. Do I want them to touch?
Miles pays for our drinks and we both say thank you. He asks us if we want to go to his friends table in the back where it is a little quieter and we follow him. Mackenna raises her eyebrows from me to him while he walks in front of us. I shake my head back and forth. Yes he is attractive and as tempting as it is to have some fling while on vacation in another country, it just isn’t me. Why can’t I be like the other girls out there shaking their booties to the music not caring how they look or where the night is going to take them? They are living in the moment and I am extremely jealous of them. They don’t have those sparkling blue eyes embedded into their head.