Leaving the bar

Traci took a deep breath, enjoying the crispness of the outside air.

“Your friend is kind of a mess,” Billy said. He had a look of concern on his face that was almost genuine, but Traci wasn’t quite buying it.

“Thanks again,” Traci said quickly. She motioned at Dean to hand Kelly back to her. “We’ll be OK from here.”

Dean shook his head. “We’ll give you a ride back to campus.”

“That’s really not necessary.”

“Beg to differ,” Billy said. He pointed at the half-conscious Kelly. “Look at her. Poor girl’s totally out of it.”

In a single fluid motion, Dean hoisted Kelly up and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of rice. Her skirt slid up a tiny bit, and from her angle, Traci could see that her roommate was not wearing anything underneath—which she hoped would go unnoticed by the guys.

Dean started walking. “We probably should have cut her off sooner, but it looked like she could handle it.”

“Yeah, that’s on us,” Billy said. “So we’ll make sure you girls get back OK. Besides, you can barely walk in those heels. No way you can get her and yourself back to campus without tripping and falling.”

“No, I was going to call an Uber,” Traci insisted.

But Dean wasn’t stopping. Traci was about to say something when Billy grabbed hold of her by the shoulders. “Let’s go.”

Billy moved himself into a sideways grip, keeping a firm hand on Traci’s shoulder, tugging her body close to his. Fear clawed at Traci, and her pulse began to quicken.

The guys were taking them further into town, and away from the direction of the campus. And they were leaving Strangelove’s behind. Didn’t Dean say they would be giving the girls a ride back? Surely their car would be in the bar’s parking lot.

“Where are we going?” Traci asked.

Billy didn’t answer. But his grip tightened and he kept Traci moving forward.