Loosen up before entering the club

The first vodka drink disappears way too fast.

You barely even notice yourself finishing it while leaning against Tony’s car listening to Chris and Rob argue about football like either of them actually knows what they’re talking about.

The parking lot around you keeps getting louder as more cars pull in around the liquor store. Music overlaps from different speakers while groups of people drift across the lot already laughing too loudly.

Across the street, Pulse glows underneath blue neon lighting while a line slowly starts forming outside the entrance.

Now that you’re standing here with a drink in your hand, the whole night finally starts feeling real.

“You’re pacing yourself right?” Tony asks while twisting the cap back onto one of the vodka bottles.

Before you can answer, Rob immediately points toward you.

“No,” Rob says confidently. “He needs to get drunk enough to stop overthinking.”

“I do not overthink,” you say.

“You absolutely do,” Chris says.

“You stare at girls for like twenty minutes before deciding whether to walk over,” Rob says.

“That’s called strategy,” you reply.

“That’s called fear,” Rob says while laughing.

“Coming from you is insane,” you answer.

The **** is already helping though. The exhaustion from work fades further into the background while your body starts feeling warmer and looser.

Everything around you suddenly feels sharper too.

The music.

The lights.

The bass vibrating through parked cars.

Groups of girls continue walking toward Pulse across the street while your eyes drift automatically.

One blonde walks past wearing skin-tight leather pants and a tiny white top stretched tightly across her chest. The fabric hugs her body so perfectly it almost looks painted onto her. Every step makes the leather pull tighter against the curve of her ass and thighs while the thin white top presses her chest upward enough that your eyes lock there instantly before drifting lower again. The material strains slightly every time she laughs and turns toward her friend, showing just enough cleavage to make your brain immediately start wandering.

Another brunette pauses near the sidewalk while adjusting the bottom of a tiny black dress that rides higher every time she even moves slightly. The dress wraps tightly around her waist and hips like it was made specifically for her body, hugging every curve while the neckline pushes her chest together hard enough that it’s almost impossible not to stare. The second she bends slightly to fix one of her heels, the dress stretches tighter against the curve of her ass underneath the parking lot lights.

Then another girl walks beside her friend wearing low-rise jeans and a tiny red crop top that barely reaches her stomach. The shirt clings tightly around her chest while the neckline dips low enough that every movement pulls your attention there automatically. The jeans sit perfectly against her hips, shaping tightly around her ass whenever she turns while laughing. The longer you watch her walk toward the club entrance, the more your brain starts noticing every detail automatically.

The curve of her waist.

The smooth shape of her thighs.

The way her chest presses against the fabric when she crosses her arms casually.

Your eyes linger a little too long before you finally **** yourself to look away.

Yeah.

You’re definitely not striking out tonight.

Rob suddenly slaps the hood of the car loudly.

“SHOTGUNS,” Rob announces dramatically.

“Oh no,” Tony mutters immediately.

“Yes,” Rob says while already pulling beers from the bag. “We need energy.”

“You need therapy,” you say.

“That too,” Rob replies.

Chris immediately looks hesitant.

“I’m not good at shotgunning,” Chris admits.

“You’re twenty-three,” Rob says. “Figure it out.”

“I **** every time,” Chris says defensively.

“That’s because you panic,” Tony says.

“That’s not helping,” Chris complains.

A few seconds later, all four of you stand in a loose circle beside the car holding beer cans while Rob punches holes through the sides with a car key like he’s performed this ritual hundreds of times before.

He probably has.

“You ready?” Rob asks while grinning.

“No,” Chris says honestly.

“Perfect,” Rob replies.

The parking lot noise swells around you while cold aluminum presses against your fingers.

“Three,” Rob says.

“Two.”

“One.”

Crack.

Beer explodes into your mouth instantly.

Cold.

Foamy.

Burning slightly while you **** it down as fast as possible.

Beside you, Chris immediately starts coughing violently.

“I FUCKING HATE THESE,” Chris chokes out between coughs.

Everybody bursts out laughing.

“You’re so bad at this,” you say while wiping your mouth.

“I inhaled it,” Chris argues.

“That sounds like a skill issue,” Rob says proudly while crushing his empty can.

Of course he finishes first.

The dude treats drinking like a competitive sport.

“Alright run it back,” Rob says immediately.

“No,” Tony answers instantly.

“That was one beer,” Rob says.

“That’s enough before we even get inside,” Tony replies.

“You used to be fun,” Rob complains.

“I still am fun,” Tony says. “I just enjoy surviving the night.”

You lean back against the car laughing quietly while the buzz settles deeper into your system.

Now you’re officially tipsy.

Your face feels warmer.

Music sounds better.

Everything feels easier.

Even the nervous energy about the club starts fading underneath the ****.

Your eyes drift back toward Pulse again.

The line outside is way longer now.

Girls everywhere.

Tiny dresses, skimpy shorts. Bare legs underneath neon lights.

A Latina girl near the entrance adjusts the straps of a tight green dress that hugs closely around her hips and ass while the neckline presses tightly against her chest every time she moves. The dress fits so perfectly around her body that your eyes immediately trace the shape of her waist down toward her thighs without even meaning to. When she turns slightly to talk to her friend, the fabric stretches tighter against the curve of her ass underneath the club lights.

A blonde beside her laughs while leaning against the railing in a tiny black skirt that rides dangerously high whenever she shifts her weight. Her fitted top stretches tightly across her chest while silver jewelry catches the light around her stomach. The longer you look, the more details your brain keeps locking onto automatically — the smooth shape of her legs, the way the skirt hugs against her hips, the way her chest presses against the thin fabric every time she laughs.

Then another brunette walks toward the entrance in denim shorts so short they barely cover the curve of her ass while a tight tank top presses closely against her body underneath the neon lights. The top fits snug enough around her chest that your eyes keep drifting there automatically while the shorts cling tightly around her hips and thighs every time she moves.

You can already imagine how packed the dance floor is going to be inside.

Hot.

Loud.

Bodies pressed shoulder-to-shoulder.

Your brain immediately starts wandering again.

Hands on waists.

Girls pulling closer while dancing.

Perfume and sweat mixing together.

Making out somewhere dark while bass shakes the walls.

Jesus Christ.

“Bro is already mentally inside the club,” Rob says while laughing.

You blink.

“What?”

“You’ve been staring at Pulse for like five minutes,” Rob says.

“No I haven’t,” you answer.

“You absolutely have,” Tony says.

“I’m just vibing,” you reply.

“That’s what horny people say,” Chris adds.

You flip him off while laughing.

The anticipation keeps building stronger in your chest while the **** smooths everything else out around it.

Tonight feels wide open.

Rob tosses his empty beer can into the trash near the storefront.

“Alright,” Rob says while clapping his hands together. “Time to ruin our lives.”

“That feels dramatic,” Tony says.

“It’s Friday night,” Rob replies. “Drama is part of the experience.”

You finish the last sip from your cup before setting it down on the hood of the car.

Across the street, bass pulses faintly through the walls of Pulse while more people flood toward the entrance.

Music.

Lights.

Girls.

Chaos.

The entire night waits right there across the street.

“Everybody got their IDs?” Tony asks.

The group checks pockets immediately.

“Yep,” you say.

“Yeah,” Chris answers.

“Unfortunately,” Rob says.

“Cool,” Tony replies while locking the car.

For a second, all four of you stand together underneath the parking lot lights while music echoes from across the street.

Then Rob grins.

“Gentlemen,” Rob says dramatically. “Let’s make bad decisions.”

The four of you start walking toward Pulse together.

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STATUS UPDATE

Confidence:

58/100

Intoxication:

32/100

Current Goal:

Get inside Pulse, find the right energy, and hopefully not go home alone.

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