Too many people in the way

You periodically see her blonde head bouncing between the crowd as people shift one way or the other, but your insecure and quiet tone causes many people to just walk in front of you, slowing your progress. Until you find yourself pushed into a rather large looking scruffy man. You look briefly at the preppie looking guy that had bumped into before you looked at the solid man you were pressed into. This man was wearing dark clothes and a vest of animal flesh & warn metal spikes that seamed they had seen better days. "You spilled my beer, bitch!" the large man bellows out at you before he grabs your arm as he sees you take a step back. "Where the fuck do you think your going, girlie?! You owe me a beer!" he yells at you before pulling you in close enough to smell the wide aroma coming across his breath, "unless you'd rather I take payment another way." The sneer from his smile as he looks your body up and down makes you cringe as you feel the vise grip he has on your arm.

"Hey, buddy, it was my fault," the preppy guy steps over. "Let me buy you and your friends a round," the man says calmly as he places a hand on your bare shoulder as you feel his arm drape across your back while pulling you into him protectively.

"This girlie your bitch?" the oaf says to the volunteer protector. However, your 'protector' doesn't answer and instead pulls you in tighter not breaking eye contact with the oaf. However, the blood flow rushes to your arm as you feel the vise grip leave, and you rub the offended flesh. "Round of Jameson's coming at us, boys!" the oaf says over his shoulders to a rousing cheer before turning back and says, "and I'll take a Fat Tire," to the 'protector' before turning to look down at you. "You can take care of me once you ditch him, honey," the oaf says with a kissy-face to you as he adjusts his pants, and you find yourself pushing into the preppy guy to try to hide.

The arm around you starts guiding you away from the immediate crowd and you don't even realize where you're going until your shuffling feet find you at the bar with the preppy's arm still on your shoulder. He places an order with the bartender and points out the rough group, giving a large wade of cash and instructs to have a waitress take it to them.

With that arranged, your 'savior' finally turns to loom at you and removes his arm saying, "sorry about that. Seemed the best way to get you away from him. Name's 'Tory'." The man says holding out his hand.

Tentatively, you grasp his hand to shake it, "Josie" , but with the weak grip, he turns your hand and leans down to it. Before you realize it gently kisses your knuckles. Coming back up, he says, "it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

You're so surprised by his tender touch that you don't even think about moving your hand back as you try to look over the crowd for any sign of Amy.

"Hey, Tory! Who's your little friend?" came a rather shrill voice interrupting your fruitless search. Looking where the question came from, a short, plump brunette being encompassed by an only slightly larger man you assumed was her boyfriend. Next to her a strawberry blonde girl chipperly said, "hi, I'm Rachel," as she held out her hand while a tall thin guy wrapped his arm around her waist. Feeling suddenly apprehensive from all the attention, you reached out your freehand and shook hers lightly.

"This is Richard," Rachel said pointing at the main wrapped around her. "And that is Monica and her ever present beau, Morty," indicating the other couple.

The sextet all stood there silently in the club's music for a moment before Morty popped up and looked at Tory, "and she isssss........?" earning an elbow from Monica.

"Sorry, gang," Tory responds. "This poor gem that I nearly got in trouble is 'Josie'."

"When I said 'you could run into a cute girl if you came out', I didn't mean it literally, Tory," Rachel quipped. They all chuckled before Richard stuck his foot in his mouth, "and damn cuter than your last girlfriend," which earned him is own jab.

You turned to Tory at this and realized he was still gently holding your hand. At which point, you whipped your arm back next to you at the implication and started scanning around again, "I'm sorry, I need to find my friend."

"Oh," Rachel says with a disappointed pout.

"Did any of you see where she went? Amy was wearing a blue dress and has blonde hair," you implore the group.

"Oh!" Rachel said perking up as Michael volunteered, "ya, I saw her running for the front door."

"Really?!" you say with equal part excitement for a lead and concern for loosing her, as you turn and head as quickly as you can for the door.

You quickly get lost in the crowd again, trying to get your way through. However, before long a path suddenly starts opening in front of you and you're stunned for a moment before you feel a hand grip yours and you see Tory pass you as his other arm stretches in front as people move out of his way and he pulls you along in his wake. "Follow me," he says briefly and you feel **** as you skitter along behind him in your heels.

Finally, he reaches the door and pushes it open guiding you out before following behind you. Once outside, you begin frantically searching again, but the rather desolate street reveals no sign of Amy.

Feeling your phone buzz, you dig it out of your skirt and see a chain of texts on your phone.