City Lounge: London (Book Five, Chapter Nine: Party at the Rumba)

Chapter Nine: Party at the Rumba:

-Paul-

I don’t know why I am here. I don’t do the big clubs. My name is not big enough out there. But here I am. I am a guest DJ at the Rumba. I am still trying to piece together how I got here. There are many paths that took place. Before I knew it, I was here. I’m not complaining. I just feel a bit out of place. Still, a job is a job. I finished my drink and walked up to the booth.

Tonight was a summer theme. (Didn’t make any sense to me. We’re in the middle of winter. But hey, not my party. I am just here to do a job.) I straightened up my hair and made my way.

City Lounge: London (Book Five, Chapter One: New Protege)

City Lounge: London: Book Five

Chapter One: New Protege

-Paul-

Uh… How did this happen? I don’t even know how she found me. She found me at work. That first meeting felt too weird.

Her name is Madison. But she calls herself Luka. Her head came up to my chest. She’s always smiling. I couldn’t take my eyes off her bright pink and brown hair. I met her last night. The previous DJ wanted an opening for the night. (It didn’t make any sense to me. This wasn’t a huge club in London. They’ve been open for two years too. So… yeah.) I didn’t complain. Hey, it was extra money. The owners were really chill.

City Lounge: New York (Book Five, Chapter Seven: Izzie VS. Sabrina II)

Chapter Seven: Izzie VS. Sabrina II:

Izzie rubbed her forehead and sighed. Eighteen more texts. Didn’t she have anything better to do? Izzie at least thought she would’ve found someone else to attach to. Dianne did have a point. This couldn’t keep going on. But that would mean facing her again.

Izzie buried her face into the pillow. Why did it have to be like this?

“Are you okay?” she heard next to her. Izzie lifted her head. A small Asian woman sat on the couch next to her. Izzie shook her head and waved her off.

“No,” she said.

City Lounge: New York (Book Five, Chapter Five: Izzie + Kris III)

Chapter Five: Izzie + Kris III:

-Three Years Ago-

Kris tries to keep up with Izzie. He wants to be part of her world. However, she doesn’t try to make it any easier for him. They were going on a date the day before Halloween. At the time, Kris thought it was just the two of them. Izzie smiled as she cuddled up to his chest. He patted her on the head.

“Treat me to a good night,” Izzie said.

“Okay, okay,” he said. His girlfriend giggled. Kris couldn’t help but smile. Izzie did have that weird charm over him.

They made it to the downtown lounge. Thunder Rock was what it was called. (They closed down the next year. RIP.) Izzie shimmied her way to the glass doors. She pushed it open and walked inside. Kris followed behind. “Kiss from a Rose” played from the speakers. Kris leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Izzie giggled.

City Lounge: Berlin (Book Three, Chapter Fifteen: Mr. Smooth)

Chapter Fifteen: Mr. Smooth:

Sunday night rolled around. We were going to meet Sugar Bear Brown at the club. We all waited outside of Club Crisis. To my surprise, there was a long line. I hadn’t expected the clubs to fill up on a Sunday. Does anyone in Berlin ever sleep?

“Pretty full night, isn’t it?” I whispered to Meg.

“Yeah,” she said. “That’s Berlin’s nightlife for you.”

“You don’t say,” I said. Surprisingly, the line started moving along really fast. Pretty soon, we were in the front. Stephanie managed to charm her way for us to get in. The bouncer didn’t say a word as he left us in. I nodded my head as I walked by.

City Lounge: New York (Book Two, Chapter Eleven: Party Night Out)

Chapter Eleven: Party Night Out:

Friday night.

Maggie and Naomi sat at the bar at a nightclub.

“Why am I out with you again?” Maggie asked. Naomi turned to her grinning.

“Why else?” she asked. “You need to get out more. How else are you ever getting laid?” Her friend narrowed her eyes at her.

“I don’t need your help,” she growled.

“Excuse me?” Naomi asked.

“Nothing,” Maggie lied. They looked out at the people dancing on the dancefloor. New York on a Friday night was the best. Saturday night sat right next to it. The women watched the brightly-colored lights flashing around them. Naomi leaned over on the bar.

City Lounge: London (Book Two, Chapter Nine: Squire for Hire)

Chapter Nine: Squire for Hire:

The walk around East London brought back more memories our university days. There was this crazy party back in the fall of 2007. I couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you grinning for?” Sophie asked.

“Do you remember a bloke that called himself the Squire for Hire?”

“Squire for Hire?” she asked.

“You know, he always wore leather and smelled like pot,” I said. “Kind of looked like a hippie and biker. All of the birds flocked to him at parties. He was at a fall house party during at first year at university in ’07.” Sophie twisted up her face as if to try and remember.

“Sounds familiar,” she said. “Was he black or white?”

City Lounge: London (Book Two, Chapter Four: Sophie the Queen)

Chapter Four: Sophie the Queen:

-Paul-

Even tonight, Sophie still has a strange effect on me. Seeing her face changed my plans for tonight. Initially, I had just planned to go with the flow of playing crappy pop music for the ladies tonight. (My soul was dying in the process). But when I saw her face on the monitors above, something inside of me took over. I began to think about my own music. That day with Sophie started up my passion for music again.

Before I knew it, my fingers took over the DJ Booth. Something inside of me told me not think, but feel. I counted down to when the last Sam Smith song played out. My mind chanted Massive Attack.

Massive Attack. Massive Attack. Massive Attack Massive Attack. Massive Attack!

Before I knew it, “Angel” started floating through the club.

City Lounge: London (Book Two, Chapter Three: Forced Girls’ Night)

Chapter Three: Forced Girls’ Night:

-Sophie-

I didn’t want to be out here. This was all Carrie’s dumb idea. She called me up just as I had finished eating dinner. I thought I had put my mobile on silent. I just wanted to stay in for evening and watch some TV.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Sophie!” someone cheered on the other line! I held my phone from my ear.

“Carrie?” I asked. “What is it?”

“I’m going out with Rachel and Rose to Club Oasis tonight!” she bragged. “Why do you come out with us?”

“Why?” I asked.

“I won’t be fun without you,” she said. I rubbed my forehead. Did she have to use that line on me?

City Lounge: London (Book Two, Chapter Two: High Night)

Chapter Two: High Night:

Jay wasn’t kidding when said that Club Oasis was posh. Only the rich people came out here to party. Just looking at the line made me feel much poorer.

“Uh… How did you find this place?” I asked.

“Just looking around,” Jay said.

“And how did you book me a gig?”

He snickered and tapped the side of his nose. “I have skills, mate!” I resisted the urge to laugh with unease. I don’t like where this is going. How the hell are we supposed to get in with a line that long? Before I had a chance to argue, Jay dragged me across the street.