“The party’s here!” Erin screamed, throwing her arms in the air, obviously earning herself glances from nearly everyone in the club.

I grabbed her arm and towed her to the bar, I needed to keep my eye on her for the rest of the night. I bet you, I will end up playing the role of parent by the time the club chucks everyone out.

“Just make sure you don’t get too crazy tonight, Erin. Whatever you do will reflect back on me, OK” I shouted in her ear so she could hear me.

I saw her roll her eyes and hail the bartender over to our end so she could get us a load of shots each.

Like I predicted, 5 shot glasses filed with a dark purple liquid that I identified as Black Sambuca was placed in front of me.

Erin raised her first shot, glaring over to me to do the same. With a groan I obeyed her silent command and necked them all in quick succession.

The flavour of all of them hit me at the same time, causing me to suck in my cheeks at the strong liquorice taste and burning sensation on my tongue, on my chest and at the back of my throat.

My cheeks were starting to feel numb, the first sign that there was no turning back now, I’m on my way to tipsy and when I’m this way I can’t stop myself, it’s a problem really.

“I hate you so much for that” I glanced over to Erin to see she was pulling the same face as me, but she had a smile gracing her face at the same time. She had a plan for me tonight, I knew it. I just didn’t know the exact details, beside from getting me absolutely leathered.

“Just loosen up and enjoy yourself! You and me aren’t going to be the worst here tonight. We’re in a room full of boozy musicians who like to have a good time. Stop worrying so much, you’ll get premature wrinkles!”

Raising my right hand to place a finger between my eyebrows, where no doubt there would be wrinkles in a good few years, it only made me frown more. She had a way of trying to not make me worry so much, by making me worry about something completely different.

The only reason I was concerned is because I don’t want to make a fool of myself tonight and get this bad reputation which will stain my band mates reps, too. Like Erin said, I’m in a room full of musicians, that’s exactly the cause for all this, I wanted to make a good impression on all of them, not give them the idea that I’m sloppy and don’t know how to have a good time in moderation.

While I was in my own little fairy land, Erin had somehow escaped from me and had disappeared from my view in between all the moving bodies in the room.

“Fuck!” groaning and slapping my hand down on my thigh out of frustration. I’m never going to find her now, not for a good few hours anyway.

“I thought I told you to come find me” a familiar husky voice breathed right beside my ear, I could feel his warm breath dance across the skin on my neck below my ear.

I turned my head to face him, quite glad I wasn’t alone anymore so I could at least attempt to get my mind off of whatever Erin was up to, which I doubt would be anything good.

“Sorry, I was babysitting, but obviously I haven’t been doing a very good job!” I motioned to the emptiness around me, showing him I had lost whoever I was with prior to him showing up, again.

“Remind me to never recommend you to anyone for a nanny job” chuckling, he placed his warm hand on my lower back, guiding me forward slightly so someone could squeeze past me, as they passed he didn’t remove his hand, though. I felt the corners of my lips curve upwards slightly after realising this, but I bit the inside of my cheek so my grin didn’t spread unnaturally wide.

I placed my hand on his bicep and leaned into his side slightly, at this he moved his hand so it was now resting on my hip, his arm around my waist, and held me slightly tighter.

I wasn’t complaining at all.

I felt a strange, intense feeling in the pit of my stomach. Butterflies.

There was no doubt in my mind whatsoever I lusted after Austin Carlile, he was a good looking guy, he was sweet, caring and funny, easy to get along with. I was very attracted to him, whoever wasn’t must be crazy.

I grabbed the bartenders attention, waving him over to me and Austin so we could get a few more drinks.

“Double vodka and cranberry, and a whisky with a splash of water, please”

I ordered for both myself and Austin and reached in my clutch for my purse, pulling out a ten pound note I realised Austin was getting ready to pay. I pushed his hand away though and thrusted my money toward the bartender, demanding he take my money.

He looked between me and Austin, obviously sensing that the man to my left wasn’t really happy with it, but he took my money anyway. A satisfied grin placed itself across my features and I looked up at Austin quickly, then accepted my change.

“That wasn’t fair” He grabbed his whisky, took a sip and glared at me with a pout.

“No, what would have been unfair is if I let you pay for another one of my drinks” I took a sip of my own beverage and stole a glance around the room, watching everyone’s crazy drunken antics for a second, pleased with myself that I wasn’t at that stage… yet.

“That’s what guys do, though! I feel like you just stole my manliness”

“Poor you, I’m an independent woman, I don’t need your money. I can and will pay for my own drinks” I told him, I appreciate the gesture of wanting to pay for me, but I like doing nice things for people, too, even if it is only paying for a drink.

“Thank you for the drink, but I don’t want to see your purse out anymore tonight”