Free How to Liv by Megan Keith Page A

the volume of the music increased and the staff moved some tables to clear off the dance floor.  This was a standard Friday night thing and before long I found myself dancing with Rach and Ally.  Joel refused to join us, he said he’d have to be drunk before you’d catch him dancing.  That was something I understood.  If I had been completely sober I probably wouldn’t have been dancing either.
    He sat chatting happily to Scott and Daniel for a while but eventually those boys also joined us on the dance floor.  Which left Joel on his lonesome.  He was watching us dance with a smile on his face when I made my way back over to him.
    “You really won’t dance with me?”  I pouted.  “I could buy you a drink to help coax you out there.  What is it you’re drinking tonight anyway?”
    “Just Coke.”
    I’d noticed he’d been drinking Coke but I’d presumed that it had been mixed with scotch or bourbon or something.
    “So you are completely sober?  You haven’t had ONE drink?”
    “Nope.   I’m driving.”
    I felt like a fool then, I know what it’s like to be the only sober one in the room, I’d been that person many a time.  He’s been watching me get pissed all night.  I hope I haven’t done anything too silly to maybe make him want to cancel our date tomorrow.
    “Libby, we’re all gonna head to a club, you wanna come?” Ally asked breathlessly, appearing at my side and leaning against me.  She was all sweaty from dancing.  Rachel, Scott and Daniel we’re right behind her.
    “Nah, I think I’m gonna head home soon,” I replied.
    Clubs weren’t really my thing, plus it was getting late and I had a date I was looking forward to the next day.
    “Suit yourself.  How about you Joel?”  She leered towards him with a suggestive look in her eye.  “You wanna come?  You could have a lot of fun.”  She caressed his arm and spoke in a sing-song voice that made me cringe.
    “No thanks.”  He smiled at her.
    “Party pooper!”  Ally turned to me and whisper-yelled in my ear, “You make sure you give him my number for when he gets bored with you.”  Then she gave me a hug.
    We said our goodbyes to Rachel, Scott and Daniel and they followed Ally out the door.
    “Does your sister normally talk to you like that?”
    Of course he’d heard that, I was positive that was her intention, to let him know there were other, better, options out there.  I shrugged and he shook his head at me, a disgusted look on his face.
    “She’s been drinking.  She doesn’t mean anything by it.  She was joking.”  I made excuses, though I’m not sure why I felt the need to stick up for her.  Even though she was joking her words did hurt.  With our history you’d think she wouldn’t be so callous, but that was Ally.
    I couldn’t read the look on his face then, anger… confusion maybe?  He shook his head, sculled the rest of his Coke and slammed the empty glass down on the table.
    “So Liv, how you getting home tonight?”
    “Oh, I was just gonna call a taxi.”  I stood up to gather my things. I suddenly felt really tired and was not looking forward to a cab ride.
    “Can I give you a ride home?”  Joel asked, picking up my flowers.  I was hoping you’d say that.
    “Yeah, that would be great,” I replied with a smile. 
    He held the flowers in one hand and my hand in his other.  I loved the way it felt - holding his hand.  We meandered our way through the crowd and around all the tables then out to the car park.  I was surprised to find it was still really warm.  The fresh air hit me and I swayed a little.  Joel held my hand a little more firmly after that as we walked to his ute.
    I gave him my address and some vague directions on how to get there.  ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries started playing loudly when he started the car.  Joel reached over and quickly turned down the volume.
    “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be, I love this song!”
    I started singing along.  Now I don’t have