Neri: Do you think he'll crash our girl time tonight? He loves to come downtown.
Me: No, he's in Miami. We're safe from their drama this time.
The night started out innocently enough, as it always does. We met at a bar on 6th street for pregame drinks with Nadia and Mardi. By the time we each had a couple of drinks, it was 9:00, time for bar hopping. As we sauntered past bars, we were invited in for a free drink at each one. This is how they get the girls inside, in the hopes that fellas will arrive and start buying us all drinks. I can't tell you how many nights I've gotten trashed just going from bar to bar having a free drink in each one.
Around 10, we ended up in a bar with really loud hip hop music. Sam (Samantha) showed up with a cute little red-headed lesbian, named Farrah. They looked like they had already had a few drinks too. Another drink in, Sam pointed at a huge black fella who was hardcore getting down on the dance floor and dared Farrah to go dance with him. So she boogied her way over to him and he seemed very happy to dance with her. I can't say I blame him. By this point, all of us had a crush on Farrah. Mardi even made out with her a few times. Of course, Mardi will make out with just about anyone, but she truly seemed to be fond of kissing this particular girl.
At this point, I began to feel ready to go home, but Nadia was not going to have that at all. She persuaded me to stay and suggested to all of us that we head over to Barcelona, which is one of my favorite dance spots on a Sunday night. Or used to be. When I was a party girl. So we all agreed.
Neri: What about Monica?
Me: I'll text her to meet us there, she's on her way downtown now with some other girlfriends of hers.
Neri: Great, I can't wait to meet them. I also can't wait to see what kind of trouble everybody else gets into. Who do you think we'll be babysitting tonight?
Me: It's almost always Mardi or Nadia. Remember that one time, we had to take care of both of them?
Neri: Oh my god do you mean when we were downtown trying to find the car and they both stopped to lie down in a random parking lot and passed out? Jessssus.
Me: Yeah, took us what, 15 minutes to wake them up and we had to practically drag them to the car. Let's make sure they don't get that trashed again, right?
Neri: Um. Deal. And we'll take Nadia's phone before she loses it and Mardi's before she starts drunk texting David.
Mardi, who was happily skipping ahead of everyone, reached the door first. Daniel the door guy, was just turning away some chick for being too intoxicated. Mardi (who was as usual, also too intoxicated) walked up to him, kissed him on the cheek and skipped on in, Nadia right behind her. The rest of us passed his usual "look over" and sauntered in and down the stairs after them. We all tumbled up to the bar and ordered our usual drinks. Sam and Farrah traipsed over to the art table where a homely looking girl was painting faces. Nadia always knows everybody everywhere we go, so she ran off and mingled. Mardi begged Neri and I out onto the dance floor so off we went to boogie for a bit, drinks in hand.
Twenty minutes later, still dancing, Neri and I realized we had lost Mardi. Sam and Farrah appeared with swirly things painted on their faces as we were looking around for our two wildest friends.
Me: Hey Sam, where's Mardi and Nadia?
Sam: I'm not sure about Nadia, have you checked the bar? Mardi is outside showing everyone her tits on 6th street.
Neri: I'm on it.
Five minutes later Neri reappeared with Mardi by her side and I had my arm around a "found" Nadia.
Me: Mardi, keep your clothes on tonight.
Mardi: What, did you say pantsless party? (as she steps out of her skirt)
Nadia: (again, the more sensible one) Girl, you will get kicked out for that.
Mardi: No I won't.
She's right. Mardi can be as obnoxious as she wants and nobody will ever make her leave any place. In fact, people will beg her to stay. At least until she passes out and we have to air lift her into the cab home.
The next thing we knew, Nadia had her pants off too (there goes her good sense) and they were hanging out in the elevated seating area which Mardi was now trying to convince everyone was the VIP section. (Barcy doesn't have VIP seating, by the way) She was also demanding bottle service. Something else Barcy doesn't offer. But somehow Nadia and Mardi wound up with a bottle of Grey Goose. Only those two could pull that off, I swear. They could sell condoms to a nun if they found a reason to. Even if that reason was just for shits and giggles.
As that's all going on, Sam reported back that Monica is hanging out with some other friends at another bar down around corner. So Neri and I strolled over to meet them, leaving the troublemakers behind to fend for themselves. *fingers crossed they won't get into too much trouble without us for a bit. When we finally caught up with Monica, she and her friends were chilling with mother fucking Dennis Rodman. Introductions were made and conversation was lively and hilarious. We were having so much fun, we forgot all about the rest of our mob over at Barcelona. Around 1:00 AM, it was suggested we leave and head over to someone's house, I'm not certain who's house, but it was very apparent at this point that Monica was going to be hooking up with Rodman this night. (Can't wait to hear those details the next day, right?) Neri and I bailed on the group and used this opportunity to head back to Barcy, praying the whole walk back that things hadn't gotten too out of control.
The scene that awaited us was pretty much what we expected. The bottle was close to empty and Mardi and Nadia were still pantsless and surrounded by a gaggle of drunks. Sam and Farrah were making out in the corner of the platform, hands going every which way.
There was still about nearly half an hour before we would be able to drag them away from their good times, so Neri and I went outside to smoke a cigarette. We had a nice little chat and I told her about a young guy from Houston that was sending me facebook messages and making me laugh.
Me: He really wants to meet me.
Neri: Are you going to?
Me: I don't know, you know how happy I've been doing my own thing, no drama, no anxiety, nobody to answer to, it's been so lovely, why fuck that up?
Neri: Because maybe you get lonely sometimes?
Me: Actually, I really don't. I mean, I've got my kids, and work and cats.
Neri: Oh yes, the cats. C'mon, Cybil, you're talking to me.
Me: I'm serious, I'm not lonely. But remember a few months ago I posted on facebook that all I wanted was a chubby guy to make me laugh and give me my space? Well maybe seeing someone from out of town would work for me. I would still have my space and only have to "girlfriend" once in awhile.
Neri: I remember that post. I thought it was such a beautiful manifestation. Go for it, just meet him. What have you got to lose?
Me: Nothing. I've got nothing to lose. Except maybe my sanity if this guy makes me crazy.
Neri laughed as she put her cigarette out. We held hands as we marched back inside and towards our highly inebriated crew members. As we coaxed them all back into their clothes and I listened to Mardi slurring about lying down somewhere and contemplating who David was in Miami with, and Nadia complaining she couldn't find her phone, I smiled to myself. I am definitely not lonely. As long as these women are in my life, I will never be lonely. Or bored for that matter. I smiled again. As a matter of fact, I smiled the whole way home.
