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the arm and was leading me to dance. I followed, grasping my beer firmly to my chest so as not to spill on anyone we accidentally crashed into. I sang (or rather shouted) along to War Pigs as I flailed my unoccupied hand in the air, every woman’s innate gesture to let the world know just how sexy she was. And, I had to admit, I was feeling rather sexy. Maybe it was the ambience, the alcohol, or the dancing, but in all honestly, how could I not feel sexy when a sexy non-guitarist looked at me with such intensity I was sure to catch fire by the end of the night?
    Just as the band started proclaiming that Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution, Camilla came up to us with shots of Patron, which I eagerly took and chased with a swig of beer. Meanwhile, Jermaine and Brianna handed out shots to the members of Trent’s band. Trent politely accepted but put it to the side, “for later,” he shouted.
    As the night progressed, Tonya made several new friends with ease and a couple admirers who insisted on buying her drinks. She was in her element; enjoying the attention and the slight disorientation brought on by the alcohol. Jermaine and Brianna made out, completely engrossed in one another, while Camilla and I danced next to them. But I was blind to anything but the rhythm I felt inside me with the music blaring so lively and true.
    I sang along to songs I had heard growing up, never having fully appreciated the words or the emotions behind them. But I listened to them that night. I closed my eyes, with my hands in the air, and sang and danced until my throat and feet were raw.
    A little before midnight, Trent and his band got off the stage and were replaced by another band who enthusiastically took over the atmosphere in the bar. Trent brought over some chairs so they could sit with us, and introduced us to the lead singer who was also his brother Dave, the guitarist Walt, and the drummer Josh. Brianna bought them all a round of beer and thanked them for their performance while Trent made his way to sit next to me.
    With alcohol induced bravery, I leaned closer to him than what was my norm and was engulfed with the overpowering scent of sweat. I wasn’t engulfed in a bad way though; it was more of a simple yet seductive declaration of masculinity that made me want to jump on him and well…
    “How long have you guys been playing?” I heard Brianna ask.
    “Together? ‘Bout six years,” Dave responded. “Trent don’t normally play with us though.”
    “No?” I asked, looking at Trent.
    “Nah,” Dave shook his head. “He used to, but left us for some job in Miami,” he added, looking down at his hands resting on his lap and shook his head. Sarcasm, I thought, and I immediately liked him.
    “Yeah? What do you do?” I asked him.
    “I’m in law enforcement,” he responded.
    “As in a cop?” He nodded while I narrowed my eyes at him and bit my lower lip. “I’m having a hard time picturing you with a gun and badge.”
    Trent laughed a fully bellied laugh that sent his head rolling back and little pricks of excitement up and down my spine. “And what do you do, Erin?”
    “I’m a student,” I said and took a drink of my beer. “I’ll be graduating in a couple months.”
    “What are you getting a degree in?” he asked, brushing the hair that had fallen onto my face to the side.
    “Oh, um,” I stuttered, a bit flustered, and deliberately pulled my body away from him. “Um, nursing.”
    “Erin’s gonna be a kick ass nurse,” Camilla interjected, and I was grateful for the momentary interruption so I could regroup. “God only knows how many times she’s had to fix me up.”
    “Cam’s a bit of an accident prone,” I told him. Camilla, who had always watched over me like a lion watching over her cubs, looked at me to see if I was okay. I nodded slightly, so she returned to her conversation with Dave and Walt while Tonya kept Josh entertained.
    “So you’re the kind of person to have around in case of