Obligation

Uncomfortably straddling an over sized stool while the ice melts in the bottom of my glass. Uncomfortably waiting for closing time because my obligation to celebrate my friends birthday weighs more than my desire to vacant the decadent surroundings. This club is decadent from the heads hanging on the wall to the candles burning in bottles at the bar, even the patrons. I've been here before - actually it was my idea to come here again but tonight I just can't seem to regain my enthusiasm for it.
As I lean on the beautifully fashioned timber bench and watch the also beautifully fashioned play their respective roles on and around the dance floor. The men hunt for women and women fake resistance. The youthful and those reliving their youth all drowning in bass looking for something that is very unlikely to be found here.
The drinks don't seem to be working tonight - multiple shots of Black Sambucca and the usual night out poison of bourbon have had no affect on me tonight. I've long passed the regular quota that would see me moving amongst the other players and yet I feel stone cold sober. I can't even muster a toe tap.
The pretty blonde on the other side of the bench keeps trying to catch my eye. She finally does. She introduced herself as Ashlee and went further to explain she was out on a hens night for one of her colleagues. I felt for her of all the guys in the club she wanted to talk to the only one who wasn't interested in being there. As fine as she looked in her snake skin print pants and her locks of perfectly twisted blonde hair tonight good looks and boldness aren't enough for me to even surrender a smile.