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Los Angeles was not the city that Alex and Farah enjoyed being in. Neither Rudy nor Alejandro, nor even the 141 in general. However, one of Laswell’s younger cousins was getting married, and the kid had given them a lot of helpful intel.
If not, Johnny would be six feet under. That led them to a bar that was fairly active yet charming for 12:30 am. ‘For the Community,’ it said on the sign outside.
Gaz had been finishing up his drink with the guys—and Farah—when a weird song started playing.
‘Girl, you got me moving,…
You got with me no hands!’
What the fuck. Glancing at the others, Price was listening to the lyrics halfheartedly. Then, turning towards the dance floor, Gaz did a double-take. A woman with silky black hair, tapered eyelids, and a nose piercing was dancing carefree with what looked like her friends.
She was holding her drink at the same time and singing along to her favorite parts. The most egregious parts, in Kyle's opinion. After a minute, she pauses, chugs the rest of her drink, and motions that she's going to get another drink. Near him.
Shit.
Looking back to his right, the others had opted to go near a corner and make their own fun, abandoning Kyle in the process.
Fucking traitors.
"Hey, handsome." He froze for a split second but quickly regained composure when he turned to address her. Fuck she was beautiful. She said her name, and Kyle barely caught it because he was staring at her eyes for a bit too long.
Her dark eyes hypnotized him in the light.
"Kyle." She raised an eyebrow at his accent as her drink was served.
"Friends call me Synth. Ever had a Pink Whitney?"
"A what?" She lifted her drink and offered it to him to try. He hesitated but folded at her smile, tempting him closer. "Bollocks." She laughed at his reaction.
"Figures, you might like a strawberry buzzball better."
"If it's like that, no, I prefer more distinguished beverages."
"Is that you saying you're simple?"
"Would that be bad?" She smirked and leaned closer, finished her drink yet again, but this time offered her hand.
"Wanna dance?" The song was still playing, occasionally getting replayed by the DJ. He had to admit, Laswell's cousin picked a vibrant place.
"You might have to lead, wouldn't wanna overstep when I'm holding you." He said, placing his hand on hers, allowing her to drag him onto the dance floor.
Only then did a whistle cut through the crowd to Gaz's ear, making him look back. Alejandro had a wide grin like the others who had most definitely watched the scene unfold.
He's fucked.
Reaching the dance floor, she led him for a bit before getting lost in the rhythm and finding a pace comfortable for both of them. Her hands guided him to her hips, keeping her close.
After about two song switches, her friend—who he realized was Kate's cousin's maid of honor—came up to them.
"Michelle wants us to go shotgun, and then get tacos."
"Oh fuck yeah!" Kyle laughed at her enthusiasm. She was still holding his hand, and he wasn't going to remind her. She turned towards him and smiled wider, "Wanna come with us? I think your friends are trying to leave either way, and we're all heading to the same hotel."
He glanced to the corner and sure enough, Alejandro and Rudy were cuddled together, talking to Price and Nik, Soap and Ghost, and Kate and Mary, and Farah was sitting on Alex's lap on one of the seats. They all looked done with the vibe of this place; then again, he had been the only one who had been able to take advantage of it.
"Let me ask them. Come find me."
"You got it, pretty boy." He smirked at her nickname and walked over to the others. Noticing him approaching, Laswell's left lip corner lifted.
"She finally tell you to leave?" The others teased, but he just smiled wider.
"Synth wants us to go with her and Michelle to get tacos."
"Chingasé, let's go!" Rudy exclaimed excitedly as Alejandro laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. As her and her friends came over, Michelle introduced everyone, then made her way outside with everyone following.
"Taco stands around the corner, my treat. Also, who wants to shotgun?" Synth's hand shot up immediately, along with some of her friends and Rudy, Farah, and Soap. "You know how to shotgun?" Ghost behind Johnny shook his head no, which Soap caught and shoved him jokingly.
"First time for everything, Kate, you don't want one? You were the winner last time."
"I'm the driver tonight; Mary can do it."
"I'm alright, love, young ones can have their fun." As Nik and Price protested, saying they weren't that old, she came up again to Gaz and whispered not so quietly.
"Here I thought you'd want to show off, pretty boy." He was about to reply before Soap cut him off.
"Pretty boy!? I didn't know you were staying somewhere else tonight, Gaz!" Gaz went to hit him, but was cut off by Synth.
"Shit, I wouldn't mind." Whistles and jostling were thrown at Gaz, and all he could do was take in what she said.
Michelle came back with Twisted Tea cans and handed one each to Rudy and Soap. Grabbing his house key, Rudy broke it for both of them. Out of the corner of his eye, Gaz caught Alejandro looking at Rudy in a certain way. Ew. At least Alex was cute about how he looked at Farah.
Michelle opened up Synths and her friends and started a countdown. When it ended, they all started chugging from the hole at the bottom of the can after flicking the top open. Soap had a bit of a late start because he was observing, but was able to catch up.
Then a can fell to the ground. Synth started laughing in victory and did a little dance, making everyone around her laugh. Farah finished right after and looked at Alex with a small smile.
"Never again?" She nodded, and he laughed at her bluntness.
"Right, I'm hungry, and I want lengua tacos." She said, picking up her can and tossing it into a nearby trash can. "You're with me, pretty boy, I want to get to know you before we end up dancing at Michelle's wedding."
"That better be all you do, Synth!" Michelle yelled, and Synth only mock saluted in response, grabbing Gaz's hand yet again, and this time ran off towards the taco stand, laughing as they went.
"So how long till that becomes a thing?"
"Three months and she'll be living with him wherever he lives."
"Six months and they barely have their first kiss."
"Deal. Loser buys a bottle of Guinness." John and Ghost shook on it whilst everyone else watched the love story from a few blocks in front of them.