Alán loved watching people in the club. He always took notice of the predators, the prey, and those that were neither. One night he took extra notice of two women: a blonde and a redhead. The redhead moved like a predator; she was definitely trying to hunt, but she always looked like a deer caught in the headlights whenever she was the one being cornered. The blonde was completely prey, but one that could easily fend off most of this club’s predators and stand her own ground when cornered.
He watched the blonde run off guy after guy. She was the prey, but she was waiting for the right predator. Meanwhile, the redhead was being cornered left and right, and the only thing chasing away her predators was the next one in line.
It was time. He maneuvered himself into a conversation with the redhead. He mouthed some nonsense in her direction. As was his plan, she simply thought that he’d spoken too softly for her to hear over the music and she leaned in toward him and asked him what he’d said.
Alán bent to her ear and whispered, as he tilted his head in the blonde’s direction, “The one you’re looking for is over there by the back booths.”
“Come with me,” he commanded gently, Taking her by the wrist, he guided her away for the last guy that was trying to make his move.
From the way her body tensed, he could tell that she was miffed about needing to be rescued. But, she followed without needing to be pulled, showing that she was also relieved. As they approached the back of the club, the volume of the music faded to a more tolerable level, enabling a casual, if loud, conversation.
He stopped, before reaching the blonde, and leaned over to speak with the redhead, only just loudly enough for her to hear, “You could use some training, Little One. I know what you are, for that is what I am as well. You know this to be true, or you wouldn’t have come with me so willingly. Now, wait here a moment.” His tone was firm and commanding, but held a gentle kindness at the same time. She obeyed.
Alán didn’t even look back as she walked over to the blonde. He knew the redhead would still be there he got back. The blonde’s eyes gleamed as Alán approached her. It was obvious that she knew he was the one she’d been waiting for.
“Yes, Pretty, I could be the one you are looking for. After all, you are the one I am looking for.”
She started to speak, but he turned away from her, toward the redhead, he mouthed, “Come. Now,” to her.
The redhead dutifully came, though she tried to make it look as nonchalant and purposeless as she could. Alán chuckled to himself.
“Little One, meet Pretty. Pretty, this is Little One. But please, introduce yourselves, use your names if you’d like. I am Alán.”
The redhead introduced herself first, “Hi, I’m Lou, short for Louise,” and extended her hand.
“Uh, I, umm, I’m Jo, just Jo…” the blonde responded hesitantly. After an awkward pause, Jo noticed the proffered hand and extended hers as well. She placed it palm up in Lou’s hand, forcing Lou to turn her hand to grasp the back of Jo’s hand.
Lou lifted Jo’s hands to her mouth, and kissed the offered wrist, smiling. Alán stepped in closer to the two women after this exchange, wrapped one arm around each waist, and pivoted toward the door.
“We’re leaving now,” he said with authority. Then, after a pause, he added, “If that is alright with you both.”
The statement hadn’t really been a question and he began walking, leading them away. Neither had it been an afterthought. The tone of his voice and the casual, loose hold, he hoped, made it obvious to the women that they were free to walk away from this stranger, either together or each their own separate ways.
The women allowed themselves to be led out of the club. They even entwined their own arms around his waist and joined their fingers behind his back.
~~~ End Part 1 ~~~