arrays | [ open ] we'll keep dancing til we die

Most days, you stick to one club and that's plenty to get your high and let out all that pent-up energy. Some days, it's not so easy to get into the groove. Other days, one is not enough, and neither is the second place, or the third, or even the fourth, and you keep going and going until you can't go anymore - like the Energizer bunny, but eventually you run out of power and pass out.

Even before he'd met Natalie, Leo had been exploring the club scene. She'd shown him a few he hadn't known about, but most days, when they're together, they stick to one of the usual places.

Tonight is one of those other days.

They've already been to a few places already, staying for a short time before taking off again, and he's already starting to lose track between the drinks and the whirlwind energy they've both worked up. It's his turn to pick the next one, though, and he pulls her up to a door, grinning mysteriously, and says something in Spanish to the bouncer as if they're old friends. The guy nods and steps aside, letting the two of them in without protest, despite their age, and they're met with a blast of energetic music with a bit of a Latin flair.

"Salsa bar," he explains, leaning just close enough so Natalie will be able to hear him over the noise. "Welcome to the land of my people," he says with a laugh. "Margarita?"

It's weird, being together, but not together because other than giving him her number and her name, they don't really know much about each other at this point. There's no room for getting to know yous when you're busy trying to sneak into places and good luck having a conversation once you're inside.

The even weirder part is that she's given up everything but the alcohol, able to let loose and enjoy herself without much of anything in her system. It's therapeutic, releasing all that pent up energy this way.

Her eyebrows raised appreciatively, she remains stuck to his side as they enter the new place. The heavy bass barely knocks her off balance. The music is exciting, like nothing she listens to on a regular basis. It's a lot classier-sounding than most of the places they frequent.

"I'm thirsty," she tells him, her eyes briefly flicking over his face before she turns her attentions to the bar.

Margaritas it is. His eyebrows hop in amusement, and he takes her hand to lead her over, taking the initiative to order, again in Spanish. They speak English just fine here, Natalie will find, but the employees definitely appreciate someone able to level with them in this way. In a few minutes, the bartender is offering them the drinks, and Leo returns the gesture with a few dollars to pay it off before turning away to lead her to a spare table.

“So, what do you think?” he asks when they’re settled, glancing between Natalie and those patrons already on the dance floor. He’s itching to get out there soon, but he can wait for a drink first.

"Thanks," she mouths to him when she takes her glass, already sipping through the bright green straw on her way to the table. A grin forms around the plastic once she's seated, denim skater skirt tucked neatly under her legs, and she leans in close over the table, enjoying the heaviness of the alcohol and the tartness of the lime juice.

"It's perfect."

Taking an even longer sip, Natalie closes her eyes, tucking her hair behind her ears.

Leo beams. He hadn’t been sure she’d like it, since it’s so different from all the other places they’ve gone together - somehow a little more put together, but no less energetic, no less passion in the air. Whenever they’re done with their drinks, he’ll show her how to cut a rug in a classier way than usual.

“Good music, right?” It’s got a touch more life to it than the stuff that typically plays in dance clubs, though he doesn’t hate that music, either. The energy is different in such a subtle way that it can hardly be noticed, but it’s certainly felt. It shows in how the patrons here dance and carry on, how a good number of them carry on without an ounce of alcohol in their systems. He loves it here, for many reasons, but that is definitely one of the atmosphere is definitely one of the bigger ones.

"It's different. I like it," Natalie says simply between sips. It has a funny way of actually making her want to move without much alcohol in her body. A part of her holds back, though, uncertain of what it will be like on the floor, being unfamiliar with the moves and all. She's sure he will reassure her that she'll be fine, but she takes her time in drinking anyway, occasionally looking to Leo and then casting a gaze over the crowd.

She licks a bit of the salt off the rim before licking her own lips.

“I grew up with this stuff,” he tells her suddenly, for once unconcerned about his past catching up to him. The alcohol helps. “My mom taught me to dance with this music.”

His eyes are steadily locked onto the dance floor, watching them move. The way Esperanza Valdez had taught him wasn’t quite like that, but he could easily see how it translates. What it amounts to is energy, lots of energy, and letting the music take over and move you as fluidly as water, with or without a partner. Some of the people in the crowd don’t have the basis he does, that much Leo can tell - but for this place, it’s never mattered. What matters is that you move, and don’t hold anything back. That’s exactly what he intends to do tonight.

"So you better be good," Natalie retorts teasingly. She is only vaguely aware of the significance of that one statement; she figured he was a runaway, that parents were out of the picture. Not knowing much and not saying much has been rather liberating, making things physical and less personal.

Well, maybe a little personal, if she's being honest. But that doesn't matter now. She's quiet after, sipping away and occasionally watching him or looking at the DJ or the band setting up onstage.

“I’ve been doing this since I could walk,” he scoffs. “Of course I’m good.”

And he can’t wait to get out there and prove it. In fact, watching them set up is making him feel more restless than he did before, and the music that’s already playing is lively and has his fingers tapping on the table to the beat. As it crests and the people on the floor spin, he makes an effortless decision.

“Here,” Leo says, setting down his drink and standing. “I’ll show you.” He doesn’t ask her to get up, leaving that choice to her since she looks pretty happy with just the margarita keeping her company, but heads on out to the dance floor with the others on his own. The beat is quick and easy to pick up, and without moments he’s dancing with the best of them, casting a daring glance back at Natalie as if to ask, How’s this for good dancing?

Natalie gives him the biggest eye roll she has in her, effectively hiding how appreciation for his sweet moves.

"Okay, dude," she groans, leaning over the little table to finish the rest of her drink through the curly straw, pushing her hair out of her face. The drinks don't seem to cost much but they don't give you that much either. At least the alcohol seems to be strong. She reaches for his drink and nudges her way through the crowd to hold the rest of the margarita out to her evening companion.

"You didn't need to do that, you know."

“I know,” he says smugly, downing the rest of the drink in one go. It gives a nice little rush, and has him reaching for her hand with a grin. “I wanted to. There’s not much point in coming to a place like this if you’re not gonna dance, is there?”

Which is basically him saying come on, already.

"Don't rush me," she mumbles, taking his glass and setting it on a passing tray held above the heads of the patrons.

Natalie shakes her hair out, sinking happily into that alcoholic lull that she's enjoyed for the past for months now. It's not that destructive feeling, something to numb the senses. It's just enough to loosen her locked limbs to get her to dance, to do things like ... taking his hand and tugging him closer to her.

"Well fine, if you want to sit down for a while..."

Of course, he knows by now that isn't what she means at all, but it doesn't stop him from teasing. There isn't a trace of surprise in his grin as Natalie pulls him closer. It's obvious that he's enjoying it, his hand automatically settling on her waist as if they belong there. And as much as they've danced together up to now, they might as well. They've been closer than this before, anyway.

Natalie reaches behind her to flatten one of his palms against the small of her back before she slides her hands up his arms, linking them behind his neck until he decides to take them both to go into some more complicated dance move.

In response to his question, she shakes her head, smiling slowly as she presses up against him partly because she wants to and partly because of the size of the crowd.

This is exactly where he wants to be, so they'll keep it simple for now, just enough to keep up with the crowd. It's almost funny, how close they get without being close at all - he still knows hardly anything about her, but that's alright with him. Maybe sometime later, maybe not. It's not like it'll matter, anyway. He's already stayed in this town way longer than he'd planned, and sooner or later, Leo will have to take off again. He'll miss these nights, though; having someone to go out with definitely makes it more fun.

Tonight, all that is far from his mind when she's so close, pressed against him in exactly the way he likes. Natalie has a way of distracting him that few others have discovered, and he gladly slips his arms around her waist with a grin, eyes gleaming. He knew she'd stay.

She's had some thoughts about him, concerning, heated thoughts because they've fooled around on the dance floor before. It's easier, not knowing much about the other person, and the mystery makes it more alluring. The partial anonymity emboldens her to the point where she feels just fine, leaning in as if to kiss him with lowered lashes, just before pulling away to dance.

His hands on her waist, plus the alcohol on her tongue, inspire her to want more, maybe hands under her skirt - but that's going a little too far, a little too fast. They should just groove for now.

If there's one thing he's learned about Natalie while they've been at this, it's that she can be a bit of a tease when she's in the right mood for it. Apparently tonight is one of those nights, because he's ready to kiss her when she pulls away just as quickly as she'd come, and he's left watching her move instead.

Of course, he has no complaints. If they want to go there tonight, they'll get there in time. There's no rush, even if he'd like to move a little faster sometimes - and for all he knows, this might be the last night they get. For a moment, he wonders if he should mention that to her, just comment that he won't be around for much longer, but pushes the thought away. Not now. They're occupied with the music right now, and Leo doesn't want to mess that up. So instead, he settles for leading this dance, his hands dropping to her hips to help her match the rhythm properly, the sounds very different from the other clubs they've been to already.

She doesn't get the moves at first but, for once, she isn't totally frustrated that it's not perfect on the first try. That's the beauty of doing things like this. It shouldn't matter how skillful she is, though she has managed to keep up with him this whole time. Maybe it's partially because of those hands on her hips.

One hand slides down from his neck to settle on his shoulder, the other trailing upwards into his hair. This time, she pulls herself closer to him with enough space to kiss if he wanted to. And this time, she won't pull away.

She isn't half bad, though he's aware it's not all her doing. His hands don't stop moving, keeping in time with the music and making sure neither of them lose the flow of it. It gets decidedly close and... well, intimate sometimes, but that's Latin dancing for you. That's why it's so easy to close that space when Natalie comes toward him, helped out by the crowd that's growing around them. Her lips are welcoming and soft and they taste like alcohol, but then, he probably does, too. It's nothing the two of them aren't used to, though, and besides - Leo's always liked how loose it makes them. It helps open them up to the possibilities of what could be, with this psuedo-anonymous not-dates of theirs. It's always an adventure with her, and that's exactly what he likes about it.

Natalie's life outside of this seems to be falling apart but at least she can feel good without constantly wandering through a thick fog. She's certain that he won't like her outside of this bubble so she is, at least, happy for what they have now.

The haze she is in is pleasant, aided by his lips on hers, tasting of sugar, salt, and alcohol. Not fully making out with him just yet, she presses her forehead against his, eyes heavy-lidded as she keeps moving, making sure she's still in time with the music.

There's nothing wrong with a few drinks and a dance partner, Leo would say. They've all got problems to run from, and that's why they're here in the first place - to forget, to let go, to move on, even for just a little while. It's why he's never stayed in one place for very long before, and why he's starting to feel like he's overstayed his welcome in this town, even if Natalie seems to enjoy his company.

Either way, he'll make this a good night. They don't need a heated makeout session like when they first met to have a good time. The drinks and the music and each other's company is enough, at least for Leo, though he can't deny that the look in her eyes is intriguing. Maybe they'll explore that later, he thinks with a smile, but dancing is good enough for now. There are others on the dance floor who don't share his opinion, already getting bold as the music rises to a crescendo, and he casually steers them away from those couples as much as he can when most of his focus is on her and the way they move together. It's funny, how they've always done well as a pair when it comes to dancing. He'll miss that.

She likes being in his arms like this, moving like a single unit. It's easy for her to fall into this, letting the music guide her.

The other couples remain in her periphery, and it makes her feel even warmer than she is already. Who is this guy, really, and why is it so easy for her to be around him?

There's enough room for her to pull away slightly, taking his hands as an invitation to lead her.

And lead he does, spinning her once and taking her through a whirlwind of steps that keep them close and in time with the music. Maybe he's pushing it a little, for all the drinks they've had by now, but a little extra swaying never hurt anyone, and they're still on their feet, besides. The moves are quick and easy, but fun, and really, what else matters? It's weird sometimes, how easily they come together for things like this, but he tries not to think about it too hard, attributing it to the drinks instead of anything too awkward. It's better for the both of them that way - neither of them get attached, because it's only a few drinks and a few dances, nothing more (sometimes a bit of making out, but that's also from the drinks, he'd say) - and by the end of the song, they can both leave satisfied but without any strings tying them down. They've been pretty clear from the start that that's what they need, and that's how they've stayed. That way, they can carry on with their lives, such as they are, without having any extra stress on their minds.

Natalie actually laughs when he takes her through a few spins, her hair whipping around. When she ends up right in his arms once more. All good things have to come to and end, but right now, she'll take advantage of this moment and this closeness, starting with kissing him again, her hands still wrapped around his and giving them a squeeze. Her feet are still and the room might as well not be there because she doesn't notice anything else.

He hadn't intended on stopping just yet, but this is more than okay with him. His response is slow in coming while he shakes off the surprise, but once he does, he's eager to keep it going, happily pulling her closer and sliding his arms around her waist. The room and other dancers around them fade into the background, meaning nothing when he could be wrapped up in a pretty girl instead, running his tongue over her lip to draw her out a little more. This is what he's loved about doing this - the spontaneity of never knowing when it'll go from a dance to something more, the adventure of wondering where they'll be going next. It's why he's stayed as long as he has - how often, really, do you run into someone like that? As many as cities as Leo's gone through, this girl is the first.

closed } natalie

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