Chapter 2: Datura-The Night Flower

The club was packed, but Sammy was grateful to note that most of the patrons were her college mates. The music was so loud that they had to basically scream over the melodies in their bid to communicate.

The red dress she had chosen to wear was causing a lot of heads to turn in her direction.

Granted, one of the reasons was because most people had never seen her dressed in this way. She was that girl who attended classes in sweat pants and oversized hoodies. During her practical classes, her oversized chef uniform always did a good job of camouflaging her body and curves. However tonight, the red dress showed off her wasp waist, shapely hips, full bosom and long legs.

Sammy had let her hair loose, and it fell like a wavy curtain down to the small of her back. Again this was probably the first time anyone had ever seen her hair not scrunched up into a messy bun.

"Oh, wow! You look stunning! Why were you hiding this killer bod, and gorgeous face all this time?" Mindy, their other friend commented when Sammy and Nelly approached the table where their friends sat at.

"Someone call the fire department. Sizzling girlfriend!" Ricardo, their other friend said as he stood up to give her a kiss on her cheek.

Sammy couldn't help but blush. She was thankful the bar was dim, or else her face could easily be mistaken for the red disco light. Growing up people had always marveled at her beauty. Some even encouraged her to become a model, but she had always thought they were being kind as she had never thought herself striking. Her mother had been a stunning woman, and up until her untimely death could still be mistaken for her sister. Sammy felt a sharp pain in her chest. She missed her mother so much. 'Mummy, I made it,' she mentally announced sadly.

"Shots for everyone?" Sammy said a little louder than she had planned, while mentally shaking herself from the grief that time had failed to heal. A waitress came and placed a bottle of tequila alongside shot glasses on the table.

Ricardo poured out the drink for all of them then lifted his own glass.

"To us, and our future! And to Sammy's coming out," he winked at Sammy and they all downed their glasses.

Sammy sat down, suddenly missing her trusted sneakers or pumps

"Have you been placed yet?" Mindy asked her. Sammy shook her head sadly as she downed another shot of the bitter alcoholic liquid. She had no idea where or if she would be placed. Silently she prayed they would do that soon, she needed the money to pay the rent for her apartment. With her graduation came the prospect of her funders not paying for her housing anymore.

"I thought they hadn't placed anyone as of yet." Sammy scrunched her face as the burn of the drink became eminent down her throat and chest. Film characters always made drinking alcohol look cool. If not for the dim lighting, Sammy was sure her face looked like she was constipated. There was nothing pretty about drinking alcohol. Her face was burning and she was certain that she looked like an overripe plum.

"I was placed at a children's hospital about a week ago, just before graduation. Ricardo received his placement mail today. He was placed at Polar Stars, lucky bastard," Mindy answered, her voice not hiding the envy.

Sammy felt her heart sink like a boulder in the water. Again, she was the one to not have anything good happening to her on time. Even in partnering during school projects, people always chose her last. Who wanted to be partnered with the overly serious girl who didn't know how to have fun? Telling them about the times she used to be fun was not helpful and only made her seem old. Used to be fun...you are twenty-five. When were you fun? As a toddler? Sammy shook her head wallowing in unhealthy self-pity.

"That's my jam!" Ricardo shouted as he placed an empty shot glass onto the table. An upbeat melody wafted from the speakers. Ricardo stood up and taking Mindy's hand, pulled her towards the dancefloor.

"Don't worry. They will place you soon!" Nelly tried to cheer her up as she handed her a glass of red wine. Sammy smiled weakly at her friend. Nelly always could tell when she was bothered. It was like a superpower she had that made being friends with so much easier. Feelings didn't always have to be expressed verbally for them to be on the same page.

Sammy found herself making a silent prayer, to whatever god was listening for a miracle. She needed to earn something at the end of the month, she really needed the money. Time was not on her side. A late placement could result in her being homeless.

Her family home had been repossessed by the bank after her parent's demise hence she had nowhere to call home except for her small studio apartment.

"Do you know of any strip clubs?" Sammy asked as she leaned over to her friend.

Nelly choked on her wine and then broke into laughter. "Sammy is really coming out full force. You want to go drink in some bronzed torsos?"

Sammy chuckled, "No. I want to have strange men ogle me, and pay me for it."

Nelly didn't stop laughing, as she proceeded to pound on the table. Before she could respond, the waitress from earlier on came over to their table and placed a beautiful cocktail glass in front of Sammy. Sammy shook her head as she tried to shout above the music to her.

"I didn't order this!"

The waitress flashed a smile at her.

"The gentleman at the bar sent it to you. It's called a Datura cocktail. Meaning moonflower. Like the cocktail, he said you look like you are blooming in the darkness." The waitress turned to go before Sammy could reply.

Sammy rolled her eyes. 'Datura.' Were these the new pickup lines people were using now? She glanced towards the bar as her eyes tried to adjust to the flashing disco lights.

A tall figure raised his arm and waved at her. That must be the Datura guy.

She couldn't make out most of his features but when he smiled she noticed how his teeth seemed to glow in the dark. Huh! She could definitely give him that, he had a smile that literally lit up the room. Talk about blooming in the dark. Sammy managed a plastic smile towards the guy and with clenched teeth said, "Thank you, Datura man."

Nelly snickered as she watched her friend.

"The guy seems taken by you. He looks handsome too!"

Sammy's brow creased. "How can you tell that he is handsome? It is quite dark in here."

Nelly chuckled. "I know you don't see well in the dark; you should have worn your contacts. The guy is gorgeous. I doubt he goes to our college, he looks a tit-bit older, and did I mention gorgeous?"

Sammy rolled her eyes again. "I wore red for stop, not for some 'gorgeous' Datura guy to be sending me drinks."

This time Nelly broke out laughing. "Let loose girl. You are gorgeous and so deserve this. Drink up, Sami with an 'i'!"