Remus I
They celebrated with shots.
James had disappeared upstairs, returning a minute later with a bottle of tequila and four shot glasses. They had insisted he drank at least one shot before the club, and when he muttered some half ass excuse about work they squawked and gasped like a couple of old songbirds.
Remus tossed back his head, letting the tequila fill mouth and throat. He slammed the shot glass down on the bar top before him, letting a grin flicker on his lips.
The other boys cheered loudly, raising their glasses and emptying them quickly.
“Shush, shush, I’m getting a call,” James yelled, lifting one dusky hand and answering his phone.
“Yeah?” He answered, turning away to listen. “Whatup Marls!”
James turned slightly, his coal eyes finding Remus as a smiled tugged at his lips.
“We found the perfect man,” James grinned, phone pressed to his ear. “You’ll come here? Perfect.”
James hung up and turned back to them, a grin on his face.
“Marlene’s picking us up!” He beamed, throwing his hands in the air and howling.
Ten minutes later, they were piled into a bright pink Mercedes with a blond girl behind the wheel and James riding shotgun. Remus was squeezed in the backseat between the quiet one, and the black haired boy called Black who sat with a pretty girl on his lap, his hands on her waist and thigh.
The girl was very pretty. Her skin was sable brown and flawless. Her face was round and framed with tumbling chocolate curls, blocking the face of the boy behind her. But most of all, it was her smile that caught his eye, bright and contagious, and always present.
He could smell perfume on her skimpy silk slip, on her hair and skin, stirring something deep inside him as the skin of her arm grazed his.
Remus held his breath, glaring down at his shoes. This is why he did not leave the house.
At last they arrived, and tumbled out of the car in a mess of arms and legs. They were greeted with a high pitched squeal as another girl came running, jumping eagerly into the pretty girl’s arms.
Remus turned in a circle, examining his surroundings. They stood on the side of a busy road, the night sky lit with street lights and skyscrapers. Before them stood a neon sign screaming The Common Room in every colour imaginable. Remus followed James through the door, into the crowded room within. The music blared in his ears, the lights distorting everything.
James led him to the bar where they did more shots, and then to the dance floor.
Remus spun and spun, his thoughts foggy, his eyes unseeing. Bodies pushed against his every side, laughter echoed in his ears. He saw a mop of dark hair. James. He saw shining blue eyes. Black. He saw thick curls and red hair. The girls.
Remus danced and danced, until he had lost track of time. His head spun as he stumbled from the dance floor, through the press and out the door into the crisp air.
Remus sighed in relief, closing his eyes and raising his face to the sky. The sounds of the nightclub echoed in his ears, nearly drowned out by the commotion of cars and pedestrians on the busy street without.
“Dramatic much?” A voice called from the left.
Remus’ eyes flew open, a flush creeping up his neck and onto his face. He turned to see who had spoken, and found Black leaning against the wall, a smoke in his mouth, and a drink in hand.
Remus scowled and turned to leave again.
“Wait,” Black commanded, holding out a smoke. “For earlier. Thanks.”
Remus strode towards him, snatching it from his hands and lighting it with his own lighter. He felt the other boy’s eyes on him as he took a drag, and then another. When he glanced over, Black’s eyes darted away.
He was a pretty boy too. Everyone in this fucking band seemed to be model beautiful, unlike Remus. He had hair of pure black that fell to his shoulders in messy waves, held back by two star clips. Makeup painted his eyelids and cheeks, sparkles resting on his eyelashes. A strand of hair fell beside his face, obstructing Remus’ view. Damn that hair.
“Sirius fucking Black.” Remus shook his head.
“The one and only!” Black grinned, spreading his arms and spinning in the sidewalk, causing passerbyers to scowl as they dodged his flying arms.
Remus shook his head and smirked. Black returned to his place on the wall, gazing intensely at Remus. Remus looked back at him, and for a moment it was just the two of them. Just Remus Lupin and those piercing blue eyes.
“Now who’s dramatic?” Remus teased, raising his eyebrows at Black as he took another drag.
Black grinned, and leaned his head back against the brick wall of The Common Room. The two stood like that for some time, surrounded by silence and smoke.
Glancing quickly at the time on his phone screen, Remus grimaced and flicked away his smoke, squashing it with the bottom of his shoe.
“I’d better get going,” He remarked. “Got work tomorrow.”
“Rehearsals at James’ tomorrow at three!” Sirius called from his place on the wall. Remus kept walking, giving no indication of having heard, smiling at the ground.
Sirius fucking Black.