The faint buzz of a neon "Open" sign lit up the sidewalk as Ellie and Dina walked arm in arm down the street. The night air was cool and carried the mingled scents of fried food, distant car exhaust, and faint hints of lavender from a nearby flower stand. The city felt alive, brimming with the promise of adventure.
Ellie adjusted her flannel shirt, her guitar case slung casually over her shoulder, the strap worn and frayed from countless nights like this one. Dina, meanwhile, was practically glowing, her energy drink clasped tightly in one hand and her phone in the other, snapping quick pictures of the glittering streetlights.
"You ready for this?" Dina asked, giving Ellie a playful nudge as they approached their destination.
Ellie smirked. "Depends. Are you ready for me to destroy you at darts again?"
Dina groaned, her laughter bubbling up anyway. "One time! And it was a fluke. Beginner's luck."
Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."
The duo arrived at "The Glow," a tucked-away underground bar that looked unassuming from the outside. But as soon as they descended the narrow staircase and entered, they were greeted by the hum of lively conversations, the sparkle of string lights crisscrossing the ceiling, and the bass of indie music vibrating through the walls.
The room was a kaleidoscope of mismatched furniture, murals of abstract art, and patrons who looked like they'd stepped out of a music video. A faint citrusy scent wafted from the bartender's station, where cocktails were being expertly mixed and garnished with precision.
Ellie’s eyes immediately landed on the dartboard in the corner. She turned to Dina with a confident grin. "You getting the drinks, or do you want to lose at darts sober?"
Dina rolled her eyes but laughed as she headed to the bar. "Whiskey sour for you, something fabulous for me," she called over her shoulder.
By the time Dina returned, Ellie was already in her element, her first dart sticking close to the bullseye. She barely looked up as Dina set their drinks down.
"Not bad," Dina admitted, taking a sip of her fizzy pink cocktail. "But watch this."
Dina grabbed a dart, took a theatrical step back, and released it with a flourish. It hit the outermost ring of the board and wobbled there precariously before finally sticking.
She burst out laughing. "Okay, fine. You're better at this. But let's see you beat me at something that matters."
Ellie arched an eyebrow, curious. "Oh yeah? Like what?"
"Like dancing," Dina declared with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Before Ellie could argue, Dina grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the small dance floor. The music shifted to an upbeat tempo, and Dina wasted no time throwing herself into the rhythm.
At first, Ellie stood stiffly on the edge of the floor, swaying awkwardly. She wasn’t used to this, not like Dina, who seemed to come alive with every beat. But then Dina turned to her, laughing so hard that it was impossible not to join in.
"You look ridiculous," Dina teased, spinning around and tossing her curls dramatically.
Ellie grinned. "Good," she retorted, stepping into the music with exaggerated moves meant to make Dina laugh harder.
And laugh she did.
The hours blurred together. They danced until their feet ached, pausing only to down more drinks and shout over the music. At one point, Dina convinced Ellie to take the stage with the house band.
"I can’t," Ellie protested, her cheeks already warm from the thought of it.
"You can," Dina insisted, pushing Ellie forward with the determination of someone who wouldn't take no for an answer.
Ellie reluctantly unslung her guitar and strummed a few notes, her raspy voice catching as she sang a stripped-down version of an old classic. The room quieted, the chatter dying down as everyone turned to listen.
When she finished, the applause was immediate and thunderous, but the loudest cheers came from Dina, who had climbed onto a chair to clap and whistle.
"That’s my girl!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise.
The night didn’t end there. As the bar wound down, Ellie and Dina spilled onto the street with the other stragglers. They found a taco truck parked nearby, its fluorescent lights buzzing faintly in the early morning air.
Sitting on the curb with greasy tacos in hand, they watched the sky slowly lighten, hints of dawn peeking over the rooftops.
"You know," Ellie said, her voice soft, "this might be one of my favorite nights ever."
Dina bumped her shoulder against Ellie’s. "Told you I’d get you to have fun."
Ellie smiled, shaking her head. "Fine, you win. Just don’t expect me to dance like that again anytime soon."
Dina smirked, taking a triumphant bite of her taco. "We’ll see about that."
The city began to wake around them, but for Ellie, the night felt timeless—a moment suspended in Dina’s infectious energy and the joy of letting go.