You know what you're here for

Nora took a long drag from the hand rolled cigarette between her fingers. She let the acrid smoke fill her lungs and burn her throat before blowing it out into the room where it joined the larger cloud hanging low in the air. Early in her career, Nora was too paranoid to let herself have fun. She didn’t want the wrong words to slip out to the wrong people or to jeopardize her work or her safety. Despite her attitude, Nora quickly found that most other people were exactly like her - overworked and stressed beyond belief. It was hard to function under so much pressure, so it was important to let off steam once in a while. Nora got high or drunk or partied on the weekends so she could be the perfect straight arrow while she worked. It was more important than ever to maintain an extremely professional façade while she worked as the stakes and the pay got higher and higher.

Nora didn’t usually care for the traditional party scene. Random drunk people tended to annoy her, and nothing pissed her off more than some man grabbing at her. Nora hated being touched by people she didn’t know. She found a smaller clique that was exactly her taste.

On this particular night, she was out with one of her closest friends, Jace. He worked at a Capitol lab for security but was working on little side projects all the time. She met him through a mutual friend and the pair hit it off, instantly developing a friendship. Going out with him tended to be beneficial to her - most people assumed they were together and left Nora alone. It also paid to go out with him as his brother owned three of the four bars in their sector of the District. It meant having the luxury of sitting in a back room, away from the crowded club floor. The back rooms were usually a different, darker scene. It was an easy place to get by, slipping shady business through a shady place. This club, Wonderland, was his newest venture that had just opened. It was Nora’s first time going there, and she felt weird pressure to fit in. She wore black jeans that were ripped all the way up her legs with a black top that looked more like a bra than a shirt. Nora felt more confident in her outfit when looking at herself in the mirror of her apartment, but now, in the atmosphere of the club, she only felt awkward.

Nora passed the cigarette on to Jace. The night had only just started, but she could feel her mind loosening and relaxing. No theoretical physics, no data, no Capitol, no rebels, no worries. She felt calm and free.

“Any plans for tonight?” Jace asked between draws. Nora laughed. He was usually the one who ended the night early, heading home with someone in tow. Nora knew her limits better than he did. He offered the lit cigarette back to her.

Before she could answer, something at the door caught her eye. Nora looked there, her eyes locking in. Nora shifted in her seat. The dark hair, pale skin, and bright eyes called to her from across the room. Hazel. Nora was able to feign to behave around her before, especially under the guise of doing business. She already did so poorly when meeting with Hazel for work while sober. Nora didn’t stand a chance while high in a club.

Jace followed her gaze, seeing the Hazel standing in the doorway. ”Uh oh,” he said, grinning at Nora. ”Looks like you might have some fun after all.”

Words: 625
Tags: Hazel R. Tigerlily