I’m Never Drinking Again…Maybe

On the weekend, I went on a night out for my best friend’s birthday. Yes, me. You don’t know me that well, but I’m an introvert. I don’t go out.

But I had to make an effort for my friend. My boyfriend and I were meant to be going for the pre-drinks then going home, as funds were low. But as people do, we got convinced to go out up town. You probably don’t live near me, but there is this street filled with nightclubs called Broadstreet and let’s just say it’s not somewhere civilised folk like to go.

However, by the time we got up there, I was pretty drunk anyway. I’m not a drinker and so I have an exceptionally low tolerance for it. We played drinking games like ‘Never Have I Ever’ and this one where you go back to back and have to answer who’s the best at___ and if you say the same thing you have to drink. By the time my boyfriend and his mate got back, I was tipsy and overly confident. Which worked out great! I feared my boyfriend’s best friend didn’t like me, so with this new confidence I was able to talk to him and get in his good books.

There was ten of us so we had to split up and go in two taxis. I went in the second one, as I had to wait for the boys to be ready. When this other girl and I left my friend’s house and was locking up, she only went and left her bag inside the locked house…Whilst my friend had already left with the key! So we had to wait for the taxi to bring the owner of the house back so we could get in and get her bag. FML!

But then we got on our way, having a ride from a very lovely taxi man as opposed to the dry ones I’m used to. When we reached the nightclub where my friends were, it took another crappy turn. The boys weren’t allowed in! Apparently they have new management, who says no trainers with laces are allowed! I could have cried! I didn’t want to be there anyway! But that’s not all. We turn around and the other’s we were meeting up with were in the smoking area. Now I didn’t know the full list of the other’s coming, but I should have guessed. One of the girls there was an old friend. Now that doesn’t sound bad, right? Well no, because she is an old friend who has also “associated” with my boyfriend.

I could have laughed. You know those “oh-my-god-my-life-is-so-shit-kill-me-now” kind of laughs? Yeah, I wanted to do that. Or slap her around the face. But no, I kept my cool and asked how she was yadda yadda. After all, no one had done anything wrong. They were both consenting, single adults when it happened. I’m just one of those overthinking types, who has to consider every aspect of what her being there could mean. Is she gonna steal him from me? Will she bring it up? Should I bring it up? Will he? Is he looking at her? Does she look better than me? She does, right? Omg she’s talking to him, and they’re laughing, they’re gonna fall in love!

But I’m just crazy, of course. My boyfriend loves me and he barely speaks to her. He was just doing what I was doing and being polite. She did annoy me though, bringing up things about my boyfriend’s house and trying to be the centre of attention. I just kept to myself until she was gone.

I know who I am, and who she is. I know my boyfriend and that he’s not stupid enough to fall for her antics. Damsels, don’t let competition control you. I know how easily it can break you down when someone tests you, but you can’t rise to it. Be yourself. Do things for yourself. Everything else will fall into place.

Anyway, we went to another club where everyone joined up. Inside the music was great and for the first time ever, I saw my boyfriend dance! He’s danced in the car, obviously, but that’s not quite the same, is it? This was real dancing. Chris Brown, Usher, Vine, YouTube and Twitter worthy! He was so good! I was so proud! He tagged in his friend too and then he did the Dougie and my god it was so cool.

The whole night they were the best dancers. I danced too but not as wild as I might have if my boyfriend wasn’t there. I love dancing but I couldn’t keep up with their prestige!

However, as it kept doing, the night went sour again. One girl went missing, and was found locked in the bathroom throwing up. As one of the only stable ones, I had to take care of her. Then, when my boyfriend and I were just enjoying a moment alone, we spotted the people we knew filtering out of the club. It was odd, so we followed. We found some outside, some missing still. No one answered their phone and so we were split. My best friend (the birthday girl)’s university friends were angry at her. One of the loud-mouth ones started to rant at me, saying my friend should have been looking after them because they don’t know the city. I was so tired and bored at this point that I was just nodding along.

Then, when the birthday girl showed up, she was angry too! So I was trying to calm her down, as she was ranting and raving about leaving her friends there. By this time, we were ready to go home. Four of us was looking for a taxi but every one we called said they were fully booked. One girl had to be up at 6 a.m. for a car boot sale so she was about ready to scream. Another kept wandering off on her own, giving me a heart attack.Whilst another was trying it on with a friend who they shouldn’t have!

But we finally got a taxi and we broke off into two groups. On the way home we had another decent taxi driver, and my boyfriend and his mate were cracking jokes. It was annoying, yes, but so funny. We reached my boyfriend’s house, made food, and snuggled up on the sofa for bed. Nice end to the night, right?

No.

I couldn’t sleep. I felt so sick. I was ready to give in and ask the lord to take me. What made it worse was not being in my own house. My boyfriend was fast asleep, snoring as nice as you like, whilst I tried not to throw up. I kept getting up and drinking water and trying to distract myself by being on the phone but nothing worked.

When the morning came, my boyfriend nursed me which was nice. We watched TV and he made me toast. Finally, I started to feel better. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of annoyance. Annoyed that this was what a night out with my friends had caused. That I couldn’t just have fun. There was a consequence. Not only that, but it was so dramatic that it didn’t seem worth it. Why do people do this? Why is this the go-to thing for people in my generation? I hate it. I hate that I’m the weird one for not wanting those trivialities in my evening. Why would someone want that all the time? I just don’t get it! After reading my post, surely you can see it clearly on this page that nights out can just be plain stupid. Don’t get me wrong, stupid is good. Stupid is funny and I did enjoy myself. But I don’t think I’ll be seeking it again soon.

Give me Netflix, popcorn and good conversation over a drunken mess any day! Alcohol, you can do one.

~ Damsel