One day, he’d be more than a request-based party DJ. But here? For the night, Jax Dalton would settle with enhancing ‘the experience’. Get his classmates to indulge in the pleasures of the night with tantalizing bass and good vibes. Neon lights flashed everywhere and dry-ice smoke swirled on the ground with a collection of colors. Specifically: acid green, gold, hot pink, and ice blue. He wanted them to get lost in the moment. It was his job to get them to dance until the night dies. He’d be a bad DJ if the results were otherwise.
If they didn’t want to be on the dance floor as bad as they needed to breathe, he would be better off saying fuck it and let some high tech ‘Assistant’ autoplay music, without no true connection to the music besides: this is a good dance song.
Jax, at least for the start of the party, would make the dance floor hardly visible. Bodies against other bodies. Eyes on strangers. Everyone under loud, thunderous music — all caught in a storm. Like a musical conductor, Jax directed the emotions, the heat, and the speed of the dance floor. He didn’t need to say words to heighten the
easiest emotions at this boat party. Freedom, conquest, and lust.
Get people in the scene and
feel themselves.
Freedom. Why did they come here in the first place? On a Tuesday night? It’s not like they had homework or a curfew or parents that care. No, not tonight. None of that mattered because for one night they could and would be limitless. Well, for as long as their non-sober selves allowed them to be.
Conquest. No matter who you are, the feeling like you’ve conquered something or that you’re straight up the shit among familiar faces, strokes the ego. People, in this particular scenario, teenagers, need validation. Parties give them confidence, whether it’s faux or not doesn’t matter because for one night they can be whoever they want to be and do things they wouldn’t normally do when the sun is out.
Lust. Does this even need an explanation? Teens are
horny bastards and its been proven no matter the decade, music can ignite a fire that might lead to an unplanned pregnancy or falling in love at a hopeless place. Who knows. He wasn’t responsible for what happened during or after the party. He’s simply here to make his colleagues feel good, in the way he knew how to make them feel good. Music.
Lust leads to sex. Sex feels good. Playing songs that
might make ‘em
explode was
easy and he’d gladly bring out the freaks.
His eyes did catch sight of a certain someone who ran with anything he threw at her, transformed by his music. Her legs, her hips, her stomach, her chest, her facial expressions... flowed, bringing a wordless language with his beats. Her most honest form of communication. This girl was her own type of conductor and he could appreciate a pretty sight when he sees one. Sleek, slim, and smoking everyone else that attempted to dance as good as her.
He dug it.
Not too far from when he started taking occasional glances to see what she was up to (when he noticed her), the girl in flesh, along with her friend, approached him wanting to request a song. As the timeless creature scrambled with her request, Jax carefully eyed her and took in her features, but this time up close. His headphones rested around his neck and because he was on a platform, he seemed a lot bigger than he was. Don’t get him wrong, he’s a tall dude. The platform just made him more intimidating than he actually was. Perks of being on a platform was everyone knew where he was. The DJ.
As she gave her request, a more cool than she probably thought she did, his lips, with a noticeable ring on it, curled into a smirk.
After her requested song played, which in his opinion had some meaning behind it, yet he’d keep that to himself, the charming blonde decided he needed a break, a drink, and a good conversation.
In addition to his needs, he couldn't get one lingering thought out of his mind. The whereabouts of his little sister. This would be a rare night he wasn’t helicoptering her. Baby steps. He needed to trust that Honey would be okay and that Shi would not lead her astray. Even with ten million things on his mind, including his worry for his sister, he continued to do his thing, looking unburdened and completely nonchalant. He switched the Assistant playlist on manually and made sure his rig, which included a mixer and pad controller, was off so no drunk kid tried to be funny and play with his gear. To finalize that he was on break, for an undetermined amount of time, Jax took off his headphones and dropped down the platform to the dance floor, not bothering with the stairs. He started walking away from the stage and heading toward the bar. The party was lively, for sure.
The nerves toyed with her, her stomach twisting and leg bouncing as she sat upon her chair, glancing to the DJ every few moments to see if he was taking a break yet. Josie knew she’d need to hold true to her word and go talk to him, she just hoped she wouldn’t completely fumble over her words. That would be very un-Josie like, well, except for when she requested the song earlier.
It seemed that this boy had an effect on Josie, one she wasn’t used to. One that confused her, scared her, and intrigued her all at the same time. One that really had her tempted to throw herself off the boat if she embarrassed herself one more time in front of him. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to worry about that though, the girl was hoping to find her inner confidence, the one she normally has, when she went to talk to him.
Looking once again to the DJ, Josie saw him on the move. The music now seemingly automated and the cute blonde with the lip ring was on the move towards the bar. It meant it was now or never to talk to him. Pushing herself out of her chair Josie began to walk in the same direction as he was, taking a deep breath as she saw him arrive to the bar. With each step she let the music sink into her, hoping her natural state will be brought back and fueled by the same fuel that keeps her moving on the floor.
When Josie got to the bar area she walked up besides him trying to act casual,
“You play music really well.” Internally Josie began to think of the quickest way off the ship, she could not believe she had just said that. It was too late to take the words back though and she didn’t want to just run away awkwardly. Thus she stayed still and kept herself facing the bar as she stood beside him, all the while casting quick glances out the sides of her eyes to see if he heard her.
Waiting for his Manhattan patiently, since the bartender was swamp with thirsty teens, Jax took in the hundreds of conversations happening, loudly, around him. The night was young. The crowd was younger. It was nice to know some people were hitting it off like they knew each other yesterday. He wasn’t going to lie, but internally, Jax was tired. Real tired. Crowds made him tired. Really, the only downside of being a DJ was the amount of people he was surrounded by. People, especially the energy filled kind, made him tired. Even so, the boy wasn’t dumb. What he has as DJ Limitless was and is a good thing. There’s no chance in hell he’d lose that. Plus, he likes moving people. Both music and film did exactly that. ‘Moved’ people.
Along with listening to the atmosphere, Jax was gently running his right hand fingers on the smooth, rich wood of the bar. The colour palate reminded him of the beach. His mind was brought back to the current time and place with a hesitant, yet fierce voice. The voice belonged to the starlet from earlier. He couldn’t forget a face like her’s even if he tried. This was the girl that requested that Demi Lovato song and made his music better by her dancing. Beyond better.
Before he replied to the girl who looked familiar yet he couldn’t think of a name to go with the strikingly attractive face, Jax caught his
drink that slid down the bar into his hand. Raising his glass to the bartender, he gave the busy guy a thankful nod. Placing his drink down, still not having any yet, Jax pulled out his wallet and placed a generous tip in the tip jar. He knew how to treat a bartender. If you wanted them to give you special treatment, you treat them good, tip them well, and maybe eventually strike a conversation with them. Bartenders
will remember and who knows? Maybe you just added a friend to your social list.
Finally, turning his head, seemingly full of carefree confidence, Jax looked at the mystery girl that wasn’t making eye contact with him, whatsoever,
“You’re not so bad yourself.” He took a sip of his drink and then gave a kiddish grin,
“...You move your body pretty well.” There was a brief pause due to the fact of how
forward he was being, even if that wasn’t his intention at all.
Absentmindedly, he licked the bottom of his lip and then cleared his throat. Placing his drink back down, his hand still holding onto it, helping him feel like he had some secure handle of the situation, Jax played it off like he wasn’t being a creep or whatever. Played it like he knew what he was doing.
“Your dancing… you sure know how to play with the rhythm.” He probably was burying himself alive with his words, but he’d act like everything he says, he meant it, fully.
Conviction. No mistakes. It’s go time!
“Jax, by the way.” Yeah, that was important. Names.
On a side note, the girls Jax has spent the most time with were (are) Honey and Shi. Rose and Quincy sorta, since they’re burners (and Rose gets him with the whole creative genius thing), but if he had to think back to his friends, he knew for sure he probably had more guy friends than girls.
Attractive, amazing with music, and
generous. Where were the cameras because Josie was definitely being punked right now. How’d she manage to completely overlook this guy for the past 3 years? Somehow she had and well, there was no changing that. Luckily some higher power had shined on her today and here she was meeting someone pretty dang close to the guy of her dreams. Minus the fact in her dreams they drove off in a flying carriage and lived happily ever after.
This guy, who introduced himself as Jax. Attractive and unique name for an attractive and unique guy. Jax, was not a dream and was standing next to her, a kiddish grin on his face and an air of carefree confidence surrounding him and every word he spoke. Now if only Josie could match his confidence with her own, but here she was lacking confidence and thoroughly embarrassing herself.
Luckily, Jax complimenting her dancing and bringing up her passion seemed to spark a bit of her confidence back into her as she turned and met his eyes.
“Thank you. It helps to have some decent music.” A playful smile crept onto her lips as she looked at him, a bit of a playful and mischievous sparkle shining in her eyes for a brief second before she turned her attention to the bartender who came to get her order. After ordering she turned back to the blonde,
“Josephine, but everyone calls me Josie.”“Josie.” He repeated after her.
“I like that. It suits you.” Not like he knew enough about her to know what suited her, but based on her appearance… she definitely gave him a Josie feel. His cloudless, sky blue eyes never faltered from her rich like whiskey stare. Her eyes that glinted with mischievousness that intrigued him. She looked familiar.
Where have I seen her before? He thought to himself.
Snapping his fingers of his left hand, remembering who she was, her reputation preceding her, he nodded to himself, happy that it dawned on him,
“You’re the dancing queen my sister raves about. All the time.” Anyone his sister idolized because of their talent or looks or whatever, she’d find reasons to bring them up in every conversation for days. Even if all she knew about them was what she saw.
If he remembered correctly, Josie was one year under him.
“Your halftime performance last year — I think it was for the final b-ball game — was tight. I couldn’t move my body like that, even if I tried.” Nah man, he was more of a parkour and freerunning kind of dude.
Her head tilted to the side as he snapped his fingers, mildly amused and confused at why he had done so. When she found out why Josie couldn’t help but let a small giggle out, covering her mouth as the sound escaped her lips. Of course, her reputation seemed to make her known to a good portion of the school’s population and it seemed Jax was no different. The fact that he learned of her from his sister was mildly amusing though.
“I may need to meet this sister of yours then.” His denial of being able to dance the way she did seemed to spark a bit of her flirty side as a slight playful smirk graced her lips.
“Now don’t say you can’t until you try. Besides I think with the best teacher around you may be able to get pretty close. Of course, you’d never be on my level but you’d have a few new moves in your repertoire.” Josie winked at him playfully, the last statement very obviously a sassy joke on her part.
An idea sparked in Jax’s head, since she so kindly offered. There was an equal rise in the corner of his mouth, but not because he was aiming to get under her dress. His flirting was hardly intentional. No, Jax was treating Josie like he would treat all his friends that were the opposite sex of him — with joviality and kindness. Like a kid treats another kid at a playground.
“Let’s do it then.” He rose from his seat and gestured the direction they should go with his head,
“You, me, take it slow in the, uh, dining room — yeah that’s usually empty — with this baby here.” In his free hand, he revealed that he had pulled out his Ipod and earbuds from his pant’s pocket in a matter of seconds.
“I’ve been surrounded by people for what feels like hours. I don’t mind a little lesson elsewhere, Miss Teacher.” His smirk turned into a cheshire grin, and where he stood, the lighting made his teeth glow. Oblivious to how intimate his request was, he waited for his new found friend to respond.
A blush crept onto her cheeks at how forward he was being, making Josie thankful for the lighting and her skin tone at that very moment. Despite his forwardness, the dancer could not seem to find any hint of any other intentions besides dancing. Part of her was very iffy about the whole idea due to how forward he was, it was throwing her off a bit, but the rest of her - the part of her full of curiosity and intrigue in this boy - the rest of her was all for it and getting closer with him.
Standing up and smiling at the DJ, her dark stare never leaving his light one, Josie took a chance. Holding her hand out to him, she took a step backwards.
“Shall we then, Mr. Student” Mentally once again wanting to throw herself off the boat for such a stupid move as her blush only deepened, but what was done was done. Now she just had to see if he’d go along with her cheesy move.
Enjoying her adorable gesture, he upped the ante, not thinking much of it besides two people enjoying one another’s company, by grabbing her offered hand, pulling her in, and giving her twirl,
“Woah, I’m learning already.” He joked, ending his move with a charming chuckle and a mischievous wink,
“Take the lead, Josie.” Did he make a bluff about his knowledge on dancing? The world may never know.
Eyes wide and completely thrown off by the sudden twirl, Josie would have been as red as a tomato at that point if her blush was easy to see. She found herself once again thankful that it wasn’t for that reason exactly, she would probably rival her favorite redhead’s hair if she was being honest. Taking a shaky breath that mixed with a shaky laugh, Josie pulled herself back together and back to what she needed to do.
“To the dining room we go then.” She let out a slightly awkward giggle as she turned on her heel and pulled him behind her to the dining room.
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