The Fifth Wheel

Valentine's Day. The annual reminder that I was still alone. It didn't help that the stores put all their related products on display right after Christmas.
Everyone at work was talking about their plans. I just smiled and nodded, slipping away when I could to hide out in my office. When I got the text that five of my friends wanted to go to the city for a the weekend, I jumped at the opportunity. Especially since we were leaving Thursday. The dreaded day.
But from the moment they pulled up at my apartment, I knew there was trouble. There were only four heads in the SUV, and my fifth friend lived in the opposite direction of where we were going. The bad news? There were two couples with me as the fifth wheel. The good news, according to my friends? I'd get the entire back seat all to myself.
While they tried hard to include me once we got up to the city as we did some sightseeing and ate dinner, I couldn't help feeling left out since I didn't have a partner. It was my own damn fault. I was too invested in my job, I guess. Too busy to go out to find dates, and I hated using online apps. So unless he showed up at my home or office door...
The five of us hit the bar scene pretty early Thursday night. By nine o'clock when the nightlife was really just getting started, my friends were more than a little buzzed as they made out in the booth we'd commandeered at the back of the third club.
Everything everywhere was goddamn hearts. Red and pink decorations. And most everyone was dressed in the same color scheme, or at least a major accent like a tie or scarf that drew on the holiday. So much for hoping to get away from it all. At least the low lighting of the clubs didn't make me stand out in my black-on-black slacks and blouse, my official anti-Valentine's Day outfit.
I finished my drink?some fruity red thing one of the girls bought us?grabbed my jacket, and excused myself. I stood at the bathroom sink and stared into the mirror while I washed my hands. Silently bemoaned the fact that I was in the big city for the weekend, but the only fun I was going to have was apparently watching everyone else enjoy themselves.
Two young girls barged through the door. Amid a bundle of giggles and slurred squeals to hush each other, they disappeared into one of the stalls. There was some commotion as they banged into the walls and the toilet seat crashed down. More giggles. And then I heard moans and the smacking of lips as they apparently made out.
Great. I couldn't even get away from the lovey-dovey B.S. in the bathroom. I decided I was better off going back to the hotel than hanging around here.
I sent a text to my friends then went outside to hail a cab. The bouncer reminded me once I left I'd have to get back in line to return. I assured him I was definitely done for the night. Though I did glance at the line of waiting clubbers against the side of the building. It was mostly couples from the way they hunched together in pairs, making out or trying to stay warm and dry. Probably all of the above. It had started to drizzle, and the canvas awning over the queue didn't seem to offer much protection.
The first person at the chain by the door, a young girl in a scrap of a dress and no jacket, grabbed my arm as I passed, heaping thanks on me in a high-pitched voice before she was allowed to disappear inside. At least I'd made someone happy tonight. My departure meant the occupancy count had gone down by one, and Ms. Going-to-Catch-Pneumonia was saved for the night...until she decided to drink too much. But she still had a better chance of getting laid than I did, so all the power to her.
Traffic was pretty heavy, making the trip to the hotel longer than expected. But I didn't mind. I had nowhere to go, and all the time in the world to get there. I figured I could hit the gift shop on the main level that also sold snacks and rented movies. I'd veg out for the rest of tonight and make an excuse tomorrow for staying in or going out on the town by myself. The same for Saturday. I just had to make it to Sunday when my friends drove me back home. At least I had my own room.
By the time the cab finally reached our destination, it was pouring down rain. I gave the driver my fare and a tip then rushed inside, but my hair and clothes still got wet despite my jacket. Shivering, I made a bee-line to the gift shop. The thought of a hot shower sounded like a good idea before indulging in my guilty pleasures.
The girl behind the counter had her head buried in a magazine. She didn't even look up when she said, "We close in fifteen minutes, ma'am."

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes and headed to the cooler where I grabbed a pint of Ben