Can’t Trust Him
Taylor knew something wasn’t right. It was more than just the look in his eyes; it was his words, too. Something about this guy was off, and she was pretty sure she shouldn’t trust him.
When he handed her the drink, she had already realized the night would be doomed if she drank it. Initially, she couldn’t decide what to do. But as the night grew darker, she came up with a plan.
Hoping To Make A Connection
When Taylor said yes to a date with Calvin, she expected it to be a relatively pleasant evening. On the phone, he came across as a total gentleman, and she was looking forward to making a connection with someone.
She felt the butterflies fluttering in her tummy when he pulled up outside to pick her up. His good looks were as real as they had seemed in his pictures. But the moment they got to the club, she realized it wasn’t going to be a normal evening.
A Little Weird
In the beginning, their chats were normal and friendly, but then things got weird. While Taylor stood at the bar, ordering drinks and politely talking with the bartender, Calvin appeared out of nowhere.
“Is he bothering you?” he asked her with a frown on his face. Taylor was slightly baffled but brushed it off soon enough.
At The Bar
The bartender looked just as bewildered as he passed Taylor her drinks. “No, we were just having a chat,” she replied, confused as to why Calvin was getting upset about it.
“If I see you looking at her again, I’ll make sure you lose your job,” Calvin told the bartender, gesturing at him menacingly. His words made Taylor feel deeply unsettled. Mouthing “sorry” at the employee, she headed back to their table, Calvin at her side.
Misunderstanding
She hadn’t initially taken much notice of the manner in which he addressed the bartender. She figured he was acting overprotective and misunderstood the situation. But it all spiraled as the night continued.
Taylor stayed with Calvin as the hours went by, overlooking several odd remarks and questions from him. She thought he was a bit of a weird character but not a bad guy.
On The Safe Side
All night long, Taylor had been getting her own drinks from the bar. She was wise enough not to take drinks from someone she had just met. She didn’t really expect Calvin to do anything malicious, but she preferred to stay on the safe side.
The two danced a little together a little bit before heading back to their table again. Taylor sat down next to him with a friendly smile. But she didn’t know what the night had in store for her.
Flattery
“You look really gorgeous tonight. I have to say, your photos don’t do your beauty justice,” he remarked, shooting her a cheesy smile. She was delighted by his flattery.
He shifted closer towards her, grabbing her hand as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. She expected more romance, but instead, he said something that would stay with her forever. In that moment, it dawned on Taylor that she was seriously in danger.
Dedicated To Succeeding
Taylor was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and had grown to be a determined woman. For her whole life so far, she had devoted all her time to academics. But one year, that all shifted.
Only 23 years old, she had, at long last, attained her college degree. However, she had also noticed something. Most of her friends were in secure, long-term relationships, some even engaged with weddings coming up soon, but she was on her own.
Always Single
In her college years and even in high school, Taylor was wise enough to avoid getting obsessed with boys. “They’re just a distraction from everything I want to achieve,” she told her friends when they questioned her single status.
Yet, now that life was properly beginning, she had started considering how it would feel to have a companion at her side. Except, she didn’t know where to start looking for a significant other.
Her True Feelings
Taylor was at a friend’s house one evening when she brought up the subject. “I’ve just been thinking about what it might be like to have a boyfriend, but I have no clue how to get one. I’m not attracted to anyone I already know,” she revealed.
When she saw her friend smiling cheekily, though, she knew she’d come up with something crazy.
She Had An Idea
Taylor’s face was twisted in horror as she watched her friend install the dating app onto her phone. “Tinder? Really?” Taylor laughed, slightly horrified by the idea.
She’d heard many Tinder horror stories, and she didn’t quite know what to expect. “Hey, my brother found his fiance on Tinder, and look at how happy they are!” Her friend argued. She did have a valid point.
Creating A Profile
That night, Taylor and her friend created her profile. They used only her best photos and typed out a little description of her hobbies and interests. Although she was nervous, Taylor couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement.
That night, they swiped left and right on random men until the morning hours, and eventually, Taylor had a few matches. But one stood out.
Calvin Norman
His name was Calvin Norman, and Taylor thought he was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. He was a graphic designer who loved dogs and the outdoors. In her opinion, he seemed perfect.
“He’s cute, but he looks like a creep,” Her friend laughed. But Taylor didn’t listen. She would learn to regret her decision to meet up with him.
Arrangements
She and Calvin texted all night long, and the next day, they began making arrangements to meet. “I know this awesome bar close to my house. We should go there. I’ll buy you a few drinks. Maybe we could dance,” Calvin said in a text.
Taylor couldn’t help but blush. For the first time in her life, a boy was interested in her, and she couldn’t wait for their first date. They arranged to meet that Friday night, but she had no idea what horrors awaited her.
Faster Than Expected
Friday rolled around faster than expected. Taylor had put on her best dress and styled her hair to perfection. She just hoped he would think she looked as good as she felt.
She waited by the front door window, and before she knew it, his headlights turned onto her street. She didn’t waste a second as she rushed outside to meet him. If only she had known how that night would end.
He Was Attractive
As soon as Calvin stepped out of his car, her heart swelled in her chest. He was even more attractive than in the photos. He smiled and confidently walked toward her. She had to stop herself from smiling like an idiot.
He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek before the pair hopped into his car. During their drive to the bar, Taylor could feel her cheeks burning bright red. They spoke for a bit, and she couldn’t help but realize that Calvin was a little usual.
At First
The first half of the evening was good. They chose a relatively quiet corner where they got to chat and enjoy a few drinks. Calvin seemed like a gentleman until Taylor left to get a drink.
It was while she was speaking to the bartender that Calvin began showing his true colors. “If I catch you looking at her, I’ll have you fired,” He told the man, pointing a finger straight at him. This made Taylor extremely uncomfortable. She mouthed a quick “sorry” and walked back to their table with Calvin.
She Assumed Wrong
At first, she didn’t think much of the way he had spoken to the bartender. She assumed he was just overprotective and read the situation wrong. But that all changed as the night went on.
As the hours ticked by, she remained by his side, ignoring a few strange statements and questions. She didn’t think Calvin was a bad person, but she certainly thought he was quite weird.
He Said Something
They danced for a bit before returning to their seats. “You look so beautiful tonight. I must say, you are even more beautiful than in the photos,” Calvin said, a cheesy smile on his face. She appreciated the compliment.
He scooted closer, taking her hand in his as he leaned into her ear. She thought it was romantic until he said something she would never forget. That was when Taylor realized that she was in grave danger.
A Bizarre Statement
“You know, I always thought people who worked in that big building downtown were pretentious, but you’re cool,” He said. This sent a shiver down Taylor’s spine. But why did that statement scare her so much?
“H- how?” She choked over her own words, her heart pounding in her chest. “How do you know where I work? I never told you?” She asked, but all he responded with was a smirk.
On Edge
From that point on, Taylor felt nervous and on edge around the young man. She never told him where she worked, nor was it listed on any of her social media accounts. Her heart began to race.
He didn’t answer her questions. Instead, he got up from his seat and made his way toward the bar to get them a few drinks. Taylor knew she was in deep trouble.
She Wanted To Go Home
For a moment, she considered going home, but then she remembered that he was her ride. She thought about taking an Uber, but he’d offered to hold onto her phone for the night. She felt like she was trapped.
Calvin returned minutes later and placed the drink in her hand. He’d ordered each of them a vodka and cola. But she knew better than to drink it. She could only imagine what he had done to it.
She Knew
Taylor knew something was up. It wasn’t just the way he looked at her. It was the things he said. Something about the man was shady, and she didn’t trust him for a second.
He placed the drink in her hand, and she already knew that it would all be over if she drank it. At first, she didn’t know what to do, but as the night went on, she had an idea.
Swapping Their Drinks
Calvin had just returned from the dancefloor alone. Taylor had lied and said that her feet were sore and she needed a second to sit down. But as she saw him approach the table, she did something that would save her life.
She quickly swapped their drinks, hoping that he wouldn’t notice that the glass was full. Luckily for Taylor, he took the cup and downed half of the drink inside.
She Could Tell
Taylor watched with wide eyes as he placed the cup down, a grin on his face. She knew soon enough she would be able to tell if he’d put something inside of her drink.
“I’ll be right back, just need to use the restroom,” She lied and slid out of her seat. But as she walked away from the man, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed the change in his expression.
An Evil Smirk
Long gone was his friendly grin. Instead, it was replaced by an evil smirk. It was like he thought he’d accomplished something. It sent tingles down her spine.
Taylor quickly made her way to the restroom and washed her hands with cool water. She couldn’t help but feel extremely unsafe. After about ten minutes, she decided to go back out.
Looking For Him
As she walked through the busy bar, she looked for her date, but he was nowhere to be seen. She wondered if he’d left or gone to the restroom himself. But when she returned to the table, she realized what had happened.
Calvin was out cold on the floor, just as she expected. All along, she was right. He’d placed something in her drink. She had to do something about this.
Explanation
Taylor quickly approached the first employee she saw and explained the situation. The employee, a young woman, couldn’t believe her ears. “Let me call my manager,” She said and went into the back of the bar.
Taylor waited close to where Calvin lay, passed out in the club. As soon as the manager heard what had happened, he called the police.
Helping Her
All of the employees came together to help Taylor. They gave her a drink of water and comforted her while they waited for the police to arrive. As soon as they showed up, the manager spoke to them.
The employees remained by Taylor’s side as the officers picked Calvin up from the floor and arrested him. He was in a daze as they carried him out of the bar.
Relieved
Although it was a terrifying situation, Taylor was relieved to get out of it just fine. She got a restraining order against Calvin, and he was banned from all bars and clubs in town.
In the end, Taylor moved on and met a man who truly cared about her, but she would always remember that night and the lessons it taught her.