The walking over was the hardest part, or at least that was what Corey initially thought.  The anticipation of being told to scram by a gorgeous girl, especially on his birthday, and then having to walk all the way back to his mates, while feeling that every eye in the place was on him and knew what just happened, well it was enough to nearly send him running right out the nearest exit and straight home.  Of course, he would need to find the exit first.  Clubs were just like casinos in that they were filled with flashing lights and no windows so that you had no sense of time or place, and it would be just like him to get stuck fumbling around the walls looking for a door.<br/><br/>Pushing those thoughts aside, Corey had managed to make his way to where Avery stood and make his greeting, even if it had come out a little awkward.  Staring as she turned to face him, Corey’s mind seemed to go into slow motion, and anything else he might have said in an effort to recover was completely lost.<i>Bugger, she is even more good looking close up, </i>his overloaded mind noted, detecting just the faintest whiff of her perfume, which was of course perfect.<i>Oh god this is going to be bad…</i>he thought, already internally wincing for rejection when Avery started speaking, and he had to run her words through his mind twice to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.<br/><br/>Floundering for a second, Corey’s own bright smile suddenly blossomed, although he knew it lacked the megawattage that Avery’s had.  “Seems fair enough then.”  He chuckled, noting that she had moved even closer and suddenly feeling the overwhelming desire to gulp.  “I’m Corey, Corey Dwyer.  Pleasure to meet you, Avery”  He replied, picking up his own (empty) glass and clinking it against hers, somehow assuming that was a good greeting.  Seeing the bartender eyeing him (in surprise) Corey indicated Avery’s drink and his own in the complicated sign language of clubs that said he wanted to add her to his tab and get a refill.<br/><br/>Turning back to the stunning girl in the sparkly dress, he noted her gaze and turned to look back at where he had left his mates.  Colin, ever the subtle one, was giving him the world’s most obvious thumbs up, while Myles was at least trying to watch without looking like he was watching.  Turning his back on them firmly in favor of Avery, Corey grinned wryly.  “I’ll make you a deal, Avery.  I’ll ignore them if you will?”  Corey asked with half of a laugh.  “To be fair, I’m not known for having the minerals to come to talk to a girl like you, so they are a bit taken back.  Speaking of, I don’t have to worry about some big bloke coming along looking to twist my head off for doing so, do I?”