Chapter Four

I ran from the bathroom before I found my buzzing phone. Who is call from a blocked number? I could only wonder as I answered it.

"Hello."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Someone screamed through the phone.

"Jess?"

"One and only. What are you doing? You can't call anybody anymore?" She immediately questioned.

"I'm sorry; I've been too busy adjusting here.

"I understand. So, what are you doing?"

"Getting ready to shower for later.”

"Uh what's later?" She questioned.

"Well I'm going to a party tonight with a school friend, nothing major."

"Out there trying to shake your ass huh?" She joked. "I cannot wait to come visit you."

"I know, I miss you too. When are you coming?"

"I'm free in a few more weeks. By then, I'll have the money to catch a plane out there."

"Great. So we can catch up on everything."

"Yesss.” She expressed. “ Well, I'm going let you get ready. Have fun and be safe. Love ya.

"Ok, love ya. Bye."

"Bye."

****

Shit.

I glanced at the clock. 8:45pm. I was just getting out of the shower and it was clear that I was nowhere near ready.

I was left with fifteen minutes.

Damn.

I put on my sprays and lotion. I slipped on my underwear. I picked up my makeup bag and hair care appliances before I flopped down in front of the mirror.

I kept things light. Since time was not on my side, I knew tending to my makeup would take a lot of my time.

8:52pm.

As my flat irons continued to heat up, I went for my dress instead. Afterwards, my shoes; tipping over as I fought to shove my feet into my heels.

8:57pm.

With hair as course and curly as mine, obtaining the perfect style in a few minutes was almost impossible. I knew this was one of those shake and go moments.

I ran my fingers through my hair; reluctant to brush it which I knew would give me a puff rather than natural curls.

9:00pm.

I grabbed my back purse before I began tossing a few needed necessities into it. Money. ID. Pepper spray. Travel flats. Everything I needed for the night.

9:05pm.

I was rushing down the stairs; gripping the banister in hopes of not slipping and reaching the bottom quicker then I hoped for.

I looked at my phone as it began to vibrate and Kiera’s name lit up across the screen. Her call quickly followed by a beeping of her car horn..

"Okay, mom I'm leaving." I yelled from the doorway.

"Okay Niyah, have fun. Be safe." She called out from the kitchen. “Remember, call if needed. Even though you are eighteen, I still want you in by midnight.”

“Okay.”  I whined as I exited the house…

I danced to the music that played through Kiera’s radio. As I mumbled the words to the song, Kiera pulled into the lot that held a fairly large building.

The building did not look quite up to part. With chipping paint, dark covered windows and walls covered in graffiti, most would consider this to be abandoned. It was as if it has not been touched in years.

"Okay, we're here." She pulled into an open parking spot before she cut the engine.

"Um, what’s here?"

"The club." She confirmed.

"Wow this looks fun." I said sarcastically. "I always liked partying in abandon buildings."

"Have your mother ever told you to never judge a book by its cover? Now come on." She stated as she exited the car.

We walked up to the door before she knocked.

The peep hole opened. A boy, whom I assumed was the bouncer, stared at us before he slammed it shut.

I expected the red door to open. Instead, the wall just to our left opened.

"Wow!"

"Yeah." she laughed. "Nice huh?"

"Cannot say it’s not."

I followed her into the dark, narrow hallway. Reaching the end of the hallway, I was sort of surprised to see what this place had to offer.

It was as if we stepped out of an abandoned building and into a top rated New York night club. 

The club was huge. The walls were all white. There were tall, slim tables in various spots for people to place their drinks and food. There was a clear bar in the middle of the floor with a blue light radiating from it, which allowed us to see everything that was happening behind the scene. There was a balcony with couches and chairs that overlooked the dance floor.

There were people everywhere.

People I have yet to see in town.

"Let's go to the bar." Kiera based over the music. "We need to get a little liquor in our system."

"You're not 21."

"I know the bartender; she's a good friend of mine."

As we approached the bar, she quickly ordered four shots.

I took back two shots as she took two of her own.

"Keep them coming.” Kiera request before she looked toward me and smiled. “Let’s see how well you can hold your liquor city girl.”

********

One hour, four shots, and four mixed cocktails later, I was feeling beyond good.

It was as if I could feel everything. From the liquor that was rushing though my system, to the music that was beating through my ears.

Keira had managed to step away. I’m guessing her boyfriend had finally arrived.

Actually, I did not mind at all.

I thought the music was keeping me company.

The one thing I was really enjoying was the different genre of music being played. The DJ switched from Pop, to Reggae, to Hip-hop, giving us all a different taste of music.

Right now the DJ was offering us a sample of Trey Songz. Some music I could not help but dance to.

While dancing, I began to notice the different eyes that were on me. Strangely, I did not give a fuck.

I looked around, wondering where Keisha was since she promised she would be here as well. Sadly, she wasn’t here.

However, what I found seemed to be a little more appealing that her.

WOW!!

He was just standing by, staring at me.

With those eyes, I did not mind.

He was tall. A little over six foot from what I could tell. His skin, his face, perfectly flawless with a sun kissed tan. He wore a fitted black V-neck T-shirt and a pair of dark colored blue jeans. It was something simple yet something that did absolute wonders for his muscular physique.

His eyes-

Strangely, I could not find the color in eyes. With the lighting in the room dim, they seemed almost too dark to make out from a far.

However it was easy to see how he was built to perfection.

Damn this liquor.

It seemed awkward staring at him like this however I could not find the energy to break the stare.

"Hi?" Finally being able to rip myself from the stare, I turned to find someone standing by me.

"Oh hi?" I returned the greeting.

I must say, he was very cute as well.

"I'm Brent." He leaned in just close enough to allow me to hear him.

"Aniyah." I chuckled.

Those drinks had me feeling giggly.

"Can I buy you a drink?" He requested as he gestured toward the bar.

"Uh sure."

"You are very beautiful might I add." I walked ahead; a chill erupting through my skin when I felt his hand gently rest on my back.

"Thank y-"

Before I could respond back, before I could get the last word to leave my lips, I was tumbling down to the floor from the sudden impact.

What the hell was that?

How in the hell? Rubbing my now throbbing knee and elbow, I looked up to see what had happened.

Brent was not pressed up against the wall. His attacker? The male who had been staring at me from the across the room.

“Wait, what are you-“ I tried to intervene before someone pulled me up to my feet.

"Keira?"

"Yeah let’s go, I think it’s time to go home." She pulled me toward the exit; leaving behind the party that had suddenly gotten wild.

"For-for a skinny girl, you sure do have a mean death grip. You mind loosening it?" I muttered out as she dragged me over to the car.

Damn this girl was strong.

"We are leaving." She opened the car door before she shoved me in to the passenger side. She slipped in to the driver's side, started the ignition, and pulled off.

"Is he fucking serious? He could have-" She continued to mumble on and on before she stopped and looked at me. Something obviously pierced its way beneath her skin.

Suddenly, the car got quiet. Conversation ceased and we were left to the listen to the car’s smooth engine…