I nodded looking him over quickly before trying to give him my best smile “I really am sorry though.”
“It’s fine, honest.” He smiled this time “I must get going through or I’ll be late for a meeting with a friend of mine, have a good day miss.” I smiled back more and nodded “Have a good day.” I let him walk by and started on my way back to my apartment again, letting his image permanently implant it’s self into my brain, I could’ve slapped myself for not trying to talk to him more.
Idiot! I thought scolding myself. You are truly an idiot!
I brought his image up once more, he was tall very tall, least six four - six five, had long blue black hair that was trimmed to lay in perfect layers along the side of his head to the end of his neck, the bangs were so long that they did cover his eyes - but barely.
All of it framed his face perfectly, though in every sense of the word messy it was just that, as if he woke up and just left without a care in the world. His eyes were emeralds, and I remembered them most due to the way they had peered down into my grey ones.
His skin was pale, paler than my own skin and as it was I looked like a mutant or something, his whole body seemed like it were tense as hell, the muscles he hand under his clothing, bunched up a lot when he moved and they popped in his forearm when he had caught me, he was so, so thin yet so strong.
Damn. I thought again wishing that I really had got his number or something. Maybe, somehow I’ll manage to run into him again! I thought laughing at the thought; I pushed through the doors of the apartment complex and climbed the stairs quickly before making it to apartment 210 and unlocking the door walking in.
I had been walking around for a good three hours out there, no doubt. I walked around slowly pondering about the guy I ran into, all I knew was what he sounded and looked like which really sucked ass. It was already around six thirty which left me with three and a half hours to cook something and eat, take another shower, pick out something to wear, and do my hair and makeup. Right, this was going to be fun!
I found myself cooking the only thing that was fast and easy in my kitchen - grilled cheese and a bowl of tomato soup. I hurriedly made it and sat down eating by the time I was done with both it was around eight, and I figured I’d do the dishes later.
I got up and went into my room going through my closet looking for something to wear and couldn’t find anything worthy really, so I just decided to stick with something nice enough for a club.
A silver spaghetti strapped dress that went down to my knees with a slit that went up my thigh a good three inches, the front was clad with different holes, one showed my navel, another bits of my cleavage, it came together looking a bit like a corset.
I set it down on the bed and grabbed a pair of white sandal high heels, nodding thoughtlessly towards the whole ensemble I turned to the bathroom and took another quick shower.
When I was done I got out drying off quickly and wrapped the towel around myself tightly and started blow drying my hair until it was a fully dry frizzy mess of brown hair, and went back into my bedroom to glace at the clock letting out a sigh.
It was nine already, which meant I had to be fast about this. I got dressed in a few seconds, headed back into the bathroom and started brushing my hair out, straightening it and then applied my make up quickly but neatly.
I put on a pair of decent looking earrings and then pulled on the necklace I basically wore everywhere I went, it was my mothers, and my prized possession, a bright ruby jewel in the middle of what looked like a pentagram.
When I was sure I looked good enough, I walked out and had almost twenty minutes left to spare - what can I say it takes a while to do make up. I went and fed Adonis, petting him and hearing the instant motor of his purring in return before he started chowing down.
“Be back later, ‘Donis.” I said beaming towards him as I walked out to the kitchen just in time to hear my cell phone go off, quickly I hurried over picking up and seeing the time on it, and fifteen till it’d figure that Sarah was calling early.
“Hello?”
“Angie!” Sarah said happily into the phone “I’m sorry, you don’t mind me picking you up early do you? I’m outside.”
“No, its fine I’ll be right out.”
“Alright, I’ll be in the car.”
“Okie Dokie. Be right down.” I said ending the call and grabbing my purse, I walked out locking and shutting the door behind me and starting down the stairs to the doors to leave, I got out front and noticed the black shiny car of Sarah’s sitting outside waiting.
I went up to it opening the passenger side door and sliding in, smiling at Sarah.
“You look absolutely, gorgeous.” Sarah beamed.
“Well, thank you.” I said grinning “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“Ha-ha.” She laughed pulling the car out of the parking lot and driving away. “So, I have this idea of going to a club similar to the one last night only, it’s got way better music since it’s live and oh right - the guys are cute! The girls told me about it a while back but never went myself; Anthony wanted me to go with him to flash me off to the guys.” She laughed.
I laughed as well, “Oh wow. I’m happy you two are still together, when are you getting engaged?” I joked.
Sarah lightly shoved my arm “Not fair!”
“It’s fair! More fair than anything, four years now Sarah! Seriously think he’ll pop the big question?”
“Oh please, honestly he’s talked about it, so maybe.”
I smiled at that “He better, my best friend is not going to be a girlfriend for the rest of her life!”
“Well I mean, we think of each other as more than that as it is, we just haven’t made it official.”
“Ha! He’ll ask any day now Sarah, just watch. As gorgeous as you are, you’ve got to be a fool not to!”
“Awh please Angie, you’re much prettier than me! Just wait, there’ll be an amazing guy to whisk you off your feet I swear it.”
“I hope.” I mumbled, “Though, the past few months haven’t been all that bad without the dating drama.”
Sarah pulled up to an old abandoned looking building laughing softly at me “But, it’s the moments in-between the drama that are the greatest to have.” She said pointing a finger at nothing “It’s true, even you know it, even if you’re not dating the man it’s true.”
“Yup!” I said happily.
“Let’s get inside; I’m sure everyone’s waiting.”
“Oh Sarah, I bumped into this really cute guy earlier.” I started smiling to myself. "Think his kind may be here?”
“What’d he look like?” Sarah asked me curiously.
“Six foot something, black messy hair, bright green eyes and pale skin, he looked so thin and unusual but then he caught me when I ran into him - I nearly fell over - and his muscles were like practically bulging out of his arms, his presence was just so… I don’t know.” I stopped “I’m rambling.”
Sarah shook her head looking away for a moment to hide her face before turning back and looking right at me smiling brightly “You’ll be surprised by what kind of men go here - you just might run into him. Come on.”
I got out following after Sarah into the building to see almost a replica of last night’s club, only brighter and bigger. “This, is the sister club to the other one, but more people come here.” Sarah whispered to me before finding everyone huddled together drinking different beverages.
Anthony stood up to meet Sarah hugging her tightly and nearly pulling her right off her feet before he kissed her deeply, her black dress became wrinkled a little in the back from where he had grabbed a hold of her.
“Mi Amour.” He whispered to her smiling bright before turning his gaze over to me “Long time no see.”
“Ha-ha, yeah.” I said trying to smile a little bit.
Truth be told, I was jealous so very jealous of them, what they had seemed so unreal, I just wish I could have something like that for once in my life, b
ut I shook the thought away and looked over at the others.
“Angie!” a girl yelled running over in a pair of jeans and a low cut halter top, her red hair looked like flames in the lighting as it bounced along with each of her movements, it took me a moment to place her and when I did my own face light up.
“JoAnn!” I smiled hugging her tightly “How have you been?”
“Great, oh excuse me guys, I’m stealing her from you!” she beamed at me and pulled me with her towards the dance floor “The entire college was invited here tonight; theirs this amazing band playing and the guys in it are extremely hot! So are the guys helping the band though, god I don’t even know this town had men like them in it!” She gushed as we weaved deeper into the crowd.
“Oh?” I blinked a few times as I followed her quick strides “So where are we going?”
“Front and center, baby!” She said in a happy sing song voice.
“If you must insist.” I said as we stopped in the front, the stage was huge with lights everywhere, you could literally climb onto the stage because of how close we had been to it and groups of different people were setting up equipment for the band.
JoAnn was right; they were cut, very cut in fact. I turned to see the unhappy faces of several men and woman staring almost directly at us as we stood there, only a select few were up here with us at the most it seemed twenty, while hundreds stood behind us.
“Uhm, how come we got up here so easily?”
“Oh, I got us tickets and by us I mean, Sarah, Anthony, you, me, Erica, Rebecca, everyone.” She smiled brightly at me “I know a few of the guys is all.”
“I see, oh how many bands are there? I heard more than one usually play.”
“There’s three tonight.” She paused thinking for a long moment “This once which is, Lightning - odd name. Then Twilight’s Enchantress and The Awakening.” She shrugged “Despite the names they’re all really, really good bands.”
“You know, she’s right.” A guy said from behind us making me jump for a moment startled from the sudden voice before turning and looking at him, bright green eyes, messy sweat stricken black hair, he was tall and staring at me…”You!” I managed to get out pointing at him like a total idiot.
“Me?” he raised his eyebrow staring at me as if I was challenged or something.
“I-I ran into you earlier, when I was coming from the Manager’s office!”
“Ah, the girl who ran into me and freaked out.” He smiled softly.
I felt a blush quickly cross my face and got to the defense “I did not freak out!”
“Defensive, defensive. JoAnn, Marky’s looking for you.” he said nodding to her.
“Oh!” She said quickly “Thanks, Al!” She said running off towards the area he had come from.
“Ah, so your name’s Al?” I asked arching an eyebrow.
“Actually, Alexander, though I rather Phoenix if you do not mind.” He smiled before continuing with his chatter “You made me late earlier, so you owe me a dance.” He said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I said quickly to him, “It’s slow!”
“What, you don’t know how to slow dance? It won’t kill you, I promise.” He took my hand pulling my towards an exit that brought us right back to the front by the other dance floor, he pulled me with him to the middle of it and put a hand on my hip and took my other hand “I could always just waltz you around on my feet.” He laughed.
“Ah, A guy who knows how to dance, interesting.” I said joking “I don’t even know how to waltz.”
“Well then, I guess,” he put his hands on my hips “We just got to deal with this then.”
“I guess so.” I put my hands around his neck hesitantly for a moment he tilted his head looking straight at me for a moment before laughing a little.
“You seem nervous.”
“I-I Uhm…” I looked away then found some words, least I thought I did. “I’m not exactly used to dancing with guys as of late?” I said then shook my head “That came out wrong, I mean - Shit…”
“Calm down.” He laughed “Honestly, I won’t ask you back to my place or something, I won’t kiss you - unless you want me to - it’s just a dance.”
I turned red again and looked away once more, his hands moved and sat on either side of my face turning it towards his own “I’m not trying to make you nervous or anything, just remember you’re the one who made me late.” He said smiling a little before putting his hands on mine and letting them slip away from his neck “The band’s going to start soon if you want to go watch.”
“Yeah.”
He looked at me and tilted his head. “At least you’re not as tense now.”
I blinked several times trying to make heads or tails of what he had just said “Heh…” Was all I really managed to get out as he lead me back to the front by the other’s Sarah ran over to him and looked from me to him over and over.
“So, Alexander, you’re the guy she ran into earlier huh?”
“Yup, I’m going to go make sure everything’s okay for Marky.” He said and walked off before she could start asking anything more.
“Angie honey, you okay?”
I blinked and looked at her then nodded “Huh? Oh, I-I’m fine.”
“You’re stuttering. You’re not fine. He makes you nervous huh?”
“All men do anymore.” I said grimacing “Roland kind of did do something that wasn’t sweet after all.”
“Aw, Angie not all guys are going to be like he was!” She said looking worriedly at me “It’s something else too isn’t it?”
“I-I, t-though I saw R-Roland…” I started taking a deep breath “Making his way towards this area…” Sarah stared at me for a long hard moment before grabbing hold of my arm and pulling me with her “Just think nothing of it.” She said before stopping by the others as they all held a long conversation without me about the band playing.
I listened to bits and pieces of it before the band came on stage, Alexander - or Phoenix, was walking off the stage with two other boys, JoAnn mentioned that they would probably come back down here in a few minutes and she’d introduce us to Marky.
I excused myself from JoAnn without Sarah or the other’s seeing or knowing really and began to walk off my arms wrapping tightly overtop each other and circling around my stomach as I walked to the exit and made my way up to the other dance floor.
I sat down on a bench pulling my knee’s up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, my head sat on the knees of my legs as I watched the band play somewhat, barely hearing any of it.
“Just don’t let the others see you like this…” I murmured to myself as I let out a long sigh, the band was good, I’d have to give them that and they were keeping my attention enough that from time to time, I was able to not pay any mind to my thoughts.
“Avangeline?” I turned my head quickly and stared with pure horror etched along my face, not caring who saw or not “I thought so, what still alone and broken? Poor baby is never going to make it in this world; come on let Daddy take care of you.” Roland grabbed my arm smirking as I started to pull away, his grip only tightened.
“Now, what did I tell you about fighting with me?” He said coolly.
“Roland, get the hell away from me!” I screamed at him, he dragged me up off the seat; my hair flew in my face as I tried to dig my feet into the flooring to hold my balance.
Smack! I felt the sting of his hand across my face, freezing in reaction to what had just happened. I didn’t understand it and I didn’t want to. “Get…Away.” I said staring at him.
“I made a mistake leaving you; I lost my only pet.” He purred petting me a little “Won’t do it again.”
“Leave me? I left you, and this!” I said gesturing with my head at where we stood shoving him away from me “Is why I did!”
He only smirked at me and I felt the horror boiling up inside of me, I started to back up slowly until I saw his smirk fade away and his lips turn into a thin white lin
e across his face, I found out why real fast too when I stepped back again and bumped into a body.
“Sarah sent me to look for you,” Phoenix said eyeing Roland slowly “Run along would you kid, I don’t think she needs bothered by you.” He grimaced a little, looking over Roland.
“She’s my girlfriend, now aren’t you hunny? Come on now.” Roland said sweetly to me.
“N-no…”I said starting to frantically shake my head “What don’t you get about stay away!?” I asked.
Roland started forward grabbing my arm again, tight enough I felt my bone screaming at me for the pain “Now, let’s not play around Ang.” He squeezed a bit harder making me wince and let out a soft noise of pain. Phoenix grabbed him by the front of his shirt in a flash, making him let go of my arm. I stumbled back rubbing the already bruising skin of my arm as I watched “She said, stay away now, get.”
“What are you going to do if I don’t? Bet I could hurt you before you tried.”
He stared at him grabbing hold of his arm and twisted it around his back, pushing him down onto the ground and slamming his knee into the middle of his back pressing down on it, a small crack was heard and Roland immediately started protests.
“That’s what. Now leave, you’re lucky I didn’t try to actually hurt you.” He spat standing up and watching as Roland took off, I just stared at the two rubbing my arm slowly and mindlessly.
“Are you alright?” Phoenix asked looking at me; I let my eyes meet his quickly putting my arm behind my back nodding a few times.
“I’m fine.” I said quickly, only making him frown as he walked over taking the arm I had hidden behind my back gingerly in his own looking at it, the outline of a bruising handprint was forming along my pale skin, and my cheek was swelling I could feel it.
“You’re not fine,” he started, looking straight at me “So that’s the ex of yours that Sarah as worried would find you?”
I nodded slowly and looked away before pulling my arm back from him “Thank you…” I started taking a deep breath “He probably would’ve really hurt me if you didn’t find me…”
The Darker Side: Short Stories Page 10