The meeting

Arielle's POV

"YOU WHAT???!!!!!!" That was my very loud cousin Casey Lavern. To say she was surprised to see me at her doorstep unannounced was an understatement and she was equally glad to see me until I told her that I ran away from home. Temporarily.

"Well, what else am I supposed to do C? I have been sheltered and ruled my whole life and I have never complained before. But there is a limit for everything don't you think? Especially when you are already 24 years and has never had a boyfriend in your life much less a first kiss and I am still a virgin for crying out loud! Even highschool kids are not virgins anymore. I want to experience things in life too with things that I want to do. Let me have some control over my life even if it's for a short period of time" I said it all in one breath and it feels so good to let out all the frustrations I have been bottling up all this time.

Casey looked at me with pity in her eyes. "Oh A! I know that uncle Scott and your brothers have been a little too overbearing but it was because they love you. Do they know that you ran away? How did they react to this?" she asked.

"Mom was really worried when I called her but I told her to give me just one month of space to do things that I want to experience in my own accord. I didn't tell them where I am so don't you dare betray me and inform them about my whereabouts." I told her with a serious look.

She sighed "Fine I won't. So what is your plan now?" she asked curiously.

"Hmmmmm I really don't know. You tell me cause you are the only girl I know  who has had enough freedom to enjoy your life in our family. So teach me how to enjoy life." I said with a big smile on my face.

"Gosh A, I feel bad that all this time you have been missing out so much. OMG wait, you said that you have never had a boyfriend right? And never been kissed and that you are still a virgin?? Don't tell me!" she looked at me with a horrified expression "you are not planning to lose your virginity are you?" she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

I looked at her sheepishly "um, well, actually, um -"

"Don't even go there A. You can't just have sex with a stranger!!!" she exclaimed "You need to do that with only someone you love!! And you can't afford to fall in love with anyone cause your marriage is already fixed!"

I looked down on my lap and started playing with my fingers. "C, I want to experience things in life, not just fall in love. I thought that if I can find someone that I like enough maybe I can go on a date with that person and get to know for sometime before I actually give up my virginity. Atleast losing it would be under my control and my decision."

I heard her give a resigned sigh "Ugh fineee, but you have to promise me that you will not fall in love and that it would be over just as it starts. Promise me!"

I gave her a huge smile and held up my pinky "I pinky swear to keep my emotions on check" and wrapped my pinky with hers and stamped it.

"Okay then, I had plans of going on clubbing with a couple of friends of mine today A. Would you like to join?"

I looked at her with hearts in my eyes "Clubbing!!! Yayyyy!! How did you know that clubbing is in my bucket list?" I told her with big doe eyes and latched onto her hand like a kid who was getting candy.

She laughed out "I figured that with your two big brothers you would have never stepped foot into a club so imma change that right away. But let me warn you A, stick by my side cause there are real animals than human beings in clubs so you have to be careful"

"Yes mum" I told her jokingly. "Ugh, who's older than who here" she told me while laughing and poking my head with her finger.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"You really want me to wear this?" I asked her with a horrified expression. "This barely covers my butt or my boobs." I held up the piece of fabric that she called clothing.

She sighed "A! You are too innocent. Fine fine, you don't have to wear that but you can't go to a club looking too decent cause you will stick out like a sore thumb. Wait let me find something perfect for you" And then she went to her closet and started rummaging through her closet to find something more appropriate for me to wear like a crazed woman.

"Aha! Now this would be perfect for your innocent self. Not too revealing and not too decent either" she said holding up the clothes and putting it out on the bed. I looked at it and saw that she has chosen a two piece outfit with a halter neck black top and a pair of leather jeans and I actually liked it as it was not as revealing as the previous bodycon short champagne colored dress that she picked before, so Casey left me to get dressed and went ahead to get changed herself.

Once I was done applying make up and got my hair done I heard the doorbell ring and heard Casey calling me out from her room "A, could you go open the door for me please? I am still getting dressed"

"Yeah sure!" I walked to the front door and opened it to reveal a good looking guy clad in a black leather jacket and a white t-shirt inside with a pair of denim and Nike shoes. He looked at me with curious eyes from head to toe and asked "Who are you?" 

Okay that is a bit rude to ask from someone who was obviously a guest of the person he was looking for. "Who are you?" I raised an eyebrow at him and asked while still holding the door.

"Hey Shawn!! What are you still doing outside?" Casey asked while coming out from her room.

"Who is she?" He asked pointing at me as if I am some sort of an intruder.

"Oi be more polite would you?" then she turned to me and said "A this rude prick is my bestfriend and partner in crime Shawn Chavez" then she turned to him and hugged me from the side and said "and this is my all time favourite cousin Arielle Wilson" 

As soon as he heard that I am her cousin he changed his manner and quickly apologized "my apologies Ms. Wilson, it's just that Chaerin never has overnight guests or any sort of guests so I was just a bit surprised."

"No that's fine. And you can call me Arielle" I smiled politely at him.

Then he turned to Casey and said, "Shall we then? My friends are already there"

Casey came and linked my hand with her and the other with Shawn and said "Let's go!"

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The club was loud and very packed and unlike anything I have ever seen in my life before. "Wow!" I exclaimed with facination and with big eyes! "This looks exactly like what they show in those movies and dramas!! There are different coloured lights everywhere" I felt like I was a kid who was taken to Disneyland. 

Shawn looked at me as if I am a total weirdo "How old is she again? How come she has never been into a club before?" I heard him asking C and she was trying to shush him when I turned to him and said, "I can hear you you know" I gave him a pointed look and said "yes it is my first time in a club and you don't have to be so shocked about that fact cause i'm sure i'm not the only 24 year girl in the world who has not been to a club" and huffed at him and left them. Casey ran behind me and slid her arm into mine "I'm sorry A, he is a bit insensitive, he had a really bad childhood and doesn't have the best sort of parents so he's a bit rough around the edges and says whatever that comes to his mind. I hope you can tolerate him for me please!" she said apologetically and pleadingly while giving me her best puppy dog eyes. 

"Fine! How can I ever say no to my favourite cousin. Anyway now you go have fun, you don't need to baby sit me." I said trying to shoo her.

"No way, you are my guest so I will show you how it works around here but first let's go meet Shawn's friends. They own this club so if you are with them then no would ever mess with you." She was dragging me to what seemed like a VIP area when some guy knocked on us and spilled his drink on Casey. "Ugh" i could say that she was annoyed but the guy kept apologizing despite being drunk so she forgave him and went to the washroom and asked me to stay right outside the washroom.

I was waiting for her when I heard a loud screaming noise, I went straight in the hallway and came to a lounge area and where I came across a guy who was towering over a girl who was crouched on the floor and beating her up, "Hey! Stop that!" I screamed at the guy and went to stop him from further hurting the girl who was now on the floor cowering in fear, he looked at me annoyed and said "look here miss, this is a problem between me and my girlfriend and it's none of your business so I would appreciate it much if you leave here without getting invloved"

"I don't care if it is between you two are not, but what I saw right here is physical abuse and I will not just sit back and watch while an innocent girl is being beaten up" I was really pissed off for what he was doing here.

He left the girl and slowly came towards me and I could hear the loud thumping of my heart and feel my hands becoming sweaty cause I knew that I am no match for this guy who is definitely 6 feet or more in height and I have only received basic self-defense techniques, however I didn't back down. "Seems like you want to get invloved. Fine then when you get a few hits yourself you will know how to stay away and mind your own fucking business" he raised his hand at me and I knew what was coming but before he could hit me I took him by surprise when I kicked him in the shin and punched him in the face. He fell while groaning in pain.

"I am not afraid of psychos like yourself and knows how to protect myself" I spat and went to the cowering girl to help her up. But before I could lift her I could feel my hair being pulled and I came face to face with that jerk face again. "You think you are so tough eh, let's see how tough you can get-"

"ENOUGH!" I hurd a thundering voice and the jerk face froze and looked at where the voice came from. I saw a lean and muscular guy who was dressed in a red leather jacket and ripped jeans with numerous ear piercings and a few tattoos standing in the hallway. I looked up to the guy and realized that he was about 6 feet tall and had a peircing jawline with a slight stubble and captivating green eyes that a person could get lost in. He was insanely attractive with a lean and muscular build specially with the dangerous and dark aura which was emitting from him. 

"I have clearly notified everyone that I do not tolerate violence in my club. And yet, you dare break my rules!" he looked at jerk face with a menacing look that could kill and the jerk face immediately released me and started cowering in fear looking like he's about to pee himself. Ha! Not so tough now are you? 

The guy who saved me started coming towards us with slow menacing steps and the jerk face suddenly went down his knees and started pleading "I am sorry i am so sorry, i will never do this again! Please forgive me this one time, i won't even look towards this side again"

"Tch! I really hate pests like you. Now leave before I do any damage to you and don't ever step into my club again!" he threatened the guy with a low voice. Jerk face quickly stood up and scrambled away like he was being chased off by a dog. I looked at our saviour again and he was looking at me as if scrutinizing me and I couldn't see a twinge of warmth in his eyes as he looked at me. I felt a shiver from his gaze and realized I still didn't thank him. 

He looked at me one last time and turned to leave when I called out to him "wait!" He stopped on his tracks and turned his head towards me as if waiting to hear what I had to say, "Um thank you for your help! I really appreciate it!" He just gave me a slight nod once and left. 

I went back to the girl who was now sobbing "Are you okay? Are you hurt badly?" She shook her head and looked at me with tearful eyes and said "Thank you so much!" while holding on to me tightly.

"A!!" i looked back to see Casey rushing towards me, "Omg, what happened?" she asked seeing the weeping girl on the floor.

"Some jackass was beating her but now it's all good as he was chased off the club. Let's help her get a cab and come back in shall we?"

We helped the beaten up girl find a cab and made sure she was safe and sent her home and she thanked me many times for helping her. I told her not to tolerate violence like that again and advised her to call the police if it happens again. We went back inside the club afterwards. Casey took me back to the VIP room and I saw Shawn already seated there with a 3 really good looking guys.

They all looked at us and greeted Casey with warmth which made me happy to see her having good friends here. She introduced me to each one of them, there was a guy with white spiked up hair seated next to Shawn who was named Tyler. He's cute and seems like a really nice guy who has a really cute eye smile. Next to him was a guy named David who was a bit short with curly hair covering his forehead and he seems to be a naturally bubbly person who can't stop smiling. A really attractive tall guy who looked bored with piercing blue eyes was seated next to David who I got to know was named Scott and seemed to be a bit odd but nice enough and they all greeted me and was polite towards me.

"Ah Xander finally! Where have you been?" I heard Seungri asking someone.

"I was just throwing out some trash who was trying to hit woment in my club. Tch. Made sure he would never step inside this again." A low and dangerous voice said out gruffly and my eyebrows shot up as I recognized this voice and turned to find the same guy who helped me earlier.

"Ah! Good that you threw away garbage like that. Anyway, we were just introducing Casey's cousin to the rest of the gang. Xander meet Arielle, she just came to visit Casey for a while. And Arielle, meet Xander, the owner of this club and our best friend!"

I turned and saw his sharp green eyes already looking at me. I felt vulnerable under his gaze and felt my knees weaken a bit. "Hey there! We meet again!" I said while smiling nervously.