CHAPTER ONE: STRANGER AT THE BAR.

Maddie. 

"Don't look now, but that guy at the bar is totally checking you out." 

I immediately turned to look and Gia grabbed hold of my elbow and held me in place. 

"I said not to look now." She hissed at me. 

I winced. "Sorry sorry. What guy?" 

"He's wearing black, at seven o'clock. I can't really see his face, but I can see his watch and it is definitely expensive." She giggled, head bobbing to the beat of the music pulsing from hidden speakers. 

I rolled my eyes at her. Georgia and I had been best friends long before we were even born. I know you don't think it's possible, but let me paint you a picture of the scenario. Gia's mum and mine had been best friends who had met two best friends, Gia's dad and mine and got married within a month of each other. I was only six days younger than her, and we had practically grown up in the same house. Different houses sharing a single fence. Need I say more? 

We were attached at the hip and she was my sister in everyway that mattered. 

It didn't matter that we looked nothing alike. We were almost the same height, me an inch or two more than her and roughly the same size, but there were no more physical similarities. My hair was a deep, super curly red while hers was honey blonde and straight as an arrow. I had golden brown eyes which someone had once described as whiskey colored while hers were a vivid gemstone green. I had freckles across the bridge of my nose and a pale complexion. Gia was all tanned. She also had all the athletic genes in our duo, a member of the cheer squad and the tennis club. 

It was Gia's birthday today and we'd hit one of the less famous clubs to celebrate. Neither of us was twenty one yet, and our fake IDs would only help us if someone we knew didn't recognize us, hence the need for a less popular club. 

"You can't know his watch is expensive from way over here." I argued. 

She rolled her well made-up eyes at me this time around. "Of course I can. There's barely any lights on where he's sitting and I can see it glow." 

"That means nothing." I pointed out.

"Oh my God, don't ruin my birthday fun with all your logic." She groaned. "Let's switch places." 

"No. You don't even know if it's me he's actually looking at. Could be you." 

"I'd know if a man was looking at me." She said. "Take it from me, I'm older and wiser."

I laughed. "With all of six days and all the manly experience you got from your highschool boyfriend?" 

She shrugged. "Beats only knowing what a man looks like from biology class." 

"Hey." I protested. 

"Sorry sorry. We aren't here to talk about men. Ew. We're here to have fun." She whooped. "It's my freaking birthday." 

"Yes. It is." In a few days, we'll be celebrating my twentieth birthday in a decidedly different way. Gia was the party girl of our duo and I always indulged her. Dressing up and wearing ankle breaking heels for a night out. She was also down to stay indoors with me binge watching N*****x when I wanted.

"Let's do shots." She suggested.

I raised a brow at her. "What do you know about shots? We don't know anybody out here. We can't afford to get drunk. Who'll make sure we get home safely?" 

"You're killing all my buzz. See, this is why I don't take you anywhere. I'm going to get us two tiny glasses and we're going to drink it and have fun. It's one glass per person, we'll be fine, I promise." 

"Alright." I shouted over the music. "Straight to the bar and back, okay? No distractions." I warned. 

"Yes, mum." She giggled before strutting away. My best friend was a bombshell. She knew it and so did the men around who couldn't keep their eyes off her as she walked away. She was in a form fitting maroon mini dress that hugged all her curves and had a scooped back and neckline. Her long legs were well accentuated in the black killer heels she had on. I was sure the man at the bar had had his eyes on her too. I was beautiful, but no where near Gia's class, and I honestly didn't mind it. I would be overwhelmed if I got the kind of attention that Gia's presence attracted. Thankfully, she hadn't let the attention go to her head, she was nice and polite to everyone. 

A song I liked came on and I closed my eyes and began to sway to the music, feeling the rythym moving through me. I wasn't much of a dancer, but I enjoyed it. I liked the way it made me feel bold and powerful, like the whole world had ceased to exist around me and I could just do whatever I want. 

I opened my eyes when I suddenly felt a presence behind me, whirling around in panic as my eyes met with intense grey orbs. I sucked in a breath at the gorgeous man standing before me. I didn't even know that real people could look like this. Men like this only existed in GQ magazines after hours of careful make up and photo edits. The man stood inches above six feet, with impossibly broad shoulders. The flashing lights overhead revealed bits and suggestions of him till I could join the full image together. 

Dark hair, grey eyes, a five o'clock shadow covering his razor sharp jawline, a black shirt with rolled up sleeves and black pants. It was when I looked at his wrist and saw the huge, expensive looking watch that I realized who the man was. It was my mystery admirer from the bar.

"Hello." He said in a deep voice that rippled through me more effectively than the club music ever could.