1

"You straight?"

A voice cut through my thought, getting me back to the wake of reality.

Looking up, my eyes met a gorgeous clearskinned woman. Pretty eyes, full lips, full curls and all.

She looked kind, but she was still a stranger.

"Yeah." I said non-committal, going back to nurse the rum and coke I'd long ordered.

The Randy club was fully packed with warm bodies, strobe lights and the addictive smell of cologne and alcohol. In other words, everywhere was abuzz with life and may I add, hot.

However, I was dead cold.

Cold and alone as I stared at him get cozy with two blondes who in return, were all up on him.

Funny how he'd done this over and over again and all I had to do was suck it all up like a champ.

He said it helped him cope with his sanity whenever we argued and I'd given him a go-ahead order because in the end, he always found his way back to me.

But that didn't help the bitter feeling that was engraved in my heart anytime my eyes met him.

It was gut wrenching and degrading, watching my boyfriend fondling other women in my presence while I just had to suck it up.

It was like watching your man fuck other women while you hang around, waiting to hand out condoms for his big finish.

I was that pathetic.

Letting out a pathetic sigh, I turned to face my untouched drink.

Few more hours. I told myself. Few more hours and he'll be back in my arms where he belonged.

"Boy problems?" The stunning goddess asked, after she'd ordered her own drinks.

I took a chance to take in her entire person.

Everything from her skin to the cloth she had on screamed wealth.

Taking my absence the wrong way, she raised her hands in surrender, her studded, manicured hands glowing under the club light.

"Didn't mean to get my nose all up in your business." She said, taking her hands down. "Just saw that you looked down and I  needed to cheer you up."

I fingered the silver chain that hung around my neck, while I tucked my stray red hair behind my ear, an act that I did whenever I was dead nervous.

I stared at the beautiful woman, sitting regally on a long stool, looking every inch an odd sight in a shanty club filled with broke college students. There was no way she was in college.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" I asked instead, twirling my drink.

She smiled mischievously before taking a swig of her drink.

"On an errand."

I raised a brow at the vague answer. "An errand?" What kind of errand? I wanted to ask, but that would be me prying.

This time she turned her full attention to me. "Yeah an errand, love. And so far, everything I'd set aside for it has been worth it."

"So," she leaned close, playfully nudging me like we were long time friends. Friends, something I didn't have. "I see you eying the blonde over there. Let me guess, you have an unrequited crush on him." She nudged again, gesturing at Scott, who was now getting personal with one of the blondes.

His hands were all over her body as she danced, his lips, glued to her neck, like he couldn't get enough.

I paled at the view before me. I couldn't stand watching him do things, he'd done to me to some other girl. It was degrading.

"How long have you liked him?" The gorgeous woman asked again, this time, pity laced her voice.

With my eyes still stuck to Scott and the blonde, I watched in horror as he began to full out kiss her. Tongues and all.

"He's my boyfriend." I gritted out, feeling my heart constrict.

The gorgeous woman did a double take. "Your what? Boyfriend!"

I felt pathetic all of a sudden as she stared at me with nothing both pity. I hated pitting looks. They were the lowest form of consolation. It translated to 'I'm sorry, but you suck.'

"Your boyfriend?" She whisper-yelled. "Your boyfriend and you are cool with him being all up on some other bitch's case?"

I was too ashamed to look at her. I know, I was pathetic, but that was all I could do at the moment.

Scott Pitt had been the only constant in my life after my parents had passed. He'd stayed even after he heard my story and he'd held me in his arms, consoled me and made, sweet sweet love to me.

Everyone left, and he'd stayed behind. Who was I to question his action. So far as, he'd come back after straying, I was good.

"It's complicated." I squeaked out, embarrassment washing my entire being.

"Girl, there's nothing complicated about your boyfriend disregarding your feelings while playing around with other bitches. Before you!"

Pathetically, I went on to make excuses for Scott. "It's not like that... We've sort of talked about it."

A horrified look graced her face as she stared at me in utter disbelief.

I suddenly felt small, she, with the regal air surrounding her and me, I felt like a mere fly before her.

"You talked about it and you are okay with it?"

"That's pretty fucked up." The bartender who was mixing drinks for her, pipped in with a shake of his head.

Seemed like he was listening in on our conversation.

I dropped my head, too embarrassed to tell him to mind his business.

Her hands touched my almost shaking shoulder. "What's your name love?"

Taking in a breath, I looked at her. She was visibly angry over my situation and that warmed my heart in a twisted way.

"Ava. Avalon."

She smiled. "A pretty name to go with the face. Look, love. You are beautiful and you are amazing. You are worth every man treating you like a queen. I don't know how you two got to be together and what you've done. But it doesn't matter." She gave me stern look. "What matters is that you deserve to be treated like a queen. You deserve to be respected as a woman and a person and if he doesn't see that, walk away."

I blinked, the tears were about to break out.

She was right in every sense. But, Scott and I were different. We'd come to a common ground where I understood him and he understood me, or so I thought.

"It's complicated." I again, let out lamely.

She and the bartender let out defeated sighs. But she wasn't backing down. "Look love, do you love him?"

The question took me off guard. Did I love Scott?

Sometimes, I thought I did. He could be loving and caring and could make my heart soar and on another hand, he could be heartless, tearing my heart into shreds.

I didn't know the answer to that question. Yes, we've exchanged the big L, especially Scott, whenever he was deep inside me, riding his high or whenever he gifted me with one of those extravagant gifts.

But did I really feel love for him, it was something I didn't know the answer to.

As I looked over at Scott, now laughing with the other blonde who had her big boobs shoved to his face, I felt my heart take another stab.

Love shouldn't feel like there were thousands of knives sticking to the heart. It shouldn't hurt this bad.

This time, the tears were having a free flow as realization hit me.

I'd been putting up with a lot of things while clinging to an idea that was probably a lost cause.

"There, there." She cooed, coming to wipe my tears. "You shouldn't cry love. He doesn't deserve them. All he deserves is a kick in the balls or in rational words a confrontation. You deserve a right to let him know what you want in a relationship and if he can't keep his balls at a place, cut him off!"

I let her hold me cos she felt like what I'd long lacked. A friend.

Wiping my nose with the scarf she offered me, I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my head. I felt like shit, and I knew I probably looked like one.

All in all, I was a mess.

I heard her order the nosy bartender to get her a drink which she slid to me.

"If you're doing the ball kicking, you need this." She said.

I nodded, fingering the necklace around my neck as I took the glass.

Not thinking one minute, I downed the glass in one shot, causing her to let out a whoop.

The drink burnt my throat, almost making me to tear up before I felt a small buzz in my body.

I stood, up, feeling giddy and cowardly same time.

"Go kick an ass love. Let out your mind and let him see things your way. If he doesn't see same thing, walk away with your dignity in tack."

I nodded as she squeezed my hands. I was a nervous wreck.

The bartender gave me a small smile. "Drinks on me."

I smiled, he might be nosy but he was sweet.

Trying to adjust the black dress clinging to my body. The black dress I wore because, Scott loved me in black. He said that together with my red hair, black made me look badass. Like a heroine in some action flick.

Those words had made me swoon. From then, I'd purchased pretty black dresses to look good for him whenever we were out and he would beam with pride whenever I was in his arms.

Striding with half confidence, I sort him out in the midst of the many dancing bodies.

The dandy club, was a club outside campus, everyone in campus went there to wind down or hook up. But their Friday night parties were legendary. Nobody missed out. They allowed college students free drinks to honor us being their favorite and constant customers.

I made my way through the crowd to reach Scott, my heart twisting the more as I neared, watching him laugh with the blondes.

"Ava!" Scott grinned once he saw me, like he hadn't told me earlier in the day that he didn't want to see my face. "Have you met Ash and Brit? They are amazing!"

He was grinning, his blue eyes glowing under the lights. His blonde hair slicked back to perfection. Scott was easily the most handsome guy in my department. He had the ken doll looks, his body was goals and he'd been interested in plain me.

He'd gone out of his way to get my attention and he had showered me with attention that I'd been completely consumed by him. Right now, I was consumed by anger as his hands rested on one of the blondes, who didn't pay me any attention.

"We need to talk." I deadpanned as I stared at him. Anger taking over the nervousness I felt.

"Avaaa," he sang, leaving the blondes to wrap his arms around me. "Let's dance baby." He had on that pout that would have had me softening, but tonight, I didn't let him.

"Not now Scott." I said firmly. "Let's step outside."

Peering at me and figuring that I wasn't in no bullshit mood, he nodded and led the way outside.

Fresh air swept across my face as we were outside. I could feel my heart rate going up as we went near a pillar.

Scott's face was neutral and so was mine.

Feeling a lone sweat trail down my chest, I tugged at the dress which clung to my body like a second skin and before I knew it, Scott was on me.

"You look so hot baby," he murmured, hands resting on my bare tight as he nuzzled my neck, breathing me in.

The after reaction of his action had me feeling all tingly. Scott was getting around, he was back to my arms were he belonged and nothing mattered. And as if to concur with my thoughts, his lips found mine.

The strong stench of alcohol hit my stomach, but it was all right, as I kissed him back. His lips were still soft and warm, invading my senses like it used to.

My hands went around his neck, feeling his warmth and the faint scent of his perfume, for a moment, nothing mattered cos Scott smelt and felt like home to me. Still kissing me, I leaned in, with no care in the world that we were basically in public.

"God Ava!" He groaned, as his lips attacked my jaws. "I have missed you so much."

I smiled almost bashfully as we separated. "I missed you too Scott."

He came closer, arms still circling around mine and I couldn't help but nuzzle him. "How much Ava?"

Smiling up at him again, I suppressed a giggle at the playful glint in his eyes. "So much."

This was the Scott I knew. The same one who picked me up amidst all the beautiful girls in campus- in our department. He listened to my story and decided to give me a chance.

He held my hand all the way and no matter what came our way, I knew we were going to be alright.

"Ava?" His smooth voice purred.

"Hmm?" I replied, happy that he was happy too. "What Scott?"

He leaned away, his blue eyes and blonde hair looking so pretty under the Moon's spray.

"You know Ash and Brit and every other girl means nothing to me right?" He asked in his firm and sure voice that always leaves me reassured.

I felt a little odd at the mention of those names. But being the good and understanding girlfriend that I was, I nodded.

"Sure. I know."

He grinned. That smooth and charming smile of his that always sweep me off my feet and leaving me a tingling mess.

"You see," he started carefully. "It's gonna be a little rude of me if I abandoned them inside there all by themselves-"

I felt cold. Dead cold at his words.

How could he.

"I'd just see to them then we can get going-"

"No!" I blurted out, fury rising like a mad storm inside me.

Scott looked confused and not the least remorseful. "No? Why the hell not?"

I felt embarrassment wash my entire being. This, I should have addressed from the onset. Immediately we were out that door, but I let my hormones and feelings get the best of me.

"Because we need to talk!"

"Now? I thought we were past that?"

"Yes Scott." I put a foot down. It has to be now. "Now."

He shrugged. "Fine, talk." His face was as neutral as it had been when we first came outside.

"Scott..." I began, I didn't know how to start.

The gorgeous woman's voice filled my head. 'You deserve to be respected as a woman and a person and if he doesn't see that, walk away.'

I took in a breath. "I don't like the way I'm being treated in our relationship-"

"But I've been good," he breathed out, coming close.

"It's not about that Scott. It's about our psychological state in this relationship. One minute we are arguing and the next, you're running into some other girl's arms instead of talking it out with me like real adults."

Scott's eyes hardened. "Thought we've talked about that."

"You only said what you wanted but didn't care about what I want."

He rubbed his face, facing back and obviously getting frustrated. "You know that what I do is for us. My mental health. You know I don't wanna end up lashing at you."

"Do I!" I snapped, balling my fist. "Do you know how hard it was to watch you openly grope and make out with other girls why I sat sulking? How does that be of any help to me?"

"That's your problem Avalon!" He bursted out suddenly, causing me to step back. "I did all those to calm myself and be away for a minute because you were suffocating!"

My mouth hung open in shock.

"Why?" He demanded, staring me straight in the face. "You don't know? You're so suffocating Ava. You always want attention, always want in on everything, always the selfish one who wants everything to be about her. It's damn tiring and it scares everyone away." He sneered. "And you said it yourself, that was why you lost your parents too because you couldn't help but be all needy around them too!"

It felt like I was slapped across the face as his words sank in.

I'd let him on something so confidential and he'd thrown it back to my face.

"What? You wanted to talk, so why don't we. You know what, why don't we talk about how tired I am of your lame ass and your good girl facade. You were nothing special anyway."

I took a step back. Another. Then another till I found myself really taking in Scott.

Those same lips that had told me I was special and worth every of his time were telling me I was nothing special. My Heart broke into tiny pieces same time I took off.

Trying to get away from everyone and thing.

Scott hadn't loved me one bit, but at least he should have cared about my feelings a little.

Feeling a great deal of suffocation, I ran, trying to get rid of the heavy feeling that was heartbreak. Ran till I couldn't anymore. Ran till I lost sight of where I came from.

I found myself in the woods. A place I never knew existed.

And that was when I heard the noises. Angry growl-like sounds that had goosebumps on my skin.

Feeling lost and scared, I tried to figure out a way of escape, but then I saw it.

A huge brown dog, coming towards me menacingly. My heart began to beat fast as I stepped back, feeling cornered and out of an escape plan.

And when my eyes caught it's own, it bared its teeth and launched at me, sending me flying into a tree.

Once my head collided with the hard bark of the tree, I was quick to be dragged into Oblivion, but not before I caught sight of one other one, holding my gaze in its black ones.