Chapter 5

The first time I met Parrish was in my second year of college. The campus had been buzzing for weels before that night—exams were over and it was time to let loose, and summer break was close enough to taste. Sophie had been buzzing with a certain energy that she could only expel at the club, Sophie loved to party and by extension she pulled me into the mix and her energy was contagious and i was high already off her excitement.

That night, e dressed to turn heads—short skirts, glitter shimmering on our skin, and heels higher than our self esteem. By the time we reached the club, the music was already shaking the streets, merging with the laughter of people prepped for the same wild night. Sweaty bodies, the air clouded with smoke, intoxicating us already before we even had the chance to gulp down a shot.

“This is fucking crazy!” Sophie's voice barely cut through the blaring music, but I grinned and nodded, too electrified to care about anything else. She yanked me close and poured a burning shot of liquor down my throat. I gasped, letting the heat fuel my excitement.

“You're crazy!” I shouted back, grinning as I followed her onto the dance floor. The place was pulsing, walls practically alive with the rhythm. Neon lights swirled above us, matching the intensity of the bass, making everything feel like a dream.

“We’re going up front! Felix is  on tonight,” Sophie yelled, pulling me forward. Felix was the guy Sophie had been seeing for a week—a student DJ with nothing but a dream

“Starving artists make the best lovers,” she had once said to me, her mouth full of pasta. “They give everything ‘cause they’ve got nothing else, except maybe some terrible poetry with your name awkwardly rhymed in. Tell me, how does anyone rhyme Sophie with trophy”

“Truly poetic genius,” I’d teased back, laughing along with her. Sophie was a straight-A student who could party harder than anyone I knew, and it fascinated me. She had this effortless confidence—boys flocked to her, and she reveled in their attention. Meanwhile, I stayed in the shadows, quietly watching her soak up the spotlight even though sometimes - I wished it was me. I wanted to stop being the friend in the background and grab the bull by the horns once in my life.

I wasn’t invisible, but I didn’t draw people in the same way. My awkwardness meant that only the nerdy, shy guys ever stuck around. I craved the thrill of something more—the leather-jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding bad boy you see in movies, the kind who could make you feel alive with just the flick of their eyes in your direction, the one with sharp jaws and piercing eyes.

After a while, the heat of the crowd became too much, and I stepped outside to cool down. The night air brushed against my skin, and I welcomed the calm it brought. I wandered a bit, the sound of the club fading as I turned down a quieter street. But my moment of peace was shattered when I noticed a shadowy figure in an alley. 

A homeless man stumbled out of the dark, his eyes empty and desperate. I froze, every muscle tensing as he staggered closer. His intentions were clear, and fear surged through me, paralyzing my movements.

“Back off!” I yelled, my voice trembling. But he didn’t move, his gaze locked on me like a predator. I stumbled backward, heart racing, scanning for an escape route and he was closing in.

That’s when I heard him—a voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Strong, firm, yet somehow comforting. 

“Hey! Leave her alone.” 

I turned and saw him, a tall figure stepping out of the shadows before casually pulling  a fifty-dollar bill and handing it to the man. “Go get something to eat, man,” he said calmly.

The homeless man grumbled under his breath but slunk away. I was left standing there, staring at my unexpected rescuer, curiosity bubbling beneath my fear.

“You’re Jessica, right?” His voice was smoother now, less commanding but still holding my attention. “Your friend said you might need a ride. She’s… preoccupied with Felix.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You with the band?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “No, nothing like that. Car’s parked a block over if you’re interested. If not, have a good night.” He started to walk past me, and I caught a hint of his cologne—something dark, almost intoxicating. But what really grabbed my attention was the mention of a car. 

In the city, a student with a car? That was rare.

“Wait,” I called after him. “You have a car in the city? Do you go to NYU?”

“Yeah but a prostgraduate class,” he replied, pausing but not quite turning to face me fully.

“But how? No one drives in the city,” I pressed, more intrigued than I should’ve been. My questions tumbled out in a rush until we reached a sleek BMW parked on the next block. My jaw practically hit the sidewalk.

“Still want that ride, or are you gonna keep grilling me?” His eyes sparkled with amusement as he held the passenger door open for me.

I hesitated for just a second before sliding in. “So… what’s your connection to the band, then?” I asked once we were both settled.

“My dad owns a record label. I’m hoping he’ll sign them,” he said, his hands gripping the steering wheel in a way that made the muscles in his arms flex. I found it oddly distracting.

“You must have some serious pull then,” I teased, trying to keep things light. “I’m Jessica, by the way. English major.”

“I know. Sophie talks about you,” he replied, glancing at me briefly. “So, what’s the plan with that? Gonna write the next great novel?”

I shrugged, feeling a little shy under his gaze. “Maybe. I’m into creative stuff. Advertising, maybe? I’m still figuring it out.”

He nodded, his hair falling into his eyes in a way that made my stomach flip. “I’m into advertising too. We should collaborate.”

The way he said it, so casual yet focused, sent a spark of excitement through me. I barely had time to process it when we both reached for the radio at the same time. Our hands brushed, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot up my arm. I pulled my hand back quickly, awkwardly placing it in my lap.

Kyle shot me a knowing smile before turning on the stereo, filling the silence with music. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.

“You want to grab a drink?” he asked suddenly.

“Where?” I asked, the butterflies in my stomach taking flight. Looking back, I should’ve said no. I should’ve asked him to drop me off at my dorm. But something about him pulled me in. I wanted that thrill, the rush that only a bad boy could offer.

And Parrish… he was about to give me more than I ever bargained for.