Chapter 2

That is how we ended up at Chaos with a new best friend, dancing to music.I shouldn’t be here; this bar is definitely not my normal place, but when my boyfriend dumped me for no other reason than a “I’m not feeling it anymore.” in a text and your best friend is very convincing this is where you end up. But, I have to admit, this den of sin is the perfect place to forget my “good girl” reputation, and Jason. 

Jason Brigman, the golden guy that checks off every girl’s checklist. He is a football player, popular, has goals, dreams of a career as a surgeon, life of the party, but can be taken home to the parents. We have known each other since elementary school; we never were really close. He was too cool for me, a bookworm, with knobby knees, nothing special to look at but, at the end of our sophomore year my body changed into one that is slightly curvy and we were partners in our biology class for labs and projects. Well, that was how we started… At this point though he doesn’t matter, I do not care about him anymore. 

“MAYLEE!” I was brought back to reality by my best friend Alex's very loud slurred voice. I look her way to see a pair of very confused blue eyes staring at me. 

“ What?” I respond and try my best to smile back at her, to reassure her that I am having fun. 

“ You were thinking about him weren’t you! What is the one rule about tonight!!”

“ No, thinking about him, only fun, no sadness!” She is right, it is a waste of my time to sit here and think of that person who threw me away like nothing!

“SHOT TIME!” Christian joined the party about 45 minutes ago and has been away getting us all drinks. This isn’t the first time I have drank. Alex and I snuck my mom’s stash of wine, and tequila starting when we were 16 because we were curious about what the hype was about, but didn't was anyone to know since we were the good girls of the school. Mom has a girls night with a couple coworkers every few weeks and she usually has some left over from their pregame. She never notices when some is missing. So, I readily take the small glass. I much rather take a shot than drink a mixed drink. Since, I don’t particularly enjoy the taste so why prolong the undesirable taste when I can get it over with and still have fun. 

“ To new friendships and new beginnings.” Christain raises his glass to us and is staring at me the whole time as he says this. We all cheer and shoot the drink. I feel the burning sensation down my throat into my stomach. This makes shot number four and I am starting to feel the effects. 

“ Come on Alex! Let’s go dance.” I grab her wrist and start scooting out the booth. 

“We are coming!” Daniel jumps to his feet followed by Christian. 

We move towards the center of the dance floor. I want to get lost in the sea of bodies, just one in a hundred just moving to the beat without a care in the world. Alex, eyes Christian and I can tell she wants to dance with him so I shove her his way and give her a wink. Dancing with Daniel will be fun since there is no pressure and no way he is attracted to me. Christian scans Alex with his eyes, clearly liking what he sees and loops his arm around her small waist causing her to get closer to him. I turn to Daniel, and give him a smile. I am about to ask if he will dance with me when he grabs my hand and twirls me around putting my back to his front. We begin to sway to the music. I have to say he is a good dancer and from what I can tell so is Christian. The music begins to blur together and I lose myself in the moment. 

“Let’s get another drink, I need a break.” I hear Daniel’s yell next to my ear. We leave Alex and Christian since they have been engulfed in the crowd and make our way over to the bar. As we are waiting to get the bartender's attention. I begin observing the crowd. There are so many people all seeming to enjoy themselves. 

“What will it be guys?” I turn to see the bartender staring at me expectantly. 

“Four shots of vodka.” I answer, he hesitates and looks at Daniel. 

“ You heard the woman!” He winks at the bartender and shoots a smile at me. The bartender goes to get the drinks. 

“Lord, I wonder if he is gay, because he is amazing!” I looked at Daniel, I had not even noticed what he looked like; but even if he was, I had no interest in boys at this point. 

“I don’t know, do you want to figure it out?” I give him a mischievous grin. He returns my grin and the bartender appears with our shots. I know this is going to get me into trouble but at this point I am past caring. I take the shot in my hand and look at Daniel. 

“To the single life, my lady!” I tap his glass then the table and shoot. I don’t even taste the liquid going down my throat. The bartender is still standing there just listening to our interaction.  “What do you think of my gorgeous best friend?” Daniel slurs out, I look at him and laugh, shaking my head. I peek up at the bartender. He has a flannel shirt on with dark skin and dark eyes. He has a strong build. He laughs at Daniel. 

“She is one of a kind, but I like you better.” Both Daniel and I look at each other. We both have  surprised looks on our faces and a grin spreads after a second. 

“Hell yeah, one point to the gay team.” Daniel starts talking to the bartender and I zone out not interested in the conversation. I shot the last shot and told Daniel I am going to find Alex. He smiles,but doesn’t protest, so I walk away. 

I begin walking into the crowd in search of the blonde. I get pushed around by the sea of people. I stubble and brace myself to hit the floor, but it never comes. Instead, I feel a pair of strong hands holding me steady. I first looked at his arms. One is covered in a tattoo that runs from his wrist and disappears under his sleeve, the other is plain, then I see his broad chest which makes it clear that he works out, finally I look at his face. He clearly sees me checking him out and has a confident  smirk on his face. He has a strong jawline, olive skin, chocolate colored eyes, that do not hold any anger in them just curiosity and some worry, he has dark hair that is longer on the top which is disheveled and short on the sides with a fade. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen. 

“I’m so sorry! I was looking for my friend when I fell.” The slur of my words are so thick I can recognize it. The back of my head registers that I am still being held by this stranger and I start to pull away. 

“No problem. Do you want my help finding her. I don't think it is wise for you to be walking around here by yourself.”

“I don’t know you. I have friieeeends here sumewhere. I am fiinnee. So noo MR. Tall Darrk and HAnDsomee. I will do it all by myself.” He chuckles at my response and lets me go. 

“See you around Ms. Independent.”

I begin to walk away; I spot the two blonde across the room sitting in the booth we started at and start my way over there. But, I feel a wave of nausea wash over me and realize I need some fresh air. So, I walk over to my friends. 

“Where have you been?” Alex is sitting with a drink in her hands. 

“At thhhhee bar, Daniel found him a mAN he is hottt!” Christian instantly stands up. 

“I need to go check on him.” He looks at Alex “Don’t go anywhere, please.” I look at Alex and it seems like they are hitting it off  pretty well. I begin to feel the nagging sadness that has been in the back of my head the whole time creep in. Then another wave of nausea hits me again. I remember why I walked over here.

“I am headed outside for a minute.” 

“ I will come with you.”Alex instantly answers 

“No, Christian just said to stay. I will be right back.” She nods in response and I begin to walk towards the exit. I feel the cool air of November hit my face and it is like a refresh button has been hit. I start feeling better, still hazy, but I am no longer dizzy or nauseous . I don’t know how long I am standing there when all of a sudden I feel a hand wrap around my waist and drag me to the wall. I freeze, this isn’t someone I know. He is older, maybe his late twenties, has alcohol on his breath, lust in his eyes, I feel gross by the way he is touching and staring at me. 

“Aren’t you a pretty little thing? Are you looking for a good time sweetheart because I can certainly fulfill your desires.” The smirk on his face increases and he starts to lean forward. It is like my body isn’t working. I have never had a man act like this to me in my 18 years of life. He puts his hand under the loose fabric of my top and I finally can react. I shove him as hard as I can but he doesn’t move. 

“My boyfriend is waiting on me so get your hands off of me.” I push him again. He smiles.

“I don’t believe you. I think you are all by yourself. Come on, give me a chance, I will show you a good…” Suddenly he is ripped away from my body and thrown on the ground. I look thinking it is Daniel or Christian.. but the dark haired man from the dance floor is standing over the guy. His face looks furious, he looks like he is ready to murder. His muscles strain against the shirt he has on, his hands are clenched into fist and he is standing over the creeper.

“ She said No asshole. Get your filthy hands off of her.” 

“Come on Dean, it's just some fun. I means look at her, she clearly is wanting it and that little thing I bet is so tasty”

 Suddenly, Dean punches the guy one time right in the face and I hear a sickening crack of bone snapping. The sleazy guy is now holding his nose, blood oozing out of it. Dean leans over to him and whispers into his ear. The guy apologizes to him and turns to me and gives me a slight bow. Then walks hastily away.  I am officially terrified not only of the creep, but of the anger I can feel rolling off my savior. I am leaning against the brick wall my knees have given out so I am in a crouched position, my breathing is rapid and uneven. I am on the verge of tears when my brain realizes what could have happened if this savior had not shown up. 

“ I am sorry about him, Andrew is usually harmless. That being said he will be dealt with for his actions.” Dean is still standing facing away from me watching the dark figure of Andrew walk away. I let out a sob and I realize that the tears are not being held back but freely going down my face. Dean turns to me and almost instantly is in front of me wiping my tears off my face.

“SHH, it is okay he is gone. No one will hurt you, not while I am here.” His emotions seem to shift rapidly. “What is your name?” 

Without thinking, I guess from the effects of the alcohol in my system, I instantly respond “Maylee Kate Robinson.” He smiles and looks into my eyes, which I am sure look unfocused, confused, and frightened. He touches my cheek and I feel a tingling sensation in the places that he touches and I almost instantly feel comfort and at ease. I should be terrified, this man's appearance is so dark, and scary, but I feel almost like I had known him for a long time. “Anthony Dean Michealson, I go by Dean.”