Two

The neon lights flickered as we stepped into the club. The bass from the music pounded through the floor and vibrated in my chest. I should have been excited. It was the kind of night people said would help you forget—forget the hurt, the betrayal, the mess of a life that seemed to be falling apart. But as I followed Amber toward the bar, all I felt was the heaviness in my heart. Fred’s words still echoed in my mind. I couldn’t believe he had cheated on me. And with her—Gina, of all people.

Amber leaned in close as we reached the counter, her arm looping through mine. She looked stunning that night. Her confidence radiated in every move she made, as usual.

“Come on, Rochelle, stop looking like someone just ran over your puppy. We’re here to forget, remember?” she shouted over the music, giving me a playful nudge.

I tried to smile, but it was weak. Amber had been trying to lift my spirits all night. She was right, of course. I should have forgotten about Fred. I shouldn’t have cared about him anymore. He was a jerk, and I knew I deserved better. But it still hurt. So much.

We ordered drinks, and Amber handed me a shot. “This’ll help,” she said with a wink. “Trust me, you need to let loose tonight. You look hot, by the way. Every guy in here is probably checking you out.”

I glanced down at my dress. It was a tight black revealing dress that Amber had insisted I wear. It clung to my curves in all the right places, and for a brief moment, I felt a spark of confidence. Maybe she was right. Maybe I did look good. Maybe, just maybe, I could forget.

Amber downed her shot, then grabbed another one for me. “Listen, you need to stop thinking about Fred. And forget about that other guy too, you know, the one you’ve been secretly crushing on forever. What’s his name? Aries?”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name, but I forced a smile. “I’m not… I’m not thinking about Aries.”

“Uh-huh,” Amber said, clearly unconvinced. “Well, either way, neither of them deserves to be taking up space in that pretty head of yours tonight. So, here’s what we’re gonna do.” She grinned mischievously, leaning in close. “I dare you to kiss the first guy who catches your eye.”

My stomach flipped.

“Amber, no,” I laughed, shaking my head. “I can’t just… kiss some random guy.”

“Why not? It’s your birthday. You deserve a little fun, don’t you? And besides,” she leaned back with a smirk, “it’s not like Fred appreciated you. Show him what he’s missing.”

I hesitated. The idea was both thrilling and terrifying. Maybe she was right. Maybe this was exactly what I needed—to just let go for one night, to forget about everything. But before I could answer, Amber pushed another shot into my hand. “Here. A little liquid courage.”

I downed the shot, feeling the burn of alcohol slide down my throat. Then I took another. And another. The warmth spread through me, dulling my thoughts for a while. Everything felt softer now, a little more distant. Maybe I could do this. Maybe I would kiss someone tonight.

Amber got swept away by a guy at the bar, and before I knew it, they were in a corner making out. I laughed, feeling the buzz in my veins, and decided it was time to find the bathroom before I made a fool of myself.

I weaved through the crowd, the lights blurring as I went. My head felt light, and I wasn’t sure if it was the drinks or the fact that I was actually considering Amber’s dare. But before I made it to the bathroom, I stumbled into someone. My body collided with theirs, and I muttered an apology, looking up to see—

Aries.

My breath caught in my throat. Of all people, it was him. My father’s friend. My long-time crush. The man I had admired from a distance, never daring to approach because he was older, because he was out of my league, because he had never really noticed me.

But now, he was there, standing right in front of me, looking just as surprised as I felt. His dark eyes met mine, and for a second, everything else in the club faded away. It was just him and me.

This couldn’t be happening.

“Rochelle?” His voice was deep, smooth, and hearing him say my name made my heart race. He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my dress. There was something in his eyes—something I had never seen before. Admiration? Desire? I couldn’t tell, but I felt it. That same connection, the pull I always felt whenever I was around him.

Before he could say anything else, Amber’s words flashed through my mind.

"Forget Fred. Forget Aries. Kiss the first guy who catches your eye."

And before I knew what I was doing, I acted on impulse. I reached up, grabbed the back of Aries’ neck, and pressed my lips to his. It was a bold, reckless move, and for a moment, he froze beneath my touch. His lips were warm, soft, and the kiss—oh God, the kiss felt electric. But then the reality of what I had just done crashed over me. I had kissed Aries. I had kissed Aries.

Panicking, I pulled away before he could react and bolted for the bathroom. I barely made it to the sink before the alcohol caught up to me, and I vomited, gripping the edge of the counter for support.

What had I done?

When I finally managed to stand up straight again, my head was spinning. I rinsed my mouth, trying to gather myself. I had kissed him. Aries. My crush. My father’s friend. I had kissed him, and I had run away like a coward.

What must he have thought of me?

I stepped out of the bathroom, determined to find him, to explain myself—though I wasn’t entirely sure what I would say. But as soon as I stepped back into the club, there he was, leaning against the wall just outside the bathroom, waiting.

“Rochelle,” he said gently when he saw me, his voice softer this time. “Are you okay?”

There was concern in his eyes, but something else too. I could still feel the ghost of the kiss between us, hanging in the air like a question neither of us knew how to answer.

Without thinking, I grabbed him again, this time pulling him down for another kiss. This one was deeper, more desperate, and my mind was a blur of alcohol and adrenaline. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just knew that I didn’t want this to stop. His lips felt perfect against mine, and for a moment, I could forget everything—Fred, the pain, the confusion. It was just me and him.

The kiss was sloppy. My movements were clumsy from the alcohol, but I didn’t care. I felt his hands hover near my waist, hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he should touch me, and part of me wished he would. But before he could reciprocate, the reality of the situation hit me again.

“I—I need to find Amber,” I mumbled, pulling away from him.

The room spun, and I stumbled a little, trying to regain my balance.

Aries looked at me with something unreadable in his expression, but he didn’t stop me as I turned and walked away. I didn’t know where Amber was, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I didn’t know how I’d ever face Aries again after that night.

The rest of the night was a blur.

The next morning, my head felt like it had been hit by a truck. The sunlight creeping through the blinds stabbed at my eyes, making me groan. I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to stop the dull thudding in my skull, but it was no use. I felt like I was swimming through fog. My memories of last night were blurred and jumbled.

What the hell had I done?

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, squinting as the screen lit up with a dozen missed calls and texts. One notification caught my eye—a voicemail from my dad. My stomach tightened at the sight of his name, and I hesitated for a second before pressing play.

"Rochelle!" His voice roared through the speaker, making my heart drop. "What the hell is wrong with you? I wake up to a video of my daughter behaving like some street hooker at a bar! What were you thinking?"

I sat up in bed, my breath catching in my throat. A video? Hooker show? No, this had to be some kind of mistake. I couldn’t remember much, but I knew I didn’t do anything like that. Right?

"I’ve had enough, Rochelle," my dad continued, his voice colder now, "You’re cut off. All your credit cards, everything—you’re done until you learn to be an adult. You’re not getting another penny from me. Don’t expect anything extra."

Before I could even react, the voicemail ended, and I was left staring at the phone, my heart pounding in my chest. He hung up without giving me a chance to explain. My hands shook as I tried to piece together what had happened the night before. There was no way… I didn’t… Did I?

The truth settled into my chest. It was my stepmother. I knew it. She had been trying to drive a wedge between me and my dad for  years, and now, with this video—whatever it is—she’d finally gotten her way. She had convinced him to cut me off.

My mind raced with questions.

How did she even get that video? And what was in it?

Before I could spiral too far, I heard a sharp knock on my door. I rolled out of bed, still in last night’s clothes, and stumbled across the room. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see my landlord standing there, arms crossed and looking none too happy.

“Miss Rochelle,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for your rent payment for the past week. Now I’m here because your grace period’s up.”

Oh no. Rent. I gasped. The realization hit me like a slap. With everything that had been happening—Fred, the final thesis, Amber dragging me to the club last night—I had completely forgotten. My stomach turned as I tried to explain. “I’m so sorry, I meant to pay, but things have been crazy lately, and—”

“I don’t care about your excuses,” he snapped, cutting me off. “You either pay, or you leave. Simple as that.”

“I—I can’t pay right now,” I stammered, feeling the panic rise in my chest. My dad had blocked all my cards. How was I supposed to get any money? “If you could just give me a little more time, I can—”

“No more time,” he said flatly. “You’ve already had enough. If you can’t pay, you’re out.”

I stood there in stunned silence. My heart sank as the reality of my situation set in. There was no room for negotiation. No room for pleading. I nodded numbly as he gave me one last look of annoyance before walking away.

And just like that, I was out.

I didn’t know how long I stood there, rooted to the spot. My thoughts spiraled as I tried to figure out what to do next. A few minutes later, I was outside, standing on the pavement with my bags around me, completely and utterly homeless.

My first instinct was to call Amber. She would help, right? She was my best friend. I pressed her contact and brought the phone to my ear, swallowing the lump in my throat as I waited for her to pick up.

“Hey, Amber?” I said, my voice shaky. “I need a place to stay. I—something happened with my rent and I just—”

“Ugh, that sucks,” Amber cut me off. Her tone sounded more irritated than concerned. “I’d let you stay, but my place is, like, totally packed. I have people over all the time, you know? Sorry.”

Her words hit me like a punch. I was surprised that she would say that to me. I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, I heard her voice again—only she wasn’t talking to me anymore.

“She’s so naive,” Amber said. Her voice was low but clear enough for me to hear. “Rochelle’s such a spoiled princess. If it wasn’t for the designer stuff she gets me, I wouldn’t even hang out with her. She’s just… too much sometimes.”

I froze. My breath caught in my throat as the betrayal sank in. She didn’t know I could still hear her. My best friend. The one person I thought I could rely on. My hands shook as I quickly ended the call, tears blurring my vision.

Two betrayals in two days.

I stood there on the sidewalk. My heart broke as the reality of my situation hit me in waves.

First Fred, then my dad, then Amber. I didn’t know what to do, where to go, or who to turn to. As if things weren’t bad enough, thunder sounded in the sky and rain started to fall.

My tears mixed with the first few drops of rain as the sky opened up, and soon I was standing there, drenched. The water soaked through my clothes as if the universe itself had decided to join in on my misery.

I was cold, wet, and utterly alone.