1 1. Wildnight

The exam is on Monday and it's only Friday I know everyone is out there partying. But I never missed nightlife simply because there was never one for me. I study and work since there was never an alternative for me.

My mom was a widow who raised me and didn't even think of getting married all these years. She tells me it was because she still loves my dad but I somehow thought that it was me. Simply because she was very beautiful, I know she was asked out many times by men all the time. But she worried about me and the money was also an issue. She had to work two jobs to support me.

I'm an only child and I didn't want to disappoint her. I have been asked out by boys too mainly because I inherited her beauty. I was a racial mixture and I guess I have a little bit of every one of my family trees.

My dad was a normal white person but my mom was an interracial kid. Her mother was from Vietnam and her father was from Africa. She looks a little like Naomi Osaka but I favour my grandmother in my looks but my hair has a subtle texture which was from my grandfather. Unfortunately, they passed away before I was born.

Now I'm a hard-working student at a prestigious college where the majority of the students paid their way into. I sound smug in my head but my best friend will tell you I'm a nerd but a cool friend. She was the exact opposite of what I'm. Someone will hardly believe how I became her friend? She is a white girl but also a smart one. She studies and parties just as hard. Everyone who sees her for the first time treats her as an airhead. A stereotype that will only come to bite in their ass.

She has been through as many boyfriends as I was with books. She calls herself and everyone around her slut. I know a little over the top but I tell you it was either a slut or bitch. If you are not offended, then you can be her friend. If you get offended, then ta bye-bye. I love her, she plays cool music and dreams of creating music one day.

"Hey stop hovering over the books like boys ogling at decent cleavage", she slapped on my back.

" Bianca, please let me read one more time. I swear I would fail if you don't let me", I begged her.

"No girlie you are always thinking that you are almost failing but in reality you mean you will have only A- instead of A+. Life is not some mark lists chica if you don't get on the road, suddenly, your boobs will be sagging and no one will cast you a second look", she said breathlessly.

" Trust me I won't feel bad about it", I said wrinkling my nose at her.

"No way if you don't come to a kickass club right now. I'm going to stand topless outside your apartment and I'm not wearing a bra", she said cackling like a witch.

"You wouldn't", I screeched at her.

Who was I kidding, she totally would? I remembered the first time I met her at the college. I was so focused on studying hard and someone tapped me on the shoulders. There she stood looking like Regina George I bared myself for a mean girl moment. But she casually invited me to a party. I watched too many cliche movies, and I immediately shunned her invite. Everyone knew something bad happened when being invited by a popular girl.

She looked at me like I was a wild creature and said, " If you don't come with me right now I'm going to propose to you".

I was too flabbergasted to utter anything, so I waited she went down on her knees and proposed to me. I was very embarrassed that too on the first day. I dragged her away and told her I was straight and even if I wasn't I wouldn't date her. She only winked at me. I knew then she wasn't serious at all.

I went with her and I did have a good time because it was my first ever party. In high school, I lived in a quiet part of town and the party they had most in their parents home and the chances are they were inside the home. Only daring ones went ahead and partied by the river but I was too chicken to go not that anyone bothered to call me.

Bianca has a back story or as she calls it a sob story. In her high school she says, she was just as good as plastic with a perfect boyfriend and grades. But one day she was raped by her perfect boyfriend, she was afraid to lose her perfect image. She didn't even talk to her parents about it. She broke up with him and when she couldn't bear it anymore she turned to substances. She wasted away her remaining school days. She had to take a year off and get therapy. She even tried to press charges but our fucked up legal system let him get away.

She made it her goal to make my life miserable by taking me into pubs and I have made it my mission to deflect her. But this is our last year and hell I want to have some fun. Maybe being outside this room is not a bad idea. I knew she was going to give music a shot and I won't see her anymore. So maybe I will regret not saying yes to her just maybe.

When I reached the pub I immediately knew it was the worst idea. For one it was very crowded and I hate the fact we have to squeeze past sweaty bodies. I'm germophobic and cursed myself, for agreeing to come here.

I glowered at the traitor beside me. She was in her element swaying her body to the much loud music. She recognised I wasn't dancing, so she pulled my hands inside. I briefly considered running but she will only drag me inside.

Normally she would be out there dancing, but for me, she didn't. Instead, she took a seat beside me upstairs. I breathed out since it wasn't too crowded here. Not even two seconds passed a guy came near us. He looked at Bianca first and dismissed her. Probably the only looked at her cleavage and then turned to mine. He found it satisfying and held out his hand. I looked at Bianca pleadingly to save me. She smirked at me and I again begged her with my eyes.

"She is my girl leave her alone", she told him casually.

" I have seen you yesterday dancing, with a guy", he said suspiciously.

"We have an open relationship", she quipped.

I smothered a laugh she was always creative when it came to shady guys. Once she escaped a bad date stating she was having her period. Another time she said she asked him she thinks she had symptoms of gonorrhoea.

" Interested in threesome?", he asked.

I stared at him with my mouth opened and Bianca laughed out loud.

"Hey take a hint ladies aren't interested", said a guy near us.

I have seen him before he was looking at us for a while now but not in a creepy way. His eyes never left Bianca who looked a little flustered. He sat with us and began to talk. He was an interesting guy. He is a tattoo artist which wasn't hard to guess considering the number of tattoos and piercings he had. But I felt like a third wheel because I knew he wanted to talk to her.

I made an excuse to go to the washroom and Bianca looked at me confused. She knew I would never set a foot on the germ trodden public restroom. I only shrugged at her and walked away. I sat in front of the bar because it felt better than to stand awkwardly.

" If you are not going to drink please give your seat up", said an annoyed voice. I turned to see brilliant blue eyes and a tall frame. I felt as though it was getting hotter or was it my hormones?

He raised his eyebrows at me. I could see he was rich from his suit alone. He had eyelashes that would shame a girl. I never thought I will be this much attracted to a guy and that too in a bar.

"I was going to order a drink", I told him.

" Then do it", he countered me.

"What do you want ma'am?", asked the bartender.

I swallowed. I have never ordered a drink much less drank one. I only know there was vodka, whisky and brandy. But they say things differently here like dirty martini or sex on the beach. I doubt even such drinks exist or they only say that in movies. I didn't notice what the girl ordered before me.

"Anything a strong one", I said in a small voice.

He looked at me as though my dress and behaviour don't add up. My white dress was a gift from Bianca and I only wear it when she forces me to. It is backless and tight but at least it reaches till the top of my knees.

I stood up abruptly and fell forward in an unladylike manner. But the suit guy caught me before I greet the floor. He looked at me searching.

The drink has fallen over me and him drenching us both. I looked at my dress horrified to see it had made my dress see-through. Tears welled upon my eyes and I found sympathy in those cold eyes.

" If you want to come with me you can clean up that mess. I live nearby only", he looked regretted saying that.

"It's Ok I can go back to my place. I have exams to study", I told him.

"You are a high school student!", he exclaimed.

" No no I study in college. It's my final year", I said breathlessly.

"Alright", he said and turned away.

If I go with him. There is a fifty-fifty chance that we will sleep together.

I looked at my dress once again. I looked at my friend who is still in deep conversation with the tattoo artist. I sighed and realised that guys started noticing that I was now a wet t-shirt contest model. I held a hand above my chest. I ran to catch up with him his strides were too long.

" I can't stay the night but if you have a dryer I could use your help", I told him.

"You don't owe me anything", he said dryly.

I went with him to a red sports car. Even without the sports car and money, he could still have scored women. He was handsome and also considerate to offer a woman his home. We got inside and he wore the seat belt.

" I'm Harry Sinclair", he said looking at the road.

"I'm Maya", I said in a low voice.