1 Prologue

The sky had unexpectedly opened on me, shedding it's crystal tears. Today, I thought the sky was happy. The sun was shining brightly, despite the heavy rain. I was returning from the beach, which was a couple blocks down from my apartment; so I didn't mind getting wet. I was already dry since I had been walking for about five minutes and because I was wearing a deep green one piece and a pair of white cotton shorts, it wasn't a big deal. In Florida, sun showers during the summer were quite common.

Before I knew it I was home, climbing the two flights of stairs to my apartment. Clearwater was a beautiful area to live, although the real estate was quite expensive near the beach. The cool air of my apartment washed over me, and I sighed in relief. Although I was quite tan, my skin still crisped a little in the harsh sun.

"Hi Ragnar..." I greeted my large Maine Coone who had piercing blue eyes, searching for his chocolate colored brother who was named Rollo. I had a thing for Vikings, or history in general. I heard a scratchy meow, that resembled more of a growl before I felt a cats paw whack me in the leg. I rolled my eyes, Rollo was eccentric.

"Yes, hello to you too Rollo..." I chuckled and headed towards the shower. Chastity, my closest friend since I moved to Florida wanted to go out tonight to Orlando; aka she had a new girlfriend who she wanted to me to meet, who happened to live over there.

It didn't take me too long to get ready, I had my routine down by now. My lips were stained bright red, and my eyes were complimented by a deep smokey look. My hair was in a high ponytail, with a French braid plaited in my hair. I wore a sequined blouse with a matching skirt, that accented my love handles. I knew and respected the fact that I was quite chubby, and didn't mind it one bit. I went to the gym maybe twice a week, but otherwise did not have enough time to do anything else.

My phone blared the annoying ring tone it came with; I was too lazy to change it. "Yes, I am almost done Chas..." I answered, already knowing what he question would be. She laughed into the phone, and I smirked.

"Well I'm waiting, biotch. So hurry up." I rolled my dark brown eyes at her, and snapped the phone shut. We had a lovely relationship.

Putting on my black wedges, I grabbed my purse and and said goodbye to my cats who just stared at my lazily.

I knew when I entered the car Chastity didn't agree with my shoe choice, but I would rather be comfortable then have my feet scream at me.

"I hate them." She commented off handedly, and backed out of my apartment complex. She began driving towards I-4, and I sighed leaning back in the seat. It was gonna be about an hour, hour and a half drive.

"I know you do. They are my feet, not yours though." I explained to her and she just snorted at me.

"Beauty is pain and you're just screaming lazy with that shoe choice, honey." I looked at her with narrowed eyes. She was so damn opinionated sometimes. She did have room to speak though. Chastity was beautiful, even without the fake nails, boob job, excessive fitness and hair extensions (that she didn't need.) She was comfortable with herself to change what she didn't like about herself, and so I respected that. It didn't change who she was, and that is all that mattered. Plus, she did it with all of her own money.

"Tell me why we are friends?" I questioned her teasingly, but she knew I didn't mean it.

"Because I bring light to your life, and a fashion sense." We both laughed together, and I knew she was right.  My sense of fashion had changed drastically since I had met her.

The sun had finally set, and by 9 o'clock we had reached the fancy night club her girlfriend was DJ'ing at. The club was a couple stories high, with an all glass body. However, you couldn't see through the glass as it was tinted but you could see shadows of people dancing and the multicolored lights moving.

"Looks like fun. I plan to get fucked up tonight..." I said giddy to let loose. I was always so busy, and loved to go clubbing  when I had the spare time.

"Do I have to control you tonight, Rhea?" She raised a thick brown eyebrow at me and I smirked knowingly.

"Probably..." I replied, confident she would have to treat me like a child after a couple drinks.

We walked into the club, and not soon after some redhead with short hair gave me an excited hug and I awkwardly patted her back.

"Uh, hello..?" I questioned with a small smile, not quite sure who she was.

"Hi, sorry! I'm Clarita. Or Rita, Chastity's girlfriend!" She beamed at me with giant green eyes. I nodded simply and smiled a little wider.

"I see, nice to meet you Rita. I'm Rhea. Also Chastity's girlfriend..." I said with a serious expression and almost couldn't contain my laughter when she frowned and Chastity hit me in the back of the head.

"I'm kidding! I'm just her friend, it really is lovely to meet you..." I laughed and she gave me a blank stare before joining in on my humor.

"Not funny Ray. How about you go buy us drinks now..?" She narrowed her brown eyes at us and nodded.

"Fair enough, I'll be right back..." I turned in my heel, and headed towards the bar which happened to be upstairs. Stairs were pretty much the bane of my existence, which is why I was glad I had worn wedges tonight and not heels.

"I need 2 Rum and Cokes..." I said to the bar tender, who was quite delicious looking. He smirked at me as he watched me eye him like the snack he was.

"Three Buttery Nipples and a Martini." I finished my order, and he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Not all for me, I'm not crazy." I chucked he looked a little relieved. He didn't know I was that crazy, though. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Coming right up..." He smiled at me with a straight row of white teeth. I watched him mix and pour all the drinks, before placing them in on a glass tray.

"Follow me, I'll bring them to a table for you..." He said, stepping out from behind the bar. I followed him, and couldn't help sneak a peak at his ass. Hot damn...

He set my tray down on the table and I stepped closer to him. "Thank you..."

I handed him his tip, brushing my fingers against his. I watched his skin tint a slightly different color, and then I winked. He walked away and I sat down and texted Chastity to come and find me.

Shortly she was able to find me, and I wasn't surprised to see that she still had her girlfriend with her.

"Boy toy keeps staring at you." She commented after we all did our shots, and I was sipping on my second Martini. My eyes flitted over to the bar tender but I was surprised that he wasn't looking at me.

"Which one?" I asked confused, and she jabbed her finger in the  opposite direction of the bar. My eyes traveled up to the third floor, where a hunk of a man was staring at me intently. My breath caught in my throat, and I almost choked as the alcohol burned me.

He made the bartender look like a high schooler. He had broad shoulders, and his chest was so toned that I was wishing that  I was the button down he was wearing. His light grey eyes pierced my soul, and I couldn't help but become flushed as he smirked at me.

He had the sexiest dimples.