Chapter 3♤

The multicolored lights spiralled in the dark, barely revealing the sweaty bodies that were rubbing on each other. They were dancing to the dynamic music that was made a thumping noise through the speakers.

Going to a club on a Saturday night was a norm for cheerleaders, the basketball and football players. Saturday was always game night during the basketball season and after a school's victory for any team, they would come to Pie's to celebrate. It was a little ironic club name to think about but it was the town's hotspot.

The school's basketball team was on a winning streak since the start of the season and now they won the high school championship after a nail biting match between them and their rivals.

So this was a pretty big deal.

Most of the cheerleaders were on the dance floor with some of the players. Others were drinking liquor and playing a cliché game of truth or drink. Everyone was having fun.

Except Skaii.

She was sitting at the bar on a stool, with her elbows propped up on the counter, her tight cheer outfit still hugging her body. Skaii was engulfed in her own world, staring in to nothingness. She was afraid to join her team, afraid to even drink a beer or even water. Afraid that if she got drunk, Matthew would appear and take advantage of that. She dreaded that he was on the basketball team, so he had to be here tonight. If she had another option, she would switch schools and she'd never look at his face again. But she was yet to become an adult.

"Come on pumpkin, each Saturday you come here and stare at the counter. You got problems?" The bartender wiped across the muck dabbed counter with a damp cloth and stopped in front of Skaii.

"Look, I really like being alone. Hence why I am here." Skaii gestured to the spot she occupied and the empty spaces around it.

"Still, you can't come to a club and expect-" The woman began.

"I think you should mind your own business okay. And just do your job." Skaii snapped at her and met her eyes. She felt herself shaking at this woman's determination. The anger she felt for her stepbrother began to surface.

"My job is to serve bitches like you drinks, so stop barking out of that pretty mouth and order something." The woman stared back at Skaii with the same anger she possessed.

Skaii furrowed her brow and bit her lip. She knew her temper tantrum would start at any moment and the last thing she wanted was any more attention.

"Aunt Pie!" Someone called out and the woman broke the stare she had on Skaii.

"Sweety, oh my god." She hurriedly ran over to the end of the counter to the person who was calling out to her.

"Inquisitive old crone!" She flipped the lady the bird, hopped off the stool then headed for the door. She didn't know if the lady said anything else. She really didn't care either.

As soon as she pushed the door open, the warm air that surrounded her depleted and she was exposed to cold city night. The front was filled with parked cars and motorcycles, most of them belonging to the team. She sighed and closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. Soon, the rhythm of the night made her forget all about what just happened.

She sat down on the floor, without care of the filth around her and stared into the sky. The twinkle of the stars made the the sky looked like a dark blanket with sparkling polka dots. It was beautiful.

Night time was a favorite for her. In the night, it seemed more peaceful. The night seemed to have more possibilities than the day and it allowed her to shy away from the problems she faced.

"That was rude you know." An unfamiliar voice startled her. She looked up and instantly she was locked in the intense stare of the stranger. A very tall stranger, she noted. Anger bloomed red again. The last time she checked a total stranger was not a good judge of her character.

"Excuse me? You have to be more specific, there are a lot of things that I've done tonight."

"My mind tells me that there are many persons who don't like you." His attitude sharpened as he folded his arm. The door creaked behind them as if someone was bracing against it.

"There are many people who will say different." Skaii defended while she rose to her feet.

"I'm not one of those many people." He threw back, airquoting as he said many people with a distinct scorn in his voice and took a step closer to her.

"Dude what is your problem, did I steal your boyfriend or something?" She stared up at the stranger that now towered over her, squinting her eyes, trying to see his face, but the dim light did her no justice. He was trying to do the same. He did catch a glimpse of her at the bar... but it was just a glimpse.

"Why did you have to be so rude to my aunt? She was doing her job." He asked.

She thought hard, then realisation hit her. The only person she spoke to was the lady at the bar. His aunt.

"Why is your aunt so inquisitive?" She challenged him again, folded her arms, her stance defiant.

"Why are you so insulting?" He growled.

Suddenly a car turned into the parking lot. The headlights illuminated the surrounding. They found themselves continuing to stare at each other, but it was no longer in anger.

They were in awe.

Skaii realized that she was just standing there, staring at him. So she tried to pull her gaze from him but found that it was harder than she thought.

Finally, she did take her eyes off him. She hated how hard it was to look away. He was a complete stranger that he was getting on her last nerves a second ago. But with just one look at his face, she was silenced.

He cleared his throat and spun on heels, while headed back to the door. "The pretty girls are always the ones with dirtiest mouths." He said over his shoulder and pushed the door open.

She scoffed, staring at the door with a frown. No one else has ever stirred up her mind like he just did. And he was only speaking for a brief moment.

No matter how handsome he was, she wanted his attitude far away from her. After a few minutes of thinking over what just happened, she began walking away from the club and along the road to her house.

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"Did you hear guys? Nicholas is back at school." Georgia announced as she extended her right leg and pulled it backwards and pinned it over her right shoulder.

"Little Nicky that used to be in grade school with us?" Samantha asked while standing on the point of her toes.

"Yeah, the one that moved away from the city in the sixth grade." Georgia's reply was strained. She abandoned her position on the floor and ran to the water cooler to get some water. She continued talking as soon as she joined the group again. "But I can assure you that he's not little anymore. I saw him going into the police station yesterday. It's like I'm a trance when I was staring at his muscles or even when I looked at his face. He wore a shirt that was so tight, I could see the outline of his abs. The guy knows he's hot. And so do I." Georgia fanned herself while dramatically placed the back of her hand on her forehead. The group burst into fits of laughter at the action.

"Sounds like we've got our work cut out for us." One girl added. They all agreed with a nod.

"Guys like him goes for the head of a pack, and do you know who the head of the pack is?" Sidney whispered.

They all turned around to where Skaii was sitting, with earphones in her ear and her eyes closed. She was completely unaware of what was going on around her.

"Skaii freaking Holder." They muttered in unison.

Skaii allowed the music to consume her. The rhythm soaked right through her body.

This was one of her moments.

She'd sit down in a quite place and listen to a song for quite a while. Sometimes she was unconsciously making moves to build a routine.

Most of the time, that was how she managed to create the unique moves and techniques that she was known for.

She listening to beautiful liar by Beyonce and Shakira.

At least trying to. Each time she would think of a move, she would quickly forget what idea she had formulated. And the unforgettable face of that boy on Saturday night replaced it and everything else in her mind.

His raven curls drooped down his face on both sides, framing his face. His dark chocolate eyes could melt away your soul with just one tentative look. His lips were stained pink with a dent in the middle of his chin. It didn't stand out, it just blended in with his other perfect facial features. This person looked as if they were carved by a God. He was just so beautiful.

She shook her head as she remembered the moment she first saw his face and instantly became angry at herself. She had seen many handsome guys. Too many for the mind to process.

But by far, none of them were like him.