Jo is waiting for her on their couch eating a bag of chips when she gets home. Her sleek black dress tells her that they are going out tonight. She would pass but Jo has a hard time taking no for an answer and after her long first day of work, she could use a drink. Jo has always been the more extraverted of the two, she loves to party, drink, talk, flirt, and take strangers to bed. Ever since she found this one club not too far from their apartment, her partying days have been becoming more and more frequent. That means Scarlett has been getting less sleep and has been cleaning to apartment more and more with her roommates late night snacking in-between fucks. Not to mention picking up her lacy underwear or the occasional pair of boxers.
“Go put on your navy sparkly dress,” Jo says with a mouthful of chips. “The one that matches your eyes. It looks the best on you. Tonight we are getting you a man.”
“I don’t need a man,” Scarlett sighs.
Here they go again.
Ever since Scarlett told Jo their freshman year of college that she was a virgin she has been hounding her to lose it. Quite frankly, Scarlett never found any reason to want to lose it. There have never been any special boys in her life. No boyfriends ever. In college the only thing Jo helped Scarlett lose was her first kiss. A peck on the lips from a friend at a party who walked them back to their dorm. His name was Tom. She has butterflies just thinking about it.
She wants romance not just pleasure.
Her virginity never felt like a burden to her. It only felt like a burden when people bugged her to lose it or made her feel like a freak for never having taken a boy to bed. She always thought of sex as an intimate act. Her naked body meant to be seen by a man who will love, cherish her, and make her feel comfortable. How can she do that with a stranger? Maybe if she had a boyfriend, but there isn’t one and there never has been. That always hurt her when she was younger. In high school and college all her friends had partners, she always had to see them holding hands, kiss, and smile at their incoming text messages. She always wondered what that would feel like.
To be in love.
She craves it. Craves to be in the arms of someone who will whisper sweet nothings in her ear and make her feel special. Someone to be there when she needs someone to wipe away her tears or listen to her dreams and fears.
She’ll go out, but there won’t be a man to bring back.
A gin and tonic sounds really good right now.
Putting on her navy dress that she hasn’t worn in nearly a month she realizes it is a little snug. She admits, hitting the gym hasn’t been her biggest priority lately. And comfort foods have been a soothing friend. The mirror shows off everything she hates about herself including her less than perfect figure, round face, thin hair, and the sparse spots of acne thanks to stress. Even though she is a size two, her body lacks curves in the right spot. Her body lanky, ass flat and breasts smaller than the desired D cup. Her light blue eyes have always been her best feature. Using mascara she makes her already long lashes even longer. She brushes back her wavy and slightly frizzy brown hair trying to make it look decently nice. She fixes the bangs cut below her eyebrows. Looking in the mirror at the final result she is less than happy, but doesn’t dwell long enough for her to really reflect on her appearance.
“You look beautiful,” Jo says when Scarlett enters the living room.
She is looking at herself in the small circular mirror applying lip gloss. Scarlett snorts at the beautiful of the two of them calling her beautiful. Jo doesn’t have the face or body of Miss. America, but she always envied her friends confidence that makes her beautiful. While Scarlett is awkward, Jo has the personality that makes all the boys flock to her. She is just enjoyable to be around. Not to mention, funny.
Jo is the taller of the two even though Scarlett’s heels are two inches taller than the ones her best friend is wearing. They walk to the club, Jo begs to take an Uber but Scarlett admently shakes her head. So like always the walk to the not-too-far club. She was never a heel-wearer until Jo and now after years of wearing them she is a pro at walking. Striding comfortably in black strappy stilettos.
Music is heard outside the club. The rainbow colored strobe lights shining through the door the large bouncing is standing arms crossed at. They’ve always had to wait an obscene amount of time to get into the insanely popular club but Jo grabs her wrist making their way to the front door.
Naturally, Jo works her charm to the bouncer saying something Scarlett can’t hear over the music. The pair get in cutting a long line of groaning people who have been waiting for who knows how long.
“What’d you say?” Scarlett yells over the music into her roommates ear.
“I know a guy who partially owns the club,” she smirks.
Scarlett’s eyes widen in surprise. “Who?”
“You remember Tristian?”
The only fling she’s taken to bed more than once. “He owns this club?”
“Well, his father does,” she shrugs.
Speaking of…
Tristian walks over with arms wide open. He’s tall with a muscular build. Scarlett would describe him as a chocolate god with his chocolate brown hair, chocolate brown eyes and his bronze skin has been kissed by the sun. He is breathtakingly handsome. Jo jumps into his arm and their lips part into a passion kiss—tongue and all. Scarlett looks away until her best friend sequels ‘Tris!’ and she looks to see his lips moved to her neck.
“I’m going to the bar,” she says to Jo who nods her head barely paying attention.
Wallowing to the bar she asks the bartender for her favorite drink while he makes it she discreetly pulls out a wipe from her purse quickly clean the red leather bar stool. Sitting down, she looks out at the dance floor watching the crowd move to the too-loud music and laughing with friends and strangers. She’s always been more of a watcher than a participator. And she’s always loathed it. Wishing she could have carefree fun without feeling self conscious.
On the dance floor she spots a familiar face. Girls are crowding him and fighting for attention.
Liam Novak.
Not to far from him is his beautiful sister, Olive dancing with one man and one woman. Atticus Novak is somewhere in the crowd, too as she makes out his signature curly brown hair. She wonders if all the Novak siblings are present.
Someone taps her on the shoulder. She jumps slightly turning her stool around to see Tristian smiling. “Are you making googly eyes at Attitcus Novak?”
“What? No!” She defends herself.
“I know the family. I could introduce you, you know.”
Shaking her head fiercely, “No thanks.”
“They come here nearly every night,” he takes a seat next to her. “A crowd favorite.”
“I’m sorry, Tristian, but you’ve mistaken me for someone who cares.”
“Oh come on, you’re just like the rest of them. Mesmerized by the Novak’s. Interested, gawking, craving more…”
“Really, I’m not.”
Jo walks up to them from wherever she was and wraps her arms around Tristians neck. “Let’s dance,” she says to the both of them.
“You two go ahead,” Scarlett takes a large gulp of her drink.
“Are you sure?” She pouts.
With a nod of her head the two of them leave her alone at the bar. The alcohol in her blood warms her and gives her a buzzing feeling. She’s starting to feel more loose and comfortable, but dancing as third wheel? She’ll pass.