"What makes you sure that he's not up to something?" Melody inquires for the third time today. She's been inveterately chewing my ears out, telling me tales about chicks getting fucked over by Trent and Logan(The last Folk whom I have yet to encounter.).

She thinks they want to treat me like these girls. She's right.
She thinks they can treat me like them. Wrong, absolutely wrong.

I've been pondering all day whether or not I should take him up on his offer, but even before I started cogitating it, I knew I was going. I couldn't buck such a walloping opportunity to hang out with the most affluent squad on campus. Call me an opportunist. Call me a fame whore, I'm just curious about what it'd feel to be a part of the Folks, to laugh and converse with them as if I'm one of them. To be esteemed like them. I want to undergo what I'm in Seattle for, what I'm studying and working my ass off for. I want to taste a sip of the world I've been deprived of for my whole life.

The world of money.

I wonder what it feels like to be a part of those who have never endeavored to attain it. Who grew up swarmed in it, having painless access to it. Who were never exposed to the concept of sweating for a penny, or losing their dignity by stripping or hooking up in order to ride out and survive.

I've endured a lot. I can survive a bunch of spoiled brats.

"I'm not." I finally answer Melody, hoping it's the last time she'll be interrogating me. "But, I can handle them." I continue, holding my phone between my ear and shoulder as I slide off my tiny shorts and shove my legs back into my skinny black pants.

I hear her sighing, "Candice, don't humiliate yourself for a bit of fame. Girls before you tried and they are now the joke of the campus. "

There she goes again.

"I'm not after fame-" I start protesting but she cuts me off.

"You'll get the fame alright, but I'm not sure it'll be in you favor." She continues, as if she didn't hear me talking.

That's it.

"Okay, Melody. Thanks for warning me, but I'm a big girl." I say as I rummage in my satchel for the lipgloss I brought with me today before I start applying it, smacking my lips together. I stare at my reflection in the mirror for a moment, eyeing the coat of gloss I just painted on my lips.

Wait.
Why am I wearing makeup?

The moment the thought strikes I find myself cutting whatever Melody was rambling, "Melody, I gotta go." I don't wait for her to reply and break off the call.

I cursorily start rubbing the lipgloss off of my mouth with a tissue, cursing myself. I don't attempt to look good for anyone. I don't have the time or energy for such dottiness. I only wear lip balm and concealer for the sake of the people who chance upon me daily. I don't want anyone to mistake me for a zombie. Remember R from Warm Bodies? Without the concealer, I look spot-on like him, having blue eyes and all.

What was I thinking? Deliberating wasting my time for that jerk and his bumptious friends? I have bigger problems, not to mention that I'm sleep deprived, and I can always do with a couple of hours more.

Melody was right. I was minutes from disgracing myself. I just wanted a taste of their lives. I craved and hankered for it, but if I want to get what I want, I have to decimate such urges, especially those which make me try to impress people with lipgloss.

It's a freaking lipgloss, You must be thinking.

I know, but I can't start allowing myself to impress the folks. To do something that some may consider an effort to attract Dylan's attention while it is far from my intentions.

Yes, it's far from my intentions.

Amid the bus ride to my home, I can't help it when my mind drifts back to my first day in Seattle. Unlike my expectations, I wasn't rapturous. Don't get me wrong, the city is goodly and beautiful, but I'm no longer the person who appreciates things.

I sit there, staring at the drifting buildings through the window, until a certain banner catches my eyes, sucking me out of my thoughts. EMERALD.

The universe must be joking with me. Why does it have to be on my way? Why do the lights surrounding the name "Emerald" allure and tempt me into wandering in ?

I don't think.
Quick decisions have never been my thing.
But I still don't think.

I don't think when I abruptly stand. I don't think when I yell at the driver to stop. I don't think when I hurry toward the exit and jump out of the bus, embracing the cool air. I don't even think when I eye the logo again and head toward it.

I don't. I just do it like a possessed person.

The moment I breeze into the place, my body warms up straightaway. The place is so packed and full of energy. Stools are occupied and I forget for a moment that it's a school night. The way everyone is laughing and dancing is not new to me as a waitress in a nightclub, but a peculiar feeling of ardor jolts through me, making my entire body hum.

I survey the crowd, looking for the five spoiled folks. It's hard at first with all those bodies thronging the place, but I finally find them.

They look deep in conversation, laughing and merry. It makes me feel jealous and eager to go and join them. And I do, my heart hammering against my chest, antsy and excited at the same time. I almost bolt toward the door but then force myself to move.

Remember Candice, spoiled brats do not affright you.

Just before I reach the table, Alexa's eyes meet mine and she surprises me when she beams. She says something before all of their heads lift to look at me. I meet each pair of eyes and I'm not surprised when I find Trent's smirk and Claire's glare. Hell I'm not even surprised to see Dylan's impassive face, I've grown used to it. What astounds me is the fifth member of them.

Logan.

Hell, how could I not notice someone like him before? The word attractive doesn't cover what I see. His face is not lucid under the blurry lights, but the outline of his face screams "Hot". His lambent, shining eyes give me the impression that they're not dark, maybe blue or green. I also notice that his lower lip is pierced, giving him a sensual and carnal look. His hair is a wavy mess, and a few locks shadow the top of his forehead, yet I can't see what color it is.

I notice a smile tugging at his lips, telling me that he saw the way I was checking him out and I inwardly roll my eyes.

Cocky assholes.

"Hi." I drawl out.

"Long time no see, Candice." Trent pats the chair between him and Dylan. I hesitate for a moment before I take it.

Everyone stays silent for a couple of seconds before Trent barks, banging on the table in front of him, making it shudder. "Now, what are y'all waiting for, losers? Give me my money."

He gets a set of glares before each one of them hands over what looks like a couple of twenties.

I look confused for a moment before I hear Dylan explain, "We made a bet. He's the only one who thought you were coming." his voice is a matter-of-fact, yet his posture is somewhat rigid.

"Oh." I don't know how to react to that, so I don't say anything. It's really baffling how they had that much interest in me.

Our eyes stay locked for a while before he reaches out for a pack of cigarettes positioned on his side of the table and withdraws one, placing it between his lips,  and I can't help but stare for a heartbeat before I catch myself and look away.

Smoking is a disgusting habit, yes, but I can't deny how hot he looks sitting there, holding the cigarette between his thumb and index finger.

God, I'm such a mess.

"At least I finally get to see you." Logan drawls out, his voice deep and wicked, yet pleasant at the same time. He's eyeing me, one side of his mouth quirked up. "I'm Logan by the way, but then again, I'm sure you've heard about me." He winks at me and I hear Trent and Dylan snickering while my eyes catch Claire rolling her eyes.

I force my nervousness to melt, tittering. "Oh I have heard enough."

"All good I hope?" he raises his eyebrows.

"Yes, if it will make you sleep at night." I mirror him, raising my eyebrows too.

"Elusive, aren't you?" he says, the small smile never leaving his lips.

"So I've been told." I shrug.

"Oh Candice, I forgot to introduce you." Trent beckons with his hand to Claire and Alexa. "Claire, my cousin, and Alexa, she's Dylan's sister, but she's like a sister to me too." I notice Alexa smile faltering for an eyeblink at his words, but I, like the observer I am, notice.

Hmm interesting.

They haven't mentioned our encounter. That is even more interesting.

Alexa and I exchange pleasantries, but Claire's mere response is a nod and a challenging look, daring me to tell them about what she said to me that day.

I don't, but not because I feel scared. -I don't-it's because the game is more stimulating like this.

"This round is on me." Trent holds up the sack of twenties he just earned. "two Margaritas, two beers and.." he turns to face me, pointing his index finger at me.

"Diet coke."

Just like that, they burst into laughter. Claire's high pitched laugh is the most dominant, and I feel my face flushing deep red.

"Say that again, please." Claire gasps, still laughing her ass off, banging on her thighs with her fists.

Bitch.

My whole body stiffens even more, and I allow my voice to harden. "I don't consume alcohol."

"Con-con-" She can't even utter the word. If anything, her laughter is escalating.

"Enough, Claire." Logan's hard voice surprises us all, causing her laughter to halt right away.

Her face whips to look at him. "What? It was funny." She says in an overly sweet voice, but he doesn't respond to her.

I don't understand his sudden anger, I stare at him for a moment, and he stares back at me, before his eyes move and land on Dylan, sending him a weird look that I fail to decipher.

"I'll get this round and Trent will get the next." Dylan stands, looking at the bar area as if it's his safe haven before his eyes meet mine once more. "Help me?"

I reluctantly stand, "Sure."

He doesn't say anything until after he orders our drinks. "Just in case you don't know, Logan is bad news." he says it casually, so apathetic.

"I know." My tone is just as insouciant.

"Just wanted to warn you"

"Why? I'm not naive."

"Believe me, you are. Naive enough to come here today." He stares at me with such intensity that is supposed to make me grovel in intimidation, but little does he know about me. He crosses his robust arms over his firm chest, trying to amp up his fierce look, and waits for my comeback.

"I'm not." I affirm, voice stiff. "I came because I'm not a coward."

He stares at me for a moment before he smirks. "No, you're not, but that's not the reason why you showed up."

My head perks up at that. "It's not?"

"No. You're just like the rest, eager to snatch any single chance to hang out with the Folks."

The fucking asshole. I hate that he's partly right, but what gets under my skin is not that. It's that he was able to look through me and read me like an open book, while I've never seemed like one, and the fact that he is convinced that I'm just like the rest infuriates me even more.

I tell him the first protest that hits my mind. "I would've accepted Trent's offer last week if that was the case."

I don't realize that I said the wrong thing until his smirk deepens. "So you came for me then."

"What? Of course n-" I start but the bartender interrupts.

"Your drinks are ready."

Dylan retrieves his money, and I hastily shove a bill on the counter. "For the coke." I tell the bartender.

"I remember saying that this round is on me. " Dylan frowns, his face looking green under the lights.

"I can pay for myself, thank you. "I deadpan.

He frowns at me for a moment before his mouth spreads into a drop-dead smile, chuckling softly as he shakes his head. "Why, aren't you an independent woman."

"Why, aren't you a quick observer." I fabricate a sweet smile, and inwardly, I refuse to acknowledge how genuine it is.

He snorts, still shaking his head. "Headstrong too." It sounds like a compliment, and even if I'm wrong, the way he enunciates the words makes me feel euphoric.

"So I've been told." I refuse to be the loser of our eye contact contest.

"I hope it's in your favor, Candy."

Damn me for loving that name. It makes weird things hoof and dance inside my tummy. Butterflies or whatever they call them.

The bartender cleans his throat and Dylan looks like he was jolted by a wire. He shoves his money on top of mine and the bartender leaves to get our change, rolling his eyes.

At the table, the tension I expected is not there. Alexa and Claire chat for a while before they hit the dance floor. Alexis asks me to join them, earning herself a death glare from Claire, but I refuse. I'm a horrible dancer anyway.

Trent is the one who talks to me the most, asking me about college and how I like it so far. Making fun of the professors. He even imitates some of them. Logan joins in now and then, however, Dylan doesn't speak at all. He lights up another cigarette whilst he guzzles his beer.

"Have you been living in Seattle for your whole life?" Logan asks me, swigging his own beer.

"Not really. I used to live in Tacoma before I moved here for my scholarship." I answer, mulling over how much information I can give away.

"Your family must be missing you." Dylan murmurs, looking at me, yet his voice sounds far-flung.

I freeze for a moment, wrestling with an answer. His eyes bore into mine, narrowing slightly. Can he still see through me?

"Actual-" I start but I'm cut off when a strong, manly voice interrupts.

"Evans." I turn my head to look, finding a door of a man. The way the guy is built is not attractive at all. He's built to scare and not to charm. A falcon is tattooed on his bald head, giving him a dangerous look.

"Fucking finally." Dylan mutters under his breath before he stands and faces us, retrieving his phone and cigarettes from the table. "I'm calling it a night." He declares. He bends down to whisper something in Trent's ear before both of them look at me. I frown, feeling so flustered. What did he say about me?

Before I can even process the question in my head, he says "Goodnight." And just like that, he leaves, the way he always does.

What did he whisper in Trent's ear.
Who is that guy?

A chill creeps down my spine as many thoughts start invading my head.

Now, I'm scared.

**Hey guys! I hope you liked today's chapter! That was an earlier update as I promised!. One day earlier, I KNOW, but still early.

I just wanted to thank y'all for reading this book. Your votes and beautiful comments are my motivation, Thanks for providing it.**