N. The delusion of things being more beautiful than they really are.

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"I miss you guys." Luna sighed into the phone while she toyed with her long brown hair.

"We miss you too sweetheart." Her father's deep voice reverberated through her speaker. It had been two weeks since her parents had left on a business trip to Paris. It happened every year like clockwork. Fashion enthusiasts would throw parties and host meetings to hear about the latest trends and upcoming designs from all the top fashion designers. Her parents just happened to be the biggest power couple in America when it came to fashion.

"How much longer will you be gone?" She whined.

"Six weeks." It was her mother this time that answered. "We would have been back in two, but, well..." She trailed off with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Mom, what is it?" Luna sat up from her place in the hot tub, her long hair draping down her back and flowing out around her in the water.

"Our newest designs got picked up by someone really well known and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to collaborate with them on a winter line." Luna squealed in delight for her parents.

"That's amazing, you two have been dying to do a collab. Who's the new partner?" She tapped her long almond nails on the porcelain sides. The teal blue polish the color of the ocean she had a view of from her deck.

"Your mother is screaming into her scarf right now, sweetheart. She was trying to come up with an elaborate way to tell you, but since she's incapacitated at the moment I'll just let you in." Her dad chuckled on his end. "Have you ever heard of a woman by the name of Sadie Frost?"

Luna leapt up from the hot tub. "Sadie Frost!" She shouted, startling the great dane beside her. "She's my idol! I have all her albums and all of her clothes from her first launch three years ago!" She hopped out and wrapped a towel around herself.

"I know, sweetheart." He laughed at her reaction before turning to a more serious tone. "I'm sure being a fan of hers that you're aware how quickly she works and how much of a perfectionist she is. She wants to start designing right away." He sighed heavily, "I'm so sorry we're missing your birthday."

Luna frowned, padding her barefeet across the white carpet towards the stairs. "It's okay. Either way you guys would have been gone, but I understand. I'm excited for you two! You've worked really hard for this. Plus, I think Jeffree and Alex are planning something for me tonight. I'm not sure what. I was just told to wear a dress so maybe we'll go somewhere fancy instead of some scummy bar." I cringed at the thought of going to a local bar.

"Just be safe, sweetheart. I won't patronize you or pretend that this is the night you'll have your first drink," Luna smirked at his words, "but this will be your first legal drink. So just make sure you're with your friends all night and don't fall for any of the bullshit that men feed you. And call me as soon as you wake up, don't worry about the time difference." Before she could respond there was a pausing on his line. "Oh, I have to go Luna. Sadie is calling in. I love you, enjoy your twenty first birthday!"

"I love you too, Dad." She muttered as the line went dead.

A moment of sadness invaded her mind and she walked along the foyer and up the stairs to her room. It was the second door on her right, and the biggest room in the East wing. Her parents shared a bedroom in the West wing, giving her her privacy ever since she turned sixteen.

On her end of the house she had access to a kitchen, two living areas, a library, the hot tub on her deck, a gym, three guest rooms, and a gorgeous view of the Gulf of Mexico. Being the only child of famed fashion designers, Tobias and Alaina James, Luna was privileged to a life of luxury.

She stepped into her grand bedroom and stood in the middle to gather her thoughts. A full length mirror lined in fake seastars was propped against the back wall near the window. Turning from side to side she examined her topless form, weary of any possible tan lines that would show under her clothes. Satisfied with her golden skin, she picked up her sheer black robe from her bed and tied it around her waist while she contemplated her night's wardrobe.

"Miss James?" She turned to see the curvy form of her maid, Selena. "You have a very enthusiastic Ms. Alex Bridge downstairs screaming about hangovers and 'man candy'." Selena bit the inside of her cheek to hide her smile.

Luna couldn't help the giggle that erupted from within her chest at the thought of her friend. "I'll be down in ten minutes. Just tell her I'm getting dressed now." She waved the maid out.

"Oh and Selena!" She called, hoping she was still in earshot.

"Yes Miss James?" Her brown eyes peeked back into the room.

"Try to subtly shut down the man candy talk. I'm not trying to date right now." She winked at her and Selena smiled in response.

At the sound of her kitten heels descending the steps Luna rushed to her walk in closet and tore the doors open. She headed straight for the black mini dress her parents had created for their holiday line. It was a beautiful sleeveless, lacy dress with a high neckline that rested where a t-shirt would. The high rise of the hem contrasting the lack of cleavage made it the perfect cocktail dress for her.

Once she got the back zipped up she slid on a pair of tall, matte black platform stilettos. They clicked softly on the marble flooring of her closet as she made her way over to the vanity littered with makeup products.

For the most part her look was complete. She'd put her face on that afternoon when she first heard of the plan to take her out. Her eyes just needed a set of false lashes and her lips were begging for a crimson coating.

Before she added the finishing touches to her makeup, she grabbed a brush and sone bobby pins to fix her hair. Her long waistlength waves were almost always pulled up into a high ponytail, but tonight she wanted to let the lengths down more. Brushing out any tangles she'd accumulated, she pulled half of her hair up into a ponytail and secured it with a clear elastic band before laying her waves perfectly over her shoulders. She wrapped a small section of hair around the band to hide it and pinned it in place for a clean, elegant look.

She admired herself in the vanity mirror while she lined and filled in her lips with a cool toned deep red lipstick and glued on a pair of lashes. Knowing Alex's patience she raced downstairs and into the living room.

Alex stood with her phone in hand, but dropped it when she caught sight of Luna. "Hey sexy!" She exclaimed and ran to give her a hug. "I love this, you look amazing!"

Luna beamed under her praise. "You do too!" She gestured to her outfit. Alex had worn an off shoulder nude beige party dress that rested mid thigh. Her sparkling white heels completed her look.

"I had to dress up for your birthday, especially because we're going somewhere special." She grinned wide.

"I don't like that look. What have you done?" Luna groaned anxiously.

Alex bounced on her heels excitedly. "We are going..."

"Yes?" Luna prompted.

"To New Orleans..." She trailed off once more.

Luna shook her friend, "Tell me!"

"To a club in the French Quarter! We're taking you to Clair de Lune!" She squealed and squeezed her into a hug.

"Are you serious? I've always wanted to go there! The people are so beautiful and Clair de Lune is such an upscale place. Everyone is dressed like they're going to a ball!" suddenly she looked down at her attire. "Am I under dressed?" Luna asked nervously.

"Who cares you look hot! Let's go, Jeffree is driving us and we're meeting the others there." She grabbed her hand and flitted through the immense house and out the door.

"Wait, who is we?" Luna raised a manicured brow once they reached the car parked in front. "It's not just the three of us?"

She opened the door and the two squeezed into the backseat of the Tahoe. "Alex how many people are coming?"

Jeffree glanced back at them. "She wanted to invite fifty people! But I talked her down to just ten. Happy birthday!" He smiled through the rearview mirror.

"Thanks Jeffree. So who are the lucky ten?" Luna tried to sound upbeat, but truthfully she wanted it to be more intimate and just her two best friends.

Alex smirked. "I invited the Oaklin twins, Melissa and Scott, Ashley, Brycen, Tana and Davis, and the Burner brothers." She licked her lips at the mention of the two fitness models, Brayden and Christopher. Luna never paid much attention to them, but Alex had a crush on Christopher.

"That's not as bad of a lineup as I expected." She sighed in relief.

The ride took almost two hours to get from Luna's to the French Quarter. When they arrived, Jeffree opened the doors and helped them onto the sidewalk while a vallet parked their suv. "Wow." Luna breathed as she took in her surroundings.

Old columns and towers decorated a stone street. It was so beautifully historic that she had to force herself to breath again while looking around. "Ready?" Jeffree took both their arms and escorted them to the front of the line. A bouncer looked at Jeffree skeptically until his eyes landed on Luna.

"Luna James?" He clarified with a bit of shock on his round face.

"Yes." She replied simply with a smile.

"Uh," he fumbled for a moment, "I need to see all of your IDs please." A groan of frustration went up from those waiting in line while Jeffree pulled out all three cards and handed them over. "Well happy birthday Miss James." The big burly man congratulated her and unlatched the red velvet rope so they could pass. "Enjoy your night." He ushered them inside and Luna found herself mesmerized by the interior.

An elegant white and gold theme was prominent throughout the area. With ceilings reaching thirty feet high, large crystal chandeliers hung down above the patron's heads casting a shimmer whenever lights hit the beads.

"This is my kind of place." Luna remarked when Alex squeezed her hand gently.

"Everyone's here!" Jeffree shouted over the music and pointed to the group of friends by a large booth.

"Hey!" They all called out in unison with a wave. "Happy birthday Luna!" She walked over and quickly hugged them all individually before stepping back.

"Thank you all for coming. Has everyone already ordered drinks?" She glanced around seeing only a few cups.

"Just us." Zaya and Taya answered in sync.

"I'll go with you and order. What does everybody want?" Brayden shouted and was met with a flurry of orders.

Luna politely accepted his help and made her way to the bar with the youngest of the brothers. Brayden was barely a year older than her and was always the first to offer her help with anything she needed.

"So how has your birthday been so far?" He made small talk as they sat on stools. He had chosen a black pinstriped suit for the night.

"It's been good. I just had the house to myself so I was a little lazy. Tanning, reading, soaking. I'm sure that sounds like a blast to you." She teased with a giggle.

"I wouldn't mind the tanning for sure." He laughed and looked up as the bartender came over. "Three shots of whatever, a sex on the beach, rum and coke, two house specials, three screwdrivers, and..." He looked to Luna to order.

"Something fruity with no alcohol taste." She finished for him and bit her lower lip. "Sorry I'm a wimp." She nervously tugged on a strand of her hair while they waited.

"It would be a little concerning to me if you were a pro at this." He nudged her slightly.

He carried the majority of drinks back to the booth in his arms, somehow not spilling a drop. "So you're going to hate us." Alex winced.

"What? Oh no, Alex what have you done now?" Luna whined. Alex always had the best of intentions but never the greatest ideas.

"Well Ashley and I were talking about when we were little and we used to have sleepovers and karaoke." She stumbled over her words.

"Oh God." Luna's eyes widened as she picked up where the conversation headed.

"So, some people heard and remembered how you sounded when you'd sing at charity events and stuff so..." She cringed and shrugged her shoulders.

"Alex," she growled out just as the music cut and a man's voice came over the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen," it was a British voice echoing throughout the club, "it would appear that we have a local celebrity in here tonight. Miss Luna James!" Whistles and clapping resounded throughout the building as a spotlight hit her small frame. "Miss James, we've had numerous requests for you to sing tonight, and I would be honored if you would come up on stage. What do you say? Let's see if we can get her up here!"" He encouraged the crowd and an uproar followed his beckoning.

"Luna! Luna! Luna!" The crowd chanted and she threw a glare at Alex while she mouthed an apology.

Sighing to herself she took careful steps through the crowd as they cheered for her to get on stage. Once she reached the platform, the man who announced her bent down to help her up. He was very tall in height with strong features and slicked back light brown hair.

"Good evening Miss James. Your friends insisted I make you sing." He whispered closely and she smiled.

"It's alright Mr.," She paused awaiting his name.

"John Perceval." He introduced himself.

"Mr. Perceval. I figured as much. Does your band know Vienna? It's been too long since I was able to sing that song." Luna queried hopefully.

John looked back to the guitarist and spoke in his ear. "He said it would be a sin not to know that song." He chuckled lightly and went to step away. "I'll just be behind the curtain until you finish. I look forward to hearing you sing, I've been told it's quite spectacular." He smiled warmly and stepped towards the curtains until he was out of sight.

Luna took a deep breath and took hold of the microphone. "Hi everybody." She greeted in a soft, angelic voice. The crowd cheered in response. "Well, its been a minute since I've done this. I wasn't expecting it so please forgive me if my voice is a little tired." More cheers went up and she nodded to the band to play.

"Slow down you crazy child, you're so ambitious for a juvenile." She belted out and caught the attention of man near the back of the club. He stopped talking to the blonde in the seat beside him and all but shoved her away as he stood to listen.

Luna's eyes closed as she lost herself in song. "Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true." She let her voice run on into a beautiful ladder of notes at the end of each verse. When her eyes opened she wasn't blind to the look of awe on the faces before her, but one in particular was different. It was more than just awe, it was infactuation.

She locked eyes with the mysterious blond and continued her song. "But you know that when the truth is told, that you can get what you want or you can just get old. You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through. When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?" She sang in her powerful voice.

The pair of blue eyes didn't blink as they kept gazing into her own. When the song ended she felt a pull to the mysterious man watching her sing. John's voice pulled her back to reality when he took the microphone and clapped his hands after putting it back in the stand.

"Absolutely extraordinary!" He praised. "You have an incredible voice Miss James!" The crowd was whistling and applauding her performance along with the host. "Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent with us." He earnestly shook her hands, making her laugh and thank him back before walking back off the stage.

The man was nowhere to be seen when she walked back through the crowd, but she paid no attention to it. Her friends were waiting with smiles stretched across their faces. "How your parents are famous and not you, I'll never know." Brayden gushed and made her cheeks redden.

"I just don't like the idea of a spotlight always on me. I prefer privacy." Luna shrugged modestly as the band began to play once more. Couples glided across the dance floor and began to sway uniformly to the tune enrapturing the room.

"Want to dance?" Jeffree asked Alex and was answered with a giddy nod of her head. They practically skipped onto the dancefloor together and put their dance lessons to work. Luna, Jeffree, and Alex had taken dance lessons for the past three years together for fun and it paid off during charity balls and places like Clair de Lune.

"Do you like dancing?" Brayden asked Luna as she sipped on her drink.

"I do actually." Her small voice sang out. "I'll need another drink in me before I try to compete with Alex's moves though." She jested and downed her glass in big gulps from the neon pink straw.

Brayden beamed at her in adoration. "I'm sure you can move just as good as she can." He pointed his thumb to where she and Jeffree danced gracefully across the floor.

Luna smirked at his flirting. "We'll find out soon." She clicked her heels over to the bar to order another drink. "Different flavor, same promise." She instructed the bartender. He nodded politely and bent down to gather ingredients.

"Have her tab merged with mine." A velvety and deep voice came from behind her. It was strangely smooth for carrying such a rasp to it. The accent was similar, if not the same, to the English host.

Luna turned around to face the man and found herself staring at the one she had been gazing at during her performance. "That's not necessary." She spoke sweetly to the stranger.

"I insist." He looked to the bartender and immediately was met with a curt nod. "You have quite a beautiful voice. Miss James is it?" He took a seat beside her and rested a ringed hand on the counter.

"Yes, thank you." She shifted uncomfortably. The man had an intimidating aura about him, but Luna did her best not to let it show that she was bothered by it. "You really didn't have to pay for my drinks. My tab is set up for all of them too." She pointed to her group, but the man just shrugged.

"I can assure you it isn't any trouble. I can afford to pay for your party's drinks." He spoke in such a commanding and yet soft tone. "What's the occasion?" He quirked a brow at her.

Luna reached for the drink that was set in front of her and took a sip. "It's my birthday."

The man grinned deviously at her. "Is it now? Well then, happy birthday Miss James." He congratulated her with a spark behind his gray blue eyes.

"Thank you." She flushed under his gaze. "And please, call me Luna." She didn't miss the way his eyes lit up at her name.

"Luna." He tested the name out and she melted at the way it sounded on his tongue. "Beautiful name. I like it."

She blushed furiously at his words. "I didn't catch your name." She tried to ease the tension.

His lips twitched up. "Amon." The blond introduced himself confidently.

"Amon? An old fashioned name." She smiled at the sound of it. "I like it."

He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a voice breaking up their interaction. "Luna!" Alex came running up with sweat glistening on her chest and forehead from dancing.

"Alex." She breathed nervously at the interruption. Alex reached her and eyed the newcomer suspiciously before raising her eyebrows at her friend. "Uh, this is Amon. He offered to pay for our drinks tonight."

"And any other night you decide to grace my brother's club with your presence." Alex swooned at the way he spoke.

"Wow. That's so sweet of you." She toyed with a strand of her hair while she stood straight, pushing her bust out subconsciously as she tried to flirt.

Amon ignored her advances. "It's my pleasure." His eyes were locked on Luna's honey brown orbs that couldn't move away from his.

"Luna?" Alex snapped her fingers in front of her face to gain her attention. "Brayden is all alone over there. Are you going to dance with him or do I get both brothers tonight?" She nudged her ribs teasingly.

Luna laughed half-heartedly. "I'm coming." She nudged her friend back who left satisfied. "Thank you again for the drinks. I'll have to pay you back sometime." She smiled and slid off the barstool.

"Save me a dance and we'll call it even." Luna turned back to see him standing to his full height. Even in her five inch heels he was easily taller than her with a lean muscular build. His full pink lips were tilted up into a knowing smirk before he disappeared back into the sea of people.

"What was he going on about?" Jeffree queried when she returned to the booth.

"Oh, his brother owns this place, he was just offering to buy all of our drinks for the night." Luna searched the crowd for him but he was gone. Bodies twirled around each other on the dance floor and covered every square foot of space, blocking any chance she had of finding him.

"You looked a little flustered so I thought I'd come give you an out." Alex admitted and reached out to take a sip from Luna's straw.

She took a long gulp herself when her friend had finished tasting the strawberry flavored drink and hummed in delight when she felt the liquor begin to affect her. "Thanks. I was fine. He was just, I don't know..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say exactly. "But it was okay."

Alex nodded in understanding and beamed up at Christopher when a new song began to play. The band had put up their instruments and went on break for half an hour and, in their stead, a temporary dj blasted music from his table. "Christopher! I love this song, come dance with me!" Without waiting for a reply she grabbed the man's bulging bicep and pulled him onto the dancefloor.

The music was oddly upbeat and modern for such a place. But everyone seemed to enjoy it while the band was away for a few. Alex especially liked getting the chance to grind up against Christopher while he wore a suit and tie. She toyed with it, tugging it and using it as a prop while she slid her hands all over him. Luna laughed quietly to herself at the display.

"Finish that drink yet?" Brayden broke her trance and she glanced down at her hand. The drink was nearly gone.

Bringing the glass to her lips and tilting it back to get the last drops, she turned her body towards the table they were at. "I am now." She proclaimed, setting the empty glass down and taking his hand. A new wave of confidence washed over her as the alcohol muddled her senses. "Do you know this song?" She asked curiously as they blended into the dancers.

Brayden shook his head. "Not really. I don't usually listen to this kind of music. I like country mostly." He had to yell to be heard over the beat of the mainstream remixes.

"Well I hope you can dance to it." Luna commented with a glint in her eyes.

"Honestly, I'm not that great." He chuckled. "But I can keep up, don't you worry." His strong arms wrapped around her torso and she moved her hips in sync with the rythym coming from the speakers surrounding them.

Brayden kept his hands abover her hips tastefully and let her lead them. Her mind fogged over and she let her body take control, swaying and rolling to the music. When the song ended, Brayden was staring at her in awe. "Is there anything you aren't perfect at?" He gawked.

Luna hit his chest lightly and rolled her eyes. "Stop," she groaned, "I just practice three times a week. I'm bound to be decent after doing that for three years."

Brayden didn't take his eyes off of her. From the corner of her eye she could see Alex giving her a thumbs up and miming sexual innuendos. For the past year she had been doing her best to find a man to hook her friend up with. After the break up Luna endured with her ex, it was Alex's goal to show her she deserved someone better.

"They really pay off." He gushed. When the next song came on Brayden was still too busy eyeing her to be bothered to move. Luna stood awkwardly waiting for him to move but his only action was when he ran a hand down her exposed back.

"May I have this dance?" A raspy English accent butted in, saving Luna from the uncomfortable situation.

"Actually we were just-" Brayden turned to face the man with a sharp glare.

"Actually you were just going home for the night while I dance with the beautiful lady." Amon stared into Brayden's eyes in challenge.

"Brayden?" Luna checked, hoping a fight didn't break out on her birthday.

"It's alright Luna, I do need to go home. Have a good rest of your birthday." He spoke monotonously and turned on his heel without another word. Luna watched as he exited the building and disappeared from sight.

"Shall we?" Amon held his arm out to her and she sneered at him.

"That was rude of you. Brayden asked me to dance first." She folded her arms over her chest.

Amon feigned a pout. "It would seem he wasn't that upset at the intrusion, considering he left the first chance he got." His tone was dark as he leaned forward, his arm still held out to her.

Luna scoffed, irritated at his pompous attitude. A part of her fought to believe he was wrong, but Brayden had left the second he told him to go home. Her eyes betrayed her harsh outer appearance and began to soften in thought. "I'm waiting for that dance." She looked up at the arm held out in front of her and hardened her features again.

"I'm not so sure I feel like dancing anymore." She muttered and turned around to head back to her friends. Just as her body swiveled around she was grabbed from around her waist and pulled flush against a hard chest. Her breath hitched as a pair of lips grazed against the shell of her ear.

"Now now, I believe you owe me a dance Luna James." The husky accent whispered, sending shivers down her spine.

Her body involuntarily leaned into the dominant man, but her stubbornness forced her to rip away from his hold and face him. His face held a knowing smirk as if he could sense how flustered she was. His eyes darkened as he looked at her stance. One hand had clung to her hip while the other poked a finger at his chest. He looked down at the digit, the smirk remained on his face when he looked back up at her.

"How dare you touch me like that!" Luna seethed. "I don't care if your brother does own this club. That gives you no right to grab me like that. And what gives you the idea that after that I would ever want to dance with you? Let alone be near you?" She pushed her finger deeper into his sternum with every word hoping to push him back some but he was statuesque in his place.

"You have a fire in you. I quite like that." He almost seemed taken aback but his face never portrayed anything other than that small smile. His eyes flitted up and down her body beginning at her ridiculously tall heels to her smooth caramel legs and hovering over her small bust. His eyes danced themselves over her throat, lingering a bit too long, until they came back to her eyes.

Luna was speechless under his scrutiny and lowered her hand from him. Her other hand dropped to her side and hung limply there as she decided what to do next. Before she could come up with a way to leave he closed the distance between them and stared deeply into her eyes. "Dance with me." He commanded and she found herself unable to say no with his beautiful blue orbs focused so intently on her.