Image Above: Alex

*not edited*

Nataliya- Now

The club was packed. With the neon lights scattering across the dance floor as bodies crushed and rubbed together in rhythm.

I didn't spot Alex anywhere, he probably wasn't here yet. That is if he was planning on showing up at all. By now, Lana was on her second shot, doubtlessly on the dance floor, trying to work out some exhaustion from work. She'd come home whining about how annoying her boss was. Telling her to do this and that and some more of this. So it made sense that she'd want to work it all off. 

It was her idea to put me in this dress. Dark blue, with a halter neckline. Almost completely backless, plunging down from my sides to my lower back. With just a thin cross along my back to hold it together. And reached only up to my mid thigh with a short cut on the side of my left thigh. 

I'd left my hair down and had only applied dark red lipstick, almost matching the color of my lips and light blush along my cheeks. But the 'less is more' concept worked well..... It's what Lana said, anyway.

I hopped up on a bar stool, crossing my ankles together, waiting....

"What's a beautiful girl like you doing along at a club?"

My head shot up, I scanned the bartender's face. He was cute... I guess, with shaggy brown hair and light brown eyes.

I shook my head slightly, "I'm waiting for someone."

"I see, a friend? Boyfriend?"

"Old friend."

He nodded, looking away as he crossed back behind the bar.

Well that was... weird.

"You look as if you need another drink, love, or should I say Nat... Nice to see you too."

My whole body tenses.... holy shit. It's him. Oh my god... it's Alex. and he's talking to me.

I turn my head slowly.... And I meet with the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen. His eyes are darker now but still have their golden flecks. He's no longer boyish. With an angular face and high cheekbones, he's damn gorgeous.

"Need a drink?" The bartender asks, his eyes scanning my face before trailing farther down and soon shooting back up.

I nod turning to the bartender, "Tequila, please."

He eyebrows shoot up.

"What? Haven't seen a girl drink before?"

My voice deflated. Numb. But I don't care. He's talking to me as if I'm any random person. Because it seems that he doesn't even care. I didn't think it would hurt this damn much. I need to numb the pain. Now.

He shakes his head, grinning. God, those dimples. 

"You here with someone?" He takes a seat on the stool next to mine.

"Yeah, I have Elmo and Pop next me." I motion towards the seats.

"A small girl with spunk.... interesting."

I roll my eyes, downing the newly placed shot in front of me. "Well, it seems that you've decided to drop the proffesional act that you had yesterday."

"Well, it seems quite useless here, especially when you add in my intentions."

"Intentions. I see."

"Glad you do. You got someone?"

Sudden change of topic. Alright, I could work with that. 

My eyebrows draw together, "Someone?"

"Someone your going out with, a boyfriend?" Alex grins, the cocky grin all over again.

"No and no. I heard a old friend of mine was back in town, I came to visit him, doesn't remember me."

"What an ass, I'd be a fool to forget a face like yours."

I blink. "Yeah.... sure."

He shakes his head, "Do you have someone taking you home?"

Immediately, for some reason. I'm mad. "No, and I bet you don't care." I'm off the stool in a second, making my way to the dance floor. I can't believe it he basically just insulted himself and said that he wouldn't forget me, when he clearly did. But of course. He doesn't know, he doesn't remember.

"Hey gorgeous."

I turn around. Damn no, I've had enough of this. "No, just say what you actually mean." I snap.

"I am, I swear." He slurs, swaying back and forth, grabbing my arm. 

"Don't lie." I push him away and start to back away. Dammit, this guy was a drunken idiot.

"Fine." He grabs my arm pulling my closer to him. "I wanna fuck you."

I snarled, "Don't touch me." I attempt to pull away, but even in his drunken state he's stronger then me. I knew I should have attended those martial arts classes when I had the chance.

"This is what I hate about all you girls. You want the exact same thing but when we give it to you, you just come crying like a bunch of babies!"

I snort. Babies, seriously.

He slams me into him as he grabs his dick, "I didn't get this all of a sudden, just to be pushed away because your too stupid not to do something."

Eeew. "Let me go, you ass." I snap.

He chuckles, clearly drunk, "Not going to happen, sweetie."

What the hell. Jerk, ultra jerk.

"Let me go!" I push hard against his chest, but he doesn't budge.

Suddenly, I'm ripped off him and pushed away, stumbling backwards.

"When a lady says let go, she means let go. Is that so hard for you to understand."

I gape. Alex's broad, lean and tall frame is all up in Ultra Jerk's face. 

"No one does that in my bar, I want you out."

Ultra Jerk doesn't move.

"NOW!" he roars. 

God... I can't take anymore of this. Alex defending me like this. I push my way through the crowd and out the main entrance. My chest starts to tighten uncontrollably. Why does this have to hurt so much. I can feel the tears threatening to come loose. It can't, it just can't.

"Hey! Nat."

Damn Alex, why did he have to be so fast.

"You shouldn't be out like this, dammit." He his hand curls around my upper arm and turns me around to face him. He eyes are flecked with concern. 

"I'm fine." I snap, shoving him away.

"No your not. At this rate you'll get raped or worse trying to get home by yourself."

I flinched, raped. I didn't like that word. I didn't want to hear it again. "I'll just call a cab." I mutter, turning away. 

"Just wait. I'll take you home. I'm done anyway." He rakes a hand through his hair, his jaw clenching.

"I don't was a ride with you." I snarl, glaring at him. Why did he have to care. 

Alex raises an eyebrow, "Well that's not very nice...."

Ugh.

Alex continues, "Have I offended you in someway?"

I sigh... of course he doesn't know. "No.. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, you've drunk. I'll drive you."

I sigh, defeated. "Okay."

He runs a hand through is already shaggy hair, frowning. 

"Come on." He grabs my hand and leads me to a black SUV, something like he used to drive back then. As I rattle off my address to him. I guess some people would question my head. I mean why not get in a car with a almost complete stranger. But he wasn't a stranger to me. He would never be. They wouldn't know that.

"So tell me," He buckles in, "Have you lived here all your life."

I shake my head. "I grew up here and then later moved away for college."

"What about you, lived here all your life?" I knew. I so knew the answer.

"Grew up here but then I had to leave, I just got back here a few weeks ago."

Now was my chance. "Where did you go?"

His seems to brush it "here and there"

I can't help but laugh, "I have been told that I have good ears. Try me."

He just shakes his head, chuckling.

Okay. He didn't have to tell me now. Only when he was ready. I wouldn't push. I could understand how it was to hide something. Something you didn't want others to know.

I would wait.

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Hey guys, kinda long chapter around 1474 words. Okay, I'm back but I don't when I will be updating next hopefully by the next three days. I'm super busy lately so I might not get the chance. But I need to say thank you so much for your support even if there aren't many of you. I appreciate it.

I guess you could say that this is the Christmas Chapter.... Kind of. Anyway wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year don't forget to give and receive. Merry Christmas, *winks* 

- Treetop