•RIP / Sofia Reyes, Anita, Rita Ora•
"I only wanna feel good vibes"

My pinkie finger runs under my eye, cleaning any smudge from my smokey makeup. After the dreadful call with my mom, I took a very needed shower, wishing that the water could clean all my secrets and fears away. And then, I decided to put on some cosmetics.

My eyes are painted with a nude shadow that darkens to a smoked black in the end, enhancing the small golden circles in my irises – bringing back a shine that I hadn't seen for so long in my face. 

I smile in the elevator mirror, my hands combing my short hair. I double-check my outfit, feeling a little too bold with my skinny jeans and a white tank top, its cleavage being quite low. My necklace falls casually down my chest, its heart pendant shining. My fingers touch it, a nostalgic feeling spreading through me.

It is almost 2 pm and the sun lights the streets; the day is warm, looking nothing like winter. I grab my phone in my small purse, finding Akira's instructions to the bar we agreed to meet for lunch. I do my best to follow her instructions, not wanting to get lost in the maze that is this town.

But I do. I get lost.
Three fucking times.

Until I finally take the correct turn, finding a red neon board spelling BAR and a wooden door under it, guiding me through some stairs, taking me to a basement. Loud noises mixed with grease smell welcome me.

The place is way bigger than I thought, with wooden furniture and windows on top of the walls. There are booths in the far side, round tables in the middle and a bar with high stools at my right.

A huge smile opens on my lips as I start taking my jacket off. It is so hot in here. My hair brushes on my exposed shoulders as I look for my new found friend, spotting her in one of the stools, talking animatedly with the barman, her hands swirling in the air.

I walk towards her, and her eyes sparkle when she notices me, her mouth opening in a grin.

"You really came," she says, her black curls framing her face. She pushes herself to the side, the stool scratching the floor as she opens space for me to sit beside her.

I smile, throwing my jacket and purse on the dark wooden bar counter, sitting on a stool. I put some strands of my hair behind my ear, finding Akira in my left. "This place is amazing."

Behind the bar, an Asian guy leans lazily. His arms are crossed, his eyes dancing in amusement as his gaze moves from me to my friend. He is hot, I can't deny it. But at the same time, his intense stare doesn't indicate any second intentions behind it.

"Are little Akira betraying her asshole boyfriend?" the barman says, his head tilting. She flips him off, making the guy chuckles. They seem extremely comfortable around each other as he tries to squeeze her cheeks while she shoves his hands away.

"Jackass," she mutters, slapping his arm. Her hand runs through her hair, bringing her curls to one side of her face, and she looks at me, winking. "She is new in town. Be nice."

He raises his hands in surrender, looking from Akira to me. "Rhys." He stretches his arm in my direction and I shake his hand.

''Elena. Nice meting you.''

He smiles, his fingers slipping away from mine and finding the bar cloth, throwing it on his shoulder. My eyes trail the several drink bottles behind Rhys, and apparently Akira notices my action because she smirks.

"Rhys, darling, two special drinks," she says, her head tilting as her gaze softens, doing one of the best puppy eyes I have ever seen.

"And what is the magical word, Coco?" Rhys says, mocking her.

Akira rolls her eyes while I frown. "Coco?" I ask, my gaze moving between them. She groans, burying her face on her hand, her hair falling forward.

"Our dear girl here doesn't drink coffee. Like never. And she always begs her brother and our group of friends to make hot chocolate to her like the spoilt brat she has always been," he explains to me.

I laugh carefree, my head falling back. Akira sticks her tongue out, a small smile opening on her lips as well.

"Please, Rhys," she whines. He chuckles, agreeing with his head and turning around to make our drinks.

Akira turns to me now, adjusting herself in the stool to face me as I lean my elbows on the counter, my cheek lazily on my hand.

"I am sorry for Rhys, he can be overbearing sometimes. They all can," she mutters the last part as her neck turns to the other side, her body stretching to grab a small black bow with olives, bringing it to our middle.

"They all? As in your brother and his friends?" I ask, remembering how she mentioned them the other day. She throws two olives into her mouth, rolling her eyes and agreeing with her head.

"But don't worry. He seems funny, actually," I say, trying to ease her worries.

Her face finds him in the corner, preparing the drinks. "And he makes the best cocktails. I swear, one large cup of it and you are done for the night." She laughs, and I find myself relaxing too.

"Your brother is older than you, right?" I ask, trying to get to know her better. She eats one more olive as her body leans on the counter.

"Yeap. He is thirty now, so four years older." Her face frowns as she does the calculus. "And you? Any annoying siblings?"

I shake my head, and deep inside my chest tightens, remembering the talk with my mom. "No. But sometimes I wish that I had one or two," I say, my hand finding my necklace. "Maybe that is why I have the crazy idea to have a huge family with like, four kids."

We both laugh, she looking at me like I have just lost my mind. "I mean, I love my brother. But he can be so much sometimes. I really don't know how my mom managed us both," she answers smiling, but I can notice the pain dancing in her eyes.

"Gosh, you really don't seem twenty-six, I am only one year older than you, but I look at least five years older," I say quickly, trying to lift her mood. Her face soon softens again as her fingers nudge my shoulder.

"Please, you are hot. I really can't believe you are single."

I have to blink a few times, her words weighing down on me. For the past almost seven years, I haven't heard people describing me as single. And the world stops making sense for a minute.

My hand tightens its hold on the heart pendant and my breath hitches. Akira lifts her gaze towards me, her face frowning.

"Here you go, ladies. Two specials. Made with extra love only for you," Rhys says, winking at our friend. The noise of glass hitting the wooden echoes around us, bringing me back from the dark path my mind was following.

I exhale and I try my best to seem casual, smiling at Akira as we both thank Rhys and grab our cups. The liquid is orange and I bring it to my nose, its scent intoxicating me. It is strong and my eyes shut, already imagining the burn sensation once I drink it.

"Come on, it is good. I promise you," my friend says, her voice is happy and behind her eyes there is a challenge sparkle.

I raise my glass, and at the same time, we both bring the liquid to our lips. Like I had predicted, it burns. But it sips down my throat easily, a good feeling spreading through my nerves as the mint taste melts in my mouth.

I didn't realize I had drunk half the cup in one sip, and Akira looks at me smugly. I roll my eyes, leaving the glass on the counter again.

"The new girl liked it." Rhys leans closer to us, smirking.

"I have tasted better ones," I say, teasing him back.

"I knew you would match perfectly with my group." Akira laughs, her arm pulling my shoulders close to her, and I giggle as Rhys shakes his head.

"Choose something to eat too, Coco. I really don't need Mace nagging me because his little sister got too drunk under my watch," he says, grabbing two menus under the counter and handing to us. I thank with a smile while she scoffs, but still takes the paper.

He leaves to take the order from other customers as my eyes travel the options of food. My head leans down, my mouth sucking the tiny straw in my drink.

"Fuck, I really needed this after the morning I had," I mutter, as I empties my glass, the liquid sipping down my body.

"Why? What happened?" My friend stares at me while picking her long curls and tying them in a loose bun on top of her head.

I open and close my mouth, not knowing what to answer exactly answer. A part of me wants to change the subject. This is a new place; I don't need my old problems following me here. But at the same time, I don't want even more secrets and lies. So, I breathe, and shouldering I say, "Let's just say I got a not so pleasant call from my mom."

"Ohhh," she answers, blinking a few times. "Touchy mommy subject. I get it." Akira slowly shakes her head, moving her gaze away from me, and something in the way her eyes slightly darkened tell me she understands it very well.

"Tell me about your asshole boyfriend," I say, repeating Rhys' words and getting in return a small chuckle.

Akira gesture with her hand for more drinks before turning back to me. "He is great. And I was happy with him in the capital, but... I had to move back here for a couple of months, our relationship is now long-distance. And it can be so complicated, I dated one of my brother's friends in high school and he is still around. My only remaining girl friend in town is Rhys' wife, but she just had a baby and I hate my current job and..." She doesn't stop to breathe while rambling, but in the end, her words trail off.

"Fuck, this really is a long and complicated story," I say, and she laughs. "You were not kidding when you said you were in need of a female company.

"Let's just say my story definitely is not that dramatic, but it also has its share of complicated shits. And you were not that far from the truth Monday. I came here looking for myself, I guess," I continue, shouldering, and I can feel Akira studying me.

Rhys hands us two new cups, and we order food alongside a lot more of other weird drinks that Akira assured me I will love.

I raise my glass, smiling at my newfound friend. "To messy stories and new beginnings."

"Cheers to that," she agrees, laughing and we both down our drinks, my head falling back as an easiness spreads throughout my whole body.

🩺🩺🩺

"No fucking way," I say a little bit too loud. We have just finished our fourth glass and Akira was telling me all about one time she and her brother kissed the same girl without knowing it.

Her fingers run under her eyes, drying the tears that were almost running down. "I swear, I wanted to drink bleach after finding out."

We laugh hard. Our words come out slurred. In front of us, there are our finished plates and a lot – I mean really a lot – of other glasses with different cocktails. Rhys watches us from afar, a smile never leaving his features.

Our lips meet the fifth cup. It tastes like cranberries, the sweet filling me up.

I remember about the incident yesterday and the sweet chocolate eyes. My drunk tongue can't hold it back and I look to Akira, not even thinking my next words. "You won't believe what happened to me..."

"Wait, drink!" she says, her eyes trailed in the television as her hand grabs one of the cups.

Oh, yes. We have started this weird game, where every time there is a foul in the soccer game on the TV, we have to drink up.

And one more shot goes down my throat.

"Okay, spill the tea now." Her fingers clumsily clean her lips, a silly smile plastered on them.

My hands run through my cheeks; my touch barely being noticed by my skin. "So, yesterday I bumped in this guy in the bookstore..."

"The bookstore? Like the one downtown?"

"Is there really another bookstore in this ridiculously small place?" I ask and she rolls her eyes, leaning lazily on the counter. "And, fuck, he was so arrogant. And cocky.

"And full of himself, if I may add." My hand swirls in the air in front of my face as Akira laugh, her shoulders shaking.

"Something tells me that you actually are interested in this cocky man," she says, and I groan. "Oh, come on. You are thinking about him while drunk."

She tries to nudge my arm, but I shove her hand away. "No, missy. It is just that he really was so rude, just because he owns the place he thinks he ca-"

"Wait! Fuck!" she interrupts me, her eyes widening. "You are not talking about Victor, are you?"

Of course, she had to know him.

It is a small town, Elena, what else were you expecting?

"Arrogant. Full of himself. It suits Vic perfectly," she says, opening a smirk. "And I have came with the best idea. You are gorgeous, smart, feisty, leaving in a couple of weeks. You are exactly what he needs right now."

"Wait, what?" I say, staring at her like she has just lost her mind.

"Victor and Elena..." she mutters, looking up, not even paying attention to me. She slowly turns her neck towards me again and I am already terrified of what she will say next. "I can even call you guys Vicena!"

"Drink and shut up." I forcefully hand her a new glass. My head shakes, a smile never leaving me as I down a new cocktail.

We soon change topics, but I can't shake the feeling Akira knows more than she is telling me. However, I really don't want to discuss a new complicated guy. I have had my share of complicated relationships; I didn't come here to find another one.

Another foul, and one more drink. We start discussing the soccer players' hot bums.

One more glass down. We laugh, telling memories of our rebellious phases in high school.

A new warm liquid in our mouths. And we both complain about our works, me also telling her a few of my plans for this trip.

After our tenth cup, I really don't feel my extremities anymore. The place is bright thanks to the lamps, but from the windows, I can see it is already dark outside. The bar has a few people, but it is not much crowded on this Wednesday night.

I feel my body completely relaxed thanks to the easy-going company and my high blood alcohol level as Akira rambles about this fundraiser the magazine she works in is throwing this Friday.

"You really should come." She looks at me hopefully, her words are slurred and eyes are glassy, but I can notice a sparkle behind her irises and my gut is telling me she is setting something up.

"I really don't know. I don't even have an outfit," I answer, my heavy body almost laying on top of the counter.

"Don't be silly. I can leave in the hotel a few of my clothes for you." Her hands move nonchalantly, and I don't have in me to fight her in this matter. "And it will be open bar."

Okay, maybe I don't want to fight with her anymore.

The rest of the night stretches smoothly. Stories and laughs being shared. Times flies by and after a while, I notice how Rhys is starting to clean everything and how people are starting to leave. My body begins to weigh, and I touch Akira's arm, telling her that I am heading back to my hotel.

She offers me a drive with her and Rhys, but I refuse it. They will take at least one more hour to close the place and it is not too late, being only nine pm. Besides, I really want to enjoy a night walk while I am this happy.

Rhys also insists on driving me when I say goodbye to him. But soon, I hug Akira and go towards the door, being embraced by the night breeze.

I wear my jacket and my steps echo in the streets. There are a few people around while the stars shine up in the sky.

This time, I don't get lost and I find the main road in no time, smelling the sea air that the wind brings from the coast. My eyes are glued to my left side, admiring the horizon and imagining the waves down there.

I don't notice one higher cobblestone in the sidewalk and my foot bumps into it, my purse slipping my hand, landing a few feet ahead.

I groan, and I start walking towards my purse, but before I can get it, a tall figure walks out of the corner, leaning down and grabbing it for me.

My eyes travel from his hands to his face lightened by the moon. My stomach twists, a tickling sensation running in my nerves as I bite my lips and he opens a smirk.

"Shahrazad."

——•:•——
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. THANKS FOR READING

- This is the first chapter I wrote directly in English yeyyy

•What are you thinking about Akira so far?
•Any idea what will follow in the next chapter? Something you would like to see?

This chapter is dedicated to gaellawrites
Love you babe, tysm for being here

[Sneak peek 11: There is nothing more romantic than two people enjoying one late night in the beach...]