After work, I went to my apartment and rested for an hour, then got ready for the club. I waited for Kayla and looked one more time in the mirror.

I wore my black spaghetti strap dress that reached my mid-thighs and a maroon jacket with the same color ankle heels. I applied a little makeup on my face and put on cherry color lipstick. The brown eyeliner I put on popped my green eyes and parted my red wavy hair from the middle, keeping them open.

I left my apartment when Kayla texted me and went to her car.

"You look hot." She whistled, giving me a once-over. I laughed and looked at her silk pink, long V-neck dress.

"So do you." She giggled and drove her car.

We sat silently in the car, and only the radio played some songs. I looked outside the window and watched the buildings passing by.

It was my dream to come to New York and work as a journalist. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and used to live there with my parents. My mom was against me pursuing journalism and thought I should find a husband and get married, rather than do a job.

She's an old soul.

Coming out of my thoughts, I frowned when I noticed the area. "Dude..." I turned my head towards Kayla. "Downtown?"

"Yup." She grinned at me mischievously. "It's going to be fun!" she squealed in her seat.

"But that place is dangerous!" I glared. "Especially for two lonely girls. Do you want us to get killed or something?"

"I know a guy there and it's going to be safe. Relax, I'll bring you home in one piece." She gave me a reassuring look and waggled her brows. "Maybe you'll find a criminal story there, if not a guy." She sang.

I plopped back on the seat and turned my head towards the window. That's a good idea, and I may get a story to write and get promoted, but the thing is, it would require me to be alive to write it.

My eyes wandered around the area as the car stopped in front of the club. I saw a few bikers around the corner and people smoking near the entrance. I didn't have to guess what they were smoking.

What the hell are we doing here?!

"I don't think it's a good idea to go inside," I grunted as I watched the bikers giving us a creepy smile.

To make it clear, I was not scared of them. I took self-defense classes and I know where a man's weakness lies.

Kayla ignored me and got out of the car. I sighed and followed her toward the line. I could hear the music blaring as we stood in line. The club name 'Soul Groove' was lightened with colorful neon lights, and the 'L' of the soul was not even working. After a few minutes, we showed our IDs to the angry-looking bouncer and went inside.

As I stepped inside, ear-piercing music welcomed us. The light was dim and you couldn't see the faces clearly, only can make out silhouettes. There were multicolored flashing lights on the dance floor, but they were bright enough. The place was crowded.

I followed Kayla toward the bar. Dancing sweaty bodies pressed and rubbed against me, making me gag internally. I scrunched my nose and tried to move faster. I could feel their eyes on me as I passed by.

"Hi, Michael!" She greeted the bartender with an enormous smile.

The bartender, Michael, perked up and beamed when he noticed Kayla.

"Hey, pretty girl." He said, making Kayla giggle. "Give me a minute."

He resumed making the drink for the people who were already there. I studied him and had to admit; that the guy was sexy. He had shoulder-length dark hair and biceps that every girl dies to touch. He was tall and bulky.

"And how do you know him?" I questioned Kayla, taking my jacket off, and sat on the bar stool.

"I met him at the coffee shop." She shrugged, also taking a seat. "We talked for a while and he told me he worked here and invited me." She finished, blinking her innocent brown eyes at me.

I had known Kayla for almost about three years. She is a sweet and innocent girl, and I had seen boys running over her. The girl wants to find her true love and because of that, she dates a lot.

Her dates don't go great as the fact that she's still single, well she recently got single because a few months ago when her boyfriend, Mr. A**hole, with whom she had a relationship of eight months cheated on her.

She still hasn't given up.

"You came, huh?" Michael came back with a sweet smile.

"Of course I did." Kayla beamed. "I wasn't bluffing."

"I'm glad you weren't." He gave Kayla his charming smile, and she blushed. I coughed, getting their attention.

"Oh, and this is Amber, my friend." Kayla introduced me. "Amber, this is Michael."

He extended his hand towards me, which I grabbed and firmly shook.

"I've heard a lot about you, Michael," I lied, letting go of his hand.

"Oh, really?" He gave me a surprised look and glimpsed at Kayla. "I hope it's all good."

"Why would it be bad?" I put my arm on the table and gestured toward Kayla. "I mean, you already have her wrapped around your fingers to make us come to this dangerous place." From the corner of my eye, I saw Kayla glaring at me, but I ignored her.

"Don't worry." He gave me a reassuring smile. "It's not that dangerous."

"If you say so," I murmured.

"What would you ladies like to drink?"

"We'll have two sex on the beach," Kayla answered, twirling her locks and I rolled my eyes at her.

"On it." Michael gave her a toothy grin and left.

"He's hot," I mumbled, watching him go back. "But not my type."

He is too bulky for my taste.

"Oh!" Kayla smirked and raised her brows at me. "You have a type?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Of course." She gave an amused look and Michael came back with our drink. "Thank you." I picked up my drink and turned my gaze toward the dance floor, giving them some privacy.

Sipping my drink, I roamed my eyes around the club. On the dance floor, people grind on each other and move their bodies to the beat, even though there isn't much space between them.

My eyes darted to two wasted guys coming toward me with huge grins on their faces. I brushed them off by sitting straight in my seat and turning my back towards them.

Bad move.

One guy bumped into my back, making me spill my drink. "F**K!" I screamed, jolting up from my place.

"Sorry." The guy mumbled, shrinking under my intense glare.

They should consider themselves lucky that I was wearing black.

"You alright?" Kayla gasped, looking at my dress.

"No," I mumbled, trying to clean my dress. "Where's the restroom?" I asked Michael, and he pointed toward the other side. "I'll be back."

"I'll come with you-"

"No." I cut off Kayla. "You stay here."

I walked in the direction where Michael pointed and found a narrow corridor that led to the restroom. I went inside and cleaned my dress and legs.

After finishing, I glanced in the mirror and smoothed my hair down. A blonde girl came inside and, ignoring me, went inside one stall.

Satisfied with my look, I opened the door of the restroom and saw a guy standing in front, busy staring at his phone. I avoided him and turned towards the bar again, but halted in my steps when the guy said.

"Phoenix."

• • • • •

A/N
So...? 👀
Below is Amber's dress. It's really fun to add them to the story XD