Natalie
I fell asleep almost immediately. A million thoughts still running through my mind as I pushed them aside and drifted off into the darkness...

~Flashback/Dream~

I fell on my bed and cried so hardly I never knew I had so many tears.
She's gone. My mother's gone.

What am I supposed to do without her? How can I go on? She was my courage, my confidence and hope.

I remembered the day they told me she didn't make it as her car drove off the bridge into the water on a late frosty evening.

I could feel my heart breaking into a million pieces.

I nearly fell asleep as the door to my bedroom opened. It was Jake, my stepfather. He was always so nice and kind. My mother married him about 8 months ago, it was heartbreaking that they never got to spent enough time together.

He sat on the edge of the bed, I could tell he was drinking.
After her funeral, he didn't look sad anymore but he seemed harsh and short-tempered.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.
He looked at me like I just really offended him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I looked confused. What does he mean?

"Umm... nothing?" I said carefully.
"Exactly! You sit around all day! You don't cook, you don't clean you don't do anything!What the hell is wrong with you?! You want to rot away in this room?! Fine by me!"  I looked at him with shock as he went out and locked my bedroom door. What the hell?! I stood up and walked to the door. He couldn't have actually locked my door!

But I tried and tried and it seemed like harsh reality. I started to panic and bang on the door but he didn't come back, I was panting heavily and started to cry.
He locked me away for the first time.

As always, I wake up panting and crying, feeling even more tired than before I went to bed.

⏳...................................................

After I got to work I saw that Vicky was talking with some people. I walked by and Vicky stopped me, smiling so much it looked like her cheeks hurt.

"Hey, hey, hey, Natalie, meet Lola, Jackson, Debi and Liam." I gave them a smile and a small hello and they did the same.

Eventually, we started talking and meeting each other, they turned out to be very nice people.

There were a lot of jokes and sarcasm, the conversations were never boring. One girl, which I guess was Lola had amazingly blue eyes and very curly blond hair. She wore a leather jacket and boots to her knees.

The handsome guy with red hair, Jackson, seemed very interested in Lola and couldn't get his eyes off of her. It was really sweet as she blushed when she noticed. There was definitely some flirting going on between these two.

Liam was even more handsome than Jackson, he had warm brown eyes, similar to my hair. He had raven-flipped-back hair and was quite muscular. His smile was very sincere and he seemed like good fun.

He gave me a few winks here and there and I tried not to blush.
The other girl, Debi, was a shy brunette girl. But she was very chill, she just liked to go with the flow.

"Okay. I'm done. I am desperate for a night out." Lola stated.
"I have an idea. Let's all get a night out!" Jackson offered, supporting Lola.

"That's a great idea! I heard they opened a new club not far away and I heard it's fan-tas-tic!" Vicky said as she looked at me. Everyone nodded their heads and said what a great idea it would be.

"What 'bout you Natalie? You coming, right?" Liam asked me giving me a smirk of hope. Everyone turned to me and expected me to shout yes! Sure! But my smile dropped and I began, " I'm sorry guys, I would love to come but I'm working on Friday night. I'm sorry..."

They all looked sad and disappointed and Liam began, "can't you take a night off? Come on, it will be fun!" A little hope came shining in their faces but I just shook my head in disagreement and Liam sighed.

"Well, if you change your mind, here is the address. We hope you can make it, it would be nice to get to know you more." The shy girl, Debi, stated as she gave me a small piece of paper with an address. She must like me because she didn't really talk much unless she was really interested in the topic.

Vicky and I waved them goodbye as they took their cappuccinos and left.
I forgot how it felt to have actual friends. It felt good. Like you're not alone all the time.

The day went by, full of running and taking orders. Throughout the whole day, I was wondering if someone special would enter the cafe. But he didn't...

When it was about 15 minutes before the end of my shift, I heard my phone ringing.
It was my boss. I picked up and answered it.
"Yes, Natalie? Natalie Sene? Please listen to me, dear child. I am very sorry but for unfortunate reasons you cannot work at the Café anymore. This was your last day. I want you to know, my dear, that it isn't your fault, we just have a few problems and we need to sign you off. You will receive your money on Friday morning with the extra hours. My sincere apologies and um....good luck."

What?! Did I just get fired??

I was tired of feeling sad and anxious and texted Vicky, Liam, Jackson and Debi that I'll see them tomorrow at 8. Maybe I could use some friends to lift my mood....

But... I didn't have anything to wear.

⏳.........................................................

"I like this one." Vicky said as she showed me a bright pink dress that was way too short.
She decided to come with me shopping because she also wanted to buy a new dress.

"Umm.. what about this one? This would look perfect on you." I said as I held a one part shirt and trousers. She came up to me, took a look at the piece of clothing and smiled. It was an approving smile.

She took it with a necklace and grey high heels.
I would never put myself in this outfit, for me it looked a bit too revealing but on her, it just seemed perfect.

We searched and we searched, but I just couldn't find a dress I would like.
"This is the last store I'm going to." I stated because I was very tired after walking to a trillion stores.

I sighed as the dress caught my eye straight away. It wasn't anything special really, it was quite plain, but the way it looked on me, it made me feel confident and fun. It made me feel myself. And hot af.
The dress was bright red, a very confident color. But red was my color. And I decided to take it.

⏳.............................................................

Liam

"Where the f-" I shouted but I cut myself off as I found what I was looking for.

I brushed my teeth, brushed my hair with my hands and put some cologne on, it smelled like a tropical rainforest, my favorite. I headed to my bedroom.

I put a black button-up shirt and dark jeans. I hoped it was okay.
It was already 7:40 and I still didn't get out of my house. I cursed under my breath as I grabbed my phone, my wallet and my car keys and headed to my car.

I wasn't planning on getting drunk really, so I decided I could be the responsible one tonight and take a car.

I was kinda nervous. Why the hell was I nervous?
But I knew why, it was because of her.
It was because of her bright green eyes, her smile and her beautiful chestnut hair. It was because of the way she leaned on the table yesterday, as she roasted Lola with her perfect sarcasm. It was because of the way she played with her hair when she was nervous...

When I first saw her, I immediately liked her.
She's just amazing, and I would love to call her mine someday.

I think she also seems interested in me, but every time I winked at her she just looked away as if I didn't exist.
But I won't give up so easily.

I headed to the club cursing the traffic on the way. It was 7:54 when I reached the club.
Just on time!
I saw that Lola, Vicky and Debi were already there. I walked up to them and said my greetings.

Vicky looked really sexy though, I couldn't have not noticed. Every time we go to a club she always looks like a sex bomb. But I was never interested in her that way.
I would always bring her drunk butt home and make her pancakes the next day.
She was like my little sister.
Natalie. Natalie was the one I was interested in.

And I mean, very interested in.
In every way.
She was on my mind all day and all night.

I straightened my shirt and sighed.
Suddenly, a taxi stopped by and some people got off and into the club.
The next taxi arrived, and the next.
There were really a lot of people here!
Out of the next taxi, Jackson came out, he and Lola greeted firstly with a small more-than-friendly hug and then a bro hug with me and Vicky.

I sighed in relieve when I noticed he also had a button up and jeans, it was just that his shirt was dark blue. Blue was always his color.
I don't know why I do that, I always compare people to colors: Vicky was brown, Lola was yellow, Jackson was blue, and Debi was pink.
Strange, right?

I wondered what color I would give Natalie.
After a long thought I decided it would probably be white or purple.
It was 8pm and she still wasn't here. I wondered if she was even going to show up.

But then I saw her, and my mouth dropped open.