Aiden

"Oh?" She raised a brow. "I don't ever remember you being this bold."

I shrugged. "People change," I said vaguely, letting her chew on those words and hoping they were enough for now. "Is she single?"

"Mm, maybe ask her for yourself," she said.

"As her friend, wouldn't you know?"

"Sure, but that's her information to divulge as she pleases," she said. "But you want my advice?"

Not really. "Of course."

"Don't stare at her like that," she said. "She's gorgeous, I know. But girls don't like being ogled by strangers, it creeps us out."

I scoffed. "I didn't realize I was staring."

"Well, now you know." She winced, taking a sip of her drink.

I looked into the crowd, trying to find Queen yet seeing no sign of her. "I'm going to go make sure she's okay."

"Okay, lover boy." She sighed. "But just know that I have her location and the police on speed dial...in the off chance that you're not the person I remember from all those years ago, you know...since- people change...and all," she shot my words back at me.

I tensed at her threat and her smile grew. "It was a joke, Aiden. Relax."

"Yeah." I cleared my throat, standing up. I hooked my thumb in the bar's general direction. "I'm going to go check..."

She nodded, eyeing me. "Sure."

I turned around, shaking off her spot-on assessment of me, and shook my head. I headed toward the busy bar in search of Queen and when my eyes landed on her, my steps slowed. She sat at the corner of the bar, a glass of what looked like whiskey on the rocks sitting untouched in front of her as she stirred it with a straw. Her free hand propped up her chin as a faraway expression remained on her face.

I took the seat beside her and her eyes moved to me as I signaled for the bartender. "Just a water, please." He nodded and I leaned my arms onto the bar, looking beside me at Queen. "Hey...um...I'm Aiden, from- earlier."

She gave me a single nod with a small smile before looking down at the amber drink. "Earlier being two minutes ago..."

"Yeah, sorry," I said. "Queen, right?" She nodded. "It's really nice to meet you."

"Oh," she whispered. "Thanks."

I nodded and her attention returned to the glass. "So, why do you look so sad? It's your birthday, isn't it?" She shrugged. "Is it a guy?"

She raised a brow and looked up at me. "So a girl is sad at a bar and your automatic thought is that it's because of a guy..."

"Yes."

She laughed softly and shook her head. "It could be a girl."

"I'm hoping it's not a girl..."

"And why is that?"

"Well." I leaned a little closer. "Because then maybe I have a chance."

"Hmm." She tapped the bar. "As flattered as I am, I suggest you choose another victim tonight. Unfortunately, I am committed to someone else."

"Oh no." I held a hand against my chest and groaned in mock pain. "And what could you possibly mean by victim? I'm harmless."

"Your pick-up lines," she admitted with a smile, making my chest warm a bit. "They're...kind of horrible."

"Oh, ouch," I teased, smiling at the bartender as he passed me my water. "I'm hurt."

"You said that you hoped I wasn't a lesbian so that you could have a chance," she said. "You actually said that out loud."

"Okay." I rolled my eyes before looking at her again. "So I say stupid things when I'm around beautiful girls."

She looked at me for a long moment, her nail tapping against the straw before she scrunched her face and shook her head. "Ew." She smiled, her dimples coming into view.

I grinned. "Not that one either?"

"Do any of them ever work for you?"

"I can't say I do this often," I admitted. "But I saw you and...something tells me that I should throw caution to the wind."

"Hmm. I wish something could tell me that for you so I could stop thinking about this man." She sighed.

"That was touché."

"I know."

"I'm sure if you gave me a chance you wouldn't think twice about the dude—"

"I'm not interested, Aiden. I'm sorry," she said. "You seem like a good catch though. Don't let my idiocy tonight stop you from making another girl lucky."

I pushed down my surfacing anger at her rejection and let out a bitter laugh, hoping the music in the background made it sound as normal as possible. "Well, unfortunately for the both of us, and said other girl...I'd only be settling if I left with anyone other than you."

She laughed softly, her hand moving nervously to the back of her neck. "You're being pushy, Aiden. I don't like that."

"I don't mean to be," I said in the most sincere voice I could muster up. I was beyond angry that she couldn't just feel what I was feeling, but I had come way too far to just let things end how they looked like they were going to. "Here, I'll stop. Tell me about the mystery guy. Why isn't he here and why are you moping?"

"Aiden—"

"Come on," I insisted. "Tell me. It's not like you'll see me again after tonight. Think of me like a manifestation paper or something."

"What's that?"

"It's kind of like, the whole coin in the wishing well thing," I said. "You whisper all your secrets and wishes into a paper, then crumble it and throw it away."

"I've never heard of it."

"My mom taught me about it when I was younger," I lied. Queen followed a superstitious self-made spiritual woman on her social media and she ended up on my feed, that was how I knew what that was. It was stupid as fuck, but hey, whatever worked. "Pretend I'm the paper and afterward- you can toss me aside and never worry about it again."

"That sounds harsh."

"I'm a big boy. I'll be fine." I smiled. "Lay it on me. Who is the man stopping you from being with the love of your life tonight?"

She rolled her eyes at me and shook her head before sighing. "He's an ex-boyfriend...I think. Maybe we're still together but—"

"How long has it been since you two have talked?"

"Does the paper usually talk back?" She asked flatly.

"Sorry."

She smiled before glancing back at the drink. "It's been about three months."

"Okay, that's definitely an ex." She nodded slowly, not meeting my eyes as disappointment appeared on her features and my jaw clenched.

"I mean, I know," she admitted. "I just figured...well, I hoped that by now we'd be back together. I mean, I thought he'd at least call today—"

"For your birthday," I filled in.

"Yeah." She nodded. "But he probably forgot, he's a...busy guy."

"There's no such thing," I said. "If a man truly wants you, he'll make time. Especially on a day as important as a birthday."

"It's not like that." She bit the inside of her cheek. "I know he misses me, but in his mind- I'm happier away from him. I've tried to let him have it his way, but I don't think I can do it anymore, you know? That's why I'm so down tonight. It's kind of like a goodbye bash...I plan on going back—"

"To him?" I raised a brow. Even when Syn wasn't in the picture, he was still here. I could feel my anger beginning to grab ahold of me.

She shrugged. "Yeah, I love him."

I sighed. "Listen, Queen. I don't mean to hurt your feelings or anything...but any man that truly loves a girl wouldn't let her leave him. Yet, not only has he done that...but from what I gather, he's made no move to get you back...How could you think that he feels anything for you?"

"I—"

"He sent you away because there's probably another girl in the picture, simple as that. You'd be an idiot to go back."

She looked at me, taken aback before sitting up in her seat. "That's hurtful," she said, sliding off the stool. "Have a good rest of your night, Aiden."

She walked away from me and I closed my eyes, mentally smacking myself across the head. Real subtle, but I couldn't help it anymore. I wasn't fucking here to listen to her go on about her love for another man. I watched her disappear to the back of the club where the restrooms were and a thought surfaced.

I needed her to need me. That's how Syn got her, right?

She was no damsel in distress, but I could be a knight in shining armor if I pulled the right strings.

I looked around at the club and smiled when my eyes landed on a man harassing a girl a few seats down from me.

"Come on, sweetheart. How could you be wearing that and not expect me to want to get a piece?" He laughed, his head tucked into her neck.

"Joe!" The bartender snapped. "Cut it out or I'm cutting you off for the night."

With the distraction, the girl ran from his arms and the burly man glared at the bartender. "Fuck you, man! Give me another shot." The bartender shook his head, busting himself with another task and I slid the man Queen's left-behind whiskey. He looked at me before looking at the drink and lifting it to his mouth. He drank it with one loud gulp before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and I smiled.

He was perfect.

"They're all just fucking teases, huh?" I asked.

"You're tellin' me." He scoffed.

"Tell you what?" I said to him. "Maybe we can help each other out."

He looked me up and down, an uninterested look taking over his expression before he shook his head. "I don't need anything from a suit like you."

I reached into my pocket, pulled out a stack of bills, and tossed them in front of him. I could see the dollar signs in his eyes as he stared at the money and I laughed softly. "There's more of that where it came from if you could do me one small favor."

He pocketed the money quickly and looked around. "Look, I don't do any drug—"

"No drugs." I leaned forward. "See, my girl gets out of line at the club and she forgets that not many men in here are as nice as I am. I just need you to scare her— a little reminder..."

A crooked smile spread across his face and I got a whiff of the putrid alcohol lingering on his gnarly beard. "Scare her? I can do that," he said. "What are your boundaries?"

"What do you mean?"

"No touching? Stay two feet away?" He asked. "What lines do you not want me to cross?" I looked at him, his smile telling me all I needed to know about whether or not he'd respect anything boundaries I gave him. He was a sick guy.

"No boundaries," I said. "Do what you need to. She's the girl I was just sitting with...in the black dress. I know you saw her."

"I sure did. She's a pretty girl."

I smiled before telling him everything and when I was done, I sat back and took a sip of my water. I adjusted my tie into my chest as his large frame stood up from the stool and took wobbly steps to the restroom. As we discussed, he had free rein to do what he wanted— what he could...but in a minute, I planned on going in and being the hero she needed.

I sat patiently, glancing at my watch every few seconds and when two minutes had passed, I strolled toward the restroom area. People were leaning against the walls of the hall, making out and I cringed before walking past them. I expected to hear some sort of noise from the women's restroom, giving me an excuse to storm in— but there was nothing.

After a few moments of silence, the silence began to overwhelm me and I stepped toward the restroom door. It opened before I could touch it and Queen stepped out, wiping her hands with a napkin as she looked up at me in question.

"Wrong bathroom," she said with a raised brow.

I looked past her, pretending to be shocked when I saw the women's sign. "Tonight just isn't my night...is it?"

"Guess not." She shrugged, letting the door fully close. I tried to peek behind her, searching for the man but saw nothing by the time the door closed. She moved to walk past me and I stepped in front of her.

"Hey, listen," I said. "I'm sorry for being so harsh, okay? I just know how it feels to love someone with everything in you and they don't feel the same...I don't know you well, but I know you don't deserve that."

She nodded. "It's fine. You were probably right anyway."

"So you're not leaving just yet."

"I guess not." She shrugged. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to sleep with you."

"How about a date?"

"No." She smiled, shaking her head. "I'm not evil enough to date you when I'm still in love with someone else..." I opened my mouth to protest that last bit and she shook her head. "Don't try and talk me out of loving him, you'll be talking forever and I don't like you enough to stick around that long."

"Yet," I said. "You don't like me enough yet."

"You're persistent, huh?" She asked.

"Always."

"I seriously don't like that."

"You will," I shot back and she sighed. "What? Despite your reservations, I don't mind being the rebound...I'm in love with someone as well. But as I said, I saw you and I liked what I saw."

"Hmm." She crossed her arms.

"You're thinking about it..."

"I really wish I was." She crossed her arms. "You're a nice-looking guy, but..."

"I'm not him."

"I'm sorry." She smiled, stepping around me and I gritted my teeth. "Goodnight, Aiden."

She turned around, disappearing into the crowd past the hall and my fist flew into the nearest wall. A pain shot through my hand, a hole left in the cheap wall and I shook my hand with a wince. My mind floated to the man I had given all my money to and my anger was directed at him. If it weren't for him, tonight would've gone a lot differently.

I stormed into the women's restroom, hoping the piece of shit was still there but I was met with silence. "Shit," I cursed. He had taken the money and bailed. I ran my hands down my face and wiped my nose before walking toward the mirror and adjusting my clothes.

I looked at myself, retying the tie around my neck. My movements slowed however when I spotted a red spot on the floor in one of the stalls behind me. I turned around, walking toward the slightly ajar restroom stall and pushing it open. I was greeted by the man from the bar a few minutes ago splayed out on the toilet seat, his neck slit open. Blood stained his clothing and there was a large print of blood on his unbuttoned crotch area and pants. I didn't let myself wonder why. All I could tell from the scene was that I had underestimated how much she had grown up...how strong she had become...

She just murdered a man and was able to face me without so much as breaking a sweat. I didn't know if it was because she didn't give a fuck or because she was insane. Either way, I didn't expect it from her and I absolutely loathed...the unexpected.

꧁꧂

I sat, my body bound to the heavy burning chains as they continued on, not paying me a second glance. It was one thing to purposefully do this in front of me as a means to "punish" me, but it didn't even feel like that anymore. They were so wrapped up in each other- it was like I wasn't even here. That cut a lot deeper.

My eyes trailed down her bare back as they had that night in the club- as they had multiple times after that night...I smiled a bitter smile as memories filled my mind. Syn might've been having her right now...but he wasn't the only one in here that had experienced her. If he wanted to cause me pain like this...

I could do the same.

꧁꧂

I'm at the edge of my seat, get on the edge of yours too. 🫣

But no, I'm scared.