''Oh my God, Lauryn! What the hell are you wearing?''
Hearing that comment, Lauryn Kennish immediately crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly self-conscious.
Her three friends began to laugh at her looking so bashful.
Her friends were sitting in a private booth at The Red Jewel nightclub, all dressed in saucy red and black dresses that hugged their figures. Their faces were powdered and painted, and their hairstyles made them look like actresses.
They were easily attracting glances from men all around.
Lauryn had come straight from a work emergency, so she was still wearing bright yellow office wear that made her look like a traffic sign. It made her shoulders look squared and concealed a lot of her body.
She did not particularly like the uniform she had to wear for work. Sometimes, it made Lauryn feel like her limbs were shorter or fatter than they actually were. But if she worked hard enough and reminded herself why she needed to persevere, she could forget that.
Of course, she could forget it until her friends pointed it out.
She shuffled over to the booth and shyly took a seat next to her friend, Jemma Walker, who was the nicest one in her group of her friends. Jemma was mousy and had short brown hair, but she was always kind and relaxed, which made a lot of people like her.
Diana Rose, the one who spoke and whose birthday it was, leaned in with a sneer. Her skin and hair was the fairest in the group, and she was wearing red sunglasses, even though they were indoors. ''If we weren't friends, I wouldn't invite you from my party just for wearing that.''
Lauryn tried to laugh it off. ''Good thing that we're friends then.''
Then, Jemma spoke up, trying to deflect the topic from Lauryn's clothes. ''So, what's the plan, birthday girl?''
''Drinks!'' Diana said, pointing at the table in front of them. On the decorated table were ice buckets full of bottles of rose champagne. ''We are going to drink until we can't see straight. Then, we are going to play every party game I know until I learn all you bitches' dirty little secrets.''
Lauryn's heart stopped for a moment, instantly nervous. She hated party games. The last thing she wanted was Diana Rose learning any of her secrets.
The last girl, Olivia Hastings, whose black hair matched her scanty dress, clapped her hands in excitement. ''I love party games! I can't wait!''
Lauryn lamented in her heart, 'Please don't encourage Diana.'
But when Diana smirked approvingly and Olivia rushed forward to uncork the champagne, Lauryn knew it was too late. There was no avoiding the dreadful party games.
The music was loud inside The Red Jewel nightclub, and the drum beats seemed to make Lauryn feel even more nervous. She hoped that the music would be so loud that her friends would not be able to hear her answers when they asked.
As her friends poured the drinks, Lauryn tried to distract herself from freaking out by looking around the club.
She scanned the dance floor, which was full. Because it was the weekend, it was packed with people dancing and drinking without a care in the world. She wondered what it was like being so carefree. She did not come to clubs like this one unless her friends invited her.
Past the dance floor was the bar. It was also crowded with people trying to get drinks, and even from where she was, she could see how flustered the bartenders were. She almost felt sorry for them, but felt lucky that Diana had gotten their drinks ahead of time. She could not imagine how hard it would be to get a drink when it was so crowded.
Just then, something very strange and incredible happened.
Lauryn watched the people crowding around the bar begin to part, making a clear path toward the bar. The one parting the crowd was a man in a gorgeous black suit, slowly making his way toward the bar like he owned it.
Even from where she was sitting in the private booth, she could feel the man's confidence. She could tell from how people reacted that he was attractive, even though she could not see his face.
Suddenly, she was pulled back to reality when Jemma handed her a glass of champagne. ''See something you like?'' Jemma said, wearing a mischievous smirk.
Lauryn blushed, and did not answer.
An hour passed, and the more Lauryn drank, the easier it felt to be around Diana. The champagne made her feel less nervous.
However, that also made it harder for her to say no when Diana pushed for the party games.
''Time for Truth or Dare, girls!'' Diana Rose said, slurring now as she looked almost sinisterly at Lauryn. ''Lauryn, you go first!''
Lauryn's heart stopped for a moment. ''Shouldn't we spin a bottle or something?''
Diana narrowed her eyes. ''I'm the birthday girl.'' Her bright pink lips pronounced each word with forceful intent. ''Lauryn, Truth or Dare?''
Lauryn knew that the safest choice was usually Truth, but right now, she did not feel like it was. The last thing she wanted was for Diana to know her secret.
She did not want anyone to know that she was a 24-year-old virgin.
Truly, she had never been with another person intimately before. In fact, she had never even had a boyfriend before.
She knew it was something that she should not be ashamed of, especially since she had been focusing on work and family, but she knew it was something Diana would mock her for if she knew.
Diana was getting annoyed. ''Lauryn, I'm asking you a question!''
Her lackey, Olivia, chimed in as well. ''Diana's asking you a question, Lauryn.''
Lauryn stammered. ''D-dare.''
An evil glare glistened in Diana's eyes as she smirked, as if she was waiting for her to choose Dare. She turned around and pointed at a group of people crowding around a table, shouting and drinking. Diana analysed the group for a while before someone caught her eye.
''See that man over there? Go say 'Hi'.''
Diana pointed toward a man in a gorgeous dark suit.
Lauryn immediately recognized the man as the one who parted the crowd earlier, and her heart fell into her stomach.
She could only see his side profile from where she was, but he was elegantly handsome, like a prince. He had strong features, neat blonde hair, and a brilliant smile. He was not drinking like his friends were, but he was casually nursing a glass of wine. He actually looked bored, which was why Diana picked him for Lauryn.
Olivia grabbed Lauryn by the wrists and began dragging her toward the man, almost making her spill her champagne. ''Come on, you heard Diana.''
Lauryn wanted to look to Jemma for help, but Jemma just smiled helplessly. She was tipsy too, so she was nodding approvingly.
To give herself courage, Lauryn downed her whole glass of champagne.
Then, Olivia shoved her in front of the handsome man, and Lauryn slipped. She crashed into the man, who fortunately stood firm and did not fall over.
Unfortunately, she bumped into his wine glass and spilled red wine all over his gorgeous suit.
She shrieked, apologizing over and over again, ''I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!''
Then, she remembered Diana's dare at the last second.
''Hi!''
The man barely moved or had an expression. He glared at her resting against his chest that now smelled like wine.
Lauryn was afraid for a moment, and knew she should back away, but his crystal blue eyes were too mesmerising. He seemed so intelligent, and it looked like he had the universe hidden in his eyes.
The man took a deep breath, and suddenly, his face was not tense anymore. His perfect eyebrows and pursed lips relaxed, and he went from simmering with rage to looking so gentle in two seconds.
''Let me help you up,'' he said, his voice deep and cool. He supported her to stand upright, placing his warm hand on her waist.
Lauryn could barely speak, her feelings in a flurry and a blur. She could feel her anxiety pushing its way through her and mixing with all the alcohol she just had.
Only his warm, gentle face was in her field of vision. Every feature was perfect, like a work of art.
Her heart lurched with her. Before she could catch herself, Lauryn lunged forward to kiss him.
