"Oh! I nearly forgot. Nyx, this is my best friend, Faizah. Faizah, this is my cousin, Nyx," Chaya said after we all got out of Faizah's car.
Now that we were out in the open, I finally got the chance to get a good look at Chaya's friend. If I could describe her in one word, it would be scary. She had piercings in places I didn't think were humanly possible. And if I thought I was skinny, it was nothing compared to her. Despite her thinness, she still managed to pack a punch in the hip and butt areas.
Her dark skin was covered with tattoos all the way to her neck, and she had the darkest eyes I have ever seen. She wore neon colored pants and a blazer; she didn't have a shirt on, so her flat stomach, chest, and cleavage were on full display. Her dark afro hair was bound together by a neon headband that had the word "GTH" written boldly on it.
"It's nice to meet you," I managed to say, hoping she didn't find my excessive staring as rude. I outstretched my hand to give her a handshake, but she only stared at it with pressed lips. She hiked her perfectly trimmed brow before returning her dark eyes to me.
Slowly, I retracted my hand but was taken off guard when I was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug. "I don't do handshakes; this isn't a business meeting." Faizah laughed as she let go of me. I didn't know what to say. I was still in a daze from her hug.
"Alright ladies, let's show these people that the stars of the show have arrived!" Chaya cheered, and Faizah hooted in response. I had to do my best to hide my regret because it became obvious that I was with a pair of lunatics.
Please don't judge me. I am an introvert, but it also depends on my mood. And I don't know if you have noticed, but my mood isn't exactly the best at the moment.
Apparently, the party was being held at a club that was owned by Chaya's boyfriend. Yes, an eighteen-year-old high school student owned one of the best clubs in New York.
Talk about luck and privileges.
We were still a couple blocks away from the club, but it felt like my eardrums were about to burst. My eyes fell on the entrance, and it was packed, and when I say packed, I mean over a hundred people lined up just wanting to get in.
I shot Chaya a horrendous look. "It would be daybreak before we get in; there are over a hundred people here."
Chaya's laugh wiped away whatever expression I had on my face and replaced it with a stoic one. I really didn't see what was so funny, she said, "Relax, cuz. Follow me."
I watch with awe as Chaya cuts to the front of the line like it was no big deal. Faizah followed right behind her and I rushed after them. As I walked behind the two girls, I could not help but admire the way they walked with so much confidence and pride. I couldn't do that, especially with all the disapproving looks that I was receiving from the people that had probably been standing here for hours just to get in.
I couldn't sway my hips or walk majestically in heels the way they did; my shoulders weren't set straight, and I didn't hold my head up the way they did. I wasn't them; I didn't belong here. I really wish I hadn't come out tonight.
But little did I know that the night was just about to get worse.
We got to the front of the line, and I watched with wonder as Chaya hugged one of the bouncers. "Hi, Max." Chaya said as they pulled away.
"Hey, princess. The boss has been calling nonstop; he keeps asking whether or not you've arrived," the Mike guy said, and I had to shake off the fact that an unknown grown man just called my cousin Princess.
"Well, your royal highness is here to spice up the party," Chaya said happily, and the guard's deep blue eyes slid over to my violet ones.
He tilted his chin towards me before asking, "Is she with you?"
"Yeah!" Chaya answered before coming over to me and swinging an arm over my shoulder. I was at least two inches taller than her, so I had to bend my back a bit as she pressed our cheeks together. "She's my cousin, but some people call us twins."
Mike slid his eyes between Chaya and I, and it was obvious he wouldn't even classify us as friends, much less as family. See, Chaya was more of a wild extrovert, and I was more of a timid introvert.
Two complete opposites.
"That's nice," was all the bouncer could say before stepping aside for us to walk in. As I walked past him, I didn't miss the look Mike shot at me, a look that indicated that I do not belong here.
I was stepping into a world I knew nothing about.
The music was deafening but addictive. The bass could be felt in my heart as I walked deeper into the club, the stench of sweat, alcohol and something I couldn't describe infiltrated my nose. People occasionally threw a few nice remarks at Chaya's outfit and even Faizah's. I, on the other hand, got questioning stares. Despite my towering height (I was 5'10, actually), I looked like a lost child among them.
We came upon a separate part of the club; above it was written VIP, and as I stepped in, I immediately wanted to run. And when I say run, I don't mean run out of the VIP section or the club; I wanted to run back to Chaya's home or even my home. But the latter was obviously not an option.
The place was littered with naked strippers. They were either dancing on poles or making out with the customers.
"Baby!"
My eyes snapped away from the horrific sight to focus on my cousin as she ran towards the guy she referred to as "Baby."
And this man was anything but a baby.
Despite the distance between myself and him, I had to crane my neck backwards to get a look at his face; he was at least 6'3 with thin dark hair. His hair was actually very full and curly, and paired with his Zayn Malik haircut, it was almost hard to look away.
He wrapped his muscular arms around Chaya, and I didn't know I had been staring until "Baby's" green eyes fell on me. "Who's this?" Baby asked Chaya as they pulled away; their hands remained intertwined.
"This is my cousin, Nyx." Chaya said, gesturing towards me, "Nyx, this is my boyfriend, Samuel."
"Hello," I waved awkwardly, and I could see the amusement sparkle within his forest-like eyes.
He didn't return my greeting, instead he wrapped an arm around Chaya's waist and led her towards a booth. Faizah was already sitting on it with some other guy.
Luckily, there was still some room for me, so I took the liberty of sitting with them. I could feel the guy with Faizah staring at me, but I didn't bother returning his gaze. Rather, I focused my eyes on my exposed thighs and began to draw small circles on them.
I didn't know how long I stayed like that. At some point, I heard Faizah say, "Let's dance, you dipshits!"
I could hear them cheer and get off the booth. A part of me expected Chaya to invite me to dance, but something told me she had already forgotten I was here.
I didn't know what made me think I was the only one left at the table, but when I heard an unfamiliar voice, I guess I was somewhat shocked. But his words shocked me more.
"You don't want to be here, do you?"
I looked up to find the guy Faizah was with staring right at me.
My lungs seemed to have stopped working because I suddenly couldn't breathe. Despite the dim lighting in the club, his hair was the brightest shade of blonde I had ever seen. His amber eyes were striking at the same time intimidating, it pinned me to the spot and brought my heart to a stop.
I swear I wanted to answer him, but my vocal chords seemed to have stopped working. His gaze did not waver when he said, "The name is Jedidiah."
"Wow."
"Wow?" He asked with a hike of his brow; the action only made him appear ten times hotter. Yes, he was hot. I'm not going to deceive myself and say he wasn't.
"I-I mean, I have never heard that name before." Why was I stuttering?
Oh, God.
His hotness levels rose as he stretched his lips a bit to form a little smirk, his dimples popping out of his cheeks. Damn, this man was a masterpiece.
"You don't read the Bible, do you?"
Wait, What?
Are we seriously talking about reading the Bible in a place like this?
"Huh?" I probably sounded as dumb as I looked, but it wasn't my fault.
I couldn't take my gaze away from his Adam's apple as it bobbed up and down as he poured a bottle of whiskey into a glass. I had this weird urge to lick it.
"The name is in the Bible. It was actually the name of King Solomon in some versions," he said casually before sinking into his seat and staring at me.
Why does he keep doing that?
"I don't read the Bible," I said lightly, looking at my hands on the table. There was some white powder littered all over it, and I didn't need to be told what it was.
After a moment of silence, I looked up to find Jedidiah smiling brightly at me.
It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
"Sinner," he teased, and I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks. "So, what's this sinner's name?"
"Nyx."
"Ah, the Goddess of night." Jedidiah said with a click of his tongue, and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. His hand went to his pocket, and he took out a bunch of cards. "Wanna play?"
I tilted my head to the side and stared at him with both awe and wonder. "Who plays cards at a strip club?"
There was something about his smile, the way he looked at me from behind his incredibly long lashes, and the way he slid his tongue over his bottom lip that was dangerous.
I know I should be scared, but I was thrilled.
"Me."