"Okay, so what's the deal with you and your ex?" Jen asked as she propped herself against the counter, her eyes sparkling with nosy curiosity.
I paused mid-wipe, my cloth hovering over a coffee-stained table. "What do you mean, 'what's the deal'? He's my ex. That's the deal."
Jen raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Girl, I know there's tea. Spill it. Was he a secret agent? Did he double-cross you? Is there a car chase involved?"
"Jen, what kind of movies are you watching?" I asked, rolling my eyes.
"The good ones," she said, smirking. "Now, back to you and this mysterious man of mystery."
I sighed, flopping into a chair. "It's not that exciting. His name's Daren. We were together for a while. He didn't like me going out or being... well, me. So, I stopped going out and stopped being me."
Jen stared at me, her jaw practically hitting the floor. "You? The girl who mutters sarcastic commentary under her breath all day? You let some dude dim your light? Are you secretly a rom-com protagonist, and I just missed the montage of you crying in the rain?"
I laughed despite myself. "Something like that."
Jen smacked the table. "That's it. Tonight, you're going out. You're putting on heels, a killer dress, and rediscovering Aris. We're doing this."
"What? No way. I don't do clubs."
"You do tonight," Jen said with a dramatic flair, pointing a finger at me. "This is your phoenix moment. You're rising from the ashes of heartbreak—glittery, confident, and in four-inch stilettos."
I snorted. "I'll rise, all right. Right into the ER with a twisted ankle."
---
Hours Later
Standing in front of the mirror, I stared at myself. "Are we sure this is me?" I asked Jen, who was rummaging through her bag for earrings.
Jen glanced up and grinned. "Oh, it's you. The real you. Look at you! That hair? Gorgeous. That dress? Killer. Those heels? They'll break hearts."
"And my neck if I fall," I muttered, wobbling slightly as I adjusted the strappy black shoes.
My curls were loose and wild, framing my face in a way I hadn't let them in years. The sleek black dress hugged me in all the right places without being too much. For once, I felt... good.
"You're a knockout," Jen said, putting her hands on her hips. "Now let's go knock some sense into the world."
---
"Wow, who's that stranger that just walked out of my daughter's room?" my mom said, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
"It's just Jen," I said, rolling my eyes.
"We both know I didn't mean Jen," she shot back, smirking. "She's practically my second daughter at this point. The neighbors are starting to ask if I had another kid I forgot to mention."
Jen leaned against the doorframe, grinning. "Well, if I'm the long-lost daughter, can I call you Mom?"
"Only if you take out the trash," Mom quipped, pointing toward the kitchen.
"Noted," Jen replied, laughing.
"Now, where are you two pretty ladies off to tonight?" my mom asked, giving us an appraising look.
"The club!" Jen answered before I could open my mouth, striking a dramatic pose.
My mom's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Ah, the club. That's how you came into the world, Aris—thank your mom's good looks and a night out."
"Moooom!" I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.
"What? I'm just saying!" she said with a laugh, throwing up her hands.
Jen doubled over, laughing. "Oh, I love you, Mrs. Joseph."
"Someone has to," I muttered under my breath, still mortified.
"Well, you girls have fun, but stay safe, okay?" my mom said, pulling me in for a quick hug. "And remember, if anything goes south, Mama Bear will be there in a heartbeat."
"Thanks, Mom," I mumbled, feeling a mix of embarrassment and affection.
"Now go," she said, shooing us toward the door. "And make sure Jen behaves herself. I can't have my long-lost daughter causing a scandal in the neighborhood."
"Bring me back some good gossip!" she called as we headed out the door.
---
The club was loud. The music thumped so hard I could feel it in my teeth, and the crowd was a blur of neon lights and sweaty bodies.
"This is insane," I yelled over the music as Jen dragged me to the bar.
"This is living!" she yelled back, tossing her hair like a rockstar.
At the bar, Jen introduced me to her friends, a lively group who immediately made me feel welcome. They peppered me with questions, complimented my hair, and promised to teach me all the "cool dance moves."
"So, Aris," one of Jen's friends, a tall, dark, and handsome man said, leaning in with a grin. "First time clubbing?"
"How can you tell?" I asked, gripping my drink like it was a lifeline.
"You're not hiding it very well," he said with a laugh. "I'm Nate, by the way."
"Aris," I said, shaking his hand awkwardly.
Nate smiled. "Well, Aris, let me know if you want a tour of the dance floor."
"She will!" Jen called, giving me a shove. "Nate, get her out there. Teach her the ways!"
---
Nate's "cool moves" were anything but. At one point, he attempted what he called the "invisible lasso," which looked like he was roping in imaginary cattle.
I tried to copy him and ended up spinning in the wrong direction, nearly smacking someone in the face.
"Am I doing it right?" I asked, laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
"Not even close," Nate said, doubling over with laughter. "But I love the effort!"
By the time Jen joined us, my self-consciousness had evaporated, replaced with pure, unfiltered fun.
"You're a natural!" Jen teased, throwing her arm around my shoulder. "Who knew Aris had these moves?"
"She doesn't," I said, grinning.
---
Back at the Bar
"Okay, but seriously," Jen said, sipping her drink. "What about Mr. Grumpy Pants? You've been holding out on me."
I groaned. "What about him?"
"Oh, nothing," Jen said with mock innocence. "Just saying, the way he growled when you handed him coffee last week? Romance novel levels of longing. The kind that ends with 'and they lived happily ever after.'"
"Jen, he tipped me fifty cents."
"Exactly! He's playing hard to get."
---
As the night unfolded, I realized I was more at ease than I had been in months. I danced with strangers, and for the first time, it felt like my past didn't define me.
"This has to be Jen's best idea yet," I admitted to Nate, leaning against the bar to catch my breath.
"She's got a knack for those," he replied smugly. "And trust me, the night's far from over."
Just as I was about to retort, I felt it—a tap on my shoulder.
I froze.
Slowly, I turned around.