Arianna sat on her couch, a blanket wrapped tightly around her, as she stared through the city; the moonlight outside drifted into her apartment. The silence felt deafening, as if her own heart was still reeling from the last few hours. It had only been a few hours since the betrayal, but it felt like a lifetime.
The engagement ring that once sealed a promise of forever, which also gave her hope for love, now sat outside the window, hidden away, as though it no longer belonged to her. Her world had been torn apart; just by a day, it all crumbled into pieces, and she wasn't sure how to start putting it back together again, and she doesn't care at the moment; all that she needs is to forget about all that had happened.
Her phone buzzed the second time on the couch, breaking her thoughts. It was Kate, her best friend. She picked up the phone on the second ring, forcing a smile on her face, even though Kate couldn't see it. "Hey, Kate," Arianna said, her voice sounding more distant than she intended. "Arianna! You've been avoiding my calls today. What's going on? You okay?" Kate's voice was filled with concern, and Arianna felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn't realized how much she'd been isolating herself until now. "I'm fine," Arianna lied, the words slipping out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Just... figuring things out. "Don't tell me that crap, girl. You know I can hear it in your voice. Did that boy Mason do something to you? I need the details."
Kate was always direct, and it was one of the things Arianna loved about her. Arianna sighed, rubbing her temples as if she could erase the painful memories. "I walked in on him and Ivy. In bed. Together. "There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end. Then Kate spoke, her voice softer now. "Oh, Arianna. That's... That's horrible. I don't even know what to say. ""You don't have to say anything. I just-" Arianna stopped herself before the tears could start. She'd cried enough already. "I don't know what to do anymore, Kate''. "I think I know exactly what you need," Kate said, her tone shifting from sympathetic to determined.
"You need to get out of that apartment, away from all this mess. We're going out tonight. I'm picking you up in an hour. No arguments."Arianna opened her mouth to protest, but Kate cut her off. "No, Arianna. You've confined yourself long enough. You need some fun, a distraction, and I'm here to make that happen.
"Arianna closed her eyes, sinking deeper into the couch. She had no energy for anything, but Kate was right. She couldn't stay locked away forever. "Fine," she said softly. "But just for a little while! Because I need a distraction at the moment, besides it's been a while since we did this, so I'm in. "Perfect. We'll take it slow. Get dressed, and I'll see you soon." Kate's tone was firm, and Arianna couldn't help but put on a little smile on her face. An hour later, Arianna found herself standing in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection that still felt like a stranger. She'd changed out of the oversized sweater she had been wearing , opting for a little black dress that had once made her feel confident and alive. She hadn't worn it in months, but tonight felt like an occasion to dress up-just for herself.
Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she applied a touch of makeup, something she hadn't bothered with in days. It wasn't for anyone else. It was for her. She needed to feel like she could control something in her life, even if it was just how she looked. Kate arrived right on time, knocking at her door with an energy that Arianna couldn't match. "Ready for a night out?" she asked, her smile wide and infectious. Arianna nodded, her heart still heavy, but the anticipation of the night ahead stirred something within her. It wasn't a solution to her problems, but maybe, just maybe, it would be a temporary escape.
The club was alive with energy, a stark contrast to the emptiness Arianna had felt inside her today. The music thumped in her chest, and the lights flashed around her, pulling her into a world where her past seemed distant and irrelevant. She was here to forget, if even for a few hours .Kate led her through the crowd to the bar, ordering two drinks before Arianna could even say a word.
The first sip of whiskey burned her throat, but the warmth spread through her, loosening the tension in her shoulders. The noise, the people, the flashing lights-it was all so overwhelming and yet exactly what she needed .Kate passed her a mischievous grin as she leaned in close. "Alright, we're going to have fun tonight. No thinking about Mason or Ivy. Just us."Arianna chuckled, taking another sip of her drink. "I don't know if I can do that. ""You can," Kate said, her voice teasing. "We'll find someone to distract you
."Before Arianna could respond, a man at the bar caught her attention. He was tall, dressed in a well-fitted suit that somehow made him look both out of place and perfectly at home in the club. His dark hair was styled neatly, and his piercing gaze was fixed on her. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Arianna felt a jolt of something she hadn't felt in a long time-desire. Kate noticed the look, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "Go talk to him," she whispered, nudging Arianna forward. Arianna hesitated, but the warmth from the whiskey was beginning to take hold.
She walked towards the bar, her steps slow but purposeful. The man didn't look away as she approached, and she couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement."Hi," she said, her voice slightly more confident than she felt."Hi," he replied, his voice smooth, with a hint of curiosity. "I don't think I've seen you around here before."Arianna shrugged, offering a half-smile. "I'm not usually a club person. My friend dragged me here.""Lucky for me," he said with a grin, leaning in just slightly. "Because I think I've been looking for a distraction all night."Arianna raised an eyebrow, feeling a playful spark in her chest.
"A distraction? What kind of distraction? "The kind you don't want to think too hard about," he said, his eyes darkening slightly, but there was no pressure, no expectation. Just an unspoken understanding between them. Arianna felt her heart race as she smiled again, the moment almost too easy, too natural.
For the first time in days, she felt a sense of freedom. As the night went on, Arianna couldn't shake the feeling of what happened out of her mind, even in this kind of situation. The music played slowly around her, making her forget about what happened earlier, and the drinks continued to flow; she couldn't help but be pulled into the moment, one step closer to forgetting everything