Convinced by her best friend Jade, Isabella Cameron ends up in a situation that she thought she'd never find herself in. She gets dressed up and dragged to what is supposed to be a fancy night club, but little does she know she's walked in a den ful...
Regret courses through my body almost as sharply as the cold air biting at my pale, ice-cold skin.
I should've dressed warmer. The walk to campus isn't far, but it's definitely not close, and honestly... I should've thought this through.
A sharp gust of wind slams into me. I tighten my cardigan around myself and quicken my steps.
Life in New York is nothing like home. Back in Arizona, the heat was blistering—sometimes unbearable—but at least it was familiar. Here, I'm always freezing. Why I ever thought moving across the country was a good idea, I don't know. I push that thought away as I approach the building and slip into my last class of the day.
I rush inside, find a seat, and unpack my notebook. English Literature. The class I secretly look forward to the most. And maybe—just maybe—because I have a crush on my professor. He's one of the sweetest people I've ever met. He just gives off the energy of someone who's never done a single thing wrong in his entire life.
Because I'm the first one in, he looks up and offers me a warm smile and a small wave. And like the socially awkward idiot I am, I look down immediately, too shy to properly return the gesture.
My face burns—bright red, I'm sure—when the chair beside me scrapes back. Jade, my loving and chaotic best friend, plops into the seat.
"Hey, B," she says cheerfully.
"B" is the nickname she gave me. Isabella became Bella, and Bella became B. No one besides my parents ever cared enough to give me a nickname, so over time, I grew to love it.
I keep my gaze down as I greet her. "Hi, Jade."
"Aww, are you blushing over our sexy professor again?" she coos, teasing me mercilessly.
I groan. Of course she noticed. She always notices.
Before I can defend myself, a phone starts ringing loudly. Startled, I pat down my pockets, praying it isn't mine—but to everyone's relief, it's the professor's.
"Excuse me," he says, stepping into the hallway.
Minutes later, he returns and informs us that class is canceled due to an emergency. I pack my things and head toward the door when I hear Jade shouting my name.
"Hey!" She jogs after me. "Do you want to go clubbing with me tonight?"
I sigh. Jade doesn't ask questions she expects a real answer to. She already knows my answer—and it doesn't matter.
This is going to be a long, long evening.
⸻
After we make it back to the off-campus apartment we've shared for the past two years, I decide to shower and rest before Jade inevitably drags me out. Our bathroom is tiny—just a sink, a toilet, and a shower—but at least it isn't a communal one.
I lather myself in body wash, scrub my skin thoroughly, wash my hair, and let the hot water thaw out my frozen body. After rinsing off, I wrap myself in my robe and head back to my room.
It's only 6:00. I was hoping to squeeze in a nap before being hauled off to God knows where, but I guess not. If it takes an hour to get wherever we're going, I need to start getting ready now. I blow-dry my hair, fluff it out, then stare into my closet.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing appropriate for clubbing. I own sweatpants, leggings, jeans, and an army of cardigans. Not a single "night out" outfit in sight.
Sighing, I grab black jeans and a red shirt—my best attempt—and head to Jade's room.
I knock first. "Jade, is this—"
I stop mid-sentence. She's holding two sparkly dresses. My jeans and shirt don't stand a chance.
"Jade," I ask slowly, "where exactly are we going?"
"There's this exclusive nightclub for super powerful, super famous people," she says proudly, "and I scored us two passes."
"Jade..." I stare at her. "I don't think I'm... fit for a place that requires passes."
"Nonsense." She pats the chair at her vanity. "Sit. I've got it handled."
What have I gotten myself into?
An hour later—after being plucked, powdered, and transformed—she hands me a tiny black dress and heels I'll probably break my neck in. I pack the essentials into the smallest handbag known to mankind and stare at my reflection.
"This... isn't me," I whisper. "I'm not this pretty."
"Yes, you are, B." Jade squeezes my shoulders. "I just highlighted what you already have."
Before I can protest, she grabs my arm. "Come on! We can't be late."
And just like that, I'm being dragged toward the door.
Let the night begin
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