Breaking point

Cinderella

The bouncer at the club gave me a once over with a suspicious stare, but let us pass as Danny showed his ID.

"Just follow me." Danny said, pulling me by the hand through the crowd.

We mixed in with the crowd, dancing like idiots to the booming music as people milled and danced around us.

It was definitely bringing the thrill factor!

The club was loud, flashy, crowded, and definitely a good picture of the edgier side of the night life.

"Having fun?" Danny asked as we continued dancing in the midst of the crowd, probably half of the people around us were drunk.

"Yeah!" I yelled so that he could here, "it's fun doing illegal stuff."

Had I really just said that?! My good girl side screamed at me, illegal is fun? What's wrong with me?! The good girl rule follower in me was screaming and flipping out as if the other part of me had gone insane.

He smiled, "I love your sense of adventure!"

I grinned, as he spun me to his chest and back out again.

"Clubs are so fun!" I yelled over the blasting music.

Danny nodded in agreement as we kept dancing to the fast beat.

As much fun as I was having, a war was raging inside my brain.

The good girl side freaked out and ranted, this isn't safe! He might be a rapist! It's illegal too, in more ways then one! What if you get caught? Dad would be so disappointed! You might get lost on the way home! You barely know Danny!

But the part of me that wanted something more thrived and was loving this, this is how to cure boredom! Thrill factor to the max! How amazing is this? First date, sneak out, lying and a club! Can't get much better then this! Life on the edge! Hell yeah!

I tried to ignore my inner conflict and just have fun. But something just kept nagging at me. It just felt like something was wrong, that I didn't have all the details. I felt like Danny wanted something he wasn't telling me...

Maybe it was just my good girl side, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't as amazing as it felt. The rule follower in me prompted me to check the time, I gave in.

Though my eyes widened and alarm bells sounded in my mind when I read the time. it couldn't be! I hadn't been out that long! It can't be midnight already!

I reread it over and over just to be sure it really said 12:00 AM. It did! I'd lost track of time and my good girl side was dying a slow painful death as guilt took over. My dad must be so worried.

I glanced at Danny, seeing that he was checking out a girl near us, I took the opportunity to run.

Running all the way back to my neighborhood, a full 20 minutes before I slowed to an out of breath walk.

I can't believe I did that, I thought, all of it.

I walked slowly down the street, hoping my dad wouldn't be upset.

My mixed up emotions weren't helping either, I was scared but happy, guilty yet I knew I wouldn't change a thing if I could've. Mostly I was conflicted.

After walking down the street for a while, my house came into view in the distance. As I got closer I spotted something glistening as moon light bounced off it. It appeared to be suspended in mid air.

Curiously, I walked faster toward it trying to make out exactly what I was watching.

Once I was close enough the shiny object was easily distinguished as a bottle that was not floating, but rather being held by none other than Cole.

Once I'd reached him, I sat down a foot or so away figuring that it was already past midnight and a few more minutes couldn't hurt.

"Hey." I said as he glanced at me.

Cole stared out at the empty street as I tried again to figure out his problem.

"What happened?" I asked, pointing toward the bottle.

He looked at me silently for a few seconds before looking back at the road.

"What happened?" I repeated, hoping to get an answer.

Cole looked back at me, giving me a skeptical look before simply stating, "I don't want to talk."

I nodded, not sure how to proceed, so I didn't. I just sat there.

Neither of us spoke, I watched his face looking for clues and sometimes looking up toward the stars. Cole stared blankly at the road, every once in awhile glancing back at me.

"You sure you don't want to talk?" I asked one last time as I was about to get up.

He nodded but oddly held the bottle out toward me, "you look like you could use some."

I pushed it away, "I'm just at war with myself."

Cole gave an understanding nod as he took another swig from the bottle, "me to."

Confused, tired, guilty and conflicted, I got up and went back into my house. My dad had left a note on the counter.

Hey molly, hope your project went well, I would've stayed up to wait for you but I have a morning shift tomorrow, love you and goodnight. ~dad.

I smiled, though the smile was guilt ridden, he trusted me so much and I'd lied to him. But I had to weigh what was worth more... being perfect or having fun?