For Beth or Worse

Chapter Three

It was almost 2 a.m., and the movie had ended. I needed to find Monique so that we could go home. Jared offered to assist me. However, I declined his offer, as he had already been very kind and generous to me, and it felt like asking for more would be too much.

The crowd had got larger now, and it seemed to be dominated by a younger demographic. Some of these girls looked underage, and their outfits were almost nonexistent. Was their clothes manufacturer trying to save on fabric? I can never understand fashion these days.

I need to find Monique. Now. The air in the club was too musky for my liking, and I just needed to be in my apartment with a warm cup of tea.

I checked the bar and the female bathroom, but Monique wasn't there. I tried the rooms at the end of the hallway but had no luck. I scanned the dancefloor one more time, and that's when I saw Jared watching me with a smile on his face.

"Still don't need my help?"

"I'm just going to step outside and get some fresh air. I'll wait for her there. She has to leave, right? Or the owner of the club would throw her out."

Jared gestured for me to lead the way, and I exited the club with him in tow. The outdoor air felt like a splash of water on my hot face. I have never spent such a long time in a club before.

"Have you tried calling her?"

I snickered. "The music is so loud in there. I can't just shout out her name. How would she hear me?"

"I meant calling her phone," Jared said softly.

Oh. My. God.

How dumb can I be?

I pulled out my phone from my purse, and as I was about to dial her number, I noticed I had a text from her.

Girl. I think I'm going to spend the night with this rich guy I'm about to hook up with.  When you're ready to leave, just get an Uber. I owe you one.- Momo.

Great. If I had checked my phone earlier, I could have gone home already. So much for a night of having fun and letting loose.

I let out a deep sigh. "Monique left the club already. I'll have to get an Uber home."

Jared pursed his lips. "Yikes! I guess she found a guy, huh? Wait here. Don't call that Uber just yet."

Jared ran back into the club, and I sat on the curb and waited for him. What was I even thinking about coming to a club? This is not my idea of having fun. I hate socializing. Well, maybe that's why I'm still single.

Honk! Honk!

I didn't even realize the person in the car was honking at me. Probably someone wondering what I was doing on the curb.

"Beth, hop in." It was Jared.

Hmm... he drove a nice car. Though I don't know much about cars, this one did look expensive. I got into the front and buckled up. I gave Jared my address, and he drove off.

Beth. What are you even thinking? You just gave a stranger your address. What if he turns out to be a stalker?

We drove in comfortable silence before Jared spoke.

"So what's the story? Was there a breakup, or are you trying to make someone jealous?"

"My younger sister found the love of her life and is about to get married, and I hate it." I blurted.

"Hmmm..."

I waited for him to continue, but he didn't. He must be thinking that I'm a weirdo. I mean, who hates that their own sister is getting married?

Jared parked outside my apartment, and I unbuckled my seatbelt. The night was over, and I had achieved nothing.

"Beth, I think you are scared to get your heart broken. You're scared that once you open your heart to someone, they will take advantage of you."

I sat in silence, so he continued. "Here's my suggestion. Why don't you create an alternative version of yourself? The version that is not scared of all the things you're scared of. You can even give her a name. If you are introverted, then she would be extroverted. Understand?"

I nodded. That seemed like an interesting idea. I was already thinking of a name for this personality.

"Thanks, Jared. I might just take your advice."

"You should. You will thank me later."

He leaned over, held my cheek, and gave me a deep, sensual kiss. The butterflies in my stomach went wild. Somehow, I knew it wasn't a romantic kiss, but I wanted to live in that moment.

"It was nice meeting you, Beth. Take care of yourself."

I got out of the car and waved goodbye as he drove away. Maybe the night wasn't a failure after all. I walked up to my apartment. I was in dire need of a shower before I rolled into bed. I needed to wash all the club sweat from my body.

What Jared said to me kept replaying in my mind. Am I scared to get my heart broken? Am I afraid of love?

Maybe I will create that alternate personality. I will do it tonight. I hastily got out of the shower, got dressed, and took up my laptop. It's time to become a different person.

I opened Match.com and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. I selected that I was a female seeking to make a romantic connection with a male.

What is your name?

I stared at the question. Should I use my real name? What would be a sexy name that men would want their girlfriends named?

Allegra.

I typed in the name, and it looked perfect. It even sounded sexy. I continued creating my profile, and then it asked for a picture. I haven't taken a selfie in a long while. I took about twenty pictures, but they all looked bland. I sighed and went for my push-up bra, and that was the perfect picture. I looked so seductive I was that even turning myself on.

Now I wait for my prince charming to find me. I closed my laptop and went to sleep with a smile on my face. The night wasn't all that bad.  I felt like I would do it again. Jared was great, Monique left me on my own, but that was understandable. And I feel like I'm getting out of the shell I've built around myself. Allegra was my ticket out of singleness.