ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ꨄ

twenty three

Alice Jones

My first time going out in New York. Luna and me decided to go to a club. Nora and Stacy will join us, Stacy is visiting from Boston.

I haven't been out in a long time. It's been six months since I came here, college is going well, everything's going pretty well. My new life is going well.

I gently slip into my baby blue silk dress, the soft material laying comfortable against my skin. I'm a bit nervous. It's my first time going out with my new friends.

It feels like the guilt is eating me away some day. The way I left Cassie and the others behind.
I quickly blink my tears away and apply mascara. This is not the time to cry. I'm supposed to have fun, right?

"You done?" Luna eyes me up and down, a smile ghosting over her lips. She smiles, "you look good, let's go." I quickly slip my heels on and follow behind her, shrugging my coat on as we leave the dorm.

"Oh you guys look gorgeous!" Stacy greets us, pulling me into a tight hug. "I haven't seen you in a while, Alice. Nice to see you again." I return the soft smile she's giving me. "It's really good to see you again too."

We all make our way inside, it's already pretty crowded, everyone having fun. We're standing in a more quiet corner, I nod my head to the music, singing silently along to the lyrics.

"Sorry I'm late, guys." Nora walks in, her hair put up, some of the strands falling out of her bun because her hair is too short, she tucks the strands behind her ear.

"It's okay, you're here now." Stacy smiles, pushing a drink into her hand and into Luna's and mine as well.
We're all dancing a little, moving to the music.

My life here is so different to the one I had in Boston. "Can't believe we're actually going to the same college now." Nora says to me, a weak smile on her lips.

"Right? We talked about it at that party months ago and now we're here at the same college." I smile, my eyes traveling up and down her body. She's really pretty, a little skinny but I love her hair, her eyes, her smile, she's so pretty.

We all talk a bit more until Stacy pulls Nora with her, mumbling something about the restroom, now it's only me and my roommate.

"How's it going with your boyfriend?" I ask, grinning. "He's not my boyfriend!" Her cheeks turn slightly red and I have to stiffle a chuckle. "I think you guys would look perfect together. You should really give it a try, Luna."

She shakes her head. "I don't think I'm his type. I'm the complete opposite of him..." I chuckle, "So what? He gave you a kiss before he left. In front of me!!" She groans, taking a big gulp of her drink.

"That doesn't mean anything!" I roll my eyes at her stubbornness. "You're unbelievable." She suddenly snaps at me. "You have no right to talk, you don't know anything about dating, boys or relationships." I freeze, trying to hide the hurt look on my face.

She's right, I don't know anything, I never had a boyfriend, I've never dated. "I'm sorry, Alice. I didn't mean to-" I shake my head. "It's okay, I mean, you're right." I try to smile but her words are still echoing in my ear.

It hurts. It's the truth but it hurts. "It's just... A very sensitive topic for me, you know? Me and that guy..." I just nod, staring at the floor. "Listen, Alice. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. God, I'm sorry." She pulls me into a hug.

I wish I could say I have a boyfriend, I know what I'm talking about but... I don't know. "I mean... You kinda had something with Adam so-" I pull away from her hug.

"I never had something with Adam. How many times do I have to repeat myself? He and I never were a thing." I don't want to talk about him, why does she keep thinking I have something going on with him.

"Oh, yeah, right. Sorry, I forgot." She apologizes again, her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. "I'll quickly get some fresh air." I smile, heading out of the club, leaning again the cold wall, sighing.

"You alone?" The guy next to me asks, exhaling the smoke into the cold night air. "Yeah, why?" He shrugs, taking another drag from his cigarette.
"You're pretty." His deep voice says.

"Uh, thanks." He looks at me, his dark eyes scanning my body, landing on my breasts, a smirk and then his eyes move up to my face.

"You single?" He asks, blowing his disgusting smoke directly into my face, causing me to stiffle a cough.
I nod, chills running up my back as he steps closer.

"A pretty thing like you is single?" His tongue wettens his lips, he takes another step closer to me, throwing his cigarette onto the floor and twisting it out with the heel of his shoe.

"Hard to believe to be honest." His eyes land on my breasts once again, he was practically drooling over me. It made me feel kind of uncomfortable. His big hands suddenly slide around my waist, holding me in place and pinning me against the cold wall.

The cold stone digging into my back. "You're hot." He whispers into my ear, I feel like I'm going to throw up, he smells like sweat, his hair greasy and his breath smelling like cigarettes.

"Please don't come that near to me." I beg but he ignores me, grinding against me, I feel like I'm about to throw up. "I said go away!" I try to push him away but his grip on me is too tight.

I want to cry, this has never happened to me before. "How about you and me to go my apartment and have some fun, hm? What do you think?" His grip around my waist tightening, I whine.

"Hey, dude. That young lady doesn't want to fuck your stinky ass. Don't you understand?" I hear another voice, the man's grip finally loosens. He looks at me one more time before returning inside.

I sigh, fixing my hair. "Thanks." I mumble, my cheeks a little flushed. "Anytime, gorgeous." My head snaps up, I'm met with a biker, he flips his visor open, those green eyes, soo familiar. "Tyler..." I breathe out, my breath hitching in my throat.

"Did he hurt you?" He softly asks, taking off his helmet. I shake my head, unable to speak. "You look really good." His eyes are filled with pain, mine were too. "What are you doing here?" I ask, not getting anything else out.

"I'm here for you." My heart skips a beat, I missed him, I definitely did. "I'm here to explain, but not here. Let me take you to your dorm." He offers, handing me the helmet I always wear when riding with him.

"You're not wearing any gear and me neither." He nods, "I know, it's risky, I'll be careful, do you trust me?" I think for a second, nodding. I put on the helmet, Tyler comes dangerously close and helps me secure the helmet, slapping down my visor.

"You're good to go, gorgeous." He sits down, helping me up. My arms immediately wrap around his waist, his body warmth making me feel so safe.
I gently press into his back as we drive off, our speed is quick as we're driving down the street and he doesn't stop, he keeps speeding up. I thought he wanted to drive safe.

I'm not complaining tho, I like this, the adrenaline rushing through me right now, mixing with the alcohol I drank. I giggle as we speed down the road, Tyler's hand gently caressing my thigh as we stop by a red light.

"Wanna see something cool?" He asks, I nod. We act like nothing ever happened. Like we were always this close. "You never saw this baby speed up." He says and as soon as the light goes green the engine roars, I get pressed into his back as we speed up.

And then suddenly it all happens so fast, a car from the left, crash...
I can feel us falling, Tyler's large frame shielding mine as we land on the ground, I hear him gasping out in pain, I don't know if I can feel anything right now.

I see the lights, I hear Tyler's painful breathing, I can't move, my eyes close and everything goes completely black.