𝘉𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 #1

1. First Meeting

Radioactive – Imagine Dragons

Birmingham, England. Six years before

I let myself be carried away by the surround sound from the club's speakers and closed my eyes as I moved my body to the rhythm of the music; in my right hand, I held a beer bottle, having already had a couple of martinis and a piña colada. I needed something more classic, after all. I felt my skin burning from the ambient heat and a thin layer of sweat on me, but I was releasing all the accumulated stress from the workweek that had finally ended. I had decided to come alone to this place because I needed time for myself, despite knowing I could be an easy target for any idiot who wanted to take advantage of the situation.

For that same reason, I tried to make my outfit not too eye-catching: my gray jeans, although fitted, were obscured by a loose-fitting black hoodie with a hood that allowed me to move more freely without worrying about any part of my body slipping out of place. It gave me a certain freedom. My dark brown hair reached my shoulders in a straight cut, exposing part of my neck skin to prevent overheating, and strangely, it made me feel more secure because today I just wanted to enjoy the peace that I gave myself, even in a place like this. I didn't draw attention to anyone. I just needed to vibrate to the sound of the music.

That's when the rhythm changed to a slower one, and the movement of the multicolored lights coming from the ceiling slowed down, making everything more intimate. It was my cue to stop and move towards the bar, sipping my beer. I pulled out my phone from my pants pocket and leaned on the wooden counter, checking a couple of messages Mom had sent, asking me to check in sometime during the night. I chuckled, shaking my head, and quickly replied before putting the phone aside and taking another sip.

The slow music continued to play, and I turned to watch people on the dance floor – perhaps couples or one-night stands, nobody really knew – dancing, their bodies touching, becoming one. Sometimes I enjoyed watching those people, not out of curiosity, but because my mind invented stories for each of them, wondering what brought them here: maybe a broken heart, to shake off a frustrating week like me, just to hook up with someone and end up having sex somewhere, or simply have fun with friends.

I liked trying to understand people's nature, and music usually helped me a lot in moments like these. Plus, it seemed like I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, which was an advantage, but I was more observant than others thought. Or imagined.

"I think this is yours," a guy said to my right, speaking with a strong English accent. I felt slightly dazed, as if I hadn't heard him clearly, but I noticed he held out my phone in his hand. I raised an eyebrow, puzzled, but maybe I had absentmindedly dropped it off the bar without realizing. Well, maybe I really wasn't paying attention... sometimes, at least.

I took the phone, nodding and smiling, and decided to put it back in my pocket before losing it altogether.

Thanks." I leaned in closer to him to speak over the noise, giving him a more intuitive glance. I was usually good at reading people because I was observant of details others overlooked. Up close, I noticed he had several freckles on his face, an attractive smile, and his dark brown hair was styled back, revealing his undercut on both sides. He wore fitted blue jeans that tapered at the end of his legs, accentuating their shape. Did he work out, perhaps? His black T-shirt contrasted with the rest of his clothing and even his own skin, making his intense green eyes stand out. The constantly changing lights seemed to make them lean toward blue. I lost focus on my silent analysis when I found myself trapped in his gaze, as if I was about to fall into a whirlpool.