A single bullet // M.C ✔️

14

Loud bass swallowed and chewed me up as flashing lights strobed around me. Crimson liquid stained my lips as I took a small sip of my drink, letting my eyes scan the room. Since the seven roses, I've been on edge, just waiting for someone new to be nearby, to be watching. Calum's disappeared off the face of the earth, ignoring my multiple messages sent to his phone, demanding he speak to me now and that he'd been found out. Who knew the grandson of the sweet café owner was such a psycho? Now all those times of me calling him a creep make perfect sense.

Kensie was next to me, casually sipping her own drink, leaning against the bar. This wasn't her scene, but she still came, so I actually got out of the house. It had become my prison since they came into my possession.

Not a single word passed between our lips; not like we could hear anyway, as we just stood in silence, watching as girls danced away and grinded on too drunk of men who didn't register what was happening. Not that they would mind.

A single tap on the bar, and another drink was sent my way, matching the crimson in my glass, half empty. I needed this. I needed to feel free. One sip, two gulps, gone. It was officially in my system. Fresh glass in my hand, I pushed away from the bar, my black skirt rising slightly, making me move to pull it down.

"You coming?" I faced Kensie, who had been previously zoning out, making her nod. With our hands securely locked together, I pulled up both to the dance floor, pushing past everyone till we were pretty much centred. Hips swayed as I lifted my drink up, determined to not let a single drop spill onto the already sticky as fuck floor.

I felt the alcohol working its magic as I got looser to the music, my movements getting bigger, and my feet starting to move properly. This, this is what I needed. To be free. To feel free. I was free.

Kensie was still in her own world, looking around, dancing, but seemingly dazed as if on the hunt for something. I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, snapping her attention to me and giving a small smile.

"I'm fine," she mouthed, pulling her hand away and dancing some more, making me smile back. Whatever she was stuck in, she's now out.

"Nicky?" I panicked, hearing my name that was paired with a hand on my hip from behind.

"What the-," I locked eyes with a male standing too close for comfort, smiling softly.

"It is you!" He explained, pursing his lips. "I'm Dan. We were in the same course for reporting?" I scanned his body, eyeing the crimson shirt hugging his body perfectly before scanning his face.

"Oh my! Dan!" It clicked. My friend from the course. He never made it to the end, deciding reporting wasn't the life for him, so he dropped out. "It's been so long," I yelled over the voice, moving onto my tiptoes to speak directly into his ear.

"It has. Look at you!" He used his hands to gesture at my body as I did a little spin, falling into him.

"Oops," I laughed, as the extra sips of alcohol took their toll on me.

"Do you maybe want to go somewhere quieter?" He leant down next to my ear, making me nod.

"Kensie though-," I faced her, seeing her occupied in the conversation with her own man. Something familiar about him, but I couldn't put my finger on it. "She's fine. I'll message her," I waved it off, letting Dan lead me through the crowd to the booths at the edge of the room, with fewer people.

"How does it feel being a huge reporter?" He laughed. "I can't believe it. Shy Nicky working for the biggest newspaper."

"Me shy? Never." A deep laugh left his lips.

"You know I always had a crush on you." He breathed out, inching closer to me, making me look confused at him.

"I loved you and all, Dan, as a friend, but I never gave you more attention than that."

"Ouch! I'm hurt," he mocked, hurt, placing a hand on his heart, making me smile. "I'm joking! It was literally just a little crush anyway. I knew nothing would happen." He leant over and brushed a stray hair out of my face, making my cheeks blush crimson and heat up. Darn it. "It was annoying me," ditto. I just didn't have the energy to move it.

"Oh shit!" Curse me and my clumsiness. My half-drunk glass was over my lap and chest, staining the white crop a nice deep crimson.

"Oh god," Dan explained, grabbing some napkins before trying to scrub at it so it didn't sink further into the fabric.

"Dan! Dan! Dan! It's fine," I pushed his hands away. "It's already ruined. There's no point." The colour and fabric were now one. There goes my favourite top. "I should go." I all of a sudden felt awkward. Whether it was the fact Dan went into silence or the fact he was touching at my chest, I don't know, but I wanted to go.

"So soon? We've hardly spoken."

"There's nothing to speak about, Dan. You're obviously caught up on my life and honestly don't care about yours."

"Wow! I never took you as such a bitch, Nicky," he scoffed, grabbing my wrist. "Let's just chat."

"Let me go, Dan," alcohol was wearing off as my fight or flight was kicking in. "I mean it." I sneered as his grip got tighter.

"I do believe the lady said let her go," a new voice entered the conversation, making me look at a taller man.

"Look, man, I-," Dan started before letting my arm go, causing it to slap on the table.

"Beat it." Was all that was shared between them before Dan practically ran away.

"Oh my god, Nicky, are you okay?" Kensie stepped forward, placing her hands on the table.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thank you," I ended the sentence towards the stranger next to Kensie. His blonde hair turned a nice shade of red as it reflected the lights.

"Michael. I'm Michael."

——