beauty behind the madness | the weeknd

3

Rose

The loud music of the club makes my heart pound. I can feel the floor slightly shaking under my feet. The bright lights cloud my vision. I blink a few times, trying to focus.

"So you didn't go to the detention?" Emma shouts over the loud music. She's wearing a black strappy dress and heels. Her black hair falls across her shoulders in loose curls.

"Hell, no!" I exclaim.

"You do realise that he'll extend the detention, right?" Emma points out. "I don't see why you didn't go, though. I mean . . . Have you seen him?"

I narrow my eyes. "Maybe you should've taken my place, then." I smooth down my red dress, ignoring her comment about Tesfaye.

"I wish!" Emma groans. Her phone lights up and she looks down at it. "Ugh! I have to go!"

"What? Why?" I shout. "We just got here! Stay! The night is still young!"

Emma shoots me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry," she squeaks and starts backing away. I wave her goodbye and zig zag through the crowd, towards the bar. Thank God my mum isn't home - I can get as high as I like.

"What's a gorgeous girl like you doing here all by herself?" a deep voice says from beside me.

I twist my neck and raise my eyebrows. "And who said I'm by myself?" I smirk. I tilt my head and assess him: he's wearing dark jeans and a black t-shirt that sticks to his biceps. His eyes are a greeny-blue colour and his brown hair is messy. His pale skin is slightly red from the heat of the club. He's cute.

"I just assumed," he replies grinning, revealing all-white teeth and a dimple. "So," he says, coming closer. "Why are you here all alone?"

I shrug. "Maybe you should buy me a drink and I'll tell you all about it," I suggest.

He smiles, causing that dimple to appear again. "What are you drinking?"

I'm about to answer when someone interrupts. "She's not drinking anything," a familiar voice says.

I turn around and look at the person and my mouth hangs in shock.  Tesfaye. He looks at me with dark eyes, glowering. I roll my eyes and look back at the man. "Actually, I am," I tell him, smiling sweetly. "Ignore this strange man."

"Is there a problem here?" the man asks Tesfaye.

Tesfaye looks at the man, eyeing him down. "Actually there is," he says through gritted teeth. "She's -"

"Leaving!" I snap. "I'm leaving!" I grab my purse and start walking away as fast as I can.

"Rose!" I hear Tesfaye shout after me. I ignore him. That asshole, I think to myself. He ruined my night. "Rose!" He grabs my hand and whirls me around. I snatch my hand back angrily.

"What do you want?" I snap. "What are you even doing here? You're a teacher!"

Tesfaye smiles to himself. "Are you saying that teachers can't go to clubs?" he asks. I roll my eyes and start walking up the stairs. I almost trip and fall back, but Tesfaye grabs hold of me. "You okay?"

I push him off me. "Fine," I say sternly, not looking him in the eye. I push open the door and shiver when the cold air hits me. When I hear his footsteps behind me and glare. "You don't have to follow me," I tell him.

"Well, I'm not going to let you wander the streets alone, am I?" he replies. His eyes travel down my body and I shiver again. "Are you cold?" he asks and I shake my head in answer. He takes off his leather jacket and places it around my shoulders.

"Thanks," I mutter.

"Come on," he tells me. "I can give you a lift home."

"Its okay. I'll walk."

"Are you always this stubborn?" Tesfaye snaps. I open my mouth to say something, but then close it again.  I could do with a lift home. Plus, these heels are killing me. He starts walking and I follow him to his car.

The drive home is silent. I feel myself almost falling asleep, but quickly pull myself out of it. I don't want to fall asleep in my teacher's class. In the end, I give in.

Later on, I wake up to someone shaking my shoulder gently.

"Rose, wake up. We're here," Tesfaye says in a smooth voice. I sit up quickly, blinking hard. I turn around to find him smiling at me.

"Um," I say, a little awkwardly. "Thanks for the ride home."

"No problem," he says softly, looking me in the eyes. I smile at him and start getting out the car before remembering to give back his jacket. He takes it and his hands touch mine. They're soft. I look up at him and find that he's staring me in the eye.

"I should go," I whisper, heart thumping. Pull yourself together, I tell myself. Tearing my eyes away from his, I start to push open the door.

"Rose," I hear him say from behind. I turn to look at him. "Make sure you don't go out again." I roll my eyes. Who does he think he is? Bossng me around? He grabs my hand. "What did I say ahout rolling your eyes?" He looks at me darkly and squeezes my hand ever so slightly.

I smile sweetly. "I'm sorry, sir, I don't remember." I roll my eyes again and pull my hand out of his grasp. He studies me, an amused look on his face.

"Well," he says, sighing. "I guess I'll have to make you remember."

I tilt my head. "I guess you will." I shut the door and start walking away, smiling to myself.