𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖 • 𝕞.𝕔

chapter 1

•••

"Fuck yes! Tonight's the night we get smashed!"

"You're a bit too extreme, Em. It's just a night out."

My best friend spun around, her skirt turning with her, as if wind had blown under it. Very Marilyn Monroe-y. 

"A night out to celebrate the fact that you got your diploma, miss Lee Mann! So put on this dress, do your hair and hurry up, Amy and Meg are waiting."

   I obeyed, standing up as I rolled my eyes. Okay, she had a point. And quite honestly, I was happy to be finally celebrating this. I had always somehow imagined the way I would be then. When I had started studying English, I had never thought it'd take me so long to finally finish my degree. But now that I had done it, when I looked back, I was feeling mostly relieved that this was all over. Fuck yes, I told myself. Finally free, and ready to take on the world. Well, maybe not the world. But close to it.

As I brushed my dark hair, staring at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but think about all of the opportunities I would have from now on. I would get ready to pursue my life dream; becoming a journalist. I was aware of all the capacities this very special job required; but at this point, I was ready to work hard to succeed. That was all I wanted. It meant that much to me; all of my friends were even making fun of me sometimes, because of the way I talked about it. Most times I would shake it off, and quietly think, you'll see when I'm 40, and rich, sipping on my cocktail by the pool, my very hot and tanned husband right by my side. You'll see.

   But for the moment, I was only Lee Mann, a 21 year-old girl living in a city that was way too big for her. A city that burnt too bright and moved too fast. But I had fallen in love with it, somehow. London. How could you explain falling in love with a place? I really did wonder how. The only response I found to this last question seemed simple and plain, but to me, it was the best way I could try and attempt to describe it. I was in love with London because I felt at home. Nothing else to say, those few words were enough to tell mostly everything. There was something about the endless number of streets, the way they could mix up old cathedrals and brand new classy buildings so well, the people living here, the routine you started to have after a while that was just terribly attractive to me. And I couldn't physically picture myself living somewhere else, even in my wildest dreams.

It was where I belonged, though the way it moved too quickly for me was a bit too hectic at times.

I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my jean jacket, stepping out of my bedroom. Emma was sat on the sofa, and as she saw me, her face lit up. She jumped on me and squealed -she had a very effusive personality, which caused her to exaggerate most of her emotions, but as I always said, I had gotten used to it-, before grabbing my arm and pulling me outside, dragging me head first.

"We're gonna break some hearts tonight!" she giggled, running down the stairs. She stumbled, and I caught her back. "God, I almost fell."

"You're very giddy," I noticed. "And we are not going out to break hearts, we are celebrating something very serious."

"Oh, come on," she rolled her eyes, the strawberry blonde ponytail on the top of her head moving each time she jumped in excitement. When we finally got out of the building, both of our friends Amy and Megan were waiting for us. "Girls, you ready?"

"You're just making a big deal out of this," I reminded her.

She gave me a death glare, before articulating. "Party pooper."

"You know how Lee is," Megan mocked. "I don't mean this in a nasty way."

"Of course you don't," I stuck my tongue out at her. "Are we going or what?"

Emma chuckled. "See, I knew you couldn't wait."

"I just asked if we were going to go."

   The cab ride to the club the girls had decided to bring me to seemed long; too long for me. I had trusted them fully with the choice of the place, thinking they'd choose wisely. When I looked at them, I wondered what I was doing here.

They all had gorgeous, curly hair, with light eyes and smiles you could die for. Their bodies were perfect, and they looked flawless, as always. I knew I didn't have the worst body, and that I looked okay, but nowhere as good as them.

"I really like your dress," Amy said, smiling genuinely.

"It's just a plain black dress really," I replied. "Thank you so much. You look beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you," she grinned. "Are you excited for tonight?"

"Emma seems to be much more excited for whatever reason."

Amy glanced at my very best friend, laughing. "I know. But that's her, she's so excitable. It means a lot to her if you do have fun tonight. She wants you to have the time of your life, do you think you can do that for her?"

"I guess I can," I smiled at Emma.

"Plus, there's a band playing at the bar we're going to. It's going to be great, trust me. I can't wait. The band members are proper fit."

•••

"We missed the band!" Emma exclaimed, looking at the time on her phone. "By ten minutes! Fuck's sake."

   We all entered the place. The air was thick and stuffy, but I swallowed back my complaints, and followed the girls as they found their way to a table. Emma got us drinks, fancy cocktails that seemed way too colourful for me, and I chose not to ask what was in there. Too risky.

"Woah," Megan said, looking behind me. "Don't look behind you, Lee, but there's a fit boy right there."

"I don't care, I came here to have a good time with my friends to celebrate-"

Emma slammed her first on the mini-round table, before holding tight onto this last one not to stumble. Already drunk. "Stop being so uptight about everything! Plus, he just checked you out."

"He didn't-"

"After you finish your drink, I dare you to go and talk to him. I bet you can't," she said. The two other girls just laughed while sipping on their pink drinks.

"Of course I can," I gulped my drink in a fast manner and turned to the boy, my friends cheering. A minute after, they were gone, I had lost their sight. I didn't dare talking to him at first; he was tall, with black hair, and pale skin. Not my type at all, but, the alcohol helping, I got a little more fearless. I tapped on his shoulder, and as he turned around, I spoke loudly into his ear. "Hi!"

"Hello," he replied. "Where are your friends?"

"They've left me," I replied. "The truth of it is that we all came here to celebrate me getting my diploma, but thing is they left me, and now I'm all alone looking for a friend, how stupid am I?"

"The only thing I understood in the gibberish you just talked was 'looking for a friend', and I can be your friend, what do you think?"

"I'm Lee," I pulled my hand out, and he caught it, pulling me closer to him. I didn't pull away.

"And I'm Michael, want to dance for a bit?"

"Yeah," I nodded, intoxicated by his fragrance. "Yeah, I really fucking want to dance!"

•••