Allure of Sins

Chapter 1

EDEN

"Come on Eden it will be fun," Erica said. She pushed her tightly curled brown hair over her shoulder, but it kept falling back over thanks to the haircut she had recently gotten. "Please, please, please Eden," she begged sticking her lip out like a pouting toddler. Heavily mascaraed eyelashes batting furiously.

"No, Erica. I've had a long day. The last thing I want to do is go to a club. The floors are always sticky and there are way too many people for it to be fire safe, so I'll just—"

"Stay home with a good book like always," she finished for me while rolling her dark brown eyes. I laughed. She knew me too well at this point. Five years of being roommates while we both made it through college and now here we are. We have this argument every Friday night; she wants me to go out and all I want to do is live my introverted life in peace. I've gone with her a few times and the night always ends in disaster for me, so I promised myself no more.

"That's where you're wrong Erica," I said. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Tonight, it's going to be a great book. My favorite author just released a new book in the series, and I know it will be awesome but painful, so if I'm crying when you get home just ignore it my favorite character probably died."

"I can't with you. I love and support you and all, but I don't understand you. I really don't." She shook her head back and forth her shoulder-length hair traitorously escaping its confines against her back. "I should be home tonight if I plan to stay somewhere else or need a ride, I'll message you alright?"

I nodded and she grabbed her clutch off the kitchen counter of our small apartment. Shoving her keys and backup makeup into the bag she blew me a playful kiss and shut the cream door. I rolled my eyes at my friend. Sometimes she was overdramatic, but I didn't mind. Every introvert needs an extroverted friend to stand in the spotlight while I feed her lines from offstage.

The floorboards creak with each step towards my room. I grab my book from my bed and snuggle into the soft covers to read my favorite book. Time flies by and soon I feel salty tears dry against my cheeks after as promised my favorite character died. I checked my phone for any messages from Erica. Nothing.

I left my cozy room to get a glass of water. Ice clinked as it fell into my empty glass; cold water flowed down my parched throat. My phone chimed from the other room. My soft footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent house as I returned to my room to check my phone.

EEEEEDDDEEENNN!

Can you come get me

Please

Please

Please

I'm sharing my location with you

                                                                                                                            On my way.

Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                         Love you too.

I sighed. Grabbing my purse and a red knitted cardigan I made my way out of our apartment. The hallway was quiet except for the soft jazz music coming from our neighbor's apartment. I kept my footsteps light so I wouldn't wake any of the sleeping occupants of our building. The elevator dinged when it reached my floor; I got in and pressed the lobby button. The lobby tile clacked under my feet and the faint scent of lavender wafted in the air.

Storm clouds rolled in from the west. Brisk air licked at my bare arms and I put on the cardigan I brought blessing my decision to bring the warm jacket along. My car beeped when I pressed the unlock button on the key fob. I inserted the key in the ignition and tried to start the car. The engine turned over once then twice, but the car wouldn't fully start. I patted the steering wheel, come on Lucinda, start for me. I thought. I tried the engine again and the car roared to life.

My phone sat in my lap spouting off directions to whatever club Erica had chosen tonight. Twenty minutes later and I was parked across the street from the club.

                                                                                         I'm here. Across the Street.

Okay I'll be right out

I found a handsome stranger

He's coming home with us btw

                                                                                                            Don't you dare.

Too late

The car door opened, and Erica got in the backseat with a tall scrawny looking blonde kid. "Are you sure he's even old enough to drive?" I asked her.

"Shut up Eden. He's twenty-one. I'm not some creep who preys on people while they're still in high school." She said while making eye contact with me in the rear-view mirror. She turned to look at the boy and mumbled something like, You're not in high school, right? I rolled my eyes and drove away when the answer was a confident, No, I'm not in high school. I can even show you my diploma if that helps, beautiful.

The storm picked up on our way home sending sheets of rain to grace our path and make it harder for me to see with my dim headlights. Somehow, we made it home safely which due to the number of distractions that were happening in the backseat of poor Lucinda is a miracle. Erica and Jordan, as I learned, raced into the elevator while I opted for the stairs. I'd had enough of their steamy makeout session in the car fogging up my windows I didn't need to be trapped in an elevator with them too.

My legs burned by the time I made it up the eight flights of stairs. When I got into our hallway I could see that Erica had put a sock on the door, but she had her own room so I wasn't going to sit outside the apartment till she was done. Quietly I eased open the door. I shut it softly behind me and walked to my room blocking out the sounds coming from Erica's room. I needed some sleep. In my nightstand drawer, I found my headphones. I plugged them into my phone and played calming piano music until I drifted off into a dream-filled sleep.