I chug the rest of the whiskey setting the cup down on the counter as the liquid burns my throat. The bartender looks at me with a look of pity before handing me another then nodding at me when I give him a confused look. I give a thankful smile and grab the cup swishing the ice in the transparent brown liquid. I notice that someone else sits next to me but like all the others, I try blocking out the loud blaring music and the sounds of people as I take another sip of the drink. "Hey you!" a man with black hair slicked back in a suit and tie says grabbing my hair and yanking it up spinning me on the worn out bar stool. I cringed as he tugged my curly blond hair out my eyes, as my face scrunched like a had eaten a lemon. I opened my eyes and tried removing his hands from my hair which he let clumsily to his side. He was drunk, so very drunk. "You're a cutie, huh?" he said more of a question to himself before taking a hand a squeezing my butt. I let out a surprised yelp and slapped his hand away frowning. He looked at me eyes furious with anger. "You! And I! Are leaving this place," he said forcefully, then he grabbed my arm and stood up trying to make me stand too. "What! No, sorry, but I don't even know you!" I said trying to take his arm off that was now leaving a print on my arm. Just as I was about to run away and scream for help when another man walks over. "Hey Best Friend! Come on we have to go meet...", he paused for an awkward moment "Freddy at McDonalds!" He said extending his hand, this made the man behind me let out a groan before staring at the new intruderding neighbor with anger. What was this guy doing, I know my parents always told me to beware of strangers, but no way am I staying with this man. "Right!" I said playing along by ripping my arm free chugging my drink and setting a tip before hopping off the stool and practically running to leave with this new stranger. I know I should not trust him, but maybe I can learn.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]