Chapter 100: Chapter 100

"When I said I wanted to get back with my best friend, this was definitely the last thing on my mind, Lis."

Clarissa looks at herself in the mirror and blanches. I've got to say being a black-haired girl isn't her color. And the skirt - my skirt - makes her look like she's wearing a sack.

"Liiiiiiiiis, I look like a degenerate scarecrow. If you put me in a field to scare birds away, I'm pretty sure they'll never even circle within the area ever again to talk more of the field."

I sputter out a laugh because I don't know where she gets her thoughts from. "Well, you kind of look funny."

"Kind of?" She shrieks. "I look awful, like a fucking burlap sack."

This time, I can't hold it in any longer. I throw my head back and cackle long and hard until tears stream out from my eyes, and no doubt, ruin my makeup. When I'm done, I shake my head, still sputtering out a few laughs. There's a soft smile on Clarissa's face as she watches me.

"So does this mean I'm off the hook?"

I quirk my brow at her. "I'm sorry, but no. You are going to stay here and act like you're me until I come back from my date with Dan, or. . ." I shrug. "Until Ash comes back, anyway."

Clarissa's face falls and she nods. I walk to the mirror and stare at the blonde wig on my head and the too-tight dress. The red lipstick on my lips is a total contrast to who I am. Everything I'm wearing from the wig down to the heels on my feet is a direct opposite to who I am. But if it does the job of getting me out of the house to see Dan and taking a breather, I'll do it again and again and again.

I smirk as I turn to Clarissa. "Just don't answer any knocks on the door, at least until when Ash comes."

"He's going to know what happened." She says with that same irritating tone.

"So let him." I shrug. "I'll be long gone by then." I see the look on her face. "Oh don't look so glum, I'll come back, I'm not that stupid, I just need to breathe, you know. Being within the confines of these walls is stifling."

She nods but says nothing, but when her gaze falls to the floor, I know I have a situation on my hands so I walk around her to where her phone is lying inside her bag. I bring it out and watch as her eyes round into almost saucers as I hold it up.

"This. . . is just for insurance."

"Liiis, come on, please."

"Remember your promise to me." I watch as her face falls once again before I smirk and walk out of the bedroom.

My walk to the gate takes me almost ten minutes. It's got a lot to do with nerves at this point because not only do I have to sound like Clarissa if I'm intercepted, I have to walk like her as well. There are cameras everywhere and I wouldn't want to be caught napping. Fortunately, it's dark, so I'm banking on the cover of night to go out unnoticed by the guards.

Okay, I know that's a steep wish, but at least I'm dressed in the same clothes Clarissa was when she first came in to see me earlier on. I keep my head down as I approach the gates which only two guards man. As I make to pass through it, one of them stops me and asks where Night eyes is.

I wasn't banking on that.

Instead of speaking, I keep my head low and point behind me. From the corner of my eyes, I see the guy looking behind me. He wants to say something but the other guard calls his attention and I use that opportunity to slip through the gate. I don't heave a sigh of relief yet because I could be caught, but the longer I walk away from the gate, the more my heart soars with joy.

It's until I round the corner of the paved street that I let out a loud whoop.

It worked.

It fucking worked.

A car's headlights suddenly flood my whole body and I feel like a deer caught in headlights. The horn sounds twice and I almost slump in relief. The car stops in front of me and the headlights dim. Someone comes out of the car and when I see Dan's silhouette, I walk to meet him and hug him as if I haven't seen him in ages.

I move back and look into his eyes which are warm and smiling.

"Thank God you came, I was so scared it was Ash."

"I'm here now, not to worry because I'm going to give you a good time."

I smile despite my heart jam hammering in my chest. He leads me inside the car and goes around to his side before he starts it and drives away. Ash is going to be quite pissed when he comes back and sees what I've done.

*

The ride is pleasant but only because it's quiet. Surprisingly, Dan doesn't try to fill it with meaningless chatter like he usually does. I sneak a glance at him and notice his hands seem fidgety and he keeps looking in the rearview mirror. Maybe I'm just paranoid but these are signs of an impending doom. After what seems like forever but can only have been a few minutes of distance, I turn to him with a smile on my face.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes!"

His answer is too quick, too curt and that sets alarm bells ringing inside my head.

Alright, calm down.

This is Dan.

He can't hurt me. He's a psychologist. He's empathetic and will do everything to keep me safe. But the longer he keeps driving, the more the unease crawls into my chest and stays put. I look around, not recognizing the area we're in. When I check my purse, I remember with a sinking heart I left my phone back at Ash's place because I didn't want him to disturb me with calls.

Suddenly, Dan swings into a lot filled with other cars and turns to me. "We're here."

My mouth is parched as I look at him and try to croak out a response. Instead, I settle for a nod. He leads me out of the car and into a building with dim lighting. Soft music spills out from hidden speakers and the rich, warm brown tone of the interior has got me relaxing immediately. With his hand at my back, he guides me to our table which is at a corner section.

Dan begins to crack his dry jokes while we peruse the menu and for some reason, maybe relief, they sound funny and crack me up. When the food is brought, it's tasty and I've already worked up an appetite which makes me gobble up every morsel on my plate. The upbeat song switched to a slow one and our eyes clash. A mischievous sparkle dances in Dan's eyes.

He holds out his hand to me and I take it, because why not?

I'm going to enjoy every bit of what this night has to offer because when it's all over, I'll be going back to my prison. Dan's hand finds mine and his thumb traces soft circles on my palm as he holds me close. In that touch, I feel a sense of belonging, as if our hearts are orchestrating a symphony of their own, playing a melody that belongs solely to us.

We dance on the possibility of something more, our hearts teetering between the safety of friendship and the allure of want and need. The echoes of the final notes fade into the night, and the tension between us still lingers, floating in the air. I move back from Dan and our eyes lock. His face comes closer and I wait expectantly but just before his lips close over mine, another face flashes in my mind and I rear back, stunned at what I was almost about to let happen.

"I'm sorry." I shake my head once again and hightail it to the toilet. There, I suck in great heaps of air and when that doesn't do anything for me, I splash water on my face. After a while, I feel better.

Two females come into the toilet arguing between themselves. One has on a ridiculous green wig and the other one a blue one. I'm wondering what they're doing in a classy place when they stop and look at me.

"Let's ask her." One of them says. "Hi, girl, which color of hair do ya think is better? Her's." She points to the one with the green-colored hair, "Or mine."

That'll be a no to both of them, but far be it from me to steal their shine so I just smile and tell them they're both nice. They both shrug and the green-haired one gives me her phone and tells me to please take a picture of them together. I take it and I'm taken aback when they kiss each other on the mouth and raise their hands in a peace sign.

I take the picture and the green-haired female collects it back from me with a wide smile. As her hand grazes mine, I feel a pinprick on the side of my hand. The next few seconds happen in a blur.

It's like the world seems to shift as I feel myself falling and eating dust.

Through the haze in my head, I hear one of them speak. "She's out, let's call him."

The last thing I see before I blackout is a black peep toe shoes.