I woke up late, sunlight already breaking through the curtains, sharp and blinding. My neck still ached, even after the cream, but it wasn't just the pain keeping me restless. It was my thoughts. Sky's smile, and the way he looked at me—like he could see deeper than I allowed anyone to. And my own secret—my past, my mom, the pieces I couldn't share.
I tried to shake it off, but the unease followed me. Something felt wrong. As I stepped out of the hotel, I noticed it—across the street, a black car parked, windows tinted. I wouldn't have thought much of it if I hadn't seen the same car last night, near the café club. My heart beat faster, but I forced myself to keep walking, pretending not to notice.
Then someone called my name, loudly—
"Isabella! Isabella!"
I turned. It was Sky, smiling like he had known me forever. For a second, it felt funny—like we were friends from another life. But then the sound shattered the moment.
Gunshots. One by one.
I froze, shock rooting me in place. But instinct pulled me back. I had to save Sky. I grabbed his hand and ran. His fear mirrored mine, and it only fueled my desperation to protect him.
"Sky! The key!" I shouted, pointing at his bike.
He hesitated, frozen, until our eyes locked. Then he snapped back, fumbling for the key. Bullets cracked against the car behind us. My uncle's men. I knew it. They weren't after Sky. They were after me. To break my father. To make him weak. But I would never let that happen.
We sped away on his bike, the city lights blurring past, the night swallowing us whole. Finally, Sky pulled over, breathless and panicked.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I nodded, though fear still burned in my chest.
He laughed nervously, shaking his head. "I don't know who those people were, but they wanted to kill someone really badly. Lucky we got away."
He didn't know. He didn't know it was me they wanted.
"Isabella," he said more seriously, "what are you going to do? You can't go back to your hotel. If it's not locked by tomorrow, the police will be all over it. And the highway's already closed."
The road around us was empty, silent. "So… where do we go?" I asked.
Sky thought for a moment, then gave me a meaningful smile. "I know somewhere. Somewhere you can forget everything—for one night."
⸻
He drove me to a beach, where music and laughter filled the night. A bonfire blazed at the center, surrounded by young people—dancing, joking, living as if the world could never touch them.
We joined the circle. There was only one rule—if someone asked you a personal question, you could lie. That made me feel safer.
When they asked my name, I smiled. "Nikki."
Sky gave me a sharp look, then a small, sweet smile, as if to say I know who you are, but I won't tell.
The first game was spin the bottle. The firelight flickered as secrets spilled out between laughter. A girl admitted she had a crush on her math teacher, and everyone roared with laughter. A boy, teased about being gay, smirked and said, "I can be for you." The circle erupted.
Then the bottle stopped on me.
"What's your biggest wish?" someone asked.
I hesitated. The truth—my mom, my past—was too dangerous. Too raw. So I smiled and said, "To change my life."
Everyone laughed, clapped, moved on. But Sky didn't. His eyes stayed on me, studying me like he heard the truth I hadn't spoken.
When the bottle landed on him, I leaned forward. "What's your biggest regret?"
He was quiet for a long moment. The fire painted shadows across his face. "That I couldn't save my favorite person."
Silence swallowed the circle. His words were heavy, painful.
Then suddenly, he laughed and shook his head. "A bee," he said. "She got stung. I should've saved her."
The tension cracked, and laughter filled the air again. As punishment, he downed a full glass of alcohol. Soon the laughter returned, the game rolled on, and the fire roared higher.
⸻
The music shifted into couple dances. Different songs filled the night—funny tunes, lullabies, wild beats. With every stop of the music, partners changed.
And then—the notes began. Soft, dreamy, bittersweet.
"City of Stars" from La La Land.
The melody wrapped around me like a whisper, fragile but aching with hope.
When my turn came, I found myself with Sky.
His hand touched mine, and it was like lightning under my skin. Every step drew us closer, every note pulled us deeper into something I couldn't name. His breath was warm, his heartbeat raced like a train, and his eyes—his eyes held me still, as if the world had faded away.
Butterflies exploded in my chest. His hand tightened gently around mine, guiding me closer. I couldn't resist. I didn't want to.
I lost myself in his arms.
⸻
The next thing I knew, my head was heavy, my body aching. A sharp headache pounded behind my eyes. I stirred, groaning, and moved my hand to my side—only to feel warmth.
Someone was beside me.
My heart raced. Panic shot through me. Slowly, I forced my eyes open, the blur fading into focus.
Sky.
Sleeping next to me.
I froze, breath caught in my throat. My mind was blank. I couldn't remember.
What happened last night?
What did I forget?