I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
"See you, Charis," I called, giving my colleague a quick wave. Relief hit me - I was glad this shift passed in a blur.
Now I could finally hang out with Eloise and get up to speed on everything we'd missed.
I started digging through my bag to text her, but then this weird feeling crept up on me - like someone was staring. It made my skin crawl, especially after that encounter with the hot, odd customer this morning.
I tried to shake it off and typed anyway.
I'm done with my shift. Do you want to come over to my place? - Via
I made my way to the bus stop to wait.
Yeah, baby. I'll be right there, Eloise replied.
That made me grin.
The bus finally rolled up, mostly empty - everyone else was still stuck at work. I slouched against the seat and let the tiredness wash over me.
A few stops later, I got off and cut down the narrow alley to my building. Again, it felt like someone's eyes were boring into my back. I tried to brush it off. It'd been a long day; maybe I was just being paranoid.
Inside, my tiny apartment looked as dull as ever - the owner didn't even let me swap out the curtains. Sometimes I daydreamed about living in one of those places overlooking Lake Como. Peaceful. Classy. Totally out of reach.
I snapped out of it with a sigh.
I shuffled into the kitchen to figure out food for Eloise and me. The fridge wasn't offering much - just some cold, leftover pasta on a shelf.
"Great," I muttered. "Some dinner." Then softer, "I really need a better job."
While I microwaved the pasta, I heard the door creak open. No big deal - only Eloise had a key.
"Babes!" she shouted.
"In here!" I yelled back.
She breezed into the kitchen, grinning, and kissed my cheek. "How's it going?"
"Fine. What took you?" I tried to sound annoyed, but I couldn't help smiling.
"I swung by to pick out some dresses for us." Eloise said it like it was nothing.
"Dresses? For...?" I asked, carrying two plates of pasta into the living room. I handed her a plate and started eating - I'd barely had a bite since breakfast.
"We're hitting the club tonight," Eloise announced. "I took the day off."
"The club? Seriously?" I said, mouth still half full.
"We need a night out. When was the last time we just had fun?"
"Fine. Hope you picked something good," I teased.
"Trust me," she said with a wink.
We kept eating, talking about everything and nothing, and I could feel the stress finally start to slip away.
The club was already buzzing when we got there. Music pounded from inside, the beat rolling up through the concrete and into my legs. A line of people spilled out from the door, all dressed like nothing could touch them.
I was cold, of course - too much skin for a night like this. I'd picked a burgundy strapless corset dress, silky and ruched, the fabric pooling in a dramatic sweep from my hip. Stiletto heels with ankle straps, some old stainless gold jewelry I'd dug out for the night. My hair was down, soft waves tumbling along my back. It all left me feeling exposed, maybe even a little invincible.
Eloise looked like some fashion ad - tight black mini dress with a halter top and a loose cowl neckline. The front was smooth, almost sculpted against her, and the back just - laced up, all skin and pattern. People stared. We knew it. Standing there, we looked like we didn't belong to real life. This place wasn't anything like the clubs we usually hit - not even close. It had Eloise written all over it.
She stepped forward to the entrance first , stride already in command. I came after, tugging self-consciously at my dress, hyper-aware of the fabric pressing close and the tap of my heels on the sidewalk.
"Relax," Eloise said, winding her arm through mine. "You look hot."
I rolled my eyes and tried to grin. "Says the girl with a runway walk."
The bouncer barely looked at us before waving us inside. Lights were everywhere - dim, colored, swirling - and the bass thrummed straight through my chest. The air hit hard too, full of perfume and booze and something sharp that made my pulse jump.
The place was packed. People moving, laughing, pressed together, hands on hips or faces or nothing at all. The dance floor was a mess of sweat and motion, nobody caring who was watching.
Eloise tugged me toward the bar, scanning faces like she owned the scene already. I leaned against the counter, eyes drifting. Couples tangled up, strangers flirting across the floor, half-smiles being traded in the shadows.
Somehow, I started to loosen up. The edge faded a little.
This night might not be a disaster after all.
I reached for the drink the bartender slid my way, and then out of nowhere, that weird prickly feeling crept over me - the sense of someone watching. My skin tingled. My fingers clamped around the glass. I lifted my eyes, slow, searching the room.
That's when I saw him.