Chapter 1

The music was so loud that the bar floor almost shook. Laser lights were everywhere. People were dancing, shouting, and having a great time. But in all that noise, one person looked like he did not belong.

Elian sat in a corner booth. He held a glass of iced tea and looked around awkwardly. Was he a snob? No. He was just not used to places like this. He was quiet, staring at nothing. Sometimes, he gave a small smile when someone talked to him. Innocent. That was how he was. He wore a white polo shirt and jeans. He looked clean, like a man who could never hurt anyone.

"Bro, drink something! It is your birthday!" his friend shouted, but Elian just shook his head.

"I am not used to it. And I am not allowed to," he answered softly. His voice was deep and gentle.

That was when the door opened.

Zara walked in. And just like that, the whole room seemed to stop for a second. She wore a black leather crop top and high-waisted shorts that showed off her curves. Her hair was messy but beautiful, her makeup was perfect, and she walked like she owned the place. She was not just beautiful; she looked tough. Wild.

"Hey! Zara is here!" the friends shouted.

She laughed a loud, happy laugh. "What’s up, guys!" She walked in and gave everyone a high-five, walking with confidence. She was the life of the party and the center of attention. Fearless and shameless, she said whatever was on her mind.

She looked around the room until she saw Elian.

They looked at each other. Elian quickly looked down. He suddenly felt nervous. His ears even turned red. She is so beautiful... but she looks intimidating, he thought.

Zara gave a half-smile. She liked what she saw. Usually, the guys here were pushy. They tried to flirt with her and act cool. But this one? He looked like an angel who walked into hell by mistake.

Zara walked to Elian's booth. She did not ask for permission. She just sat beside him. She was very close. Elian could feel the heat of her body.

"Hi," Zara greeted with a smile. She smelled like expensive perfume and a little bit of alcohol.

"Uhm... h-hi," Elian stuttered. He could not look straight at her. "I'm Elian."

"Zara," she held out her hand. "You look so lost here, Elian. It seems like you do not belong in this place."

Elian scratched his head nervously. "It is my friend's birthday. They just forced me to come."

Zara laughed. "Aww. That is cute. So... are you a good boy?"

"I guess so," Elian answered softly. He finally looked at her, and his heart jumped. Her eyes were sharp and playful.

"Well, good boy," Zara moved closer and whispered in his ear. Her breath touched his neck, making his chest feel tight. "Be careful, or you might become bad with me."

Elian swallowed hard. "Why? What will you do?"

Zara moved back and raised her eyebrow. "Anything I want."

That night, Elian did not talk to Zara much anymore because other people quickly surrounded her. But he could not stop looking at her. She danced freely, shouted the song lyrics, and drank alcohol like it was water. She was everything he was not. She was free. She was wild.

Everyone had the wrong idea about Zara. They thought she was a bad influence. They thought she was just another party girl with no goals. But Elian saw something else. He saw her real laugh. He saw how she cared for her friends even when she was drunk. He saw that she did not care what other people thought.

When it was time to go home, it rained hard. Zara had no ride. She stood outside the bar with her arms crossed, looking annoyed.

"Uh... Zara?"

She looked back. Elian was there on a simple motorcycle. He had an extra helmet.

"Want a ride? I will take you home," he offered. He really was kind and innocent.

Zara raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Your mom might get mad if you give someone a ride."

"No. And it is dangerous here. Let's go," Elian said. His eyes were still sincere.

Zara got on. When she hugged Elian's waist, she felt how tense and innocent he was. Elian froze. He did not know what to do. He was very tense.

"Just breathe, Good Boy. I don't bite... usually," Zara joked from behind him.

That made Elian smile. In the middle of the rain and the noisy city, two different worlds met. The wild Zara, and the innocent Elian.

Little did Elian know, this was just the start. Zara was not just planning to ride his motorcycle. She was planning to take his whole world for a ride.