Chapter Two

Sam’s POV

Back home after my shift at Royale, Nora wouldn’t stop pacingin her apartment. She moved back and forth across the tiny living room, her hands on her hips, her hair bouncing with every step while I sat down on the couch, still in my work clothes.

“Sam,” she said for the hundredth time, “you are not spending another night crying over your problems.”

“I won’t be crying,” I muttered.

She shot me a look. “Well, your eyes suggests otherwise.”

I sighed and rubbed my face. My body tired from work. My mind also ached from everything else.

“I’m tired, Nora.”

“Tired isn’t the same as giving up, my friend,” she said, then smiled slowly. “Besides, I have a great idea for you.”

That made mea little nervous, knowing Nora well. “Really? And what idea is that?”

“So… there’s this underground party tonight…” I started but wasn’t allowed to finish…

“Oh please, Nora!” I sighed, already aware of what she was driving at.

“It’s going to be fun, I swear!” she said excitedly, “An underground masked party. Just think about the anonymity of it, plus… free drinks, loud music, no stress or worries for a few good hours. We both know you could use some of that.”

I frowned. “But… doesn’t underground even sounds illegal to you?”

She laughed. “Relax. It’s just a hidden bar club thing. Everyone goes to masked parties, Sam. It’s fun in a mysterious way.”

“I don’t party, remember?” I said to her.

“Well, you don’t live enough either,” she shot back harshly. “Sam, you’ve been working and crying nonstop. You need one night to breathe.”

I looked away, worried that if Nora kept talking, she would succeed in convincing me to attend the party. She had that tendency to talk someone into doing something she believed was great for them.

But as I sat there listening to Nora’s one million reasons why I should go to the party, something she mentioned got to me… I hadn’t truly been living. Just surviving. And the thought that my best friend was trying to get me to do former felt like the sweetest thing ever.

But Clara’s pale face flashed in my head. And the rush of emotions tied to all my worries came rushing back, and I felt the melancholy again.

“I really don’t feel like pretending I’m okay, Nora,” I whispered.

Nora didn’t say another word for a few more seconds. She just sat beside me and took my hands in hers.

“Look, you don’t have to pretend,” she said softly. “Just forgetabout everything for a few hours, and I promise the weight would feel a little less heavier.”

Silence stretched between us as I thought about the idea. If Nora was right about anything… she was always right about everything…. It was that I needed to lighten the weight on my shoulders.

Finally, I sighed. “Fine,” I said quietly. “Just tonight.”

She squealed happily beside me and jumped up, her excitement as visible as a child’s receiving a favorite present.

Apparently, she carried the excitement for the both of us. But Iwas unsure of just everything about going with Nora to an underground masked party.

The underground bar was nothing like I had imagined in my head. It was hidden beneath an old building downtown of Oceandale, and the place boomed with music so loud I felt it in my chest.

Flashes of light shone across the dark room, where people danced everywhere… all wearing masks that covered most of their faces.

It felt like stepping into another different world entirely. Nora handed me a simple silver mask that covered my eyes when I held it up.

“You’re supposed to put it on,” she said sarcastically. “Tonight, you’re not Samantha. Just a girl having fun.”

I slipped it on nervously, thinking about what she said. It was impossible to recognize anyone here with these on, I thought. And the thought of that seemed like a little consolation to me as we mingled with the crowd.

The music continued to boom, vibrating across my entire body. It felt as if the very room it self was a giant speaker.

And the crowd seemed to love it, they moved like waves with the sound of the music. For a moment, I felt like I wasn’t going to suffocate, and I wanted to run out.

But then Nora dragged me toward the bar. “Two shots!” she yelled.

I shook my head. “Nora, I…”

“You need to loosen up a little, sis!” She said, shoving one glass into my hand.

I hesitated. But then she urged on, lifting the glass to my mouth. I stared at the liquid dancing in the glass, then without further thought, I swallowed it.

The alcohol burned all the way down my throat and I coughed.

Nora laughed. “That’s the spirit!”

A second drink followed. Then another. And soon, the tight feeling in my chest began to loosen. The world blurred just a little and all the pain suddenly seemed numb.

Before I knew it, time passed and the music had started to go down. Suddenly, Nora appeared at my side as I danced terribly with a total stranger.

“Hey, wanna play a game?” she whispered in my ear.

I squinted at her. “What kind of game?”

“A dare game,” she said. “Everyone here’s doing it.”

I glanced around and noticed groups of people laughing wildly, whispering things to themselves and even occasionallyscreaming.

I felt my stomach turn. I couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol or the realization of what I was really doing.

“Nora, I think I’m drunk.”

“Exactly,” she answered proudly.

Before I could stop her, she grabbed a random girl nearby and whispered something to her. The girl giggled and pointed across the room.

Nora followed her finger, then turned back to me with wide eyes. “Ohhh Sam.”

“What?” I slurred.

“You see that guy by the far bar?”

I turned slowly.

And that’s when I saw him.

He stood tall apart from the crowd, wearing a dark mask that covered the upper half of his face. Even in the dim lights, he looked hot. If not dangerous.

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the man from across the room. Something about him seemed to glue my gaze to him as I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

“That’s your dare,” I heard Nora said behind me. “Take him home.” She said with a silly grin on her face.

My mouth dropped open. “What?! No!”

“Come on, girl,” she said. “One night remember? It’s probably even going to be romantic, who know”

“It’s crazy!” I said to her, even though the idea was starting to build in me.

“Isn’t that the point?” The girl Nora had stopped chimed.

I shook my head, laughing nervously. “Nora, I don’t even know who he is.”

“You don’t need to. Just go with the flow, okay?”

I looked back towards him, then shook my head, “I can’t,” I whispered.

“Just go talk to him,” she said. “If you don’t like it, walk awaythen.”

I swallowed. The feeling of the too much alcohol in my system making the idea more enticing by the second.

Knowing Nora could talk anyone into doing anything, and that she wouldn’t stop until I walked over, I sighed heavily and took another drink.

“Fine,” I said breathlessly as I gulped the liquor down now withacquired ease. “I’ll go talk to him.”

Nora squealed quietly.

I took one lousy step and everything else became a blur. And before I knew it, I was walking through the crowd with the handsome stranger, my hand in his as we made our way out of the bar.