An Unforgettable Birthday

Alicia's POV

“Let me out!” I screamed at the door, tears coursing down my cheeks. “Please…” 

I fell to the ground, all hope of leaving this prison slipping away like sand through my fingers.

A whimper left my lips at the idea of never leaving here, never seeing the sun again, or my dingy apartment.

How did things come down to this?

I curled up into a fetal position thinking about the series of strange, surreal events that had overturned my life this week from what it had been before.

…

Seven Days Ago

“Do I really have to do this?” I grumbled to Daya, the only friend I had. She was fixing her makeup and leaning towards the vanity mirror, putting on some eye glitter on her lids expertly. At my words, she turned around and gave me a long glare.

“Don’t start with that kind of attitude now, Alicia,” she warned me in her no-nonsense tone. “Besides, you should be happy. I even thought of taking you out on your birthday. You’re no longer a teenager. You’re 22! How much longer are you going to keep on complaining about my good will?”

I sighed, my hands finding the bottom hem of the incredibly short minidress she had tossed at me from the depths of her closet.

“But-” I tried to speak again but this time she tossed a small object at me. I caught it luckily before it could hit my face, and I gazed down at it. It was a small compact powder.

“Stop complaining! Do something about your makeup. I don’t have time for that tonight. The dress and heels will have to do,” she wrinkled her nose as she glared at me before returning to patting more color on her eyelids.

It felt impossible for me to refuse her, so I simply gave up. I set about removing my glasses and putting on some powder. I already had lip gloss in my bag and so, I put that on too. I gazed at my reflection showing on the small round mirror.

My almond-shaped eyes with blue pupils shone now that the view of my face was unobstructed by frames. That, combined with the freckles and heart shaped face I bore, painted a lovely picture.

I was beautiful.

My brows furrowed and I let out a small, frustrated sigh.

Being beautiful wasn’t what I wanted.

I had grown up in an orphanage and later attended a public school where the prettier, softer girls got the worst sort of attention. Ever since I noticed the fate of those girls, I knew one thing; I didn’t want to be seen as pretty in any way, shape or form.

I immediately put on the glasses—though not prescribed, they helped as a sort of disguise I treasured. Through them, I became invisible. No one commented on my eyes, or my features, and instead walked past me like I was never there.

To others it might feel desolate, but it was exactly the perfect sort of life for me.

 “By the way. Did I tell you about yesterday? I got the number of a major modeling agent. I’m going to see him the next night,” 

Daya’s words made me blink.

“Yeah?”

 I didn’t bother telling her that she had already told me this thrice now. With how many times she had told me the story within the last day, I already knew something about that was suspicious.

Modeling agents didn’t lounge around in seedy bars after all. But I knew Daya didn’t care. All she wanted was a life of luxury and to be a supermodel. She had a lovely figure, perfect for a career in the entertainment industry, but her methods… 

I chose not to comment on it.

The sound of the doorbell ringing in the small apartment saved me from more whining about my appearance from my only friend.

I put my hair up into a bun, similar to the style I wore at the small office we both worked at.

 “That must be Jimmy,” she stated, standing up, and tossing the brush she held somewhere on her bed. “Let’s go!”

An hour later Daya and I walked into the club, aptly named ‘Dark Desire’. It was one of the most exclusive clubs in the entire city, and Daya and I were only able to get in due to Jimmy’s connections, working as a lighting specialist for various events, from what I had gathered.

 “Oh hey, there’s the DJ!” Daya pointed and tugged her flavor of the week in that direction. “Go on, Alicia! We’ll meet up with you later!”

“Wait, Daya, I can’t–” I began to panic but she was already off.

I stared at her retreating back for a second, regret tasting bitter. She had left me alone.

I glanced around, trying to keep my cool.

This is the last time, I promised myself, and went over to the only place I could stay quiet and pretend like I was anywhere else.

The bar.

I sat down on one of the barstools trying to think of what to order.

 “Um… can I get a rum and coke?” I tried to signal the bartender, but he wasn’t paying attention, or rather, I was so invisible I couldn’t even order.

One of the terrible points of my personality.

Just when I was considering reaching my hand out to tap the bartender’s back, a voice popped up.

“A rum and coke for the lady,” a deep British baritone rang out right beside me, and my heart stopped. “And another round for me.”

Without thinking, I cast a glance to the side, only to meet a pair of incredibly handsome eyes. His face.

He was so handsome. The most visually appealing man I had ever seen.

My heart gave a tiny jolt.

Though my eyes were obscured by the glasses, I felt like he could see through me.

Almost like he had done some magic spell, I saw a drink in front of me without even another word said.

“Here you go, sir,” the bartender handed the man his own drink, and I was sure I saw a flicker of respect in his eyes.

Was this man beside me that influential? Somehow I could imagine it.

I picked up the glass placed in front of me, unable to keep myself from looking back at the man in brief glances.

After I took a sip, I found some courage and turned fully to face the man who looked both refined and elegant. The strobe lights weren’t enough to make me take my eyes off him, nor was it enough to block the intensity of his gaze as he looked at me.

“Thank you,” I mouthed to him gratefully.

“My pleasure,”  I barely held back a shiver as the deep rumble of his voice washed over me and made me melt. “You don’t look like you belong here.”

My face got hot. Of course. He had seen through me.

“I- I’m not sure that I do,” I replied, raising my voice above the noise. “It’s my birthday today. My friend brought me here.”

“Its no wonder why you look so stunning. Happy birthday,” he smiled, gaze roving over me appraisingly as if he was pleased by what he saw. I was captivated. “I’m Acker Madden.”

 “I’m Alicia,” I said to him, smiling despite myself. He looked unbothered, even amused at the attention. He must have been used to it a long time ago. 

 After all, how could no one swoon at the sight of him?

Sipping on the alcoholic beverage, I idly noticed that all of the club goers seemed to give us a large berth, as though there was a force field around us. But I didn’t care. For the first time since this loud stifling disaster of a night, I had found something to be excited about.

Emboldened by the drink, I mustered  courage for the first time since entering this club as his eyes remained fixed on me,

“So,” I began, “What could have brought you to a place like this handsome?”

Perhaps Daya was right, not that she would know given how she'd ditched me, but I didn't care. Tonight, I would put everything else to rest, especially my caution. At least, for one night only.

Because at this moment, away from my comfort zone, I was content to spend my time in the club getting to know about this mysterious hunk of a man.