Chapter Two

We pulled up to this place on the other side of town. I never came to the south side. I always heard the stories of people getting killed. In school they used to joke around about how you needed a knife to walk through this side of town. I glanced up at the building and I became slightly confused. I heard music and saw cars outside, but It didn't look like a club. It looked more like a warehouse. The outside was peeling paint, and rust littered the street from the tin roof deteriorating. Rory had never taken me here before, and I became nervous.

Sensing my anxiousness, she touched my hand. "Trust me, Ade. I've been here countless times. It is on the rough side of town, but I've never had any problems here."

"If I get killed just know, I'm going to be very pissed off."

Rory laughed really loud and snorted, "Are you going to haunt me too?"

"My soul is vengeful." She rolled her eyes and giggled.

I pulled my dress down further. It was a cute dress, but I couldn't help feeling like it was riding up every time I moved. She grabbed her purse and said, "Are you ready?"

I laughed nervously, "As ready as I'll ever be."

We both got out of the car, and I made my way to the front entrance. I could see two big bouncers, and I made eye contact with the one. If looks could kill, I would be stone dead. The other had a missing eye. His gaze wasn't as menacing, mainly because you can't stare someone down with one eye. It's a little awkward, I assume.

"We aren't  going in that way, Ade.” She smiled and grabbed my hand, "I'm kind of royalty around here, and royals don't walk in the front entrance." She led me to a dark alley and at the end, I could see two guys standing there. I was already on edge and walking down this ally was making it worse.

"What kind of assholes around here made you royalty?" I giggled.

She laughed and tucked her hair behind her ears. "These made me royalty." And she pushed her boobs up further. "It's the only way to get through life, Ade.”

I smiled, and followed her. We moved closer to the men at the end of the alley. I almost felt like I was eavesdropping into a conversation that I was not supposed to be a part of.

"I don't play games, and you know that." The one man threatened- keeping his voice low.

The man with the intimidating presence stood at maybe six feet tall. He towered over the other man with blonde hair. With the limited light, I could see an abundance of tattoos on his right arm.

Right before the other man was about to speak my sister interrupted. “You sure about that?" She said with a playful grin.

The tall man tilted his head, and his gaze met Rory. He smirked and tilted his jaw. His brown hair pushed back out of his face. He turned back around to the man he was threatening before and whispered something to him. The man nodded and scurried away quickly. I could see his tense body depart down the dark alley.

"We haven't seen you around here in a while, princess." He sneered. I was standing slightly behind Rory. This man was intimating, and I didn't want to meet his gaze.

Rory's posture tensed, I moved back further sensing her anger.

"I have other things to do, then to hang around here all the time and get groped by your pathetic friends." I so envied my sisters bravery. I could never say anything like that to a man like him. His jaw tensed slightly, and he crossed his arms.

"And, which one my pathetic friends tried to grope you?" He managed to grit out through his clenched teeth. His shoulders were tense, and his jaw seemed to be clenched so tight I'm surprised he didn't crack one of his teeth.

Rory laughed, "That shouldn't matter to you, right?"

She crossed her arms and looked at me with a giant smile on her face.

"Seems like someone is jealous. Let's go, Ade.” She grabbed my hand and turned us away from the intimidating man, but before we could get in the door, he chuckled.

"I don't get jealous over girls who fuck my friends behind my back," He sneered. "Have a nice fucking night." He pushed both of us back and walked in the club, but not before looking back at Rory and giving her a disgusted look. Rory had a look of anger and hurt flash across her features, but she quickly shook it off.

"What was that about?" I gasped. It was a quick exchange of insults, but I felt like I had been holding my breath for hours around that man.

She ran her hand through her hair and sighed.

"That's my ex, Josh. As you can probably tell, we aren't too fond of each other." She looked at her hands and picked at her nail polish.

"You actually dated him? What happened? Why didn't I know about him?" I met all of Rory's boyfriends, and I was slightly hurt that she was keeping secrets from me of all people.

"Well, he's not a good person, and I didn't want mom and dad to know that I was dating a man like him. I didn't want you to know either." She gave me a guilty look and sighed.

"What happened between you two?" I pressed. My sister was good for dating men that were older than her, and guys that were dangerous. She always told me about her boyfriends. So I didn't understand what made him so different.

"We broke up about six months ago. His friend lied and said I slept with him. He hates me now. Even though it's complete bullshit."

She looked hurt and betrayed. I decided not to press any further. She didn't need to relive awful moments for me.

"Well, let's get in the club and forget about that asshole,” I said. I grabbed her hand and locking our fingers together.

She nodded, "You're right. Screw him and his friends."

We both laughed and made our way into the club — the loud music and people screaming immediately hurt my ears. After a few drinks, my senses will inevitably dull. The place was packed. We squeezed our way to the bar, and I was going to take out my fake ID until Rory grabbed my hand.

"You won't need that here." She yelled over the music. The strobe lights were flashing right in my face, and I had to squint to see Rory. The bartender made eye contact with Rory, and she pushed her boobs together. He shook his head and laughed.

"What are you doing here?" He smiled. His name tag said his name was Ben.

"I brought my little sister out for a night on the town couldn't miss this place, now could I?" She leaned into the bar. Flirting came so quickly to her; I wish I had that ability. My flirting is being annoying and hoping the other person understands that I'm joking. That's probably why I've only had one boyfriend. You can only annoy someone for so long.

"Oh, I didn't introduce you two. Ben this is my sister, Adrianna."

He smiled and stuck his hand out, "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." I smiled. He had blonde hair that was longer on the top and very bright blue eyes. He was very handsome.

He and Rory engaged in small talk for a few minutes until he got our drinks.

"Come on, Ade. We're going upstairs away from everyone."