I have almost forgotten about the redhead girl hanging around my house, until I saw her slim figure sleeping on my bed, wearing almost nothing under the covers.

Her fire red hair where displayed on my pillow, eyes tight shut and heavy breathes coming off her lips.

My eyes drifted momentarily on her bare back, until they settled on the small amount of fabric pocking off her hips.

As I imagined. Just a pair of panties.

Sighing, I throw away my jacket, before I move ahead closing the door behind me.

I've got to deal with her later.

My feet carry me to the kitchen, where I make myself a cup of coffee. The bitter taste of it, comes in total contrast with the heavy sweet flavor I have in my mouth since I left Daphne's house.

And somehow that makes me mad.

I don't want to wash over her taste just yet.

Pouring the black liquid inside the sink, I exhale deeply, my mind drifting on the last hours we spent together.

The way her body reacted to my touch, the little noises coming off her lips, the gentle motion of her hips, while I was eating her out like my last meal on earth.

Fuck. She is probably the only thing I would want to taste, my last day on this fucked up world.

Sighing, I close my eyes bringing the image of her laying figure in front of me. The memory alone is enough to get me hyped up, my body itching, craving for her delicate form to wrap around me, touch me in every way she wants...

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I'm in deep shit.

The unexpected train of my thoughts comes to an end, as soon as I sense a pair of arms sneaking their way around my waist.

''Hey there,'' She whispers seductively into my ear. ''I didn't hear you.''

I respond only with a hum.

''Everything okay?''

''Yep.'' I say, detaching myself from her grasp.

My eyes glance at her body, while she makes herself comfortable pouring a cup of coffee, adding two sugars.

She is wearing one of my t-shirts, bare legs underneath, a small bracelet decorating her ankle. Her fire red hair is slightly knotted above her shoulders, but still manage to look presentable in a way. The faint freckles on her cheeks only add to her appeal.

Yes, Olivia is definitely an attractive woman and I won't lie by saying I am immune to her charm. She is the only girl I've ever brought home, the only one I've been sleeping with the past nine months.

Besides what everyone thinking, I always had exclusively few sexual partners. Never a real relationship, but still...I'm not the type of guy to screw around just to get himself off.

That's why I rarely attend the gatherings of the gang. There is nothing I find more petty than horny men trying to get laid every night. The thought of having different women touching me after they slept around the town, is just...repulsive.

I choose who I'll sleep with. And yes, I'm selective.

Olivia caught my eye from the very first time I met her. She was beautiful and fun, lightheaded, but also smart. She knew her limits. Never pushed for more, always patient with me and my mood changes. And our sexual chemistry...well let's just say that was it.

We were fire together.

Key word. Were.

The assumption makes my mind blank.

''What's going on? You are looking at me strangely.''

Her voice brings me back and I need to shake my head to concentrate.

''I have something for you.''

Her eyes light up immediately and for a moment I catch myself feeling guilty. This has nothing to do with the gift she probably expects, but I shrug it off.

''Here.''

Taking the envelope from my hands, I see her eyebrows frown, until she gets a glimpse of what's inside.

''What is this?'' She finally asks.

''For your rent. I know you owe more than a month. This will get you through the year.''

She bites her lip, shifting uncomfortably in her place. ''I-I can't accept it Jack. I'm not coming here for this.''

Her voice in the end deepens and I can see a slight doubt in her eyes. As if she is afraid, I'm thinking that way of her.

''I never said that you do. It's just a little help from a friend to another.''

My last words come off colder than I intended. And even though I see her eyes sadden for a moment, she masked it well, giving me one of her warm smiles.

''Thank you, Jack.'' She whispers against my lips, leaving a final kiss lingering there.

For the next couple of hours, I try to distract myself. Work out, shower, cooking, job related phone calls, sleep. Only I can't get any. Mostly because my mind is too occupied by a certain brunette with long hair and pale skin.

After tossing around like a fucking teenager, I give up taking a beer and heading to the terrace.

The lights of the city are bright, reminding me the last time I was here with Daphne. She looked mesmerized by them. As I was by her.

Taking another sip, I open my phone scrolling through the contacts. Her name pops up and I challenge myself to not call her.

Fuck this.

Just before I press the green button, my phone buzzes and her name appear on the screen.

For a moment I think I rang her by accident, until I realize it's her who is calling me.

''Daphne.''

My hand moves before my mind and I answer the call, a sly grin on my face.

''Hey baby.''

There is a sudden pause, loud noise filling the background on the other side of the line, until her small voice appears again.

''Where are you daddy?''

I almost choke on my beer upon listening to the word coming off her mouth. Her voice gets swallowed by the music, although I don't need her to repeat it to know she is drunk. There is no other way she would've said something like that.

''Where are you?'' I ask calmly, curious to see how she ended up in that state at 18:00 p.m.

''I asked you filst.'' She slurs stubbornly, and I can almost see the pout on her face.

''I'm home baby. You?''

''I missed you.'' Her voice comes off as a whine and I can't help but smirk hearing that. ''Yeah?''

''Mmmm...So,so,so,so much.'' She mumbles into the line and my heart clenches.

''How much?'' I ask teasingly, wanting to hear her sweet voice again.

''All the way to the s-sun aand black.''

My chuckle passes through the phone and I hear her whine again.

''Wh-at????''

''You mean all the way to the moon and back?'' I say, trying hard to contain my laughter.

''Noooooo sun cause it's...l-like far far away and it burnssss. Why does it burn???''

Her voice resembles of a small child and I find myself enjoying this drunk conversation too much.

''Good question babe. I've no answer though.''

Loud voices echo from her side and I can tell she is not alone. It's too early to be on a bar, so where the hell is she?

''Are you going to tell me where you are darling?''

''On a pity party.''

''On a what?''

''Zoey said t-that. Do you think I'm pitiful?'' She slurs again and I can barely understand what she is saying. The voices becoming wilder. How many people are there?

''Daphne where is this party?'' I ask in a more serious tone. There is a possibility she can get hurt either from herself or someone else and I feel myself flying inside the loft to take my car keys.

''Nooooooo it's, it's....no Daphne. I like the other one.''

''What? Baby? Darling? Which one? Choose what you fancy and I'll call you by that. Just tell me where you are.''

''B-but...I wanna talk to you moreeee.''

''I'm not hanging up babygirl. We can talk until I get there.''

''You comin to the pity party?'' She asks surprised and I hum in agreement.

''Drivin right now. Do you know the address?''

''No.''

''Can you ask someone around you?''

''Mmm...Josh, where are we?'' I listen to her small voice talking and my hands clench the wheel. I hope this Josh guy knows how to keep his hands to himself and his pants on, otherwise I'll make sure he regrets even showing up to this stupid party.

The answer comes muffled, but I hear the number and the street.

''Okay. Wait for me there. And no more drinking. Alright?''

''Yeah.'' She mumbles exhausted and I'm wondering since what time, they're drinking.

''Will you...will you take me with y-you?'' Her voice is raspy with a tiny bit of worry, which I don't like at all.

''Whatever you want love.'' I say, trying to reassure her.

''You promise?''

''Yeah babe. I promise.''

Twelve minutes later, I'm standing outside her friend's house. I figured out who she was considering I've searched almost everything about her.

Sounds unhealthy, believe me I know.

The music blasts from inside and I need to ring the bell thrice, before I get an answer.

The door opens revealing a tiny brunette wearing a ridiculously short glittery dress and matching heels. Her face hides a mischief looking at me up and down, before she smiles smugly taking a sip from the champagne bottle on her hand.

''You are him.'' She says, resting her body by the door.

I crook my eyebrow suggestively making her laugh.

''Come in sir.''

Her figure moves farther inside the flat and I follow her stopping in front of a rather surprising spectacle.

Up there on the kitchen table is Daphne, wearing a short, short dress, which I assume is her friend's and a pair of the craziest shoes I've ever seen.

Beside her is probably that Josh guy, skin covered in glitter, full make up look and identical heels with Daphne's.

They both dancing and singing together, bodies close to each other, touching and moving like one. My eyes roam on her figure, settling on the carefree look of her face and I can't help myself but smile.

She seems...happy.

''Said, I took it and I ran for it

I run it, then I stand on it

Money on the floor when we dance on it

Shine bright, let them put a tan on it like''

''I'm a bitch, I'm a boss

I'm a bitch and a boss, I'ma shine like gloss''

The song continues, blasting from the stereo and Josh gives a small catwalk nailing those heels. Daphne tries to mimic him, but it doesn't work that well. Two steps and she is already off the table, head facing the floor, one foot stuck under the chair.

''Shit.'' Zoey says beside me and we both move forward to grab her.

My hands wrap around her arms pulling her closer to me, while her friend frees her leg from the chair.

''Are you okay?'' I ask worried, watching her shoulders shake violently.

''Is she crying?'' The girl whispers above me and I catch her chin to check her face for any injury. Her expression though makes me stop instantly.

The tears steaming down her cheeks are followed by a deep, almost hysterical laughter.

''Did you s-see how I fell...?'' She asks, between giggles and both of us exhale deeply.

''Daphne you crazy...you scared the shit out of us.'' Her friend says, but she keeps laughing ignoring her.

Another dropping sound comes from the kitchen and we hear Josh's voice shouting.

''Bye BITCHESSSSS''

''Fuck.'' Zoey whispers, running towards the window where the drunk guy makes an attempt to jump.

Meanwhile, I focus my attention back to Daphne who looks at me like she just had an epiphany or something. Her eyes are big and glossy, lips slightly parted, a look of pure surprise and disbelief on her face.

And fuck, if she isn't the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Slowly, she moves towards me, dragging her knees over the cold marble floor, until she stands inches away from my face, close enough for me to smell the alcohol on her, combined with the light scent of vanilla.

Her brown irises are decorated with green highlights and they stare right through my soul, making me feel almost ashamed for being in front of something so pure and innocent like her.

And then she boops my nose.

Literally.

Her hand, flickers over there for a second, until her face lights up in a state of ''eureka'' and before I have the chance to question the sudden act, she throws herself in my embrace exclaiming: ''You're real.''

My arms circle around her, a stupid smile upon my face, following by a deep hum. ''I am.''

She hugs me tightly as if she is afraid, I'll disappear, while I caress her back in an attempt to smooth the rapid beat of her heart.

''I missed you.'' She mumbles again into the crook of my neck, her lips pressing a soft kiss there.

The action has my pulse increasing and I push myself back, to take a look on her face.

''Are you okay baby?''

She just nods, barring herself further in me embrace. Hands fisting my shirt, before she traces her index across my jawline.

''I really, really, really like your jaw.'' She says, making me laugh.

''I like yours too.''

''You do?'' She asks surprised and I chuckle in response.

''Yeah. I like everything in you.''

As soon as the words leave my mouth, her face falls and for the first time this evening I see her looking sober. Sad and depressingly sober.

''Why? I'm nothing a special.''

My heart clenches at the sound of her thoughts and I feel myself tensing. What the fuck happened to her?

I see her eyes focusing behind me, tears gathering in the corners and before I know it, I detach her from me harshly, grabbing her chin between my fingers to get her attention.

''Look at me.'' I speak sternly, until her stare finds mine once again.

''Don't you ever say that.''

Her expression remains emotionless and I cup her jaw harder, bringing her closer to me. ''Do you understand?'' I say, voice low and angry.

There is no way we're leaving here with this shit in her head.

She looks at me for a second, her lower lip slightly wobbling, until she nods obediently, fighting back the tears.

''Words.'' I order harsher than I intended, but it does the job.

''I w-won't say it a-again.'' She mumbles and I just nod, still cupping her jaw in a tight hold, before I move forward to kiss her forehead.

''Let's get out of here.''