Sydney's frown is enough to tell me that I've not succeed in my attempt of looking normal. I try to avoid looking her and move silently to my room but she leaves whatever she was doing in kitchen and comes toward me.

"Are you okay?" She asks softly, looking worried.

I don't want to worry her or anyone for that matter. I'm big enough to solve my own problems without involving someone else.

I nod and lie through my teeth, "Yeah, I'm good."

She doesn't believe me for a second, no one would. I've been told I'm a terrible liar. But I thank heaven when she doesn't press for more instead change the subject, "Are you still up for tonight?"

The problem here again is the subject that I definitely don't want to talk about but I also know I somehow have to answer her. I am not sure if it is best choice or not but I suddenly have a strong urge to go there. Perhaps it's just me wanting to defy him but I absolutely want to go out there and show him I'm not stupid or naive.

"Yes."

Despite her doubt she grins clapping her hands, "Great, Grace will be here in an hour then we can get ready together." Informing me she goes back to kitchen completing what she left.

An image of a beautiful red hair with freckles comes in mind. Grace, a girl who likes Romero, though I don't really know much about her, I have a feeling she is a nice girl. We will fit just fine until she doesn't tries to move in on my boyfriend.

"That's fine. I am really tired right now so I'm going to take a short nap. Wake me up please when Grace arrives alright?" I ask behind her.

"Will do." Without turning back she calls out.

Entering my room I let out a long breath and fall on bed without changing my clothes, within seconds I'm welcomed in sweet oblivion.

When I next wake up it's due to the message ring of my phone. I groan rolling around, why did I remove it from silent mode again? Oh yeah! That would be because of my jerk boyfriend, last time he went on all furious mode when I didn't pick his nine calls since it was silent. Well he was kind of more panicked than angry so I promised that I'd try to not do it when not necessary. Now I'm regretting that promise.

After few grumbling minutes I find it, opening its lock I see a text from Romero. I do a mini debate to check it or not and end up scrolling through the message.

Are you still going to Kingly?

I send a reply before I could change my mind.

Yes

His reply is instant, What time shall I pick you?

Whoa!

So ahead of yourself, Mr. King, I snort at the thought. I am still angry at him, not precisely angry, I'm hurt. I send him a reply,

You won't. I am taking ride with Sydney.

I wait for his reply but it doesn't come. I kind of figured he wouldn't reply and if I'm not wrong he must be either clenching his teeth or raking his hand through his hair in frustration right now.

Just then the door of room opens and in comes my roommate, "Oh good, you are already up! Now get your ass up and in my room, Grace is already here."

"When did she arrive?" I ask, I don't think I slept for more than an hour.

"Just few minutes ago. Are you coming or do I have to drag you?" Place her hands on her waist, she tries to look intimidating but is failing miserably.

Removing my blanket, I get up muttering, "Jeez, slow your horse woman, I'm coming."

Nodding, she allows me to walk first before following me. I spot Grace on Syd's bed when I my make way to her room.

Grace stands up and offers me a smile, "Akira, hi."

I return her smile, "Hi Grace."

Sydney's phone rings and she excuses herself getting out of room leaving us both in an awkward silence.

We both are stood few feet apart, avoiding our eye contact. I have no idea about how to approach someone who has a thing for my boyfriend.

She is first one to speak, "I know you are aware of my crush on Romero."

This is not something I was expecting her to talk about but I shrug nonchalantly attempting to hid my surprise, "I kind of figured it." I don't mention anything about Romero confirming it.

Her smile turns into a sad smile, "That's all it ever was, a silly crush but I always hoped that one day he'd return my feelings. Then you came along and I saw the way he looked at you, like you are his sun and moon; his reason to breath. I saw how different he was with you and how you had his every bit of attention. I then realized he will never like me back because he was meant to be yours."

How one should react to something like this, other than to be extolled that she saw him as mine. My brain spins trying to understand where the hell she id taking all this? My face confronts a confused expression that she notices.

"What I want to say is I would like to avoid all the awkwardness between us because of my crush on your boyfriend. I promise not to try anything on him, not that he'd ever let me. I will get over it, over him." She finalizes with a genuine smile and I realize she will get over her crush on him because it never reached to point of love, which is much harder to get over, if at all.

"I would like that." I offer her my own convincing smile.

She looks obviously relieved, "Oh thank God! I thought you would hate me for having a thing for your boyfriend, I surely would."

"I can't hate everyone who likes him. I'm sure you are not the one who does and I have feeling I'm yet to encounter many of them. He is this source of attraction that is almost impossible to resist." I recall how hard I tried to resist my growing fascination for him and how I tried to convinced myself that this all is a mere attraction, only to end up falling in love with him. In an unstoppable love.

A wistful look flashes momentarily in her as she whispers, "He sure is. Anyway what are-"

Sydney's re-arrival stops her from speaking any further, "What are you both talking about?" Syd asks us, looking expectantly.

"Nothing." We both answer simultaneously and then look each other with a secretive smile as if we share a secret and in a way we do.

Syd's eyes narrow at us suspiciously, "If you say so. Anyways are we going to get dressed or just stare at each other?"

Exact two hours later all three of us are ready to go. Syd has worn a deep red dress that shows more skin than appropriate for me, Grace is draped in a lacy pink dress that makes her more sexy than cute, while I have on a black short strapless dress showing more than enough amount of my leg and upper part. It is the most provocative dress I've ever worn. My makeup is not over the top but it still is more than ever.

When I look myself in mirror, instead of my usual self, I find a hot, confident and sexy looking girl staring back at me. She looks full of energy and filled with excitement. A sudden rush of wildness engulfs me. I love how self-assured and daring I'm feeling right now. It's an thrilling feeling and I'm enjoying it.

Syd whistles looking thoroughly impressed at our outcome, "We so are going to blow everyone off!"

Grace comes in front, clicking a picture, "Hell yes, we are!"

Taking few more photos Syd turns to me, "Is King picking you up? I bet he is gonna loose his mind and will demand you to change." She laughs.

Like hell he will!

I shake my head in denial, "No, he is not. If it is fine with you then I would like go with you both."

She frowns and consider me for a second before nodding, "Of course it is, Come on."

Grabbing our purse we get out of her room and then out of the main door of dorm. Once we have reached Grace's car, I take back seat leaving shotgun for Sydney. Grace fires the engine which followed by Syd's shout, "Lets rock the party bitches!"

I am ready to rock all right, just not for it to bite me back.

• • •

The place we arrive is an expensive looking building. A big 'Kingly' painted with red color is written on its front. The place is full and still under control, there is long line of people waiting for their turn to enter, they all kind of look rich people. It surely would take more than hour before we could get in.

"It's a long line." I mutter.

Sydney smirks, "There is some perk of knowing the owner."

I frown in confusion, "You know it's owner?"

She mirrors my expression, "You don't know?"

"Why? Who is it?" I ask.

"It's King. He own this." Her face doesn't change when she tells me this but mine sure as hell changes.

I remember that I mentioned this name to Romero, then why didn't he tell me he is the owner? It hurts that he didn't tell me what his other friends already know. I feel stupefied.

And why the hell he didn't want me to come here when he is the one who runs this place?