"Mel, you should stay and rest for a bit, don't cha think?" Audrina scrunched up her face when she smelled my rancid beer breath.

"No, I wanna go." I pushed her aside and walked into my room, taking off my shirt and throwing it aside.

I opened my closet door and searched for a suitable dress. Anything would do, really.

"You're not thinking straight. Stay and we'll bring you some food and let you rest." Audrina stood at the doorway, nervously clutching the fabric of her dress.

I ignored her concerns. I am perfectly fine on my own. I've sobered up, maybe not completely but enough to go out and have fun.

"You're back! Where's Noah?" Tiffany walked in my room and plopped down on the bed, munching on a small bag of chips. She looked nice, tight black jeans and a lacy bralette. She had multiple chains around her neck, one of them being Natalie's name.

"He's busy." I pulled out a tight dress, looking at it in the mirror.

"Do you like it?"

Audrina glanced at it, nodding cautiously.

"Yeah it's great." Tiffany reached out to touch the fabric, smiling as she did so.

"Hey Tiff, come here." Audrey pulled her out of the room, leaving me here by myself.

I put the dress on, pulling it down my body. I took off my shorts, throwing them aside.

The dress was a dark, navy blue with chain straps. I furrowed my brows looking at myself in the mirror. It didn't feel right.

I didn't feel right.

"So, you sure you wanna go out?" Tiffany creeped into my room, eyeing me up and down.

"I'm fine! You guys are so annoying." I rolled my eyes and brushed past her, grabbing eyeliner and putting it on. I didn't need much makeup, just a bit of concealer to cover up the puffiness.

"Well maybe we wouldn't be if you weren't a whole mess right now." She grabbed my shoulder to get my attention.

"You just got out of a relationship! You're allowed to be sad and mourn. You don't need to prove anything to anyone." She took the concealer wand out of my hand so I would listen.

I felt anger bubbling up inside of me, I wanted to slap her. I don't need anyone telling me what to do. Why was everyone bugging me?

Stating the obvious "you broke up" wouldn't help me at all.

"I'm not trying to prove myself! I just need to go out and leave my mind somewhere else tonight. Let me do it." I snatched the wand back, finishing up my makeup.

"We're all here for you, y'know. What he did was awful, and I kno-"

"I'm ready." I cut her off, not caring to hear what she had to say about Noah and I. The whole point of tonight was to forget. I got up and walked out if the room, grabbing a worn out pair of heels as I did so.

I heard her sigh behind me, getting up and leaving.

"Hey girl! Didn't know you were partying with us tonight." Natalie was seated with Ryan and Audrina, laughing like she was drunk already.

I smiled, giving her a fist bump.

*

"Right guys, no more than 4 hours okay?" Tiffany said to us as we walked into the crowded bar.

"Don't leave with anyone." She said in my ear so only I could hear. I rolled my eyes, taking a seat at the bar. I ordered a fruity drink, putting my head down as the music pounded in my ears.

Everyone else split up, Audrey followed Ryan around, clutching his arm. Tiffany and Natalie sat at a poker table, playing with everyone that dared against them.

I sat alone, waiting for my drink. I tried not to think of anything, my mind blank.

When I picked up my head, I noticed seats filled around me. My drink was placed in front of me, filled to the brim with a straw.

"Thanks." I smiled at the bartender as he walked away to attend to someone else.

"What's your name?" A male voice said beside me as I slipped the straw in my mouth.

"Huh?" I turned around, not comprehending the question.

"Your name?" He laughed, staring at me.

"Oh, uh Melanie." I smiled back, taking in his features.

He had short black hair, and an ear piercing. The sides of his face were littered with tattoos, different quotes and shapes all around his forehead down his neck.

I softly cringed at the thought of getting a needle stabbed millions of times into your face.

"I'm Jason." He stuck out his inked hand for me to shake. I cautiously shook it, smiling as I did so.

"You alone?" He asked.

"No, I'm here with friends." I answered, mixing my drink with my straw.

"No boyfriend?" He smirked, leaning in closer.

"Uh, no." I bit my tongue, feeling guilty for saying that I wasn't in a relationship. Technically, I wasn't anymore but it hurt like hell to come to terms with it.

"Good for me then." He grabbed a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear.

I laughed, shifting away from him.

I finished up my drink, setting glass down at the table.

He snapped his fingers at the bartender, signaling him to bring another round.

"Oh, no I shouldn't drink anymore." I shook my head, I really can't keep drinking.

"Too late babe. Just one more." He smirked again.

I tensed up at the word, the word only Noah could call me. Even though I told him he could never do it again.

The bartender brought back drinks, this time for him and I.

I looked around, everyone seemed to be having fun. That's why I came out here after all. I can't let my old relationship weigh me down anymore.

Just let loose. You got this.

I took the drink, taking a light sip as he stared at me. The liquid burned my throat, more than the beer ever did. I cleared my throat, feeling relief.

"Um, do you wanna do something. Maybe dance, or..." I said in an attempt to kill the boredom. His staring was piercing me, making me so uncomfortable.

"Or what?" He looked down at my lips, then back up at my eyes.

"Dance." I breathed out, looking away from him. I stood up, blood immediately rushing to my head. I felt lightheaded, but the stress seemed to melt away.

He followed me to the crowded floor, where it smelled of booze and sweat. People were loud, screaming and laughing in my ear. The music boomed, even louder here than it was at the bar.

As I walked, my dress rode up slightly. I pulled it down, finding my spot on the floor. I smiled at the music, it was

Perfect.

Jason creeped up behind me, snaking his hands around my waist. I flinched, he startled me.

I swayed side to side, the alcohol starting to work it's magic. I let loose, just moving my hips to the sound of the music.

"You got moves." Jason said in my ear. I forgot he was even here. We made our way to the corner of the floor, against a wall.

"Do you know the time?" I turned around to face him. He pulled out his phone and looked at it.

"11:17." He said.

"Oh, thanks." I said. I can't remember what time it was when we got here, but it hasn't been too long. Certainly not more than an hour.

As the music continued playing, I felt his hand move up and down my torso. I breathed heavily, trying my best to ignore it.

Just have fun.

I made sure I set boundaries, moving his hand when it went too low, and moving it again if it went too high.

This was supposed to be enjoyable. It wasn't in the slightest.

"I think I'm gonna go find my friends now." I said in his ear so he could hear me over the loud music.

"Let me go with you." He insisted, following me as I began to walk away.

"No, it's fine I can go on my own." I nicely rejected him, trying my hardest not to be rude.

"Then stay." He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back.

Alarms went off on my head. Was I in danger?

"Uh, no." My voice quivered. His grip on my wrist only tightened.

"Come on, babe." He squeezed harder, making me groan.

"You're hurting me! Stop." I used my other hand to try and release his grasp but it only did the opposite.

"Ow! Please stop." I stomped my foot on the floor, the pain beginning to get unbearable.

"I'll stay, just stop please." I said, hoping that would get him to stop. It did, but he now used his hand to grip my waist, now I couldn't leave. Fuck.

"We're not done here." He said in my ear.

I blinked my tears away, just cooperating with whatever he said. I can't do anything about it.

His hand again moved up my torso, but I didn't dare stop it.

I shut my eyes, who knows what he would do, but I wanted to not think.

I opened my eyes to look around. Everyone was doing their own thing, not even looking my way. If I could get away from him, I could loose him and get to Tiffany or Audrina.

I just needed him to let go.

"What's the time?" I asked slowly.

"11:20 I'm guessing." He whispered in my ear, his breath just as rancid and sour as mine.

"Can you check?" I cleared my throat, getting frustrated. He probably knew the game I was playing.

"11:22." He pulled out his phone, now was my chance. While he was distracted I could've ran.

I quickly shuffled away, smiling to myself as I took the first few steps to freedom, but that smile faded into a growl of agony.

He grabbed my hair, a fistful of it and wrapped it around his knuckles, sending me flying back into him.

"Let me go!" I stomped on his foot, feeling helpless. He didn't budge, instead, a devilish chuckle erupted from him.

"Lay off asshole!" Audrina appeared in front of us, crossing her arms.

"I'll bring my... friend in, and he'll beat your ass." She said, gesturing to Ryan behind her, chatting with someone else. He was completely oblivious to the situation, but he was there with Audrey.

Jason scoffed behind me. I couldn't see his face, but his grip seemed to soften.

"Do we have a problem shitbag? I deal with people like you all the time! You don't scare me." She spat, getting closer. The look on her face got meaner by the second.

"You have 5 seconds before I call him over." She turns around to look at Ryan and his friends, all of them buff and intimidating. Again, none of them were paying attention to the current situation.

"You got lucky bitch." He clicked his tongue, shoving me away from him into Audrey.

I fell on my hands and knees, catching myself from landing on my face.

Audrina bent down, helping me up. "We'll go home now. Are you okay?" She gave me a hug, her perfume adding sweetness to my stress.

"I just need to leave." I followed her, she held my hand tightly as she led me outside, dialing numbers on her phone.

"Jesus Melanie, you've just had the worst day today." She consoled me, carrying my heels for me as we walked to the car together.

--