I opened my eyes, blinking a little rapidly as they adjusted to the light. My head hurt, my stomach was making more noises than the birds outside and I think, I stunk a little bit - probably the mix of alcohol, seawater and sweat from the night before.

Stretching out my still-so-tried muscles I looked around the room. It was still dark thanks to the curtains being closed. I pulled myself up out of bed and slowly, into the bathroom. My hair felt disgusting full of seawater and the unlimited hair spray that was put in only hours before.

Turning on the tap, I splashed water all over my face and then pulled my hair up into a small ball on top of my head before skilfully pulling on a beanie to keep it all out of face. It was a truly great invention, no matter what anyone says.

Adding some deodorant I walked back into the bedroom and looked at the bed for a brief moment. My side of the bed was a mess but the other side was completely untouched. I thought about Anthony for a brief moment, my mind started to wonder where he was, where he spent last night and then suddenly the words he spoke drifted back into my consciousness. It still hurt, hearing those words as I remembered them.

'Not exactly mentally stable either. I fear for my own sanity.'

'Can't wait for those divorce papers.'

'Pretty little assistant and a new company to play with.'

Shaking my head clear of thought I unlocked the bedroom door. Peeking my head out of the room, I looked around the small bit of the apartment I could see. Walking out of the room, I slowly checked for signs of life.

The key to the apartment was still missing from the hall table and only my phone sat alone next to the colourful candle.

"Hey Asshole, you home?" I called out. I was pretty sure he wasn't here so I didn't bother hiding my disapproval. I was still angry and having thoughts breaching the psychotic.

Silence. Pure beautiful silence.

Picking up my phone, I saw twenty missed calls and over fifty messages. My eyes widened in shock, as I looked through the messages, all of them basically the same:

I had a few more missed calls from Jessie as well. Not bothering to check my voice mail, I called Jessie to make sure everything was okay.

"Sky?!" She all but squealed into the phone.

"Hey Jess, What's up?"

"Where the hell have you been?!" She started to raise her voice at me.

"Um, at home." I frowned a little confused.

Sleeping in my mass of pillows and blankets.

"Sky we thought you drowned!" She was screaming at me now, "You went outside, you were a little tipsy we thought you fell over board!"

"Is that her?" I heard Anthony call out in the background. "Give me the fucken phone!"

I could already feel his anger, the tension, and I didn't like it at all.

"Skylar I swear to god I'm gonna - " I hung up on him not wanting to know what he was going to do to me once he got a hold of me.

That was a stupid move Sky.

I know.

Everyone was up all night looking for you. They thought you drowned.

I know.

Think of your poor father and how much he was worrying. Or even your sister, your friends.

"I said I know!" I yelled at my inner self and walked towards the door. I didn't want to be here when Anthony came back, I wasn't in the mood to be yelled at for careless thoughts.

Walking out of the Lustrous, I took a cab to my Fathers house.

I didn't know what I was doing. My head hurt and my stomach was ready to flip any second now, and my inner self was feeding off the pain I was feeling in this every moment.

The front door opened and Jasmine stared at me with shock and surprise. "Sky?"

"Hey Jas, mind paying the cabbie, thanks." I walked past her and continued upstairs and into my old bedroom.

Throwing myself on the bed I grabbed a pillow and started cry.

I felt sick in the stomach, my head hurt and my heart was pounding against my chest so hard that I felt as if it would soon break my chest plate.

Everything was starting to get to me once again. I felt completely useless, like a pawn on chest board, only there to be sacrificed for the king's survival. How did I lose control of my own life?

Maybe -

"Shut Up!" I yelled at my inner self. I was getting sick of her negativity. I couldn't let her consume and drive me deeper into the pool of self-pity and helplessness. "Just leave me alone for five minutes." I pleaded with her.

The door opened hesitantly and I heard the faint sounds of footsteps approaching me.

"Sky?" Charlene called out to me hesitantly.

I clutched the pillow even tighter, not wanting her to look at me like this.

The bed dipped as Charlene sat on the edge, her hand started to lightly brush my hair as she tried to sooth me.

"It's okay Sky. Talk to me."

I sniffed and gently pulled my head up a little to look at her. Her eyes were wide and concerned as they begged me to let her in. "I didn't. I-I didn't know-w everyone w-was looking for me," I started to hyperventilate.

"I know honey." She opened her arms and embraced me; hugging me closely she tried to comfort me. "It's okay."

Throwing my arms around Charlene, I let go of any tears and emotions, no longer fighting them or holding back.

Charlene held me tightly as my body shook in sobs, her hands gently brushing my hair while she muttered "everything will be okay" and sweet nothings into my ear.

My tears no longer fell, the only trace of them was the my streaked cheeks and red puff eyes that were now heavy from the effort. I pulled back from Charlene and tried to wipe my cheeks to gain some sort of composure.

"Why'd you run Sky?" She asked me as she offered me a box of tissues beside the bed. There wasn't a hint of disapproval or judgement in her voice, only understanding and concern - Something I wasn't used to seeing. "Was it cold feet? Or was there too many people?" She questioned referring back to my dislike for large crowds.

I shook my head no. Taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down before I started to talk. "Anthony."

"Did he do something?" Charlene held me out at arms length and looked me over as if she was searching for a giant cut across my forehead.

"No." I shook my head. "I heard him talking with his friends."

Understanding immediately crossed her face as she put the scene together.

"It hurt." I told her. "I actually started to like the asshole!" Tears start to cloud my vision once again.

Charlene gently grabbed my hand, her thumb gently started to caress my palm. "Men are like that sometimes, Sweetheart. They don't know what they have until she's on the arm of another man."

"Am I just meant to pretend I didn't hear it? I don't want to be that pathetic."

"No. You're better than that. Don't spend your time moping around here Sky. Use this."

I looked up at her with my tear-streaked face, red and puff as the last tear fell loose. "What?"

"Before, you were struggling. No job, no prospects and living off of your friend. Use this marriage, how ever short it maybe to stabilize yourself and show him exactly what he will be missing. Show him you're not a push over and that any guy would think themselves lucky to have you."

I sniffed. "But guys don't look at me like that."

"It doesn't matter how men look at you Sky. All that matters is how he thinks they look at you." She smiles wickedly at me.

Charlene stood up from the bed and held out a hand to me.

I took her hand and got out of the bed.

"Go have a shower. Collect yourself and then, we can fix this." She smiled softly at me as she gently directed me towards the bathroom.

I stopped and turned back towards her. "Fix it?"

"Up and till now you've been playing everyone else' game. Let's making him play your game for a while."

I was still a little unclear but I trust Charlene. Walking into the bathroom I busied myself by washing out all of the knots and hairspray from my hair. The warm water of the shower was a welcomed relief and surprisingly made me feel a little lighter.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped my hair in a towel before drying myself clean of any water droplets. I dressed myself in an old t-shirt and pair of shorts that was still my draws and walked out to find Charlene busying herself in my wardrobe.

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

"Looking for something."

"Okay then." I went to turn around.

"Oh no you don't. Here, put this on." She reached her hand out and passed me an old dress that I wore once when I was eighteen and swore never to again.

"I don't think I'm up for this." I said honestly.

"Trust me Sky. You'll be thanking me for this."

I opened the apartment door and poked my head around the corner to check if the coast was clear. Anthony's phone and key sat on the table by the door and the light distant sound of the radio playing in the background told me he was defiantly home.

I took a deep breath and looked down at the red dress. It fit a lot better now than it did when I was eighteen but I was still a little conscious about the low cut neckline and the fact that my arms looked more like bat's wings then anything remotely human.

"Here it goes." I whispered to myself and opened the door all the way.

I walked down the hallway and into the kitchen a little hesitantly.

'You have to be confident Sky' Charlene's words of wisdom echoed in my mind.

Right. Confident.

I straightened my posture and licked my lips.

I can do this.

My inner self nodded her head in agreement. She couldn't say anything since I have now started picturing her with no mouth. It was better this way.

I opened the cupboard and pulled out a glass.

"Sky is that you?" I heard Anthony call out from the bedroom.

"Y-Yes." My voice trembled. I cleared my throat and repeated my words more clear and confident this time.

"I can't believe you!" He started to raise his voice. "We were up all night with coast guard looking for your dead body in the bloody water! And then when I finally get back you're gone again!"

I rolled my eyes and shut the cupboard door. I could hear his footsteps as he paced down the hallway towards me.

Turing the corner, Anthony started once again. "Where the hell have you - where did you get that dress?" He started to yell before his eyes soon wondered down to rest on my butt and then cleavage line and back again.

You got this. My inner self found her mouth and now seemed to be on team Sky.

I licked my bottom lip, slowly and seductively as I tilted my head slightly and raised my eyebrows. "I did own clothes before you, you know."

His eyes were still glued on my breasts. "Yeah but that, t-that is not what I expected." He stuttered a little.

Oh my god he stuttered!

I know! Now shut up and let me focus.

I kept my cool and shrugged carelessly. I walked over to the fridge - swinging my hips as I did so - and bent down as I looked in the fridge knowing full well that his eyes were now staring at my butt.

"I'm going out tonight by the way." I looked around the fridge looking at what to grab. I really didn't want anything from in here but the chance to show how good my butt looks in this dress was just to good to pass up.

I grabbed a bottle of water and stood back up, turning back around so I could face Anthony who - as expected - was indeed staring at my ass.

I lifted my eyebrows in a questioning way as his eyes finally looked up to met mine.

"What?" He frowned - clearly not listening.

"I said I am going out tonight." I repeated.

"Where? Out." He cleared his throat before trying again. "Out where Sky?"

I looked down and carefully ran my fingers delicately over the bottle of water and around the tip of the lid where a single drop of water sat. Smirking a little, I looked into Anthony's eyes and raised the bottle to my lips before carefully licking the single drop of water off the tip and then my lips.

"To a club." I continued. "With some friends."

He paused for a moment. His chest rose and fell at an erratic pace as he kept my gaze. "You mean the two friends you have?"

Okay now you're heading the right way for a slap in the face.

"Yes Anthony. My two friends. Why don't you go hang out with your friends? I know they love a good spectacle." I said with a slight bite to my bark as I walked around the bench top and nudged his shoulder as I passed him - headed for the door.