Chapter 10
Myssa
Although Jasper doesn’t show up in my nightmares again, the lingering sting of his torture still haunts me.
A week goes by, and I can’t help but withdraw into my apartment with our interaction playing on repeat in my head.
It’s almost as if I'm on autopilot. I’m not even sure who I can tell my truth to—who would believe me?
I’m being tossed around in this madness with no understanding.
I’ve given excuse after excuse to those who have checked on me the last few days.
But today I woke up with a different mindset. Fuck this asshole, he doesn’t get to win and dictate my life from wherever the hell he is from. I’m not living like a prisoner in my home, afraid of the shadows that lurk in corners. I’m over this bullshit.
My phone buzzes on the kitchen island, and Vix’s name flashes across the screen. This is what I need, a distraction to keep my mind occupied from this crazy mind-fuck I’m living.
Vix: Come to frequency tonight. Miss your face and I haven’t heard from you all week.
Me: Sorry, I have had a lot going on. What time?
Vix: 11 should be good
Me: Ok, I’ll see you then.
Vix: Oh yeah, and Myssa?
Me: Yeah
Vix: It’s Wet Dream Night, bring an extra pair of clothes.
Me: It’s what?
Vix: Just trust me, you are going to love it.
Vix: Gotta go Kthxbyeeee.
I just shake my head—another weird, cryptic message from Vix, but if she’s saying I’m gonna love it, I most likely will.
I decide to pamper myself a little today, feeling I earned it from all the chaos my life has turned into. Mani/Pedi should do the trick.
As I step to the front desk, I let the receptionist know I’m here for my appointment. Denise, my nail tech, waves at me from the back of the room as she comes up to the front.
“Hey, Myssa, the usual?”
“Yes, thank you.”
We walk along the line of pedicure chairs on the side wall until she points to one.
I sit back in the leather chair as she fills up the small tub.
“Earbuds today or no?” she questions.
Here’s the thing about Denise. She gets that some days you wanna talk, and some days you just want an hour of escape.
“Yeah, I’m fried.” If she only knew the half of it.
She nods, putting her own in.
After picking a playlist, I start it, and Enigma’s “Gravity of Love” comes on.
Denise gestures for me to put my feet in while she puts a timer on. The warmth of the water instantly soothes me, and I close my eyes, enjoying the peaceful bliss of normalcy.
Just like everything lately, though, it doesn’t last long.
That urge I’d felt at the club is back. The connection that makes its way through my body with an intensity I can’t begin to describe.
I feel it everywhere and shift a little in the chair.
Small blips of memories invade my peace.
But these are not of the torturous kind.
Lips that I’ve felt before graze my own. Hands that have explored my curves in another lifetime. The warmth of a body I’m so familiar with, but I can’t make out his face. My hands begin to tremble, and my breaths are shallow. I open my eyes to break the spell.
Just as I look out the window, I see a tall figure dressed in black walking slowly past. His hoodie covering his face from view. He pauses, and I swallow hard. A surge pulses in waves through me. There’s no fucking way he’s feeling the same thing I am.
He starts to scan through the window of the salon, and I grip the armrest of the chair.
When it seems like he’s looking in my direction, I freeze.
All I can make out is the bottom of his jawline.
The small uptick at the corner of his lips sends a longing within me to reach out to him.
He continues his walking, and I bolt out of the small tub and make my way to the front door, my wet feet slipping slightly on the tile.
“Myssa, are you ok?” I hear Denise yell.
But by the time I’ve opened the door to look around, he’s gone.
The intensity of emotion ebbs away, and my heart beat finally starts to slow down.
What the hell was that?
Once again, I’m left with more questions than answers. What I do know is I’m so tired of holding all this in. It doesn’t matter if they believe me or not. I need to tell someone what’s going on. Vix and Knox are the closest to family I have. Tonight, after the club, it’s time to come clean.
“Yeah,” I finally answer, defeated, and Denise and I head back in.
An hour later, after walking back into my apartment, I throw my keys on the table in the entrance and set my take out on the coffee table in the living room.
After grabbing water from the fridge, I sit down on the couch and dig into the salad I’d picked up from a restaurant down the street.
Curiosity is getting the better of me about tonight and what the story is behind “Wet Dream” night.
Since Vix is so tightlipped, I decide to go another route and text Knox, hoping to get a little insight.
Me: Hey Sunshine, you gonna be at Frequency tonight?
I mindlessly start to watch shorts on social media to keep me entertained as I wait for a response.
It only takes a few minutes.
Knox: Already here, what's up?
Me: Vix didn’t go into detail but told me to come tonight for “Wet Dream” night. What the hell am I getting myself into?
Knox: LOL, oh you’ll see. What time are you coming? I'll put you on the list.
Me: Knox, you don't have to give me special treatment.
Knox: Um, your family. Give your name at the door. If I’m not there, they will let you in.
Me: Knox.
Knox: Don’t Knox me, woman, I’ll see you tonight.
Me: Fine.
The fact that these two won’t tell me shit is annoying as hell. I can’t lie, though. I’m excited to find out what this is all about. I need tonight. I need the escape, the mind-numbing music and the drinks. Just what the doctor ordered.
I decide the smart thing to do is to Uber tonight, so after pulling up the app, I order for one to get here in twenty.
Looking in the mirror, I make sure my long-sleeved white button down is secured at the cuff.
Last thing I need is questions about where this cut down my arm came from.
I have a gut feeling that once I open this pandora’s box, nothing will be the same again.
Just for a few hours tonight, I would like some normalcy.
Adjusting the harness I have on; I inspect my makeup to make sure it’s in check.
After adding a little more lipstick, I give my lips a pop and smile, making sure there’s none on my teeth.
I grab my backpack off the bed, which is already packed with extra clothes, and toss my converse in before heading to the kitchen.
My phone buzzes, letting me know my Uber has arrived.
I slip on my boots, grab my keys, and head out the door.
As we pull up to Frequency, I’m still in awe of the line that stretches down as far as the eye can see.
After slipping out of the car, I thank the Uber driver and walk past the people who have been standing in line.
I keep my head down, trying not to make eye contact with anyone.
I feel a little guilty being able to cut through and get right in.
As I walk up to the bouncer with the iPad, I give him my name.
I watch as he scrolls down the list on his iPad, and he nods, giving me permission to go in.
The moment I step through the threshold, that gripping pull within my chest washes over me, but not as intensely as before.
I continue through the first floor to the elevator and make my way in.
When the door opens, I step out, only to stand there with my jaw dropped as I take in the scene before me.
The roof has been retracted, exposing a glass ceiling, and the full moon illuminates the room with a subtle glow.
The fencing that was there the last time around the dance floor has been replaced with a metal pipe banister, matching the one on the balcony.
The dance floor is only slightly risen from the floor, with large grooves surrounding the edging.
As I take a few steps in, I notice the people on it.
Confused, I take a few steps further, noticing no one has shoes on, and everyone is well soaked.
Concentrating on the scene before me, I don’t even realize that someone is standing next to me.
“Hey, beautiful!”
Startled, I snap my head up, and see a very enthusiastic Knox looking down at me.
“Jesus, Knox, you scared the shit out of me!” I say, smacking him in the arm.
“Sorry, Myssa. So, what do you think?” He watches me take it all in.
“I mean, it’s beautiful—the lights, the moon, the new dance floor. Quite a unique setting and must have cost a fortune for the retractable roof. But I don’t understand why is everyone wet?”
“Oh, just wait. Hey you see over there?” He points to the right of the floor against the wall, past the bar.
“Yeah?” I say, squinting. “Are those..?”
“Lockers,” he said. “Yeah, put your backpack in there and meet me over at that bar.” He motioned to the right. Vix is bartending there tonight.
I see Vix dancing along to the music as she pours another drink. When Vix looks up in my direction, she smiles, and I give her a small wave. When she looks next to me, her smile drops, and her eyes narrow.
“Oh shit, what did you do?” I ask Knox.
“Who the fuck knows? I can’t keep up anymore,” he says, frustrated.
“Did you ever think that maybe it’s time to take the plunge and ask her out?”
“Yes. No, I don’t know. We’ve been playing this dance for so long. What if it fucks up our friendship?” he asks.
Before I can answer, though, he holds his hand to his ear and listens intently for a moment.
“Sorry, Myssa, they need me at the door. Talk later?” He walks over to the elevator.
“Yep,” I yell.
As I walk over to the lockers, I notice they’re like the old-time type of lockers that provide a key. After opening an empty locker, I put my backpack in, close the door, and twist the key out before putting it in my pocket.
Turning around to head to the bar, I pause as the overwhelming feeling that someone is watching me sends me searching for the source. I’m drawn again to the balcony where the owner’s office is, but no one is standing there.
“Get a grip, Myssa,” I mumble to myself, trying to shake off the feeling.
Walking past the dance floor, I take a second look. I get to the bar and sit down, trying to clear my confusion as Vix comes up to me, already putting down a whiskey for me.
“Thanks,” I say awkwardly. I turn back around, still searching, but something else catches my eye, and I turn back to Vix.
“Is that…?” I say, turning and pointing at the dance floor. “I mean…” I pause, still feeling like my eyes are deceiving me.
“Grass.” She laughs. “Yes, yes, it is. Z is big on grounding. It’s what ‘Wet Dream Night’ is all about. Just wait, you haven’t seen the best part.”
I pull my wallet out, but Vix puts her hand on mine.
“I told you before, Myssa, your money's no good here.”
“You and Knox can’t afford to keep paying for me.” I try to insist on her taking my card.
“As much as I would like to claim it, this is not from me or Knox. Seems you have an admirer.” She winks.
“Who? I don’t know anyone else here but you two.” I can’t help but wonder if this admirer is the same person who keeps making me feel like someone is watching me.
“Sorry, I’m not at liberty to say,” she says. “Gotta get back to work, get on that dance floor, and have some fun.” She salutes me and starts to walk to the other side of the bar.
“Vix!” I protest, but she just continues to walk, pretending to put her fingers in her ears.
Hesitant to get on the dance floor for fear of a repeat of the last time, I finish my first drink and order a shot with a rum and coke from the bartender working with Vix.
As I down the shot and chase it with the rum and coke, the warmth of the alcohol finally makes its way to my senses. Minutes later, I can feel the liquid courage needed for me to make it to the dance floor.
“Fuck it, let’s do this.”