6. CHAPTER 6
ARIA - PRESENT
S erfina held my hand as she towed me through the crowd of people, making our way to the dance floor.
The place was filled with people moving and having a good time.
The bass sent vibrations through the room, causing everything to shake.
We found a spot where there was room for us to slide in.
After the last few years, I owed it to myself.
I had been locked away and caged like a bird.
But now, standing here on this pulsing dance floor, watching the crowd sway with the beat, I felt … different.
Was this what freedom felt like?
I didn’t know how to act without the constraints I was so used to. I had lost so much of myself. I was trying, fighting to get it back, but those memories of hands tightly gripped around my neck, followed by controlling whispers in my ear, lingered in the back of my mind.
Not tonight.
Tonight, I was going to forget.
I watched Serfina dancing around, her hips moving in time with the beat.
She took hold of my hand, shaking it to loosen me up and get me dancing.
Her energy must have flowed through me as my feet started to awkwardly join her.
I could feel my heart syncing with the beat as it flowed through me, and with each vibration, it felt like the chains were breaking free.
The strobe lights flashed on and off over the crowd, making everything move in slow motion.
Heat poured out of everyone, mixing into the sea of people, their chatter drowned out by the pounding music.
The alcohol had now spread through my veins, warming up all my senses at once, my body starting to loosen .
I took a deep breath and let the music move me forward as Serfina pulled me closer.
My hips now naturally met each beat as I ran my hands up my body to the sky.
Lost to the sensations, I didn’t realise Serfina had disappeared back to the bar until she shoved another shot under my nose.
“Have another,” she giggled.
As I took it from her hand, my eyes searched out Sebastian and Hayden—I hadn’t seen them since we’d hit the dance floor.
I clocked Hayden, casually leaning against the bar, drink in hand, and sure enough, Sebastian was a little farther along—with a woman. At first, it looked like she was whispering in his ear, but when I squinted, I saw it.
She was kissing his neck, her hand running through his hair.
But his eyes were locked on me.
A burning sensation filled my stomach, and my heart skipped a beat.
I downed the shot, unable to take my eyes off them.
Serfina must have followed my gaze, because she shouted over the music, “That’s our Sebastian for you! Don’t worry about it.”
I didn’t want to worry about it, but I had this sinking feeling in my stomach, a feeling I couldn’t shake.
I needed more.
I grabbed Serfina’s hand and dragged her to the bar, ordering four more shots.
Serfina looked at me, surprise on her face. “Damn, girl. You can really drink.”
I couldn’t really drink at all. In fact, I was pretty wasted at this point. I downed two of the shots within seconds. It still tasted disgusting, but I didn’t care. I wanted to erase that picture from my mind.
I pointed at the remaining. “Do you want these?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m good, girl. You finish them, and I’ll get some more.” She giggled, then ordered two more.
One, two, three! We downed them. My face must have said it all, because she just laughed at me. I couldn’t help but join her.
We spent most of the night on the dance floor, giggling and moving to the beat, until my feet needed a rest and Serfina had to use the bathroom.
I stood at the bar alone, recuperating and drinking a vodka and Coke, and noticed a tall guy at the other end looking at me.
He was quite attractive; his dirty blonde hair was pulled back, a few strands falling over his face.
His shirt hugged his muscles; the buttons looked like they were pulling around his chest. I smiled shyly at him as he made his way to me.
I started to panic a little—it had been so long since I’d interacted with anyone at a place like this, let alone tried to flirt.
There had been a point when I wasn’t allowed to speak to men at all.
I shook myself from the memories just as he reached me.
“I couldn’t help but notice you throughout the night. You’re stunning.”
He handed me another shot. I met his eyes as he smiled at me.
What harm could it do? I downed it, screwing my face up again, but this one had a strange, metallic aftertaste.
This guy clearly had terrible taste in alcohol.
He leaned back into me. His woody-spiced cologne lingered in my nose, and my cheeks burned.
“I’m Max.”
“Aria.”
His hands gently rested on my hips so he could lean in to talk to me over the music. I tensed slightly but went with it. It felt a bit uncomfortable, having a man I didn’t know touch me again.
“I saw you dancing. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to you,” he said.
I met him with a smile. Then, he did something I was not expecting. He moved his hands down to my bum, squeezing it as he pulled me into him. Who did this guy think he was?
“Let go of me.” I pushed at his chest.
“Don’t play hard to get,” he replied, tightening his grip on me.
I felt sick to my stomach as I tried to push his arms off me with all my strength, but it was no use . His hands ran up my back, reaching my neck and making my skin crawl. He pushed the back of my head, trying to kiss me, but before his lips could meet mine, he was yanked away.
Sebastian.
He had grabbed Max’s shirt from behind. Sebastian now stood in front of me, his eyes darting around my face and body. His hands touched my shoulders and then settled on my cheeks, looking into my eyes.
“Are you ok? Did he hurt you?” he asked, concern running through his voice.
“I-I’m fine,” I managed to get out. “Sebastian, behind—”
Before I could get the rest of my words out, Max smashed a glass bottle over the back of Sebastian’s head, causing him to stumble into me. I grabbed his arms to steady him. He touched the back of his head before looking down at his hand.
There was blood on his fingers .