MAD LOVE

Chapter 9

He smelled of tobacco and alcohol, which meant he was drunk. I had to get out of there. I took a step back, stumbled over the cables, and was about to fall, when he suddenly caught my arm, put his arm around my waist, and pulled me to himself. It was like a flash went off in front of me. I jerked away and hit my back against the wall, bouncing off. I kept my eyes on Norton, just as he was watching my every move with predator-like intensity. He was looking at me with half-closed eyes.

"I have to admit I'm disappointed with your reaction," he said, then noticed my confusion and reminded me. "The resort, restaurant, and my invitation to dance, remember, Moore?" One step after another, Norton inched toward me like a stalking predator until he was really close. "I thought you really didn't dance. I tried to show understanding, even though I could have forced you. Turns out, it's all lies. Should I have offered to pay you? It seems you swing your hips remarkably well when there's money involved..." I interrupted his tirade with a ringing slap across his face.

Nothing can save me now...

"Have you lost all fear, Moore?" Mike grabbed my throat but didn't squeeze it, as if he was afraid to hurt me. He bent down to me and his lips brushed against mine, sending an almost electric shock through my whole body.

"Let me go, please..." I was afraid to open my eyes and see the horror of what was going on around us.

"Alana, baby!" I heard Jessica's voice behind my back. "Player, what the hell?!"

It felt like the surrounding room emptied, and I worked up the courage to open my eyes. Jessica was standing in front of me, screaming at Mike that she had warned him to not even look in my direction.

She pushed him away. She saved me, as she promised.

Stop! Wait a minute! Player? Mike is her childhood friend?!

Oh, damn...

My eyes filled with tears as I watched this seemingly fragile blond tear a strong man to pieces, while he stared at me, his expression filled with bile and disappointment.

"I'd be really interested to hear how the two of you ran into each other." The demand was now addressed to me, and I only nodded in agreement. "Come on, they'll announce the results soon," the blond said as she took my hand and headed towards the stage.

"Moore!" Norton shouted behind our backs. "Cover yourself! I want to be the only one who sees you dressed like that!"

Jessica, cool as a cucumber, flipped him the bird, and we disappeared into the crowd.

"How do you two know each other?" she hissed. Apparently, waiting for long is not her thing.

"This idiot almost ran me over at the resort! He forced himself into my life, then pretended to be cute and nice in front of my mom. Chance allowed me to leave the resort early, so we left without saying anything. Now, this nightmare of a man is back. Should I flee the city, or what?"

"Wow, so that's why he got here as mad as a hornet! I thought he was about to jump on me and tear me apart!" Jessica whistled. "Well, what can I say... You have my sympathy," she said and burst out laughing. "Player is used to getting his own way, and now he's set his sights on you. Let's talk about it when we get home."

They asked all the groups back onto the stage, and the announcer noted the audience's reaction. No doubt about it. Our girls were on top. We won a good sum of money! Triumphant music played, and we stood in a confetti shower.

The contest night slowly changed into a normal night at the club. Large amounts of alcohol created a magic atmosphere of clouded minds and heated bodies. The thumping music made the crowd on the dance floor pulse as one.

I had neither the energy nor the strength to have fun, so I said goodbye to the girls and left for the exit. At the bar counter, I bumped into a girl and she spilled her glass on my light shirt.

"Oops, sorry! I'm so clumsy," the stranger girl said.

"It's okay, I'm on the way out of..." I looked at the girl and froze.

She was a tall girl with chestnut hair, slim, and her face looked so much like his. I was sure I've never met her before.

"Are you ok?" she asked, smiling.

I couldn't say a word. I was standing and staring at the girl, but in my mind, I recalled the Christmas school party.

Did you really think that I fell in love with you? Come down to earth, you were just a bet, nothing more. You are nothing. You are the dust under my feet. People like you have no business being in our society. Dry your tears and go pick up some crumbs somewhere, you mouse!

Without answering her, I ran out into the fresh night air, got a cab, and went to the campus.

I was having a panic attack. Inexplicable anxiety rose inside me. I could not breathe, and my heart felt like it was about to burst. My stomach felt weird, and I had pins and needles all over my body. Everything went hazy, everything felt unreal. I saw him everywhere, at every corner, as if he followed me anywhere I went.

I go to my room and turned it upside down, trying to find my pills. Having found the precious bottle, I almost scattered all the pills over the floor, trying to open it. My hands were shaking so much! I would expect this to happen if some stranger touched me; that was why I was scared to shake hands with Alex. But I definitely did not expect this from my memories, or from a girl who reminded me of this!!!

Author

The girl left the club. She followed Alana and watched her leave. Then she grinned, took out her phone, and dialed a familiar number.

"Hi! You'll never guess who I just ran into here in Boston..."

"I know. I know everything about her every step and breath, and you turned out to be absolutely useless," a man's voice said at the other end.