Changes (IN EDITING)

Chapter 1

                "Hey there Doll Face." A familiar feminine voice greeted. I glanced up from my drink and smirked. "Hey you."

                Rose sat on the bar stool next to me, her dark brown eyes tired from a long work shift. "Been drinking long?" She motioned to the bartender and he rushed over. "Tequila Mockingbird." She ordered, turning to me.

                "Naw, just got here at four." The clock above the bar read four fifteen as I sipped my Black Magic, the Kahlua and cold coffee tantalizing my taste buds. "You haven't missed much."

                "Good. I hate trying to catch up." She piled her long black hair over one shoulder, her Mexican heritage obvious. She was beautiful, in my opinion, but she still felt incomplete. I raked my gaze across her artfully faded jeans and form-fitting tanktop. "Dressed to impress?" I mused, raising an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. "Hey, you don't see me criticizing your jeans and corset tops. Don't diss my jeans and tank."

                I stared down at my distressed jeans, the fabric hugging me in all the right places even after all these years, and my simple black corset tank. I shrugged, taking another drink. "I wear what I like."

                "You're not the only one who seems to like it." She gestured to a table behind us where a guy was not even hiding the fact he was checking me out. I glanced over my shoulder, locking eyes with the guy. Beautiful eyes. He smiled slightly and I looked forward again. "Eh."

                "You always say that." She moved so she could see my boots and grinned. "Wedge heeled today, huh?"

                "Wanted the balance." I gestured to the bartender for another drink and I had one in front of me in seconds. Sometimes being pretty had its perks.

                Rose and I drank a few more drinks until both of us had a pretty good buzz going. She got a call from Amanda, a mutual friend, saying that she was having a party. We were up and ready to go within seconds when a waitress walked over with a drink for me. I smiled sweetly at the girl. "From who?" I glanced at the guy from earlier and she shook her head, pointing to a guy in the darker part of the bar.

                He exhumed a natural air of sexy that was more than human, something I had become very familiar with since I'd left Drake a few months earlier. I smirked, a Black Magic awaiting me on that waitress' tray. "Thank you." I took hold of the drink and turned to Rose. "I'll meet you at Amanda's in fifteen minutes."

                She smiled at me, wiggling her eyebrows like an evil villain. "You got it baby." She pranced out the door, her laughter like bells in the night. I took a deep breath and walked over to the guy, his ice blue eyes watching my every move. I hadn't felt like prey in months but somehow he managed to make it happen. My fangs elongated in defense and I exhaled, smiling. "Thank you for the drink. Is this seat taken?"

                He gestured to the empty space next to him on the leather sofa and I sat, my muscles tensed. The guy extended a hand, his fangs glinting in the minimal light as he smiled. "Lyric."

                "Reyna." I replied, taking his hand. "Much obliged."

                "Likewise." He replied. He ran a hand through his messy black hair and I swallowed convulsively. My heart was pounding and he smirked, undoubtedly hearing it. I set the drink on the low table in front of us, glancing at the clock. Had I been stone cold sober only three hours before? Seemed like forever ago now.