Chapter 1: Before midnight
She walked across the floor and no one and nothing was going to stop her from seeing the girl of her dreams. It was torture not being able to touch her, kiss her and even hold her like she wanted to. She was so close yet, it felt like she was so far away. Today was different, she had to do something, even if that meant ruining everything that had led to this moment. She couldn't wait and even Amy's attempt to stop her was in vain. It was now or never because she didn't know and she couldn't rely on what tomorrow would bring. Karma Ashcroft was taking matters into her own hands. The sound of the loud music in the room wasn't as loud as the thumping sound of her heart. As she found her way in what looked like an ocean of people, she could only see one person. Her heart palpitated and her palms were sweaty. She was getting closer by the seconds and her love was looking more beautiful as she got closer to where she was standing, near the DJ booth.
A true love's kiss would set her free. That thought had been in her mind all day and it was forty-five minutes until midnight; before the impending doom. Breathe she told herself and by then, she was already behind her, only a touch away to receive the contact that she had been craving for the past few days.
She reached for her shoulder but then she pulled back her hand. The courage that she had built the past few minutes were crumbling quickly and out of impulse, she took the cup in the hand of the guy that stood next to her, and she drained the content of the cup in one gulp. She reached out her hand again and touch her beloved lightly on the shoulder.
The young woman turned, "Oh, it's you," and the expression on her face screamed disappointment.
"Were you expecting someone else?" Karma was a little hurt by the response. She kept forgetting that things were different now. She had to remind herself constantly of that fact.
"Yes, my girlfriend whom I haven't seen all night. Where is she by the way?" she looked over Karma's shoulder as if to try and locate the one person that she had been dying to spend time with the entire night. To be honest, she had been trying to have some alone time for the past week but something was always in the way – an assignment, a pop quiz and Karma bloody Ashcroft.
"The last time I saw her she was with Shane, and that was an hour ago," Karma replied. Karma's impatience grew though, she had to get something important off her chest.
"I should probably go and look for her," the young woman decided.
"Wait! I have something important to tell you,"
"Can't it wait?" the young woman asked. The only company she wanted wasn't that of Karma. It was better to be alone than in bad company. Yes, she did tolerate her but that didn't mean that she had to do it on a twenty-four-hour basis.
Karma moved closer to her, "What I'm going to do is not without purpose. Please don't break my face."
Karma pulled her into her arms and crushed her lips upon hers. The young woman was too stunned to respond to the kiss and she pushed Karma off her.
"What the fuck Ashcroft!" she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"What in the fucking world was that!?" Reagan exclaimed.
Shane and Lauren got there just in time to witness the scene.
"This is your fucking fault Shane," Lauren hissed. "I told you to keep an eye on her and this is what happens."
"Shut up Lauren. You know how she is when she is determined to do to something. Nothing and no one can stop her."
"From what I recall, you were the one who locked her in her room smartass," said Shane.
"Well, you were supposed to keep guard outside her door jackass," Lauren shot back.
"At least we know where she is. And why the fuck is blondie taking so long?" Shane asked.
"Do I look like I fucking know?" Lauren looked at Shane with her 'for real' expression.
"We should stop Red over there, before she ruins everything," said Lauren. She wasn't about to let everything they had been doing these past few days go down the toilet.
She made her way towards Reagan and Karma while Shane followed behind.
"What kind of sick little game are you playing Ashcroft?" Reagan was angry. She didn't want to be any part of Karma's possible scheme.
"It's not what you think," Karma tried to explain herself.
"You know what? Just save it," Reagan didn't have the time nor the patience to listen to the crap that was about to go out of Karma's mouth.
Reagan made her way through the crowd of people but she was stopped in her tracks by Lauren and Shane. Karma had followed Reagan to catch up with her.
Lauren was the first to speak.
"Reagan please listen to me. I don't know what Red told you but everything will be explained in due time. For now, we really can't tell you anything,"
"Your little friend is a nutcase. I don't know what you are up to and I don't want to be a part of it either,"
Reagan moved past Lauren with the intention of finding Amy, who was nowhere to be found.
"What kind of shit were you trying to pull?" Lauren confronted Karma who was it this point desperate.
"True love's kiss Lauren. It was worth a try,"
"You almost ruined everything you moron!" Lauren snapped.
"If you were in my situation, you would've tried anything Lauren," Karma vented her frustration.
"Ladies, we're running out of time and this is not the time to fight. Amy just texted me, she's outside with Felix" Shane said.
"What time is it?" Lauren asked Shane
"11:25 PM. Shit is getting real,"