Introduction

This is not a love story about a sweet and timid girl who allows herself to fall relentlessly in love with the enigmatic bad boy. Then he breaks her heart. And through a tear-jerking process of love and betrayal, separation followed by his realization of what he'd lost, the boy finds himself through her pure, unjudging eyes. His heart is softened, as is his touch. He is able to change his ways because in the end, love conquers all. Love will always triumph. Isn't that how the stories go? Well not mine. My love was destined to blow up in flames. It was destined to fade like ash and dust but not before exploded, leaving bloodstains in the snow. It is so hard to put into constructive words who Danny Desai was to me. He was everything. He was nothing. He was the love of my life before he— I think I fell in love with a sociopath.

…

Chapter 1:

I will never forget the fall. The season, I mean. A blanket of burnt orange leaves covered the campus ground at Westbrook University. I was a sophomore there. I'd transferred from my dream school, the prestigious and highly-reputable Stanford University. I transferred for reasons I prefer not to discuss out shame and the pain it brings just to think about. What I'd left behind had been everything I thought wanted. I liked Westbrook, though. It was a quiet liberal arts school in Midwestern Ohio. The social climate was certainly different from what I was used to having grown up in California all of my life, but this suited me much more. I've always been a low-key kind of girl who prefers to live life in the shadows. I never needed to be seen. I never wanted to - and not because I lacked confidence. Quite the opposite. I was comfortable enough with myself that I felt no need to perform anymore. I just wanted to be. Whatever that meant, but I was failing at it. My thoughts were interrupted by an obnoxious noise of nonsensical music.

"Bitch better have my money! Y'all should know me well enough. Bitch better have my money! Please don't call me on my bluff." My roommate, Regina Crane had a terrible habit of being moderately inconsiderate whenever she was in the mood to have a good time.

"Regina! I called out to her. "Reg!" She didn't hear me. She was dancing around the room flipping her luscious blonde hair around seductively. She may have had a little to drink in preparation for the night's events. I tried to motion at her to turn the music down but to no avail. Her eyes were closed as she mouthed the words. Her hand was curled up into a fist which she pressed against her mouth pretending it was a microphone. "Bitch better have my—"I ran over to the stereo and unplugged it.

Regina snapped back into reality in an instant. "What the hell, Lacey? I'm trying to get ready."

"Dancing around the room is not getting ready. I know you see me over here trying to study." I was unapologetic.

"It's Friday, Lacey. Take a day off. Loosen up!" She rolled her eyes at me. We were good friends. We just had a love/hate relationship because of our differences. Regina had no chill when it came to going out, partying, drinking, flirting with guys. I always worried about her when she went out because I envisioned the worst possible would happen.

"Maybe you should stay in tonight too," I suggested. "We can make warm coco and watch Gossip Girl on Netflix. I just finished the third season!"

"Okay, spoiler alert. Dan Humphrey is Gossip Girl. Great show, but yawn. I wanna go out tonight!"

"Wow, um, okay, way to ruin the rest of the show..."

"Come on. You should come with me!" She pouted. "You could be my designated driver. Otherwise I'll be forced to a) drive will intoxicated and we know that's never a good choice or b) I'll end up crashing at some frat boy's apartment doing God knows what with God knows who. She had this way of guilt-tripping me into everything and she was very good at it.

"Okay, fine. But we're only staying for an hour or two. Got it?"

"Mhmmm."

…

When I tell you that Regina ditched me as soon as we got there, I mean literally, as quickly as my foot hit the floor on the threshold of some upperclassman's low-rent apartment, Regina disappeared into the crowd. She left me with her hand bag which had her phone in it so even if I tried to call her to tell her I was ready to leave, she wouldn't get it.

Perfect. I didn't know anyone. Like I said, I was new on campus. It didn't help that I was not a big partier in those days. The scene was a mess of sloppy drunk twenty somethings who were letting loose after a torturous week of midterm exams. I wondered which ones were the chronic drinkers who would go on to become alcoholics. I scanned the crowed for the inevitable phony drunk, the person who pretended to be drinking just to blend in with the rest of the group. I looked for the guys who were on a sexual conquest, and the girls who would be more than willing to be conquered. I scanned the room for the naive freshman that was bound to make some regrettable decisions. People watching was so fascinating to me, mostly because I was a forensic psychology major. I chose the major because it involves the interplay between law and psychology, and I thought it would make for an interesting degree to go into law school with, but lately I'd been more interested in the psychological aspect of my studies. Someone caught my eye, a guy I had never seen before. His face caught what little bit of light that was in the room. Carmel skin, long hair that he had pulled up into a sleek topknot. His deep brown eyes were piercing and curious. I didn't mean to stare, but when our eyes met, I couldn't turn away. Despite my resistance, I was drawn to him. When he caught me looking, he smiled devilishly and made his way over to me. I pretended to be texting someone on my phone in order to avoid how incredibly warm my skin got with every inch he stepped closer to me.

His voice was surprisingly soft and gentle. "Can I offer you a drink?"

On the inside, I was ready to leap with excitement that this beautiful man-creature was talking to me, but I remained cool. "I can't. I'm the designated driver."

"Then dance with me." He didn't ask. He just grabbed me by the hand forcing me to rise from my seat in the corner of the room. His touch sent shivers down my body, but I needed to put my life back into perspective. I transferred to Westbrook for a new start, free from drama, distractions, and even sex for the time being. Damn, that hair though. I just wanted to run my hands through it. Around right ear, he had three piercings that gave him this sexy edge and a small amount of stubble on his chin.

I was tempted, but I stood my ground. "No thank you," I silently wanted to kick myself.

"Ahhh," he yelped, grabbing his should as if he were in pain.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay? Should I call for help?"

"Ow, no. It's alright." He let out weakly, still clutching his shoulder. "I think you just hurt my ego a little bit." He grinned sheepishly.

I couldn't help but laugh. It was a really corny pick-up line.

He followed it up saying, "Kiss it to make it all better?"

I didn't say anything. I just looked away awkwardly.

"I'm sorry," he broke the silence between us. "I'm not a douchebag .I promise. I was just –"

"Acting like a douchebag?" I threw in teasingly.

"Yeah, maybe I was." He conceded. "But don't act like I started this. I noticed you noticing me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I blushed.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," He said in all seriousness. "Now dance with me." This time he didn't wait for me to say no. Not that I would have. Midnight City by M83 was blaring from the speakers. The beat was electrifying, but I allowed my reservations to suppress me. It had been a while since I'd really let loose. I swayed back and forth in stiff movements. Then he twirled me around so that my back was against his body. He grabbed me by the hips and ran his hands along my thighs as he whispered into my ear, "let go." He said something else too, but I couldn't hear between the loud music and the sensation of his warm breath blowing into my ear. I closed my eyes for a moment letting down the guard I had up, even if just for the night. I let myself be free. The dynamics of the song rose as the hook set in. Along with the music, I moved my hips sensuously as he grinded against me. In the fun of things, my hair came undone so I shook my head to messy it up. I allowed the music to levitate me. I was actually having fun. Moments had passed and I was dancing like no one was watching. Closer together, everyone moved. I felt so connected to those around me. We did not say a word, only danced and though our bodies we communicated blissfulness. I turned around to face the mystery boy but he was gone. And I just stood there feeling puzzled and confused as the beat carried on.

A/N: Hello my Twisted fans. How I've missed you so! I know I am a terrible fanfiction writer because I stop and start and stop and re-start on stories that I never finish. I started Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, my first fanfic, when I was a freshman in college. I'm almost a senior now and I'm not done with it. I kind of figured you guys got burnt out with that one and I kind of got bored writing it. It was never supposed to get that long. Anyway, for the first time in all my years of writing, I actually know where I am going with this story, so I am going to finish it. I really hope you guys enjoy this. Please leave reviews. I don't want to waste my time posting this online if no one is feeling the story.