"Come on, Feyre. Live a little."

I rolled my eyes at my roommate, who was trying to decide between the two dresses she had layed out on her bed.

"Sorry, but karaoke bars are not my idea of fun. At all."

"Come on, Feyre. Please. You'll enjoy it! Promise." Mor pleaded with me. "And if you don't, you can go home. Please!"

I considered it. I did really hate going to clubs. But I did like going out with the group. Every Sunday we went to the pizza place Rhys had told me about. But going to a bar… Screw it. I might as well go. Stepping outside my comfort zone might be good for me.

"Fine. I'll go. But I don't have any going out clothes. My wardrobe literally consists of sweaters, jeans and shorts."

"Yay! And you can borrow some of my clothes. You're just a tiny bit smaller than me, anyway."

"Who else is going?" I asked her as I stood up and walked over to the closet we shared.

"Just the guys. Amren might show up."

I hadn't spoken to Rhys since our almost kiss. I didn't know what to say. Do I bring it up or act like it never happened? I hadn't been this worked up over a guy since Tamlin but that… that was a different story. I mean, I had briefly dated Isaac Hale sophomore year of high school, but it's not like that meant anything.

I decided I'd know what to do when I saw Rhys again.

~
It turns out I was wrong.

I had seen Rhys in his normal clothes, in his work clothes but never… never in his fancier clothes. His rich person clothes.

I was suddenly glad that I was wearing one of Mor's outfits, or I definitely wouldn't have fit in. He hadn't spotted us yet.

"Ready?" Mor's voice seemed to snap him out of whatever dream he was in.

His eyes passed straight over Mor. And landed on me. And stayed there.

His violet eyes held mine for what seemed like forever. That is, until, Mor cleared her throat.

"Sorry to interrupt your eye sex, but the guys are waiting for us." She said, smirking a little as she climbed into the backseat of Rhys's car.

"You look beautiful." Rhys said to me when I walked over to him. If I didn't think he meant it, the look in his eyes confirmed it was true.

"Thank you. So do you." And he did.

His black dress shirt was unbuttoned a little at the top, showing his tattoos swirling across his broad chest. I had only seen those tattoos once; we were drying off after an afternoon in the lake when he'd taken off his shirt. The urge I had to trace the whorls with my fingers was back.

I quickly turned away at the intensity of his stare and climbed into the front seat. Rhys quickly followed suit and got in himself.

I couldn't stop stealing glances at him for the rest of the journey.

It seemed he couldn't either, if his little glimpses at me was anything to go by.

~
Okay, I'll admit it. I was having fun.

It seemed the others were, too.

Even Azriel had been persuaded to sing, and had performed 'Don't you want me.' With Mor, who was already quite tipsy.

Cassian had just finished his song ('Another one bites the dust.') and was now trying to persuade me to sing.

"Go on Feyre. Singing at Rita's is a sacred ritual, a rite of passage. Even Rhys, who is possibly the shittiest singer ever, has sung."

"I object to that, Cassian." Rhys retorted, though his words held no malice.

"Maybe later." I said to Cassian, who had stuck his tongue out at Rhys.

"Who wants another drink? I'll get the next ones." This was Mor, who was already sliding out of her seat.

Azriel, Cassian and Rhys all nodded. I was still nursing my first drink. Drunk me was not the best decision maker.

"Fey?" Mor again.

"I'm alright."

After she'd left, the guys all started talking about sports or something that had happened at work –I wasn't paying much attention to their conversation- so I took the opportunity to scroll through my phone.

I had nearly passed the picture before scrolling back up. It was Ianthe –why hadn't I blocked her yet?- cuddled up with Tamlin. And on her hand was an engagement ring.

What.

The.

Fuck.

My ex-boyfriend and my ex best friend. Tamlin and the person he swore he wasn't cheating on me with. Engaged. Getting married. To each other.

The rational side of me knew I shouldn't be bitter. Me and Tamlin had been broken up for a while and he was free to date whoever he wanted.

The irrational side of me wanted to get drunk. Or burn their house down.

The irrational side of me wasn't very nice, I discovered.

"Are you okay?" It was Rhys, who was looking at me with furrowed brows. Azriel and Cassian were looking at me with concern, and wariness, in their eyes.

Crap, my internal miniature meltdown must have shown on my face.

"Fine. I'm fine." They still looked worried.

I was fine, though. What did I care if they got married. And had kids. Whatever. I hope they're happy together. They deserved each other.

I was fine. Totally fine.

"Mor?"

"Yeah?" She had just arrived back at the table.

"I think I will have that drink now."

~
I was drunk.

But right now, I didn't care.

Perfect, prudish Feyre who always returned by curfew and who didn't have more than one drink at house parties, was letting go for the first time.

And it felt amazing.

All night I danced. With Mor, with Cassian. Even with Azriel.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't worrying over boys or my family. I was living not for them, but for me. And I was enjoying it. This… freedom.

I spotted Rhys sitting at our table alone, and went over to join him, my head spinning delightfully as I walked over, stumbling slightly on my heels.

"Hey!" I plopped down next to him, falling slightly into his lap.

"How many drinks have you had?"

"Only a few! I feel fine." My words were slightly slurred.

I sat back, and leant my head against his shoulder for a second before lifting my head back up to look at his stupidly perfect face.

"I like your nose."

"What?" He glanced down at me.

"You have a really pretty nose. It's slightly crooked. It makes your perfect face less perfect."

"Thanks? I think?"

I looked back at the dance floor and suddenly got an idea.

"Come dance with me."

"What?"

"Come on, it'll be fun. I'm a really good dancer." I giggled at that.

"I've seen."

"So you're coming. Or not."

"Maybe in a bit."

"Oh." I sniffed a little. "I thought you liked me."

That got his attention. "W-What?" He spluttered.

"You know something? I don't think you're awful. I think you're a pretty cool person. Way better than my stupid ex and his stupid fiancé." I shook my head, trying to clear the thought away. I was not thinking of Tamlin right now. "I like you, you know. But I don't think you like me, which makes me sad. I don't want to be sad tonight." I was crying now.

"Feyre, darling…"

"Like that. Why do you call me that? You don't call anyone else that." I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Because…"

And that was the last thing I remembered before slumping against his shoulder and falling asleep.