CHAPTER 1

Two Months Earlier

"What did you expect me to say, Alec?" I kept my tone flat. I couldn't afford to waste anymore of my mental energy on him today. Or anytime soon. I just couldn't.

"I'm not sure." A ridiculous and typical reply. My eyes were still trained on his face, which of course wasn't turned in my direction. Figures he wouldn't be able to have this conversation like a normal adult.

"Well, I wasn't aware you did it with every girl that was a little drunk." His eyes finally met mine. Ah, struck a nerve there, I guess.

"You were more than a little drunk, and so was I." A smirk played on his lips. Arrogant as always. "What you're insinuating couldn't be further from the truth. You and I both know that."

"That's supposed to be your excuse? You disgust me." I said with a scowl.

Alec simply shrugged his shoulders. "That's not what you said last night." My palm connected with his cheek, the resonating burn and sting causing me to curse under my breath.

"Never speak to me again," I said, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him towards me. I didn't want him to miss the meaning and venom behind my words. "Don't look at me. Don't breathe in my direction. Don't even think about me." I watched whatever bravado he was feigning slowly begin to fade from his face as I released him from my grasp. "As far as you're concerned…I'm dead to you."

The Present

"Come on Belle, you look absolutely fine." Christopher called up my stairs. I was staring at myself in my bathroom mirror and checking out what I was supposed to be wearing tonight. I still wasn't sure if I liked it or not. It was just something I kind of threw together. A small blue dress that stopped partway up my thighs and a pair of black pumps to match. I picked over my jewelry at least five times before settling on a few long silver chains that cascaded down my torso and dangly silver earrings to match.

With one last look in the mirror, I resigned myself to the fact that I just didn't have the energy to do my hair. I let it hang loose in curling tumbling waves of chestnut that reached halfway down my back.

If my best friend wasn't the absolute fashion monger that she was, I wouldn't be giving my outfit a second thought. She always kept up with the latest trends, and you didn't simply go out with Harlow Tiers unless you were dressed to the nines. And since the style monster herself was my roommate, I didn't go anywhere without her seal of approval first.

Harlow had somehow managed to get us on the guest list for the opening of the newest club in town; Beta. Our normal group, which consisted of Christopher, Harlow, Oliver, Oliver's twin sister Opal, my brother Logan, and myself, had been planning this night out for a while, and Harlow had promised it would be one we'd remember for a long time to come. The excitement of clubbing had slowly begun fading for me. It was just no fun being the fifth wheel consistently.

"Alright!" I yelled as I hurried down the stairs. Just in time to see Opal and Logan walking in. Every time I saw them together, I couldn't get over just how perfect they seemed for one another. Logan looked like an actual body builder. He had short brown hair and big brown eyes. Opal, who was the epitome of beauty itself, had long flowing blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. As Opal's twin, Oliver shared the genetic beauty. Bastards.

"Where's the party?" I asked as Logan wrapped his arms around Opal's waist and pulled her into himself.

"The party is where ever we are!" Harlow chimed in, dancing into the room with Christopher close behind her. The party pixie herself had arrived, and she was, of course, adorable as always. She was short and petite with chin length curly red hair and sea foam green eyes. Her boyfriend Christopher towered nearly a foot over her in height, his nearly pitch-black hair a stark contrast to her fiery red.

"I can't believe you got us on the list for Beta, Harlow." Opal gushed, and they both squealed in excitement. I did not feel compelled to join in.

"Not too excited, Belle?" Oliver asked, smiling at me as he walked into the room. He had pulled his usually messy blonde hair up into a bun, and I had to fight the urge to yet again ask him to get a haircut.

"Well, you all know what happened last time." I said awkwardly, referring to my hook up with Harlow's older brother and my former best friend, Alec.

"Ew. Can we not go there again?" Harlow said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"I couldn't agree more." I retorted.

"The goal tonight is to find Belle a hot make-out partner." Opal purred, lifting her eyebrows suggestively.

"I second that motion. Let's get out of here." I said rolling my eyes. I made a beeline out the door, and my way to Oliver's motorcycle. When Oliver walked out and saw me already on his cycle, he just rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Care to give a damsel in distress a ride, handsome stranger?" I asked jokingly as he approached the bike.

"But of course." He said, pulling a helmet out of the side bag and placing it into my already waiting hands. He slid onto the cycle in front of me, and I wrapped my arms around his waist as he cranked the engine. "Hold on tight." He said, and we rocketed out of my driveway.

We arrived at the club ten minutes before everyone else, and Oliver and I shared a victory high five as we gave the bouncer our names. He let us in immediately despite the shouting of complaints coming from the line of people who had been waiting to get in before us.

As soon as we walked in I could tell why there had been a line of bodies around the block fighting to get in here. The entire club was like something out of fantasy. The only way I could describe it would be a mix between a pulsating rave with a high class feel. Beams of light in every color shone down from the ceiling and danced across the club. I could feel the vibrations of the pounding music in my feet and chest. I took notice of several gentlemen taking notice of me as Oliver and I both took a moment to scan the room. I elbowed Oliver in the ribs, and he caught the hint immediately, smoothly wrapping his arm around my waist and leading us over to a sitting area that would be big enough for everyone.

"Want something to drink?" he asked, ducking low to whisper in my ear. Oliver was good at pretending to be my boyfriend in situations like this.

"The usual." I replied, and he swiftly took his leave to the bar to grab our drinks.

"Well, well, well, look who it is…" Drawled a sickly annoying voice. I turned my head slowly to see none other than Alec Tiers standing behind me.

"What do you want, Tiers?" I spat at him, not even attempting to make eye contact.

"Touchy." He said, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. I stole a glance at the bar only to find that Oliver was still waiting for our drinks. Fantastic. "You two together again, or what?" Alec asked, referring to Oliver. Oliver and I had briefly dated in the past, but things didn't mesh well, and we ended up being better friends than we were a couple.

"If I said yes, would that make you go away?"

"Not in the slightest."

"Then if you must know, no, we're not together." I relented, finally allowing myself to look at his stupid face, and take in his red-brown copper mussed up hair and forest green eyes.

"I see." He said quietly, looking me up and down. The simple act of it was enough to make my skin crawl.

"You know your sister and my overprotective brother will be here soon, so you better scram while you have the chance." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Awe, what's wrong? Don't want me anymore?" he teased.

"Never did."

"Well, that's not entirely true." He said, and had the audacity to laugh.

"Get out of here, Alec." I hissed just as Oliver returned with our drinks.

"Don't drink too many there, Annabelle." Alec said with a smirk as Oliver slid back into our booth and handed me my drink. I was ready to retort when Oliver beat me to it.

"Fuck off, Tiers." He spat, and Alec laughed, shaking his head, but still took the hint and backed off. As Alec slinked his way back over to the bar, I noticed Harlow and everyone walk in.

"Was that who I think it was?" Harlow asked as she sat down and everyone else followed suit,

"Yup." I said, overemphasizing the last letter.

"I swear he's not my brother." She snorted, and we all laughed.

"I know the feeling." I said as I stole a glance over at Logan and Opal, who already had their tongues shoved down each other's throats. I repressed the urge to vomit and scanned the room for any potentially interesting men.

There was one guy in particular that kept looking my way. He was tall with black scraggly hair and a face that could have only been carved by the gods. He was absolutely gorgeous, and he was most definitely looking my way. I blushed as our eyes locked, and he smiled.

"Um, I'll be right back." I said, quickly sliding out of my seat.

"He's hot, I approve, Belle." Harlow said, and I blushed again, and Opal gave me a thumbs up. I made my way to bar, over-aware of each step on my way there as I tried to keep myself from face-planting in these heels. The mystery man was seated on a stool near the end of the bar, and I and decided to take a seat just a few spots down from him. It didn't take long before he made his way over to sit down beside me.

"A shot of Jack for me, and an apple martini for the pretty lady." He said with a grin. I noticed he had a very thick and scrumptious Russian accent. Well, hello there.

"The pretty lady has a name." I said curtly, attempting to maintain my cool outward demeanor while I melted on the inside.

"Pardon my manners. How could I have been so rude. My name is Dimitri, and you are…?" he said, offering me his hand.

"My name is Annabella, but my friends just call me Belle." I said, taking his hand.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman," he said, raising my hand to his lips and placing a soft kiss on it. I smiled despite myself, and picked up the martini the bartender had placed before me. I took a sip and I could still feel his eyes on me.

Tonight was just getting good.

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