Chapter 5

Jess stood at the bathroom sink clutching the sides of the basin for dear life, she took a few deep breaths before looking up into the mirror. A face she barley recognized looked back at her. Her eyes were lined with black liner winging out from the outer corner giving her a cat like predatory look. Her cheeks shimmered and her lips were painted blood red. Kira had insisted she wear black jeans and red top she hadn't donned since high school. The jeans were ripped up at the thighs and flared slightly from mid-calf to the end of the leg. A white leather belt with metal studs and her old red sneakers completed the outfit. She looked hot she decided flippantly, not wanting to dwell on the way she was almost spilling out of her top or the way her jeans hugged her butt a little too tight. Grabbing her leather jacket and shrugging into it she bounded down the stairs to the living room where everyone else had gathered. Zak shot her look as soon as she entered the room, his blue eyes were laser focused on her. But that could be anger since she had just kicked him out. She knew he didn't break the door but being angry was easier than dealing with the truth. It wasn't fair. And she would talk to him later at the club once she had a few drinks in her. Liquid courage and all that. Swallowing her pride was easier once she had swallowed copious amounts of vodka. The way he looked at her though maybe she could talk to him before they left so there would be no awkwardness. He wore black jeans, a t-shirt and a black canvas jacket that had straps crossing the front, the collar upturned. Fingerless gloves on his hands, again black. He looked dangerous. The definition of a bad boy, the guy your mom warned you about. He looked good. But once Zak walked over to Kira and put his arm around her waist, leaned in and whispered something in her ear that made her squeal like a school girl Jess doubted he would talk to her any time soon. It was so juvenile what he was doing, flirting with her friend to try to make her jealous. Her anger flared and she took a dep breath to calm herself.

"Billy is driving us in the van, Aaron took Leo out and that was a sight to behold I'll tell you. He almost face planted like four times."

"Dude, he's just insane, follows that nose and does not listen for shit."

"Maybe he could sense he wasn't in the presence of an Alpha male." Jess snapped as she glared at Aaron. Insult her all you want but do not insult her dog. Aaron put his hands up in surrender.

"Jess that was a little much considering he did take your dog out for you." Kira said softly still tucked into Zak, who was looking pointedly in the opposite direction.

"You're right. I'm sorry Aaron. Thank you for taking him out, I know he can be a handful."

Aaron smiled and nodded at her.

"I'll make it up to later at the bar." she added with a wide smile and wink. Tossing her hair back and peeking over her shoulder to see Zaks expression. Well he wasn't focused on the wall anymore. Instead he was staring at the floor with his fists clenched. Jess smirked to herself. Looks like two can play the jealousy game.

"Well let's go." Nick clapped and headed out the door.

When they got to the club it was packed, but it was a Saturday night so that was to be expected. When the bouncer saw Zak they were immediately brought up to the front of the line and ushered into the club. The group broke apart upon entering wanting to escape the awkward tension of the ride there. Zak, Billy, Nick and Kira went to the darkened V.I.P booth while Aaron headed to the bathroom. Everyone knew Zak and Jess were mad at each other which increased the level awkward to new levels. Kira and Aaron tried to start conversations during the ride but when either Zak or Jess was presented with an opportunity to join in the conversation they would either say the least amount of words possible or not respond at all. It was as though a switch had been flipped. Jess made her way to the bar against her better judgement. She knew who she would find there but wanted to be as far away from Zak and Kira as the club would allow. Jess knew she was going lose Zak to Kira. She usually didn't compete with the blonde for guys but Zak was different for some reason, she wouldn't resent her friend but that didn't mean she had be happy for her at this exact moment. So much for making things up to Aaron.

The music was loud but when you got closer to bar it wasn't so bad. And the bar was where Jess wanted to be tonight, not dancing, drinking. She made her way like a ninja dodging drunk men trying to get her attention, ducking under drink trays being carried by beautiful leggy women. When she finally got there she flopped down on the stool and was greeted by a vodka and soda before she even had time to look up and open her mouth. Jess looked up into the grey blue eyes of Dylan, a guy that left her feeling used but satisfied every time he was done with her. She knew what he was all about and maybe that just what she needed. A distraction. Jess smiled at him and shimmied out of her coat fully aware on what the motion would cause her breasts to do. Stealing a look at Dylan from under her lashes she saw him look at her chest and absentmindedly lick his lips. Jess smirked to herself before tossing her curtain of long dark hair back over her shoulder and fixing him a sultry gaze.

"I didn't order this sir." She said in mock confusion.

"I'm sorry miss, you looked like a vodka girl to me." He replied playfully.

"What do I owe you?" Jess asked in breathless tone, stirring her drink suggestively with her finger. She didn't need to liquor to be brazen in front of Dylan, he knew all her dirty little secrets. Well, all but one. They had been playing this game since they were teenagers. Dylan leaned in towards her and tucked a stray lock of ebony hair behind her ear.

"Why don't we talk about that when my shift is over." He answered staring openly at lack of fabric covering her chest.

"I see you landed your dream job." She gestured around the club. Dylan was always happiest in a crazy atmosphere. If there were pretty girls and chaos he was in his element. He could diffuse a fight with a single joke and calm a crying girl with a smile and hug. Not the conventional ladies' man but there was something about him women found irresistible, and Jess was no exception. He was about to answer when he looked up and Jess felt a tap on her shoulder. Thinking it was Kira she jumped up and turned around nearly knocking the person, guy, over.

"Oh my god this is not my day I'm so sorry are you okay…." She trailed off once she realized who she had bumped into

"Kevin?" she whispered.

"Hey Jess, how are you?" Kevin asked with a small smile, embarrassed. Wasn't she was the one who had barreled into him?

"I've been better, things have been…hard." He put a hand on her arm and she jerked it away quickly.

"Right, sorry I forgot."

"Well that's to be expected when you bail on 6 years of friendship with no warning or explanation." She replied coolly glaring at him. The tension was not lost on Dylan, who chose at that moment to tell Kevin if he wasn't going to order anything he should move along so someone who actually wanted a drink could take his spot at the bar. He wasn't nice about it either. Peculiar, Dylan was easy going and not the territorial type, as far as Jess knew he'd never even had a girlfriend. Oh there had been plenty of girls vying for that title but none of them had received it. Jess was the only one that ever met his dad. She and Dylan had even tried to get their parents together when they were kids well before her and Dylan took their friendship in a different direction when they turned 18.

Kevin looked away and pushed a hand through his hair awkwardly and ordered a beer. Jess wanted the floor to swallow her, she didn't want or need Kevin in her life right now, she had accepted the fact the he didn't want anything to do with her anymore and here he was. It wasn't fair, fate just couldn't resist fucking with her lately. An ominous feeling began to grow inside her, as though everything was just beginning to get out of control. Deciding she couldn't do anything about it now she turned back to the bar hoping Kevin would go away. No such luck, he took the empty stool beside her and angled his body towards hers. Jess moved her hair so that it was like a curtain between her and him. Go away! She thought at him fiercely. Sure Dylan wasn't exactly a knight in shining armor but they had kept in touch even after she moved, he had even flown out to see her a couple times.

"Well this is awkward, another drink Jess?" Dylan asked casually. Jess chuckled and nodded to him. She could feel Kevin next to her and the tension coming off the man was really starting to irritate her, there was no reason for him to be here.

"I'll get it, I owe you that at least." Kevin ordered her two tequila shots, something she hadn't had in years.

"What do you want Kevin?" she bit out at him suddenly anger getting the better of her though she took the shots and drained them all the same.

"I wanted to talk about how we, how I ended things."

"Let me stop you right there. We both know where we were headed before you did what you did, but let me perfectly clear, we will never be that way again."

"I know that but I just wanted to make sure you understood why I ran out on you."

"I get why, you think I'm a freak. It really is ok, it's not like it was the first time someone found out about my 'gift' and took off, why do think my mom never dated?" she laughed at her own sad little joke. When Kevin literally ran away from her that night it was like something shattered inside her. Jess never opened up to anybody after that. That wasn't about to change either. Jess put her elbows up on the bar to support her suddenly heavy head. Kevin threw his hands up suddenly in frustration.

"Yea I was freaked out, I was 16 and found out that the girl I had had a crush on since I was 12 could see ghosts, yea I was scared, yea I ran. But I'm also really sorry, and if I could take it all back I would."

"Buuuuuuuuuuut you can't. Maybe you should leave dude, I don't think the lady wants to talk to you." Jess' head came up from her arms so fast her neck cracked. That was the last voice she expected to hear defending her tonight.