Dee claimed the elliptical beside me. "Seriously Ella," a giggle sounded from her lips. "Stop stressing. Everything will work out just the way it's supposed to."
"You know I don't believe in all that fate crap." I huffed between gasped breaths. "Life is life. Shit happens. It's just the way it is."
"One day you're going to be proven wrong. When that day comes, you're going to apologize for your lack of faith in me."
I smirked. "Don't hold your breath, Dee."
"I won't." She assured as she plugged her ears with ear buds. "But I have faith."
I didn't reply because I knew she wouldn't hear me. I plugged my ears and turned up the pace. My heart rate thundered to an all time high and I reveled in the consuming relief I found from my life in my workout. It was refreshing. It always was.
***
I wore dark jeans that sat low on my hips and hugged me tight paired with a set of black-heeled leather boots. After a torturously long time spent debating on a top, I settled on a backless black halter. The shirt had a shimmer to it in the right light, but it wasn't overdone. I didn't want to appear as though I was trying too hard, but I didn't want to go in looking like I couldn't give a crap if I landed the job. I needed this job.
My phone buzzed against the counter and I crossed the floor, swiping it from the surface.
There was text from Kyle. Here.
Be right down. I thumbed in the words. I plucked my black leather jacket from where it hung over the back of the loveseat and shoved my arms into the holes. I dropped my phone into my pocket and rushed to meet Kyle in the parking lot.
I pulled at the handle of Kyle's BMW M3 and dropped down into the back seat. The tinted windows concealed the light from the streetlamps, encasing only the light from the dash. I'd asked once how he was able to afford such an expensive car - he'd replied with luck. When I asked what he meant, he said he was good at gambling. However uneasy his reply made me for my best friend, I refused to let it affect the way I'd always felt for Kyle. He was good for Dee.
"You look good, El." Kyle eyed me from the front seat and Dee whistled.
"You're hot, Chick." She clapped. "You've pretty much landed the job, I'd say."
Kyle shook his head. "I've never seen you dress like this. Are you sure you're comfortable?"
I laughed. "You're the one who told me I'd be working with a herd of slut's, Kyle. I have to be sexy while leaving something to the imagination, don't I?"
"The other girls don't." Dee's remark was cutting.
Kyle shook his head, ignoring Dee's comment. "I think you found your happy medium, El."
I nodded nervously as I settled into the seat. "I sure hope I did."
I watched out the window as Kyle drove through the crammed streets. People walked aimlessly along the sidewalks and I could see by the way they stumbled some of them were already drunk. Streetlamps cast amber rays of light onto the black asphalt of the back alley Kyle turned into. My heart raced. This looked like a scene straight out of a horror movie. Where the hell were we going?
"Do you know where this place is?" My voice shook and I cursed myself. I had never wished my parents weren't so overprotective the way I did now. Maybe, if they hadn't have held me on such a tight leash I wouldn't be so untrusting of the darkness that hovered around clubs. But I was. Throughout my teenage years, I'd studied rather than partied. In my first years of college I'd flat out refused to immerse myself within the club scene. I'd never been interested in the kind of life it brought. I always thought that if I could only get through my schooling without distraction, I would be able to walk in the life I wanted. I would make my dreams a reality - but if this wasn't a distraction I don't know what was.
"Kyle comes here a lot." Dee said from the front seat. Her voice was soothing. When we first became friends, Dee tried relentlessly to get me to accompany her to the bass pumping, body grinding, late night fiasco that was the downtown club scene and I always refused. After countless attempts on her part and easy dismissals on mine, she'd given up and accepted me for the boring day-lighter that I was. Regardless, I knew Dee lived for the night. She loved to dance, flirt and party. She wanted to live while she was young and carefree. Although in my opinion, university was anything but carefree - I didn't harp on her choices. They were hers.
Kyle pulled into a large square parking lot and quickly found a parking space. "Are we going in the back?"
Kyle laughed. "These doors are for regulars." He glanced over his shoulder. "Are you going to be all right? You look a little pale."
I shook my head and sucked in a deep breath. My nervous fingers found the thin material at the hem of my shirt and went to work stressing the fabric. "I'm good. Just never been to a club before."