Chapter 2 A Glance

Alix's POV:

We arrived in front of the club where Marina had decided to take me.

All the girls stood outside, dressed in outfits that were more than just a little provocative, and the boys openly stared at them without any shame. Watching the way they looked at us made me regret letting Marina and my mother talk me into wearing this dress. I honestly felt like a piece of meat to them.

"Stop stressing so much. We came to have fun!" Marina told me, her voice a mix of authority and amusement.

"Speak for yourself..." I grumbled.

"Come on, relax, you'll see-after a drink you'll feel better," she said as we walked into the club.

What?! She expected me to drink, too? In seventeen years, I had never touched alcohol, and I certainly had never danced. Did she really think I would suddenly change just because I turned seventeen today?

Once we got inside, Marina immediately led me straight to the middle of the dance floor, which was so crowded I could hardly make my way through. I felt incredibly uneasy as I pushed my way through the crowd to reach the dance floor.

When we finally reached the dance floor, Marina began moving to the music as if it were second nature, while I stood completely stiff, glancing nervously around.

"Come on, Alix, let go!" Marina shouted, grabbing my hands and trying to get me to move.

But there was nothing I could do; I just felt more and more uncomfortable, and it seemed like this dress got shorter every time I moved.

"Do you want to go get a drink? It will help you relax a bit. I promise I won't get anything too strong."

I nodded. With Marina, I never really had a choice anyway, and maybe it would help me loosen up.

Marina and I had met back in middle school. She had always been as eccentric as she was now, and she never let anyone push her around.

I was the quiet, reserved type; I loved spending time alone, sketching in my corner. In fact, art was what had brought us together-she'd found my sketchbook in the school bathroom after I left it there, and she had been amazed by what I drew.

People always said opposites attract, and Marina and I proved them right.

Marina's POV:

Alix really didn't seem to be having any fun; she desperately needed to unwind. I ordered her a cocktail with just a splash of gin-there was no way I'd let her get tipsy her first night out.

"Here you go. There's very little alcohol in this one."

"Thanks. They had nothing without alcohol, right?" she asked, bringing the straw to her lips.

"Drink and stop overthinking! Here's to being seventeen!"

I could tell from her smile that she was enjoying the drink I picked out for her. At least I finally got a real smile from her.

Alix never seemed to realize just how beautiful she was. If only she could see how many boys had been watching her since we arrived. Sure, the dress played a part, but her green eyes stood out even more with that line of black eyeliner and the touch of pencil I added.

She really should have thought about highlighting them more often.

"Do you want us to go upstairs? There are fewer people," I asked, noticing she was getting jostled more than she liked.

"Very good idea."

We made our way upstairs. Indeed, there were definitely fewer people, though most were couples, which might have made her feel even more awkward than before.

I spotted a free table near the bar and suggested we sit there.

"So, what do you think for a first night out?"

"Not too bad, at least we're better off here than downstairs," she said while sipping her drink.

I smiled, glad I had finally managed to help her relax.

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"No, why? Don't tell me you want to go out again," she asked, clearly unenthusiastic.

"No, well yes, but it's a different kind of evening," I admitted.

Alix shot me an even more disapproving look, and I couldn't help but laugh; honestly, it was about time she started going out. Poor thing, she was going to miss her whole youth if she kept hiding away.

Derek's POV:

We had gone straight upstairs to settle in once we arrived.

Ayden was already chatting up someone across the room, while Sophie stood nearby, keeping a close eye on the girls on the dance floor.

"I told you there would only be kids. Look at them, they barely look old enough to be here."

I laughed and took a sip of my drink; Sophie never missed a detail. Still, if you really paid attention, there were some true standouts in the crowd. My gaze met a particularly attractive blonde, and I sent her my best smile-after all, we were here to have a good time, weren't we?

Sophie noticed where I was looking and glanced over at the girl for a second.

"Not bad; let's just hope she's at least old enough to be here," she said, turning back to me.

I shot her a sly smile; I fully intended to check that out.

Taking my drink, I joined her on the bench where she was sitting.

"Hi, my friend over there is wondering if you're of age?" I asked, pointing at Sophie, who just rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Of course, I'm twenty-one," she replied, running her hand over her neck.

I slipped my arm around her shoulders, and she nearly started to giggle.

I loved moments like this. Girls were so easy to read. With a single glance, I could always tell what they wanted, and this one was no exception. She only had eyes for me.

Her hand was already sliding along my leg as my lips brushed her neck, and I felt her shiver with anticipation. In an instant, her lips found mine, and just as things heated up, my phone vibrated.

I didn't even need to check; it had to be Sophie texting something like "Well done."

I knew I couldn't help myself-I just liked making women happy.

Alix's POV:

Marina chatted with the guys at the table behind us while I surveyed the club. The decorations were genuinely beautiful, featuring striking bursts of color. I never would have imagined seeing such vibrant shades in a place that was otherwise so dimly lit.

I returned to the upper floor and took a good look at the walls, which displayed even more stunning colors, the aluminum columns catching the lights and casting brief, shifting highlights across the surfaces.

I found myself mesmerized by those shifting colors until my eyes settled on a couple kissing-not the couple themselves, but the tattoos covering the man's arms truly caught my attention.

I squinted, trying to catch the full effect as the light slid over his skin, revealing intricate designs. The tattoos looked genuinely fascinating; whoever had inked them was clearly talented.

I was completely absorbed in admiring the artwork that I didn't even notice when the girl left, and now the person with the tattoos was looking straight at me.

I met his gaze and froze. I wanted to look away but couldn't.

His stare was so intense, it felt as if he could see straight through me, as if he meant to devour me from the inside out.

He sat casually on the bench, and while I remained completely transfixed by his eyes, he brought his glass to his lips, never breaking eye contact. After a sip, he let his tongue trace his lips, still smiling at me.

At that moment, I was utterly hypnotized by his gaze, and my breathing quickened with the intensity between us.

"Alix, should we go get a drink?"

I jumped, turning to Marina, who now stood with the two men from the next table.

"Are you okay?" Marina asked, noticing how shaken I seemed.

"Yes, yes. Let's go."

When I glanced back at the stairs where the tattooed man had been, I saw he was gone, and I felt a wave of relief.