BEEP…

I jumped out of the way my heart racing at 100 miles an hour as I watched a black, sleek car speed past me.

I was too engrossed at the picture before me.

I had lived in Kosters my whole life and had never left or seen any other place. Now that I was standing in the middle of the biggest city I had ever seen I became nervous. I didn’t know the first thing about city life and how to fit in.

I had fought with the boss about sending me but he said I was the only person for the job.

“We need a young, attractive female for this one Dalton” my boss had told me only a week ago and here I was standing in front of a large white brick building, my head swimming with noise and fast paced things happening all around me.

“Move it” I heard from behind me and I moved just in time as a bicycle flew past me on the footpath.

I then decided I should probably move from the dangerous places and go into my new home for as long as the assignment took.

I knew I would be living in with someone as I was undercover as a teenage runaway who had nowhere else to go. I pushed on the buzzer and walked in as the door was clicked open. I looked down to the instructions that were messily written out for me and saw I was on the 4th floor.

I looked inside the building and noticed the walls falling apart and a horrible wet rotting smell. I quickly pushed my nose into my jumper as my gag reflexes started.

Deciding that the lift would take to long to come down I took the stairs. Once I was on the right floor I was out of breath but the smell had ceased, or I had just gotten used to it already.

I looked up and saw a door with bright red numbers on it saying 24 and I smiled as I heard an extremely off key female voice singing the words to one of my favourite songs.

I knocked on the door loudly in case she was wearing earphones and smiled brightly as a young girl answered to door.

“Let me guess, you are the one and only Ashley?” she said and put out her hand shaking mine furiously.

“Yeah and you must be Cassandra” I said and watched her as she looked me up and down.

I didn’t look that different to her so was pleased when she finally meet my eyes and smiled.

“Welcome to your new home then Ashley” she said and sidestepped out of the way so that I could see in.

After seeing the downstairs and outside of the building I was worried about what the place would look like, having being spoilt from my Father but as I looked inside I noticed it had been well looked after. The large lounge room, which had the dining and kitchen just off to the left of it was decked out with modern furniture and a large flat screen.

As I walked around I peeked into my new flat mate’s room and noticed it was covered in posters of bands and groups. I also noticed that her room was a complete mess.

“Ok so I keep the rest of the house clean but that room is mine and I do whatever I want with it” and she laughed loudly as I just looked at her dumbfounded.

“And this over here is you’re room” and she pointed to a closed door. I stepped towards it and smiled as I opened the door carefully and saw a small single bed with red sheets on it. The room was dark so to keep the sun out but it was still warm and homey.

“I will let you freshen up and then we can share a drink” she said and left me alone in the room.

I quickly took my small cell phone out of the bag and hit the speed dial 5 button, it only rang twice.

“What is it Dalton?” my bosses voice rang loudly in my ear

“Where did you get this girl address from, sir?” I asked him, curious how she had all the furniture she did.

“Just the local paper, Divine” he said his voice warming up now that he knew I was in no immediate danger.

“She just has a lot of expensive things here and I wanted to know if she was somehow connected to the drug run” I said thumbing through the papers, which were now scattered across my bed.

“Look Divine just keep you’re nose in the part of the job you know about and if it turns out that she is then we can get her later” and as he finished talking I heard a soft knock on my door and quickly hung up.

“Yeah” I screamed getting myself back into character of Ashley Rends.

“You want a wine, bourbon or vodka?” and I smiled realising this was the part of the job I loved.

“Just vodka and whatever you got to mix it. Be out there in a minute” I yelled back through the door while putting back all the papers I had gotten out of my bag.

Once I stepped out of the door I looked to Cassandra in the kitchen and frowned noticing something different about her.

“Yeah I changed outfit and hair colour” and I laughed as she walked around the door with two glasses in her hands and put them on the small table in front of the TV.

She flopped down onto the couch and I stared at her admiring her choice of different styles along with the black hair with blue streaks in it. I mentally took in her personality realising she was nearly the same as how I had to act.

“So tell me you’re story” she said taking out an ashtray, packet of smokes and opening the back door. I pulled out my own packet and asked for her lighter.

“Well you know, I didn’t finish school and I had an abusive boyfriend that my parents hated who knocked me up and they threatened to kick me out if I got an abortion. The rest really speaks for itself” I said trying to sound as blasé as possible but adding a hint of sadness so that she would believe it.

“Wow that’s pretty harsh. As you can see my parents really do everything for me. The rich bastards bought everything I have in this place and try to pay for the rent but I cannot let them do that. I would prefer to work for it myself” she said and I smiled again at her want to do it on her own even with the option to get everything handed to her.

We talked for what felt hours and drunk and smoked like there was going to be no tomorrow. Once I started feeling a little dizzy Cassandra piped up

“Come on Ash let’s go out, it’s only early and I want to see you’re wild crazy party ways” and I laughed as Cassandra jumped up and ran to her room to change outfit once again.

I quickly walked into my room and nearly tripped over my feet. I was tipsy but knew there was no risks in me getting drunk as I wasn’t lose tongued like some people are after drinking.

I went into my bag and found the one dress I had bought for nights like this, which was the same colour red as my sheets. Red had always looked good on me because of my dark black hair and blue eyes.

I walked out and found Cassandra leaning against the counter on the phone

“Hell yeah we will be there. You will love her… alright bye” she said and flipped her phone shut.

“We are going to meet my friends at the nightclub down the road… wow you scrub up pretty well Ash” she said looking at me taking in my appearance in a dress. As we walked out she linked her arm through mine and I could not help but feel a little bad lying to her, her personality just seemed so contagious.

We managed to make it to the club without getting run over as Cassandra was running across the road trying to get a taxi.

“You really have to learn to live in the city girl” she said as we walked into the nightclub.

“That’s why you’re here to teach me”

We walked through the small little hallway and I opened my mouth wide as I took in the size of the nightclub. There were at least 4 floors of people dancing to the loud, booming beats of the DJ. There was nothing like this in Kosters and I could not help but be engrossed by the whole thing.

“Two shots of the normal please Eddie” Cassandra said to the large man standing behind the bar and he smiled as he walked off to get the drinks.

“How often do you come here Cassandra?” I asked becoming curious of the nightlife in the big city and if at all it would have anything to do with the drug run.

“Oh please call me Cassie” she said as the man named Eddie came up and put two shot glasses in front of us.

“Been coming here for about 12months now” she said and we both lifted up our glasses clinked them together and downed whatever the alcohol was straight away.

The next thing I knew a group of about five people surrounded Cassie. I walked towards the dance floor feeling more and more confident as I caught men’s gazes.

I stood in between the hundreds of sweaty, warm bodies and started moving. I was never a really good dancer but I felt overcome with happiness as the DJ kept pumping out great music.

That next moment I felt a body that was obviously taller than me push up against my back. I went to turn around and confront whoever it was but I felt their hands on my hips as they slowly moved my hips to the beat.

I rolled my eyes but let him think he was actually getting somewhere with his sly little moves. I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck feeling daring and whispered in his ear.

“You’re gonna have to try harder than that to make a move on me” and I turned to walk away but felt him grab me hardly and swing me around.

“I always get what I want” and I shivered involuntarily as his deep voice vibrated through me.

I still went to walk away but felt my legs shake a little.

I saw Cassie running towards me and I smiled.

“Holy shit girl you move fast. Who was that guy?” and I turned towards the dance floor to hopefully sneak in a look at the stranger but could not see him anywhere.

“I don’t know just some guy” I said back trying to sound cool and I winked at her as I walked towards the bar to get another shot.

I was nearly ready to go home and was having trouble finding Cassie, the last I had seen her she was all over some guy who I am sure was one of the friends she had introduced me to at the start of the evening.

As I walked around the corner heading towards the bathrooms I ran into a large body but kept my head down.

“Do you mind?” I said trying to move out of the way but he stepped to match each of mine.

“Actually I would prefer you to look up” and I stopped moving as I recognized the voice of the stranger I had been dancing with before. I looked up his tall, lean body and came into contact with intense green coloured, dangerous eyes. The cliché of tall, dark and handsome was really this man standing in front of me, except that he had an element of mystery and secrecy. I became angry when I remembered what he had said to me.

“Now that I have looked up do you mind?” I said staring directly into his eyes and didn’t back down but as he stepped in closer to me I felt my heart beat speed up.

“There is actually one more thing I want”

“Ohh and let me guess you always get what you want” I rolled my eyes again pissed off at this guys attitude.

Before I knew it his lips were hard on mine and I felt his tongue softly run along my bottom lip and without even thinking I opened my mouth allowing his tongue entrance. I subconsciously wrapped my arms around his neck as he picked me up and pushed me up against the wall.

I savoured the feel and taste of him on my lips but soon after that realised what was going on and I pushed him away. At first regretting it as the tingle of his lips on mine was still present but I quickly pushed that thought back.

“How dare you take advantage of me like that” I yelled pushing him back and becoming angrier as all he did was laugh.

“Take advantage of you? I didn’t really feel any hesitation coming from you” and he continued to laugh as he kept stepping back as I stepped forward.

“You caught me off guard, I never do things like that and I believe I pushed you away” I said shocked that he was laughing at me. He stopped suddenly as his back hit the wall on the opposite side and I kept moving forward, not realising what I was doing until I was too close. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me so close so that his lips were touching my ear.

“Then why do you look like you want to do it all again?” and he pulled back so that I could see the evil glint in his eyes. I could not think of anything to say so I quickly stuck out my foot and kicked him in the chin. I heard him grunt as I turned and ran out of the hallway.

I felt flustered and annoyed as I saw the back of Cassie and I stormed towards her pulling her off the guy.

“Cassie can we either go now or give me the keys”

“What’s wrong Ash?” she said as she pulled me towards the door not even saying goodbye to the guy.

“Just had some dickhead in the hallway grope me and I have to start work tomorrow anyway”

“Ohh I am sorry Ash. Let’s just go home” and said and rubbed my back as we walked outside.

That whole night I tossed and turned in bed annoyed at myself that I had acted that way I had. I was here on a job and I couldn’t let stupid things like partying and boys get in the way of the big picture.

I eventually fell asleep but dreamt of the green dangerous eyes.