Here's chapter 6, finally! thank you so much to everyone who reviewed my story so far, and i hope you all continue to review my story in the future (including this chapter!). So, R&R. Enjoy!

7:56 p.m. That’s the time when I finally make it to the lobby. Being a few minutes early, I sit down on one of the armchairs facing the double doors leading outside, trying to act casual, though my first instinct is to freak-out. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not one of those popular girls; the preppy cheerleaders. Nor am I beautiful, like Hailey or any of those other “I’m so awesome and you’re so not” type of girls. I’m just your average B+ student; not too smart but not dumb, not too pretty but not ugly, and not too popular but not an outcast.

Being one of those types of people, I’ve never really been “out with friends” before, unless you count me and Rissa going to Blockbuster to buy movies and then sitting on her bed eating popcorn and watching them. So naturally, I’m pretty nervous about what could happen on this wonderful rendezvous with Hailey.

Leaning back in my armchair, I checik my watch again. 7:58 p.m. and still no sign of HAILEY anywhere. Relax. She’s probably on her way down right now I convince myself reassuringly.

The clock continues clicking as the seconds roll by. Soon enough, the clock strikes exactly 8:00 p.m. On cue, the elevator doors beep and Hailey pops out. She looks beautiful, which I already assumed she would, and luckily for me, her “dress casually” isn’t that far off from mine. I’m dressed in a faded pink t-shirt (not tight, but not too loose) with a cute, dark blue heart that I sew on the side and a semi-nice pair of brown, knee-high khakis. The dressing on Hailey’s part consists of all body-hugging clothing; a snug pair of washed-out blue jeans and a super tight blue Abercrombie tank top.

She spots me sitting on the armchair and walks over towards me, as I quickly turn my head away and become fascinated with the string on the edge of my khakis. When she makes it to my chair, she stands in front of me, blocking the sun from the doors.

“Oh! Hey.” I say, hoping my voice sounds composed and powerful, though I’m pretty sure it just came out as a squeak.

“This has got to go.” Hailey says to me, matter-of-factly. Confused at what has to go, I look at where she’s pointing. Before I can say a word of protest, her hand comes up to my shirt and rips off my perfectly sewn heart.

“Now that that is out of the way,” she starts triumphantly, “let’s get on with our plans for tonight.”

“Where exactly are we going?” I ask, hoping it’s not one of those skanky clubs (not that I’ve ever been to one before)

“That’s for me to know and you to wonder.” Hailey responds.

“Shall we?” she asks. Before I can even answer, she stands up and pulls me out of my chair. Once we are eye-to-eye, (well, not exactly, since she’s probably three inches taller than me) she faces me and smiles.

“We shall.” I finally answer. Hailey links her arm through mine, and we walk through the double doors and out of the building. As we walk towards a cab, I think to myself well, at least I have one friend on this vacation and this night is going to be a blast!

- - - - -

Or not. We’ve been at the club for over an hour and there are absolutely no cute boys there. There’s no one to dance with, no one to talk with, and no boys to buy us beer (as HAILEY informs me that that is what’s supposed to happen.)

At least I have Hailey to keep me company I muse, letting a quick sigh of boredom escape through my lips. Hailey shoots me a hard, death-glare and I shut-up, mid-sigh.

On the bright side, we each learned a little bit about each other. For instance, I know that she's 19 years old and lives in a one- bedroom apartment in New York City. She aspires to become a famous model one day, and I must say, I totally called that one. Her last name is Rosenberg, I was told, and her father owns this hotel. Well, I think, this explains why she knows so much about expensive brands, places and seems to have an unlimited supply of money.

The weirdest thing I discovered about HAILEY was that her mother had died the same exact day as both of my parents. I shudder just thinking about that, and begin to wonder if she may know something about my family and past. Maybe that’s why she talked to me in the elevator in the first place.

As if I wasn't already suspicious enough with that first fact, my theory was proven to be even more accurate when HAILEY pointed out that we both have that similar blue eye color. She, too, seemed guarded about our eye color, but lost interest when I lied and told her that my parents had died over 6 months before hers. I'm not entirely sure why I lied, but I was thinking that I should talk to Ryan before I say anything more on the subject to HAILEY.

"So, ready to hit yet another club on this fine evening? Hailey asks for the third time tonight. There have not been any even remotely exciting clubs tonight, but she still manages to remain full of energy, while I am totally the opposite, as portrayed in my yawn-of- boredom.

"You know," I begin, stretching my arms backwards in a getting-ready- for-bed action, "I am pretty worn out. I think I might just go home and get into bed-"

"No way!" she cuts me off. Fourth time's the charm."

"Actually, its third time's the charm." I correct her. I can't help but smile at her inability to recite a correct quote, and me catching her in the act. It may sound bitchy, but it makes me feel smart, which actually doesn't happen very often.

"Oh come on!" she pleads. "I promise it will be the last club for tonight.”

When she realizes that I won't budge, she adds, "I'll just go without you then. You'll just have to manage and find a way back to the hotel without any money to get you there." Obviously, I told her about my money-was-stolen problem and, so far, she's helped me out a great deal with that, since her family is rich.

"Fine" I compromise, reluctantly. I really have no choice on the matter; since she's right about one thing- I have no other source of transportation for free. "But this better be the last club."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah" she scoffs, "tell it to someone who cares." she adds dismissing my demand. Yet, for some odd reason, I still manage to believe her, finding a tiny hint of truth in her voice. As Hailey says this, she's already heading out of the club, with me at her heels like a puppy dog following the owner who feeds it. I pray that this club is good enough for her, because we might just have a suicide on our hands if I have to go to one more freaking club.

- - - - -

"I've been to better." Hailey states, after closely examining club number four. "But this will have to do." she adds, with a smile on her face. And at that, I can't help but smile too.

I guess the fourth time is the charm, because this club is "smokin", as Hailey puts it. I act happy as well, but only because I will no longer have to endure anymore of this club-hopping nonsense.

I quickly notice that this place is completely packed with people, activity, and loud noises that people seem to call “music”. There are several small tables lined up around the corner of the club. After walking around the entire club, Hailey and I finally snag a small table fit for three or four people. We sit down for only a few seconds before Hailey leaves and gets ready to prowl.

"Let me go find us some drinks and a couple of cute guys. Be back in a flash.” She says, before I even get a chance to protest. I am alone for the first time this night, but don’t really take that into consideration. I glance around the room, looking for no one in particular, when I spot a familiar face in the crowd. I look into his eyes, and we recognize each other immediately. He begins to push his way through the crowds, towards me, as I try to act as calm as possible and ignore the confusing questions shouting in my head. Why is he here? Is he following me? Those are the only two questions I have time to ask myself before he shows up and blocks my view of everyone around me.

“We need to talk.” I hear Ryan tell me, as he urgently grabs my hand as he pulls me away from the ear piercing noises of the club and into a soundless room, all while my brain continues to screech unspecified questions throughout my numb brain.