11

MADELEINE AUBERT'S POV

Against my will, I found myself at the party, trailing behind Clarissa. She’d dressed me up—or rather, thrown some pieces at me that barely counted as an outfit. The skirt, a black leather mini, clung to my hips and stopped scandalously high, each step sending cool air across my thighs. The side zipper gleamed, reminding me just how little it covered. Clarissa paired it with a loose, oversized jacket bearing THE DRIVER’S ERA scrawled across the back—her favourite band, of course. Beneath the jacket, I wore a cropped tank top that hugged my torso. On my feet, glossy Mary Jane pumps added a bit of retro charm, and I’d haphazardly thrown my hair into a messy ponytail, leaving a few strands to fall across my forehead.

Makeup? No chance. When Clarissa tried to layer it on, I slapped her hand away before she could even think about overdoing it. I kept my look minimal: just a swipe of concealer to cover the dark circles under my eyes and a touch of lip balm to deal with my chapped lips. My favourite perfume trailed behind me as I followed my cousin through the crowd, each step reminding me how differently we’d dressed.

Clarissa looked like she’d stepped straight out of a rock concert. She’d gone bold, sticking black boob tape to her small chest and tossing on an oversized jacket that hung over her shoulders with casual swagger, showing off her toned waist and abs beneath. Her long, tight leather skirt hugged her figure down to her ankles, where chunky oxford boots gave her an edgy vibe. And then there was her makeup—striking, unapologetic, and unmistakably inspired by Alice Glass. Her eyes were rimmed with dark eyeshadow and liner, and her lips were painted a deep, daring red.

Her platinum blonde hair fell in choppy strands over her forehead and temples, just grazing her shoulders. The short, edgy cut gave her an intense, almost electric vibe, the kind that matched her bold makeup and daring outfit perfectly.

I couldn’t deny it.

She was cool.

We were both cool.

Despite the blaring music that made my head throb and my insides cringe, I liked being here. If my mother—if she wasn’t locked away—caught even a glimpse of me at a club like this, she’d lose it, especially if any photos ended up online. But tonight, none of that seemed to matter.

The room pulsed with red and blue lights that flashed in sync with the pounding rock music, casting everyone in shifting shadows and neon hues. Thick fog hung in the air, swirling around the jumping crowd, each beat drawing them up and down like a single, living organism. I had no idea what song was playing—this wasn’t the kind of music I listened to. But even so, my shoulders couldn’t resist the rhythm; they shimmered, shook, and joined the chaos around me, pulling me into the night.

Clarissa was on a mission, scanning the crowd for her boyfriend with a fierce determination, her grip on my hand tight as she pushed through the room.

I spotted Drey first.

He sat sprawled out in a booth, surrounded by friends, smoke drifting lazily from his mouth. His hooded eyes were fixed in our direction, watching while his girlfriend searched for him. I nudged my head toward him. “There,” I mouthed, not bothering to yell over the deafening music.

Clarissa’s face lit up like she’d just spotted a celebrity. Her lips curled into a huge grin, and in seconds, she was charging toward him, dragging me along as her chunky boots thudded against the floor. We dodged through the crowd, narrowly missing a couple as we made our way over to Drey. When we finally reached him, she dropped my hand and leaped into his open arms, completely ignoring the girls cozied up on either side of him.

I stood there, feeling a bit out of place, watching as they lost themselves in each other. His hands locked around her waist, pulling her against him like she was the only person here. When they finally broke apart, they were a little breathless, and Clarissa leaned her forehead against his, sharing a quiet moment amid the chaos.

Then, Drey gave me a nod, his brown beaded dreads slipping across his temples with an easy grace. At first, I’d never understood what Clarissa saw in him, or why she let him pull her into so many wild things. But seeing him up close now, I had to admit it—Drey looked like something out of a dream.

With dark, ashy skin and ginger-brown dreads that framed his face, his golden-brown eyes stood out strikingly. He wasn’t a model, but he should’ve been. His aquiline nose and sharp cheekbones made his face almost regal. Calling him handsome would’ve been an understatement—Drey was gorgeous.

I couldn’t deny that myself.

“You came,” he mouthed, a flicker of surprise on his face.

I nodded, a little awkward, knowing I’d just been checking out my cousin’s boyfriend.

Clarissa rolled her eyes with a grin and spoke loudly to be heard over the music. “I dragged her out here. You should’ve seen it!”

“I could be sleeping right now,” I grumbled.

Drey chuckled, his hooded gaze shifting to me. “Didn’t think you were the boring type. Staying home alone sounds like death.”

I glanced around, taking in the flashing lights and fog. “Not really my scene.”

Drey’s mouth lifted into a smirk. “Give it time. You’ll come around.”

I didn’t think so. Not until after my fifth shot, when the world began to feel lighter, and I finally started to see things through Drey and Clarissa’s eyes.

In the middle of the dance floor, I let the music take over, my body moving with Clarissa’s as we danced like we were the only ones in the room. Drey kept our drinks coming, shot after shot, until the familiar beat of Trini Dem Girls by Nicki Minaj filled the air. The crowd erupted in cheers, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who loved this song. Clarissa made her way to the centre, and I was content to hang back until Drey’s hands pressed against my lower back, shoving me forward. I squealed, stumbling out into the open, and before I could retreat to my hiding spot, Clarissa was chanting my name.

“Maddy! Maddy!”

Her fists pumped to the beat, and soon others joined in, their eyes turning toward us. Toward her. Toward me. Normally, I was used to the spotlight, but at that moment, with so many faces turned my way, I could’ve died of embarrassment. My hands shot up to cover my mouth as my cheeks flushed, a deep blush that burned hot.

Drey was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes red and droopy from the weed and shots he’d been downing. He looked at me, amused, clearly enjoying the show as the crowd cheered us on.

Clarissa continued chanting; “Maddy! Maddy!” And the entire room erupted with a chorus, hollers and whoops accompanying my cousin’s chant of madness.

"Dance!"

"Girl, dance! Eat it up!"

The chant made my inner diva start resurfacing. The song had an absolute vibe, it was one of my favourites. I loved everything about it, from the beat to the lyrics. As if I had been possessed, I instantly began to tighten my ponytail and stepped farther away from the crowd, and more into the centre. Drey watched me with an amused and curious look on his face. His head was tilted to the side, one of his brows was arched. Clarissa joined him back in the crowd, and with the looks I was getting from everyone, I felt like I was a main character in a step up movie.

I felt like a main character.

I hadn’t felt this excited in months.

I simpered derisively and pressed my arms against my side, flattening my palms against the side of my thighs. I then crouched a little and began to move my body. I moved my hip from side to side, swaying seductively, following the base of the music. I repeated the move, then threw my hands up as I began to whine, all the while keeping my eyes locked on Drey. His expression had now changed. He now wore a serious expression as he watched me. Weirdly, I was enjoying his lingering gaze on my body.

I parted my legs and went down, gyrating my hips while gesticulating like queen Nicki would in a music video. I wildly threw my arms up and continued my hip movement. Strands of hair had now fallen over my shoulders in the process of my dancing. I flipped them behind dramatically and turned to the side, to continue my hip movement. I leaned forward, bending my upper body down without arching my legs, my palms pressed into the wooden floor, leaving just my rear in the air. I felt the cool air against my inner thighs. I wiggled my cheeks slowly, making sure they slapped against each other. My thighs jiggled with every torrid movement of my body. On my way up, I made sure to work my hair like a diva.

I smiled when I saw Drey’s darker expression. He shuffled about awkwardly on the spot he stood, the red cup in his hand lifting to his lips absentmindedly. His eyes continued to linger on me though, over the cup, as he sipped on whatever liquid he was drinking from the disposable plastic. Clarissa stood next to him, her face beet red from smiling too hard.

I shifted my gaze to find that Drey and Clarissa weren't the only ones appreciating my show.

The other men were too. They looked hypnotised by every single move I bent my body into. Lustful gazes, phone cameras in the air, recording so they watch it some other time. I could feel eyes burning holes into my body from all angles. The girls were hyping me up, nevertheless, their voices shrill and loud in support. I was filled with ecstasy and joy to know they were entertained by my dancing.

Relentless, I backed them, and dropped into a squatting position and palmed my exposed knees. Everyone seemed to find this interesting as the hollering filled the air. The men were finally out of their hypnotic state to give actual reactions instead of their endless leering. Skillfully, I began moving my cheeks, one by one, looking over my shoulder in the process. My cheeks slapped one another, bouncing vigorously, struggling to contain my little short skirt. With each movement, my hair loosened from the pony whipped against my rear.

"Go girl!"

"Maddy!"

"Maddy!”

"Maddy!"

"Maddy!"

"Maddy!"

I hopped onto my feet and faced my audience, just in time to see Drey handing his cup to Clarissa standing next to him. He took several long strides and got to me, joining me on the makeshift dance floor. His hands found my waist, his fingers firm and possessive as he pulled me to him, our bodies pressed close. His touch was electric, and even as the crowd continued cheering us on, my skin tingled with both thrill and apprehension. He was close—too close—but his body felt strong, steady, and my mind spun from the contact.

I glanced at Clarissa, expecting outrage or even hurt, but she just smiled and shrugged, waving it off. She seemed unaffected, as if this was no big deal.

he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "She wouldn’t mind…" he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.

I shook my head, but my resolve felt shaky. His hands tightened around my waist, holding me in place as he swayed with me, his movements slow and sensuous. I tried to pull back, but his grip kept me firmly against him, his gaze locking with mine, intense and unrelenting. My pulse quickened, and everything felt heightened—the warmth of his body, the music, the crowd’s energy blending into a blur. His touch was commanding, possessive, and for a second, I felt my body melt into his.

The countdown I did in my head to calm myself had barely begun before my fist rammed into his face and with a grunt, he stumbled back.