LIV

"How are we even related?" Amanda asked as she looked at me. We were struggling to find me an outfit for the club. I  wanted to wear jeans and a crop top. Manda, on the other hand, wanted me to wear a dress that stopped way above my knees.

I smacked her hand away as she tried to put lipstick on me. "Olivia!" She gasped in mock shock. "Who puts on makeup before they get dressed?! Can we figure out this outfit situation first?" I pulled my long, thick afro back into a bun. "Besides, that lipstick is gonna make me look like I shoved my mouth into some coke."

Amanda scoffed, "don't be dramatic."

Once we're done, I look at myself in the mirror admiringly. We had managed some sort of compromise with the outfit. Amanda insisted I wear a tight mini skirt, while I fought for my halter top. Amanda moved next to me so she could look at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a short dress that made her hourglass figure stand out. It also proudly revealed the line of her chest.

"Is there a chance Ryan got you to wear that?" I asked, glancing at Amanda. She gave me a fake dirty look as she glanced back in the mirror and applied some lipstick.

"He likes this dress. Is that wrong?" Manda asked, moving onto applying mascara.

'I guess not' I thought to myself as I made my way downstairs.

"Olivia! Looking dazzling!" Myra squeals as I strut down the steps. I give her a little twirl and Myra claps. "Myra, look at you! Crop and jeans, I'm so proud," I exclaim, hugging my friend.

"You're welcome," Amanda said as she walked down the steps. Our parents were out for the weekend, so leaving home to go clubbing was easy. Myra had told her parents she was staying over at my house for the weekend.

"You look sexy as hell, Amanda."

The hairs on my neck stood up when I heard that cocky, arrogant male voice.

Amanda ran up to her boyfriend, and started making out. Very loudly. Their heads kept moving back and forth, and I felt like gagging.

"Take a breath!" I snapped, tired of watching their ridiculous PDA. Ryan pulled away from Manda and looked at me. He smiled, coming up to me for a hug. I hugged him back, and my nose filled with the scent of his intense cologne.

It was a strange feeling, hugging your ex-boyfriend.

My mind traveled back to grade 11, which felt like a lifetime ago now.

"Liv Haydon... go out with me this weekend."

"Sure."

I shook my head, trying to clear it as I stepped back, away from Ryan. I gave him a small smile, looking away awkwardly.

Ryan's gaze lingered on me for bit before before he gave his attention back to Amanda. Myra's eyes were dark as she watched them. Every time she saw them together she seemed visibly uncomfortable.

"So, are we gonna get going?" Amanda asked Ryan, tracing her finger along the line of his jaw. Like he's the only one she's going with. I could feel his eyes as Ryan's gaze brushed over me, which my sister didn't appreciate. She pulled his arm, trying to yank back his attention. He looked back at his girlfriend, then nodded, "yeah. Let's go."

******

"Having a good time?!" My voice strained as I yelled to my sister over the booming music and voices. The club was actually better than I expected. It was modern, big, and had food and tables. Thank God, because I was starting to get hungry.  I'd been on and off the dance floor while Amanda had been drinking, dancing with multiple guys and making friends with strangers.

Ryan and Myra on the other hand seemed to have disappeared. Last I saw her she was going into the bathroom.

Amanda swung her arm over my shoulder and smiled at me.

"The best time! Ha ha... Oh, hey! There's someone I know!" And just like that, Amanda was off to some group of girls I'd never seen before. As I watched her today I felt it again. It was like I was seeing a completely different side of her, and it made me feel like I didn't know her at all.

Left alone, I walked over to the bar.

"Can I get a cranberry juice mixed with sprite? I'm driving."

The bartender nodded, and I texted Myra while I waited for my drink.

'where r u?  im gonna leave soon'

"Here's your drink," the bartender placed a glass in front of me, the pale red liquid splashing a bit.

"Thanks." I took a sip of the drink, then reached for my card to pay this tab so I could go home as soon as possible. I noticed someone take the seat beside me, but my focus remained on the drink in my hand.

"Why so down?"

My heart beat harder, and I turned to my right to see the face of the man who asked the question, and if it was even directed at me. Our eyes met, and it felt like those beautiful, electric blue eyes were penetrating my soul. He admired my eyes as well, and his gaze wandered to my lips.

He's definitely someone that hits the gym. I can see the curves of his muscles barely hidden under his grey and black dress shirt. His rolled up sleeves reveal veins on his arms, and his brown hair is short on the sides, longer in the middle. Clearly done at the barber. I reach out, absentmindedly, and I almost touch his arm before I stop myself and reach for his hand instead.

"I'm not, just a little bored..." My smile was warm, "I'm Olivia."

He smiled back and took my hand, and his touch excited my senses, "Robert."

Our hands stayed together for a while, until I finally took mine back. He sucked in a breath, then chuckled and shook his head like he was trying to come out of a fog. I turned back toward the bar, sliding my card over to the bartender.

"So, are you here alone?" Robert asked me. I shrugged, "kind of. I came here with my best friend, my sister, and my sister's boyfriend, who's also my ex. Then my ex sister's boyfriend... No, my ex-boyfriend, sister's boyfriend...? Anyway, he and my friend disappeared, and my sister ran off with her friends. So, yeah, I guess I am here alone."

He watched me for a second, then laughed, "wow. I'm guessing there's a much longer story behind that."

"You don't wanna hear it."

He shrugged, "sure I do."

I looked at him, waiting for him to say he was kidding or that he didn't actually want to hear the sad love story of a girl he just met. But his eyes were steady, and he was staying.

My shoulders relaxed, and I figured it couldn't hurt to talk about it.

"Alright then."

At least thirty minutes had gone by, and I had told him all about the story of Liv and Ryan. About how we dated for months a couple years back, and then my sister showed up one weekend and whatever happened between them was somehow enough for him to break up with me and be with her.

My sister didn't even seem sorry at the time. She just said that she couldn't control who was interested in her, and sometimes guys like older women. He was a graduating senior at the time, and I was a junior. Amanda was in her first year at NYU, which just so happened to be where he had apparently wanted to go.

For a while now, it's felt like as long as my sister was around, there wouldn't be anyone that would choose me over her. Like I'd always lose.

But right now, with Robert, it didn't feel like that. The way he looked at me made me feel like I was the only girl in the room.

"Well, I hope that I've been a better part of your day," he told me.

I smiled and put my hand over his, "you definitely have."

Rob's gaze was hot and intense as he leaned forward. My head moved toward his, lips parted. He couldn't take it anymore and went for the kiss. At first, I was surprised. But as his lips, warm and perfect, skillfully touched mine, I responded in kind. We kissed, carefully, savoring each one like it was the first, until we were breathless.

I heard the sound of a glass crash on the ground and I jumped, pulling away from Rob. He panted, his hands on my waist as we both tried to catch our breath. I stared down at my lap, embarrassed now that I'm aware of where I am again. My hand went to his chest. "We're still in a public place," I said, still breathless.

"Then let's get out of here."

Thirty minutes later we were back at my place, barely in the door before we were all over each other. He peppered hot kisses all over my neck as I locked the door, then carried me upstairs and into my room. Our clothes came off so fast, it was like I blinked and they were gone.

"I've never done this before..." I whispered, admiring his amazing figure. He looked like something carved out of a magazine, and part of me couldn't believe we were in my room.

Together.

Naked.

He climbed onto the bed then smiled, his eyes full of lust as he moved toward me. "One night stands aren't something I do often, so I know how you feel."

I knew we were talking about two different things, and part of me felt like I should explain. But I was much more concerned about this experience, which was something I didn't want to miss.

Rob kissed me over and over,  moving slowly and carefully. He made sure I was comfortable and okay. I didn't really know him, but being in his arms made me feel safe. As the time went by, he kept telling me how beautiful I was, and I believed him.

_______

A/N

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-Ruth