Chapter 1
Amaya's P.O.V
“I never thought I’d find myself in a place like this,” I murmured under my breath, my voice almost lost in the pulsing music that reverberated through the club.
The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat, and the flashing lights made everything feel like a surreal dream.
I glanced nervously at Noor, my best friend since childhood, who had convinced me to come out tonight. She was in her element, laughing and dancing with abandon, completely at ease in this chaotic environment.
“Relax, Amaya!” Noor shouted over the music, grabbing my arm and pulling me further into the crowd. “You need to let loose for once. Have some fun!”
I forced a smile, trying to push down the anxiety that was bubbling up inside me.
This wasn’t me.
I wasn’t the kind of girl who went to clubs, who drank until she couldn’t remember her name, who danced with strangers.
I was the girl who stayed home on weekends, curled up with a book or working on assignments.
But Noor had been so insistent, and I hadn’t wanted to disappoint her. So here I was, in a place that felt as foreign to me as another planet.
As we moved through the throng of people, Noor handed me a drink. I hesitated for a moment before taking a sip. It was strong, much stronger than anything I was used to.
The liquid burned as it went down, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. But I didn’t want to seem like a prude, so I took another sip, and then another, until the glass was empty.
“There you go!” Noor cheered, clearly pleased with my compliance. “Now let’s get you another one!”
Before I could protest, she was off, weaving her way through the crowd to the bar.
I stood there awkwardly, feeling more out of place with every passing second. The music pounded in my ears, and the flashing lights made my head spin.
I could feel the alcohol starting to take effect, making me light-headed and a little dizzy.
“Hey, you okay?” A guy’s voice cut through the noise, and I turned to see a tall, dark-haired stranger looking at me with concern. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, trying to muster up a reassuring smile. “Just not used to this kind of scene.”
He laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that made my heart skip a beat. “You and me both. I’m just here with some friends. I'm Samir, by the way.”
“Amaya,” I replied, my voice barely audible over the music.
“Well, Amaya , how about I get you some water? You look like you could use it.”
I nodded, grateful for the offer. Samir disappeared into the crowd, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
But as the minutes ticked by, the room seemed to tilt and sway, and I realized that something was very wrong.
I hadn’t had that much to drink, had I? Why did I feel so out of control?
Before I could figure out what was happening, Noor was back, pressing another drink into my hand. “Here, this one’s on the house!” she said with a wink.
“Noor, I don’t think I should—” I started, but she cut me off.
“Come on, Amaya ! Just one more. It’s not going to kill you.”
Reluctantly, I took a sip.
The room spun again, and I had to grip the edge of the bar to keep from toppling over.
I felt disconnected from my body, like I was floating above myself, watching everything from a distance.
The music seemed to blur together, the voices around me fading into a dull hum.
“Noor,” I tried to say, but my words came out slurred and jumbled. She didn’t seem to notice, too caught up in her own fun.
I stumbled away from the bar, desperate to get some fresh air, to clear my head. But the more I walked, the more disoriented I became.
Faces were blurred together, the lights flashing too brightly, and the noise was too loud, too overwhelming.
I could barely think, let alone navigate my way through the packed club.
Suddenly, I felt a strong hand grip my arm, steadying me before I could fall.
I looked up, blinking against the lights, and saw a face I recognized—a face that made my heart leap into my throat.
“Amaya? What the hell are you doing here?” His voice was harsh, full of disbelief.
“Haidar?” I managed to croak, my voice barely more than a whisper. My brother’s best friend, the one person I never expected to see in a place like this.
He was supposed to be untouchable, unattainable. The kind of guy who lived in a different world, a world I didn’t belong in.
His eyes narrowed, taking in my disheveled appearance, the dazed look in my eyes. “You’re drunk,” he stated flatly, his voice laced with disgust.
“I didn’t mean to be,” I mumbled, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I felt so stupid, so out of place. “I just… Noor …”
He cut me off with a sharp shake of his head. “You shouldn’t be here, Amaya. This isn’t your scene.”
“I know,” I whispered, feeling utterly humiliated. I just wanted to disappear, to sink into the floor and never be seen again.
Haidar's grip on my arm tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually help me, might take me home and make sure I was safe.
But then his expression hardened, and he let go of me as if I’d burned him.
“You’re just like the rest of them,” he muttered, his voice full of contempt.
“I thought you were different, Lilly. But I guess I was wrong.”
His words hit me like a slap in the face, leaving me reeling.
Before I could respond, before I could explain, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, alone and broken.
The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over, and I fled the club, the weight of his words crushing me.
I stumbled out into the cool night air, gasping for breath, my chest heaving with sobs.
How could everything have gone so wrong? How could I have let myself fall so far, so fast?
As I walked home, the night air doing little to soothe the ache in my heart, one thought kept echoing in my mind; I never knew what falling in love could do to someone until I met him. And now, I was paying the price.
