Lana Del Rey | Young & Beautiful

2

I stared at my reflection in disbelief. Who was this person staring back at me? Stassie had worked her magic—my black hair now had volume and loose waves. The dress hugged every curve, and—may I say—was incredibly short, with a tiny slit that I wasn't sure I was ready for. I was seeing curves I didn't even know I had.

"I'm aroused just standing here," Stassie teased, adjusting my hair. I offered a shy smile, feeling a little uncomfortable in this bold new look.

"Now, let's see you walk in these." She grinned brightly, holding up a pair of black Christian Louboutins.

"Stassie, I don't know. I've never been good at walking in heels."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. We have about thirty minutes before my driver gets here. Let's practice."

I hesitated, remembering when I was younger, I'd sneak into my mother's closet and try on her heels, posing in the mirror. She'd have died for a good pair of shoes; me, on the other hand, never understood the desire to hurt yourself for fashion.

I shakily stood in the heels before taking a few careful steps around my bedroom. Surprisingly, they were bearable—comfortable, even. That is, until I lost my balance and fell forward onto my knees. Stassie rushed over, her face flushed with second-hand embarrassment.

"Well, that wasn't so bad," she said after a beat, clapping awkwardly and offering a nervous smile. I couldn't help but exhale in frustration.

"Right," I muttered, flopping onto my bed.

•••

"Hi Richard, this is Amina a new friend of mine and we are going to my favourite place on earth." Stassie teased her driver.

I waved, "Nice to meet you Amina," he started, "Stassie, your father told me to take you wherever your heart desires, but I'm sorry, he specifically said no more clubs."

"Would you rather me take the subway, where there's rats, and drug addicts. Maybe even perverted men ready to snatch us up and I don't wanna go into details but sex traffickin—," she teasingly suggested.

"Okay okay, you always had a way with words Bolton." He chuckled before putting the car in drive. She turns to me smirking and winking, happy she got her way.

"By the way, I would definitely take the subway."

Said nobody ever.

"What why?" I questioned her.

"I dunno, I prefer to live normally. My whole life has been big houses and big cars. I mean don't get me wrong growing up with money has its perks, but fuck it's exhausting a majority of the time." Her gaze shifts, clearly irritated by the topic.

"Tell me more about you, your past love experiences or anything you like?" She faces me with a kind smile.

I raise my brows, "oh there's nothing really—,"

"Oh come on you told me that already, I know there's something." She rubs my shoulder with the hers tempting me.

I rub my fingers against my forehead, "I-I had a boyfriend,"

She gasps mockingly, poking at my sides "naughty, you didn't say anything before!"

I smile, "because he's was the complete opposite of me, it'll shock you, trust me. He gave me really hard time during my college career. My dad hated him, but my mother tolerated him, but I saw him how nobody else did."

My eyes grew faraway, "He was gentle with me, rude to others, sometimes he would destroy things when he was angry, but nothing could effect how I felt about him."

"So you have a thing for guys who are a little rough around the edges?" Stassie asks daringly.

I giggle, "I guess you can say that, he was in one of my classes. He sat behind me. I always got the feeling he was staring at the back of my head, and I was right. But it wasn't until I saw his first break down, I knew I had to be there for him. I loved him until he disappeared."

•••

It was a gentlemen's club, where on earth did Stassie bring me. There's three girls on a stage topless, dancing on a pole while grinding on each other. I never been to a club before, I didn't think a strip club would be my first. I honestly don't know how to feel. It's a dark red setting with flashes of colourful lights.

We made our way to a section where a few people were seated—I'm guessing they were Stassie's friends.

"Guys, meet Amina. Amina, these are my girls: Chalynn, Irina, and Tommie," Stassie said, and the three of them waved at me with polite smiles, which I returned. Stassie leaned in close and whispered, "Tommie's gay—watch out for her."

They all looked so nicely polished.

"Fuck off Stassie," Tommie joked while everyone laughed. Tommie playfully gave her the middle finger. Stassie sat down dragging me down with her.

"Call me Lynn." Chalynn held her hand for me to shake.

"You want a drink, yes?" Irina asked, her accent thick and unmistakable. If I had to guess, she was from Russia. All eyes turned to me, silently watching to see if I would take the shot. Stassie had probably given them some idea of what kind of girl I was, but I nodded anyway.

The night carried on—loud music, more people filling the club. I'd already had a few drinks, and after a while, Stassie pulled me onto the dance floor. By then, I started to loosen up a bit, feeling more comfortable in the rhythm. She held my hips as we moved together, and for the first time tonight, I actually began to enjoy myself.

I felt the light hairs on the back of my neck stir, an unfamiliar sensation creeping up my spine. It was as if someone's gaze was fixed on me, but I couldn't pinpoint the source. The feeling was daring—intense, almost electric.

Stassie leaned in and whispered, "You've got an admirer," then spun me around, guiding my hands around her.

I glanced up toward the balcony and caught sight of a man staring down at me. His gaze was sharp, piercing, and it sent a shiver down my spine. There was a raw, dark authority about him, radiating from every inch of his presence, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me in a way that made it impossible to look away.

His dark hair fell effortlessly over his forehead, framing his chiseled features. The tattoos that adorned his arms told tales of rebellion, designs winding down to his hands resting casually on the railing.

His eyes, shadowed yet piercing, and from my place of standing I knew they held a depth that hints at secrets untold, dangerous yet so strong.

I kept dancing with Stassie, but I battled trying to take my eyes off him. I feel intrigued possibly?

He held a glass in his left hand, other men surrounding him all dressed in black from head to toe. The stranger took a slow sip still holding our gaze before turning to disappear inside the room.

The bass thumped through the club, a rhythmic pulse that vibrates in my chest. I tilt my head back taking another swig from my glass, the sweet burn warming me from the inside.

But beneath the surface a nagging voice whispers in the back of my mind, it belonged to my father. This wasn't what my dad had envisioned for me. He had dreamed of a future filled with purpose. And yet, here I am, lost in the music, surrounded by strangers and the haze of too many drinks, indulging in a moment that felt deliciously reckless.

Though the chaos of the club continues, and I'm no longer sober. The affects of wanting to feel the heat of his previous gaze controls me, and the unspoken promise of what could be.

•••

The next morning

I open my eyes to find myself looking at a ceiling which held a mirror above it. I rubbed my eyes then I felt around, silk sheets? There's sore pain between my legs.

I got out the bed as naked as the day I was born. My clothes were neatly folded on a chair, I rush to put everything on running a frustrated hand through my hair. What was I thinking? I wasn't thinking, I was intoxicated but not wasted.

I scurry out the pent house not even giving it any proper attention I just wanted out. I waited for the elevator, I checked around for my phone. Dammit, I left it inside. If this couldn't be anymore frustrating.

"Miss, Mr Gusev should be back in a few hours he told us to make you breakfast, I didn't know what you liked so I made almost everything."

I walked out the bedroom with my phone in hand, a maid walked up to me with a genuine smile on her face.

I felt terrible, "I'm so sorry but I have to go. Tell Mr Gusev, I appreciate everything. I'm sorry again." I told her on my way out before shutting the doors behind me. I immediately tried calling Stassie but it went straight to voicemail.

I waived down a cab, and I was on the way home.

•••