Committed to the heart

I hear knocking sounds on the door of my apartment and I run excitedly to open it. Kora, my best friend, and frankly the only one, stands with a malicious smile in the door, pushing me right back and entering like a tornado into my little apartment. I live in a small studio apartment in Manhattan. I arrived in Manhattan about eight months ago and before that, the last time my foot on land was when I was 8 years old, with my adoptive parents. My apartment is relatively empty, a bed, a kitchenette, a wardrobe, a small dresser full with cosmetics, only thanks to Kora, and a bathroom with a small bathtub, a sink and a wall mirror too high that I can only see my face standing on my fingers. "What exactly are you waiting for?" Kora impatiently  hurling at me and throws a big shopping bag into my hands. "We're going out today, come on get organized" she adds and I look at her in confusion. "Going where? I thought we were in for a pizza and movie night" I answer irritably and crossing my hands in a failed attempt to declare my disappointment. "Alin, you don't even have a TV here. I have no idea how you live like that. I bought you a gift and you're going to use it today. After our last prohibition era from clubs, I was able to convince Mariano to go out alone with you," she says, placing her hands on her hips, showing off how proud she is about that chance. "Her husband is very possessive" I think to myself, but with her looks, I can totally relate to him. Her wavy long hair falls to the middle of her back, her eyes are greenish honey, her buttoned nose and her lips are small and full. She looks just like a six feet Barbie doll. "Your husband let you go out alone? I don't believe you, where is Graham?" I sting and immediately laugh when her proud gaze quickly turns into a half apologetic look full of despair. Graham is her bodyguard and private driver that her husband attaches her to wherever she goes. I met her husband officially only once, he invited me over for dinner with Kora, he wanted to get to know her good friend up close. I look at Kora as she walks towards the window of the apartment and she points down. I approach the window and take a look at Graham's familiar black expensive Jeep and immediately laugh. "Alone, eh?" I sting again and my laughter never stops. Kora gives me her elbow in annoyance "It's the best I could get, so shut up and get dressed. We're off to the Q". I love the Q, Kora's husband is one of the owners of this club, so this is not the first time we are there and of course we get everything for free, which makes it way better. I smile at Kora, still giggling, "Okay, let's get ready" I answer with a fake defeat and open the bag I received from her. "Whoa! This dress is amazing!" I immediately blurted as I took Kora's gift out of the bag. "Right?" She answers excitedly and applauds like a little girl "You have a perfect ass for this dress, you're going to get everyone's eyes out tonight and maybe some weapons will get pulled out" she says and winkes. "Kora, you're so pervert. How do I have a girlfriend like you?" I laugh at the comparison of the male reproductive part to a weapon, but the excitement of going clubbing rising as I look again at the dress she bought for me. It's not going to sit in the closet tonight, I'm sure of it. "Just so you know, you are very lucky to have me" Cora is smiling and grinning so I bring her back with a slight push. "Your self-love begins to drain and soothe the floor, you better clean it" I reply and she pulls me towards the mirror on my wardrobe and throw the dress into my hand. "Shut up and try it on already" she commands and I do as she says, I wear the dress and Kora helps me zipper her back. I look at the mirror pleased with myself while Kora applause enthusiastically, it has become her identifying mark whenever she gets excited. The creamy mini dress is at the top strapless that lifts my lush chest and reveals it teasing and all along it is tight, protruding behind me and leaving little room for imagination. "I'm definitely full at the right places," I say to myself, smiling when I realize that I just laughed at Kora's self-love. Apparently there is a reason we love each other, I say to myself and the smile is still smeared on my face. The dress is full of bright dense sequins that highlight the color of the cream and create some highlights games, and at the top the sequins are no longer dense, they are stitched and display the light colored satin fabric underneath. "It's stunning! I always know what to choose for you! You're going to break hearts tonight!" Kora bounces enthusiastically and obliges me to put on makeup. "You have twinkling turquoise eyes that I've never seen, and you hide them instead of highlighting them! Come on, put on your makeup!" She commands again, and as usual I do as she says while she is getting dressed. I put mascara and a thin eyeliner line very carefully, just as Kora taught me and then add a bit of gloss to my lips. My lips are too full and round so I don't like applying different shades as it makes them stand out too much. I finish with a slight blush on my cheeks and am pleased with the natural and flattering result. I release the pin that caught my long, black hair and it falls straight on my back. I turn to look at Kora to see that she is also wearing a tight black mini dress, with a naked back. Yes, she is definitely a walking Barbie doll. We both wore heels, she's low, I'm high. Even with my high heels, I can't reach Kora's height. I'm 5 feet tall in a body of a model who's supposed to be 6, that's at least what Kora always says. "Certainly the best things in life comes in small packages" she smiles at me, throws her hand in my hand and we get out together into Graham's car. We chatter and laugh all the way and I'm glad she convinced me to go out, I had to clear myself a little of the dust that was accumulating over my boring lonely life. But when Graham throws to Kora a small bottle of water, I shrink and remember again why I didn't want to leave the house in the first place. I was so lucky to get out of the previous incident. Even Kora doesn't know my secret, and that is how it should stay, I have to fit in. As a child, my closest friends immediately ran away screaming when they saw me, the real me, and we needed to move a lot because of it. I'm not going to let that happen again. I'm Alin Gray in my identity here, and that's how it will stay. Graham parked at the front of the club and announces that we have arrived. I immediately recognize the entrance and pull Kora excitedly out. "I thought you didn't want to go out today" Kora grins at me and laughs. She asks Graham to leave and for a few seconds there a war of glances between them got me curios. I can't understand her weird life, but the truth is, I'm not trying to either. I feel like there is a lot I don't know about her personal life but I do know and understand the need to keep a secret. I trust her, and I know that if she wants to share me she will share. Kora jump back to the car window and whispers in Graham's ear, he, in response, calls someone, nods to Kora with approval and immediately drives away. I, again, do not understand what happened just now, but Kora proudly heads towards me. "What happened? Graham is not joining us?" I ask curiously. "I sent it back to Mariano. It's our evening" she says and her smile is returning again, but I can see that there is something unhappy in her eyes. I decide to leave it aside for now and I push her toward the VIP entrance, our usual entrance. The security guard opens the black iron front door and suddenly I hear an high pitched scream in my ear "Oh, I forgot my cellphone in the car" Kora says looking frightened. "It's okay, take it later, here's mine, you can use it," I say, handing her my phone. "No, no, I need my device" Her stress is climbing. she signals to the security guard that we will be right back, pushing me back out into the street and leading me, for few minutes,  through a small alley until we reach the back of the club. I recognize a large iron brown door and two security guards standing next to it. They seem to immediately recognize Kora and let us in. "what is this place?" I ask Kora when there is only darkness around us and slow sensual music playing in the background. She pushes a thick black curtain in front of us and another club got revealed out of nowhere. It was so sensual, the music carried my body inside in curiosity. At the center of the club there's a huge circular bar, from which come five long lanes with dim lighting along their length and long poles hanged up to the ceiling. On every lane there is a dancer, some completely naked, some dressed in so minimal that it looks like part of their skin. I continue to look around with a surprising curiosity, and watch more women dancing over men with intoxicating sensuality. I can't take my eyes off of them, I feel like I need to run away but it is hypnotizing. My gaze then returns back to the lanes and I can see men sitting all over drinking and enjoying the show. Some even stick notes and money on the women's bodies and I feel a strong need to approach them, to find out more. "what is this place?" I ask, not taking my eyes off the dancers. Kora  furrowed her face in disgust "strippers club, this is the other side of the Q club. That too belongs to Mariano." She doesn't seem happy with it, and she doesn't enjoy being here. For the first time in my life my feet walks into a strip club, and to my surprise, my curiosity to know more and the desire to try and feel as feminine as they are, is only growing. Kora leads me to some hidden stairs next to us and takes me upstairs. on the second floor, we enter a large room with a huge glass wall to the right that reveals everything that is going on in the club. I try to remember if I could see that window from downstairs, but probably it was hidden. The floor of the room is covered with a red-wine carpet, the walls of the room are black and red  curtain  are thrown from the ceiling as a garish and erotic design. In the middle of the room there's an elliptical black glass table and in front of it two dancing poles that climbs up to the ceiling. I keep looking at them and I am tempted to touch it, when I notice two men sitting on a leather sofa next to the wall and two security guards standing at the entrance. I immediately recognize one of them, Mariano, Kora's husband, but my face lands curiously on the stranger next to him. I scan him from head to toe, and I can't seem to miss his gray eyes despite the dim lighting in the room. His skin is slightly tanned, his lips are perfectly drawn to fit his features, on his right eyebrow there is a long scar that fails to detract from his beautiful face, his hair is combed slightly back and only a few strands of hair fall forward, giving him a fresh sexy look.His look is so cold and emotionless when he suddenly lay his eyes on me catching up to my gaze, silently scanning me. I can't read his face expressions but I'm sure he likes what he sees and the thought of it wakening my body. I try to get the wet thoughts out of my head and reluctantly shift my attention to Kora, listening to her explaining to Mariano why we got here. He nods in response, kisses her and make a call. Everything seems so serious and a life or death situation when it comes down to her husband. Not a minute goes by and Graham enters the room with Kora's phone in his hand and I smile to myself as I think of everyone here looking like his little puppies, except from him, that stranger. Kora thank Graham with a smile and turns back to me "Let's go" she says and starts walking towards the exit, but I stop her "It's not polite, at least let me say goodbye to your husband" She rolls her eyes in response and immediately emits "I'm not sure he even knows what the word politeness is" . I ignore her comment and head towards Mariano, kissing his cheek once on each side in an Italian gesture but my gaze does not momentarily descend from this stranger sitting next to him. Everyone here looks so small next to his impressive presence. "Good to see you again, have a good time" he says warmly. I give him a grateful smile and look back at Kora "What are you talking about? Your husband is so charming" I cancel her last comment and it is hard for her to keep her laugh inside "he is a great actor, lucky for him he knows how to work in bed" she answer, a little louder, so that he won't miss the comment. He winked at her and I turned red. I have trouble understanding why I'm the only one in this room who finds this situation between them, embarrassing. "Kora, you are destroying the girl, bringing us timid virgins to this side of the club. Poor girl, you scare her" The stranger opens his mouth stingily and continues to look at me with a look I couldn't read. Kora turns to him arrogantly before I can comment "Your sarcasm is due to your need for attention? don't worry about her, she knows very well how to turn heads" She finger points my body and continues "She can get any man she wants here and this is exactly what she intends to do today" she finish and grins towards him when Mariano turn back to this stranger laughing "burn, bro." His gaze changes for a second, looking a little nervous, but his cold poker face is back so fast like it never left. That look may have deterred a lot of people, but not me. He grins back to Kora "stupid wife". I smile triumphantly and feel a slight tingle of excitement in my stomach when I look at him again, but I immediately shut it down and walk out with Kora to the main entrance of the Q. Who would have thought this club also provides those additional services.We enter the VIP complex together and Graham is not with us, apparently she really managed to get rid of him this time, but it is difficult for me to ignore two security guards on the other side of the floor who stares at us like a hawk and updates God knows who, on their earbud. Or maybe I do know who, Mariano. "Your husband really knows how to let go" I comment sarcastically and pointing towards the two security guards. Kora exhales in despair and the only thing that comes out of her mouth is "shots! now!" We drink three shots on the bar in a raw, but I am still being very cautious of people around me, keeping track of all liquid in my surrounding. The fourth shot is already raised in my hand as Kora smiles and screams in my ear "That's, I'm charged, let's dance!" I follow her, having hard time dealing the dizziness, the alcohol is taking control. I'm not sure why, but when it comes to me, alcohol always had a stronger effect on me than others, not only my senses are off, I also lose control of my power. I am trying to shake myself back to the voice of reason and not let myself fall, I have to stay alert all the time. As we start to dance, and the music is pounding hard in my ears, I easily forget about everything, take my guard off, and let the music move me around and I remember the stripper's dance trying to imitate their movements glued to Kora's back. She seemed to enjoy the idea and play along. I suddenly feel so feminine and sexy and I am full of hope that today I will end the evening with some handsome guy, maybe even someone like this stranger. I wonder who he is, I ponder while dancing, but reminding myself convincingly that it's better to stay away, his eyes screaming danger, something I can't afford right now. I scan the floor, check who is approaching us, I must find someone to finish this night with and get rid of this s*x urge. I am surprised to find out that no one is approaching. "Are we in some gay line of a party or I've got two hands popping out of my forehead that keep men from approaching me?" I shout to Kora's ear and she laughs. "It's not us, it's Mariano. Nobody wants to mess with the owners and approach his wife," she says shrugging. "It's better for us, we have more room to dance." She keeps dancing freely as I continue to scan the floor around me, recognizing many glances turning to me. I won't get out of here with any man today because of her, I sigh. I haven't slept with a man in a long time, I want some wild night out. When I got here I went on a few dates that ended in bed few times, but no one particularly attracted me and it went nowhere. Mainly because I was scared of the consequences of being attached to someone. I will find a man today to end the night with, like always. I am smiling in approval towards some men that drink my body with their eyes from the distance, letting them approach. I continue dancing as I feel a pair of hands on my waist from the back and joins me in a tight dance. The scent of his masculine perfume wakes my body "Someone finally got some courage" I whisper to myself drunken and look at the security guards who have taken a step towards him, not removing their eyes from us, making sure he does not approach Kora. I ignore them and turn around to see who is the brave guy who decided to come. My face bumps into the chest of a tall, slightly muscular man. When I look up, his brown wavy short hair falls playfully on his forehead as he looks down at me, his eyes are honey-brown and his face is so gentle but it is hard to ignore his manhood. I decide he's the winner for tonight and I keep dancing with him. Kora is handing me another shot that in less than a second got already swallowed as I bring my face closer to his. "You seem to be the one who takes me home tonight" I, the drunkard, shout to his ear and noticing the edges of his lips curving up with a naughty smile. "If it's my luck, I regret not buying lotto. I'm Shane," he says to my ear, I laugh and answer back teasing with my lips on his ear "Alin". He grabs my hand and walks me down to the bar, Kora is still dancing, not paying attention to her surrounding, or me not being there. She seems to be drunk already, but the security guards there won't let anything happen to her, so I'm not worried. I look back at him and we have a short introducing chat. He points out that he is 31 and I find out that his apartment is two blocks from mine, so I avoid giving him my address and suggest we go to his instead. Kora always seem to think that I'm naive to go wherever I want, whenever I like, with no worries but they don't know nor will know why. I can take good care of myself, others are the ones who need to worry from me. I ask Shane to wait for me at the bar as I push my way back to Kora. "I'll leave here soon, will you stay?" I ask her and pointing to Shane's direction. She smiles her perverted smile and shoots at me with a drunken scream "Oooh he looks like a good bargain, let me know how is his weapon" she laughs and I go back to the bar, looking for Shane but surprised to find out that Shane is no longer there.I scan the audience again and can't find it. I sigh in despair when suddenly a hand is placed on my shoulder, I turn around excited, expecting to see Shane's face, but my smile disappears as my gaze falls on that stranger who mesmerized me. "Looking forward to seeing someone else?" He asks with a chuckle that makes me nervous. "Doesn't seem to be your business, Mr ...?" I answer venomously and try to get his name out of it. "Luca, for you. Alin, right?" He asks with amusement, but for some reason his gaze still looks menacing. The alcohol that runs in my blood does not filter my response and I flirt-answer with no sense of shame "so the perfect looking man has a good memory too, that's a good deal." Now a real smile seems to be smeared on his face "So you think I'm perfect?" He asks teasing and my body reacts to him like he owns it. I want to slap myself, I need to know when to shut up! I decide that the wisest and not drunken decision right now is to ignore his presence, with all the difficulty that comes with it. His gaze keeps mesmerizing me and I fight my legs to take a step back and stay away from him. I am trying to act and roll my eyes at him, right before I turn to look for Shane, feeling my body cry out in protest at the distance I've created between us. "You won't find him" he throws nonchalantly as if reading my thoughts, and I try to figure out if we are talking about the same guy, but decide not to respond to him, I don't trust myself right now. I take a step toward the exit and suddenly his hand grabs mine and pulls me back to him, causing me to lose my balance and fall on his chest with my back. He helps me stand straight with my back still towards him and runs his lips around my neck "No one will dare ignore me" he says quietly with a threat, and the warm air of his mouth caresses my neck, make my blood boil with anger but at the same time also arouse with desire. I use all my strength to push myself out of his hold, releasing his tight grip. "I am not no one, Your Highness" I answer in the same threatening tone and try to make a slight bow showing disdain. But yet again the alcohol causes my body to betray me, I lose my balance and quickly cling to the bar next to me but not before a glass of a drink that was placed on it falls, crashes to the floor and the drink is spilled on my legs. "s**t!" I emit and feel that one of the glasses has scratched my leg. Luca grabs my arm and try to help me stand back. I have exactly few seconds to get out of here. I ignore his gesture and pushes off his grip on me while I quickly run to the bathroom. Pushing people out of my way. I am thrown into the open toilet and immediately lock the door behind me. "Oh s**t" I emit again as my body falls and hits the floor and instead of my two legs, my secret pops out. My legs got replaced with a long pastel-colored fish tail with big fins. "The cons of being half a fish" I mutter to myself, breathing deeply and realizing the tail tore my panties and my heels kicked to the sides as one of their clasps tore too. "Lucky I came with a dress" I grin cynically into the air and want to slap myself for my carelessness that could end much worse. I need to get away from this man, he screams trouble. I run my hand over my tail in a petting and regaining my feet, an ability I learned to perform quickly a year after getting back to the ocean, I did everything to set my foot on land again. When I regain my legs back my skin is renewed, and the scratch from the glass no longer appears on my leg. I stand up, hold my heels in my hands, throw the torn underwear in the trash, and stretch my dress down as far as I can. I have to get out of this club quickly before my tail will not be the most embarrassing thing for the audience to see. I open the heavy women's toilet door from the inside a bit and peeking outside, finding a fast escape route. I could find one in a moment so I quickly open the door to start running. In less than a second Luca jumps in front of me, stopping me. He seemed to be waiting for me outside the bathroom. "What is it Cinderella? after 12 you have to run?" He asks when he sees me barefoot, holding my heels in my hands. I stare at him with confusion. Cinderella? "Don't worry, even as a dirty housewife Cinderlla I will f**k you, don't put this face" he adds with a taunting tease. This man seems to have no inhibitions and his disdain causes my blood to boil again. I turn with my back to him, ignoring him, and in the first moment I start running, managing to escape and heading to the club exit. My bare feet stand on the rough street pavement and I skip on my fingertips, trying not to step on glass shards and look for a cab in my eyes. I immediately find a taxi approaching the road in front of the club and wave it. The driver stops and wait for me to come. I move toward him and suddenly a hand pulls me back. Does this man do not understand that I am not interested in his company? I turn around boiling with rage "Luca, release me!" I scream, but to my embarrassment it wasn't him, it was just horny drunk. "Sweetie, you look hot. How much do you take?" He asks and tightens his grip on my hands so as not to fall. His grip hurts me and he takes advantage of this position to move his lips over my ears. I feel sick to my stomach when he touches me and I turn to him with a threatening look with all the energy I have left "release me" I yell in command, but he seems to have already decided how he is going to end the evening with me. I raise my other free hand in the air, dizziness is overwhelming me but I look around the club entrance quickly, making sure no one is watching, and I try to use my powers, but it seems that the alcohol took my control over my powers, they don't work. I lose my balance as he leans on me, realizes I have to get myself out of this quick, I have to get out of here. I raise my hand again, trying to focus so hard on my powers knowing that this is my last hope, when suddenly I see the person in front of me being raised in the air and firmly flung on the street pillar next to me. I'm confused, I haven't done anything with my powers yet, but the realization strikes me in an instant as I recognize Luca jump onto the sprawling man on the pavement and gives him a punch so hard I can swear I've heard a crush. I let out a sigh of relief, knowing it was not my doing, but I still have to get out of here now.  Luca whispers something in the drunk's ear that is already half unconscious. I do not understand how he hasn't lost consciousness yet, this drunk guy sure have a strong will, I will give him that. I ran to the cab so fast before Luca could get a hold of me again. I get into the taxi, shut the door quickly and begging the driver to hurry out of here, he does as I say. I look out the window watching Luca running towards the taxi. "Drive fast!" I cry out and  let out a sigh of relief when I realize we got out on time.