Lust of the Light

Blind Date

    Alora's POV

    I picked up the phone, I had to talk to someone back home.  I called my mother and she answered on the first ring.  They had been permitted to have phones in case I needed them.  "Mom?  I miss you."  "Alora!  Is everything okay?  We miss you so much darling."  "I don't know if I am following the right path Mother.  I feel like evil is around me, but I have no idea where it is coming from."  "Alora, you know I'm not permitted to tell you anything about the path you are on.  I am not allowed to sway your fate.  I will say this though, be very careful and remember the prophecy.  Darkness may be closer to you than you believe."  "Mom, what does that mean?!  Am I in danger?"  "I can say no more.  We love you sweetheart, I must go."  

    My mother was gone and had warned me the darkness was near.  Where was this darkness she spoke of?  I felt like everyone in my life was genuine.  I decided not to worry about things that were out of my control.  I would continue to follow the path I was on and not focus on the evil around me.  I was stronger than someone who had darkness in them.

    My thoughts drifted to Draven.  He was so beautiful, like an angel.  He was also dangerous because he made me feel temptation like I had never felt before.  I thought of every kiss and touch we had shared and how special they were.  I thought about the feeling of heat whenever he touched me.  He made me feel things I didn't know I could feel.  He had betrayed my trust though by having that girl over.  I knew they had done something intimate, they had to, why else would she show up looking like that?

    "Alora?  Do you have any plans tonight?"  I turned to see Alice and her smiling face.  She was a beauty and such a sweet friend.  "No, I am totally available tonight!  What did you have in mind?"  "Well, Tyler wants to go out and we thought you could come with one of his friends.  He assured me he's very good looking and you would like him."  I was sure Tyler's friend was attractive, all of his friends were very good looking.  Maybe it would teach Draven a lesson if I went out with someone else?  What was this called I wanted to do?  Revenge?  I knew it wasn't right, but he needed to feel my pain.  

    I wrestled internally until I realized Alice was waiting for answer.  "Sure, I would love to go out."  She squealed, "Great, I'll call and tell him now!"  She skipped away and I felt like she was up to something, but I ignored it.  I suddenly looked up to see the campus president on the television in the cafeteria.

    "These earthquakes have caused mass destruction across our nation and our world, but even more close to home, our campus has been greatly damaged.  We will rebuild as soon as possible.  We are currently organizing fundraisers to restore our great school, classes will be suspended for the next two weeks until we can get everyone moved around.  If you need help please see our disaster relief team that has set up in Building 2A.  Thank you for staying strong and Go Eagles."

    I looked out the window to see the destruction this had caused.  People were out of the dorms and sleeping in cots in other hallways.  Somehow our dorm had been untouched while every other building was damaged in some way.  I knew for some reason I had been immune to this disaster and that was why we were safe.  I still felt sorrow for everyone who was suffering and knew it was part of my mission to help.  

    I walked over to building 2A where the relief team was.  "Hi! My name is Alora, I am new here, but I would like to help as much as possible.  I have experience in leadership and solving great issues back home, how can I help?"  The girl looked at me with relief, "I'm so glad to have someone with some experience.  We are all a little lost on what to do next.  Could you lead our fundraising team?  We need someone to come up with money raising ideas."  "I would love to do that!"  "Great!  Fill out this form with your info and we can meet up later to discuss ideas and your role."  I smiled and filled out the forms, this is what I was supposed to be doing, not being tempted by some guy.

*****

    I walked back to my dorm knowing it was time to get ready for my date.  I sighed and felt a bit defeated.  Not matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop thinking of Draven and he hadn't tried to contact me all day.  I obviously cared for him more than I realized.  I looked at my phone again to make sure it was working, not that I would know if it was.  Alice was waiting for me when I walked in the door.  "I have the perfect outfit for you to wear!  Can I get you ready?"  I had to smile at how excited she was and I nodded.

    Alice wanted to pursue a career in makeup and hair, but she wanted get her business degree to open her own place which is why she was in college.  She began my makeup, "This is a little different than your usual look, but this is what Tyler said his friend is into."  "I am sure whatever you do will be lovely Alice."  She smiled then looked at me skeptically, "Something is wrong with you today, what's going on?"  I sighed and told her everything, "And I guess I just like him a lot more than I thought I did and now I just feel pain.  I thought I meant more to him than that."  She looked thoughtful, "I think you do mean a lot to him.  He talks about you all the time Tyler said.  I heard he had a hard life growing up and his family puts a lot of pressure on him to be perfect.  Maybe he is scared of disappointing you?  Maybe he feels more than he expected to."

    I thought about this and maybe she was right.  Maybe he did care and just didn't know how to show it.  "Ok, this is my best work yet.  I can't wait for you to see it, are you ready?"  I nodded and she turned me around in the chair to the mirror.  My mouth instantly fell open because I didn't recognize the girl looking back at me.  My hair was curled and had a lot of volume.  My bangs were swept to the side of my face making me look mysterious.  My eyes were heavy with silver and black eye shadow, something Alice called a smokey eye.  My eyelashes were covered in mascara making them look full.  I had foundation on making my skin look smooth with blush heavy on my cheeks.  My lips were smeared with red lip gloss, a color I never dared to wear.  It was different, but it was good.  

    "Wow, I look good." Alice giggled, "You look hot!  I would even say sexy! He is going to love it."  She handed me my outfit and I went to put it on.  I wore high waisted black pencil thin pants with diagonal. pockets that zipped.  She gave me something called a body suit that was red with lace on it to wear as a shirt.  It was very strange and I wasn't sure why I was wearing a bathing suit to go out, but she said it was fashionable.  I put on some black and red bracelets and black boots.  She handed me a shorter leather jacket to go with it.  I thought of Draven and how he always wore his leather jacket.  He would love this look.  Alice came out and looked and me and whistled, "You look badass. Ready to go?"  I nodded and followed her out.  We got in her red car called a Honda.  The boys were meeting us there.  I watched out of the window as we talked about girl things.  Human girls loved to gossip and Alice told me I wasn't very good at it.

    We pulled up to a parking lot with a sign that read Putt Putt Palace.  We walked up to the ticket booth to wait for the guys.  Alice was still chattering as I took in the scene around us.  Suddenly my whole body froze and I felt the cold air as every hair on my body stood straight up.  I turned slowly to be faced with the person I was least wanting to see or most wanting to see, Draven.