Chapter One: Part 1

The first night was probably the strangest, but my life was already very strange. I don't think I would have ever even realised just what was about to happen to me. Looking back on it, I feel like I should have realised something; just how freakin’ chaotic everything had been. The energy in the bar alone had been off the charts. The air was thick with a weird predictive tension. Like somehow everyone else had known what was going to happen that night. The smell of stale beer had invaded my senses like a premonition of bad news. It made me sick, but despite all universes warnings, I continued with my usual antics.

Around five, my friend had passionately escorted me from my job as Pleasant Barista #3 down at Cup o’ joes on lloyd. Vanessa claimed she needed all the info on a midnight kitchen rendezvous with our dear friend and temporary roommate, Derrick Costa. She was very passionate about it. But honestly not much had happened. Derrick kind of looked at me like a little sister or that's what he claimed. Last night had been different though. He had been different. Another strange encounter.

I had gotten back late, and intoxicated, again. Because well, that was kinda my thing right now. Another story, for another time.

Memories I had been trying to escape for longer than the nine weeks I had been in Providence, fueled a massive bender after my show. Thursdays were open mic night at a lounge my friend Vanessa from before, had introduced me to. It was one of those LGBT bars with the crazy drag queens and bears out front. A classic. She figured since I put the ‘T’ in LGBT, it might be a good fit, and it was. Genuinely. I got to be completely me, one night a week, and people actually loved it. They thought I was adorable and funny. eye candy at least, and it made me feel at home for once.

I was a willowy kind of-girl. Lanky my whole life unfortunately for me. Until now. I was somewhat, gracefully. Somewhat. And my hair was dyed a strawberry milk pink, to my shoulders, and wavy. Often frizzy. It was what it was though. I tried. I tended to wear my makeup… wild. Bright colors, lots of pink. And my clothes were mostly thrifted. Sometimes I spiced it up with paint or rhinestones. I considered myself creative, though my parents never agreed. Thick retro sweaters and booty shorts, maybe a houndstooth frock, always though, something bold or colorful, often both. And despite my boxy figure and big nose, with fashion I did try to make it work. And people liked that about me. That despite how chaotic I was, I always looked good. The Goddess of the lounge said I “Reminded her of a Princess Diana, Reborn!” and it stuck.I just went by Baby now. I had never had a nickname before, ever. Not even bullies could muster something good, and neither could I. Sometimes people even called ‘Baby Diana’, and I liked that too. Anything was better than hearing the same annoying name from a town full of people that hated you. It was a special kind of nice to finally somehow match the face to the feeling.

But that night, derrick had been pissed for some reason or another, and the complete asshole I was, I just had to infuriate him further. The situation had escalated quickly after that. And when Vanessa came home, she somehow found us curled up on the couch. Clothed, thank any god there was, but tangled up like a couple of spider monkeys. Disheveled and completely knocked out. Truth be told I didn't even know how we even ended up like that. But obviously, Vans assumed the worst of course. Or well, technically the best, but I truly doubted it. Although looks could be deceiving. I just couldn't believe cool guy Derrick, a true John Bender wannabe, would find me attractive in any way.

So, Vanessa had been, well, yeah, the best word for it was passionate, about the prospect of Derrick and I “finally” getting together. So I should have expected shed shovel me down to our little friend groups favorite bar, Fiend’s.

I knew though, a couple nutcases like us shacking up, was a recipe for disaster. Even so, there I was, Vans and I, at another club, and I was plastered. Again. Some guy ogled me from a few seats down. I smirked at him and he grinned to himself, sipping a beer.

“Hey!” a deep voice yelled from somewhere below me. I sipped the tangy drink in my hands continuing to make eyes at the man. My drink was fruity but sour and made my face hot. I bit my lip as the music thumped. “Baby!” The voice called again and I couldn't see through my mess of peachy waves as I lazily looked over. I brushed them out of my face and smiled. I moved to the music as I saw who it was. My crop tops’ hundreds of silver beaded tassels, tinked off each other harmonically. And I grinned.

“Busy!” I teased over the music with a laugh. My voice having a slight twang i just couldnt shake. Carried to Rhode Island from a tiny place in South Carolina. I parted my hair with two fingers, tucking the strands behind heavily pierced ears. I giggled smiling down at the man who looked very unamused. My legs wobbled slightly as I walked along the bartop. And then I finally remembered, I was in fact, on top of a bar and for some reason that was absurdly hilarious. How the hell had I gotten up there? I burst with laughter sipping the drink again and looked back down at the man. Oh shit! Derrick was there! Well that fact, I found even funnier. Especially his face.

“Derrick your face is all red! Are you mad or something?” I put my drink and my clutch down on the bar and adjusted my black high waisted mini skirt. I pulled up a little too high and some men hooted.I giggled, smiling at them. Derrick rolled his eyes below me, looking away. ”Nervous?” I joked. He looked up at me once more, his curly brown hair falling into his face. I met his honey eyes and his angry expression became bland. I hated that. If there was anyone with more unresolved issues than me, it was Derrick.

He quirked a brow at me, his face otherwise blank, “So you're not coming down?” he spoke, his deep voice blase as if he had better things to do anyways.

I crouched, smoothing the skirt out softly as I squatted on the counter, knees together, right in front of him. Derrick was tall, so even with me atop the bar, he about met my eyes. Face to face. Don't bullshit a bullshitter Derrick, you know that. Rookie mistake

“No, I don't think I will.” I smiled at him like the cat that caught the canary and he met my grin with one of his own.

Now it needed to be stated that Derrick Costa was good-looking. Very good-looking. A marble statue of a body. Gorgeous, tousled, dirty-blonde waves. Honeycomb eyes that seemed to melt my soul. And a truly cut jaw with just a bit of scruff. Derrick was an everybody type and he knew it. He got away with a lot of things, with a lot of people. And he always got what he wanted. Always knew just what to say. Always knew just what to do. forever disinterested and smooth. A bad boy with the face of a god. In my experience people like him were created for the sole purpose of torturing people like me. But I think I was just too.. manic for him. His polar opposite. And because of it, he got nothing by me. I could tell just what type of person he was from the beginning. A calculating, over-confident, mess. And at this point in my life, after officially deciding to stop relying on other people for my self-worth. I refused to give derricks drama, the time of day. Which he absolutely hated, or loved, I honestly couldn't tell. But I was one of the only people he couldn't figure out. Which drove him insane, and only furthered his interest in me, our favorite game.

“Figures.” he huffed, picking something out of my hair and I rolled my eyes.

“Do a shot with me and ill let you take me home.” I smirked and he shook his head. “Don't lie i know you want one.”

He stared at me with mild irritation, “Todd wants me to take you home Diana.” Derrick said, glancing at the bartender at the other end of the bar who eyed me warily “he says you have enough alcohol in your system to kill a large man.” I pursed my lips plopping back on my butt, still atop the counter.

“That must be an exaggeration because the likes of you schemers has officially, sobered me.” I huffed, finally hopping down from the counter.

“I'll have you know she did three shots of bourbon, two cherry bombs, had a martini, a long island, three glasses of house rose and a four horseman, Derrick, take her home please lord.” Todd the snitch came up from behind me and I scowled at him. “Don't let her talk you into anything like the poor group of girls that just left puking all four horsemen right back out.”

Derrick stared at me in amazed horror and I shrugged.

“I guess lost count?” I mumbled and Derrick came in very close to me, his hands at either side of the counter I now sat on. His eyes bore into mine.

“Were leaving.” He said and I frowned.

“What about Vans though?” I asked, “You can't just strand her here!” but as soon as I turned to look for her, he grabbed me by the waist and tossed me over his shoulder.

“You f***ing a**hole!! Let me the f**k down you pr*ck!!”

“Baby can you affectionately shut up and stop kicking me.” He snapped back and I groaned loudly.

“If I wanted a daddy, I’d go to kinks.com, butthead.”

“Clever.”

“Derrick put me down or i'll seriously make a scene!”

“You're already making a scene. You always make a scene. You're a thespian of life, Diana.”

“Clever” I mocked, smacking his back, hard, as he apologized to passers by. He swore under his breath.

“Did you just fucking five star me? Diana, its two thirty in the fucking morning, why the hell am I always the one getting calls from Todd. Your fucking infuriating, having them call me. Where the **** is Vanessa, shes your damn owner.” He berated and I frowned at him my nose crinkling.

“I'm not a dog you prick. And I didnt tell anyone to call you! I thought you just came for a visit.” My voice cracked and I know I sounded hurt and pathetic, but i was drunk and the blood had been rushing to my head at an alarming rate.

He put me on my feet. He was gentle, like handling glass. But he still frowned. His hands still held my waist, probably unconsciously, as i pressed against him for balance. He was a fit boy, outside a lot just walking or biking around. So he was fairly in shape, but still, somehow soft. I liked that.

“Derrick you're kind of being a **** right now.” I stood straighter. Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I glared. “You didn't have to come, I would have obviously left eventually. But you did come huh? and I wonder why that is.” I stepped away from him raising a freshly shaped blonde brow. I had decided to color it in pink. Fiend's had blacklights and cool accents of fluorescent pink lighting throughout the establishment. So my bright pink makeup glowed like additional decoration. I loved it. This bar was one of my favorites, and they carried my absolute favorite Rose. I pointed a finger at him, my nail sharp and neon yellow. I gulped down another sip of the sweet frozen wine beverage and placed it nicely on the counter. “If you dislike me this much, and I am such a bother, I know plenty of other guys that would be happy to receive Todd’s summons.” I bit at him and derrick’s indifference wavered revealing anger and hurt. My pride soured in my throat.

“Fine then Diana, have at it!” He gestured around and i huffed in annoyance. And then, I pushed him. Suddenly my head panged with a snapping pain and a memory jarred my thoughts.

Derrick pressing me against the fridge with a halo of bright golden light surrounding is irritated frame. His long hair slowly transforming from a mousy brown to a glowing gold. And his honey eyes lit up like pools of ambrosia. His face clouded over with lust and some other emotion, maybe regret? But then, he kissed me.

I looked up at the Derrick in front of me now and I felt my face pale. His eyes went wide with surprise. Then back to bland irritation.

“Very mature.” he said, but I could only stare at him. My brain tried somehow to explain the strange memory. It felt like a memory. But it didn't make any sense at all. Had I taken some sort of hallucinogen without realising? Had I been drugged… It explained why I couldn't remember anything from last night, and I had been flirting with a lot of other guys before Derrick got there. “Di?” he asked and I attempted and failed to clear my thoughts as I looked up at him..

“Just get Vanessa so we can go home. I’m.. tired.” I mumbled, my throat, choked.

I really wanted to believe that the whole thing was a dream, but the feeling in my gut of deja vu said otherwise. It said, something very strange, even stranger than normal was happening, and for once I needed to listen.

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