Chapter One

Taylor Swift's songs carry me through all the emotions of heartbreak and even provide the perfect soundtrack for getting even, but unfortunately, Annalise has forbidden me from taking a golf club to my ex's car.

I would love to make him hurt just like I'm hurting, but instead, we're going to drink until the pain goes numb or I pass out.

She knocks on the bathroom door and pokes her head inside.

"Because I couldn't find anything to wear." I frown.

"Finish your makeup and I'll find you something to wear."

I could find a lot of clothes to wear, but the truth is that I didn't feel like leaving my apartment. I conjured up reasons to stay at home but nothing would fly with Annalise. She knows damn well I don't have fears like agoraphobia or anthrophobia.

I finish the last of my makeup and wander into the chaos that's my bedroom. There's clothes strewn across the floor and my bed. Annalise holds up an old black dress I haven't seen since my late teen years.

"I don't know if that'll fit." I chuckle.

"Your boobs always looked good in this dress; perfect for tonight." She smiles.

"I'm not picking up anyone tonight."

"Sometimes the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody." She winks.

"I don't think that'll help."

She throws the dress at me and I quickly change into it. It's so tight but it highlights my hourglass figure.

"Can you at least score us some free drinks?" She grins.

"Free drinks sounds good." I nod.

"Drinks in general sounds good to me."

"So true!"

"Our Uber should be here in a minute."

"Shoots, let's go then."

I shove some makeup into my clutch and lock the door on the way out. Annalise finds our Uber and jumps into the front seat.

"Do you have an aux cord?"

"Yeah." The driver points to a cord dangling down from the stereo.

She plugs the cord into her phone and looks over her shoulder with a bright grin.

"Oh no." I shake my head.

"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me."

"I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed." I sigh.

"She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead." Her electric energy has me sighing with defeat.

"Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming," we shout.

Perhaps Annalise was right, a night of dancing could be the cure or at least a step towards it.

* * * * *

Annalise leads me to the bar and we order a string of drinks to kickstart our evening. There's a couple of girls on the dancefloor filming each other dancing, but not enough people or alcohol in my system to have the nerve to dance.

We take our drinks to the outside area and sit at one of the tables. Some techno song plays and I pop to the thumping bass.

We listen to a couple of songs and watch as more people pile onto the dancefloor. I finish the drink and look at Annalise.

"You've finished your drink already?" She gasps.

"I'm going to grab another, do you want a drink as well?"

"No, but thank you."

I wander to the bar and tap my fingers against the bench. There's a cocktail menu that looks delicious but I can't go past a classic.

The bartender approaches and I grin.

"What can I get you?"

"Jacks and coke, please." I smile.

The bartender also takes the order from the man beside me, then grabs glasses to make the drinks. The man pays for his drink and then the bartender leaves. I slap the bar and groan.

"Perhaps he couldn't hear you," the man comments. "Have this drink, I only wanted one."

He slides the extra drink in front of me and I shake my head.

"Please let me give you the money for it."

As I grab my clutch, he shakes his head.

"Don't worry, just enjoy."

"Are you sure?"

He nods and his brown fringe falls over his eyes. He awkwardly steps to the side, then wanders away. I return to Annalise and we finish our drinks before heading to the dancefloor which now has a small group of people dancing.

I swirl my hips and awkwardly move my hands - I have no idea how to casually dance. Annalise twirls around and waves her hands in the air, no cares in the world. We dance to a couple of songs, then she's hauling me back to the bar.

"Six shots of vodka," she shouts.

Somebody near us shouts with excitement while I nervously lick my lips.

The bartender lines up six shot glasses and pours vodka into them. Some of the liquid pools over the glass and creates a puddle. Annalise hands over the money and turns to me.

She grabs a shot and thrusts it into the air. Vodka dribbles down her fingers but she doesn't seem to notice it.

"Here's to tonight and the morning to come. Treat me well as I've done you proud." She throws the shot back, and then we race through them. The bartender cheers, which makes us laugh.

"Now let's dance." She takes my hand and pulls me back to the dance floor. Her innocent moves turn into a crazy mash of bobbing, the sprinkler, and twerking, which has me in hysteria.

"I need to pee," I shout.

"Okay." She nods.

She links her fingers through mine and leads the way to the bathroom. Annalise plonks onto the couch to fix her makeup while I continue around to the bathroom stalls. I nab the last free stall and sigh with relief.

I check my phone and sigh at the lack of notifications. To make it worse, I haven't changed the background image of Jason and I. We're cuddled up in bed, his lips pressed against my cheek.

For the first time, I'm not sad, just angry. We only dated for six months but to be dumped via text message, that's just gutless. How are we supposed to still be friends after he did that? Anger courses through my system.

I should give him a piece of my mind! Who does he think he is? He can't just break up with me over text and get out of this scot-free.

I open the phone app and select his contact name. The phone rings and rings and finally, disappointment sets in. Before it reaches the voice mail, the line crackles and somebody's voice is on the other end.

"Lola, is this you?"

"Ignore her and come back to bed," a girl says.

Sadness seeps back into the pit of my stomach. I know we only dated for six months but I deserve more than this.

"Don't call me."

I flush the toilet and look at my phone. A voice tells me to call back and let him have it, but the realistic part knows I could never do that.

My shoulders slump as a tear rolls down my cheek. I lock the screen and the device slips between my fingers. With a splash, it sinks to the bottom of the toilet bowl.

"Shit."

Taking a deep breath, I retrieve the phone and shake it. The screen goes a weird colour, so I hurry to the hand dryer. Warm air blows onto it and the screen goes back to normal, well, kind of.

Now this is why I should have stayed home. I'd be in bed watching a movie, not in a dirty bathroom with a broken phone and toilet water on my hand.

I scrub my hands with a thick layer of soap and return to Annalise. She bops around, then raises her eyebrow.

"What's wrong?"

"Can we go home?"

"Sure, but what happened while you were in the bathroom?"

"I dropped my phone in the toilet." I groan.

"Lola." She sighs. "Come on, let's get you home."

We leave the club and hop into our ride home. We sit in the back seat and I lean my head against her shoulder.

"You get the vodka, and I'll get the ice cream," she says.

"What if I buy a cat to fill the hole in my chest?" I frown and shake my head. "I'm allergic to cats and I'll probably lose it."

"Cheer up!" Annalise bumps into my side. "Things will get better."

"I shouldn't be upset because Jason was an asshole."

"You guys were together for six months, that's half a year. It'll take some time until you adjust to being single again. Don't keep beating yourself up about it. We all need transition periods."

"You're right." I nod. "I think it's the cuddles I miss the most."

"I bet I can give you better cuddles than him."

The apartment comes into view and I smile. We thank the driver and race upstairs. I flick my shoes off and toss my bag onto the floor. Annalise helps me pry my tight dress off and I dress in an oversized t-shirt and crawl into bed.

She hops into the bed and wraps her arms around my waist.

"What happened to the vodka and ice cream?"

"I saw the bed and got tired," she mumbles.

"Fair enough." I chuckle.

"Goodnight, Lola."

What is your go-to dance move? :)