Chapter Six

Later that night, I meet Annalise outside the same bar we'd attended previously. It's our go-to-bar for cheap drinks, good music and a desire to have a good night. Somehow spending our time there always works out well, surprisingly.

I find Annalise standing outside talking to a taller man with his back to me. When Annalise catches me on the sidewalk, she waves me over which prompts the man to look over his shoulder.

His dark brooding eyes are the first things I notice. My heart aches all over again. Jason's dark brooding eyes was the first thing that drew my attention to him on the sidewalk. I don't like the guy already. Men and their darn, damn, brooding eyes!

"Hey, Lola, meet Dean," she introduces.

"It's lovely to meet you!" I tug on a bright smile to play nice.

"Do you ladies want something to drink?" he offers.

"Oh Dean." Smiles Annalise. "That would be splendid." She hooks her arm through his and leads Dean to the bar. Following behind, I try to keep up with the pair. Little does this poor sucker know, he'll be going home with the number of the local dry cleaning company and not Annalise's.

We go to the bar and Dean orders three drinks. Annalise and I down the drinks and head off to the dancefloor without Dean. He stays at the bar and watches Annalise dance as she teases him – only stopping every couple of minutes to glance over her shoulder seductively.

We get three more drinks out of Dean before he tries to get Annalise to go home with him for some cheeky fun. She plays the sick card, gives him the fake phone number and we head off somewhere else.

As we walk down the street, I see Kol across the road with another pretty young girl. They are sitting at a late night café talking and laughing with each other. The sight of their happiness makes me upset.

I know I shouldn't be upset, but I am. I try to ignore my feelings, ones I shouldn't have for someone I pay for affection, but I can't help but remember the feeling of his warm, muscular arms around my body. I'm so screwed.

"What's wrong, Lola?" asks Annalise. "It looks like you've seen a ghost."

"I, uh, where are we going next?" I ask, shaking the dazed feeling from my mind.

"This great place around the corner." Annalise links her arm through mine and drags me down the road. We turn around the corner and find another buzzing joint. We wait in line while the bouncer checks through people's I.D's. When we get to the front of the cue, Annalise smiles up at the bounce like she knows him.

I didn't know she had time to meet scary people. Though, Annalise had a knack for meeting just about anyone. Standing just short of a large dinosaur, the man's beady slant eyes look like they might consume your soul within a brief glance. He looks happy when his eyes meet Annalise's, it brings a sense of relief.

"John, how are you?" she screams excitedly.

"Hi, Annalise." He smiles back.

I'd never pick his name to be something plain like, John. Soul sucker would be my first guess, if I had one. I suppose it beats mine, I'm sure people would just feel sorry for me. Heck, I feel sorry for myself. Date and talentless were my names.

"I didn't know you were working!" Her eyes go wide with amusement as she slides her hand up his arm.

"Girl, you cute. Tell them you're a friend of mine and they'll let you in for free," says John.

"Naw, you're too kind, John. The world needs more people like you!" John lets Annalise and I slide through the checks and into the main section of the building. Annalise leans over the counter and shouts out that we're friends of John, which automatically gains us a free entry and drink.

With stamps up my arm and a free drink in hand, I hit the dancefloor in search of someone new. I want someone to take my mind off this world and the two men constantly playing on my mind. When I have a song stuck in my mind, I listen to another one to get rid of it. I'm sure men worked the same, right?

Finishing off the drink, I put it down and coincidently fall into someone's side. The young man wraps his arms around my body and smiles down at me.

"Are you okay?" His dark brown eyes sparkle into mine.

"I'm certainly better now." I flutter my eyelashes.

"A dance?"

"Yes." I nod my head.

We stand close, our bodies brushing against each other with each move. I get into the music by swaying back and forth. When he wraps his arms around my waist, I do the same around his next. As the first chorus plays, I draw his lips to mine in a hot, quick moment.

It doesn't work. My mind trickles back to the idea of Kol. His arms wrapped around me, the feel of his lips against mine, and the sound of his heart beating against my ear.

Kissing this man makes me feel sick. I break away from his hold and smile politely.

"Bathroom," I shout over the music with a grin. He nods his head as I slip from the crowd and walk out the buzzing joint. I don't bother telling Annalise, she's probably wrapped up in another man's arms and I don't want to ruin her fun. So I pull myself together for the trip back to my apartment.

The cold night air dances around my skin, sending shivers coursing through my body. I hug my body tightly, but it does nothing to bring warmth to my exposed skin. I quickly make my way down the road, the warmth and comfort of my bed in mind.

As I round the corner, I see Jason and his girl walking along the street towards me. Keeping my head down, I try to walk past without being noticed. The street lights are dim enough to create a shadowed effect of cover.

But as I slip past them, I'm called out on my cover. The girl throws her drink at me, covering me head to toe with a cold sticky substance that stings my eyes.

"Cheap whore," she sniggers.

They both laugh at me for a couple of sections before continuing down the street. I supposed the cold liquid soaking my skin should calm my boiling blood, but it just fuels the rage clawing to escape my chest.

"Cheap whore? Funny." I laugh loud, over the top, and to the point where it captures their attention. Jason and the girl stop in their tracks to listen to what I have to say. Their attention excels my rage even more. "You're just another me, just as I'm another someone else. Dumb enough to fall into his bed."

I don't give them a chance to shout back. I turn in my tracks and head towards my apartment. When I'm out of sight, I start running to get there quicker. Despite the pain of running in heels, the out of breath and the stinging of the cold liquid and air, I get there quicker.

When I'm inside my apartment, I strip out of my clothing and jump into the shower. While my body is defrosting, I order another guy from the cuddle service to cheer my mood up. Being called a cheap whore hurt my feelings, but it doesn't anymore.

I can't believe she has the audacity to try that on me, especially when she's doing the same. Unbelievable. I won't let her justify me as a reason to help her sleep at night.

Once my body is defrosted, I get out and change into my most comfortable pair of pyjamas. I walk around the apartment for a couple of minutes and then he arrives.

I open the door to find a shorter, plump man with light blonde hair. It's not the mysterious, confident Kol I've grown to know, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

"We just need to go through the contract before we progress."

"Sure." I nod my head. "I've done this before."

"Great, that makes my job easy." I sign the contract and give him the money before heading over to the couch to watch a movie. As he wraps his arms around me and strokes my shoulder, I can't get my mind around it.

I feel completely awkward. More awkward than I was with Kol. I'm not sure how and if I want to overcome this set back. I use my distaste for the situation to fuel my courage to get the man to leave my apartment.

Ordering another person, or kissing someone at the club isn't going to force either Kol or Jason from my mind. I'm not sure what will, but I don't believe it'll be that. Perhaps I should have gone for the warm brownies and a tube of ice cream.

When the movie reaches halfway, I dive right in for the kill.

Sitting up, I half smile at the man before I tell him to leave. He's puzzled by my response, bit I cover myself by explaining I'm tired and just new to this whole experience. He seems happy enough for the free money. The man gets up and lets himself out of the apartment.

I lock the door and turn the lights off before I head to bed. I get a call from Annalise on my mobile, but I ignore it. I'm not in the mood for talking, but to be by myself for a chance.

Crawling into bed, I hide under the covers and drift to sleep with the thought of Kol playing in my mind.

Question: What do you do to get music out of your head?