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Distraction

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Chapter 3: Distraction (Persephone's POV)

I slurped on the empty cup of iced tea while Anastasia and I sat in my mess of a living room. "She could have given me a month to pack up at least. I've got stuff that's three year's worth and I need to pack it up and move in two damn weeks," I scoffed, staring at the ground we sat on. 

"You can stay with me till you find a new apartment, don't worry," she said, nudging my leg with hers. "No rent needed," she grinned. 

"Absolutely not. I'll pay half the rent if I stay, Annie." 

"Then you can pay half the rent, that's fine," she chuckled. "But tell me again why you don't just want to stay at your parents' house?" 

"I don't like that house. It gives me the creeps." 

"You lived there your whole life, Percy." 

"And it gave me the creeps my whole life too." 

She rolled her eyes. "You should just stay there. Your parents aren't there either so you won't have anybody nagging at you." 

"Should I?" I popped the lid off the cup and started crunching on the ice cubes, eating them. 

"It's not like you're alone. There's Ms. Linda, remember?" 

"She is the creeps," I stated. "How is she still alive? She was in her sixties when I was born." 

"Long life for the old lady, what can you say? Just stay there. She's the housekeeper, she'll take care of you. And we can use the pool," she suggested. She's right. It's a good house and anyway my stay there is only temporary. 

I could find an apartment quickly and then move back out of there before my parents even got back. Whenever that is. "She must be in her eighties, early nineties, yeah?" I narrowed my eyes. 

"Shut up," she laughed in response. She looked around at the mess and let out a sigh. "Let's go somewhere." 

"I can't, I have to pack, Annie." I stood up, throwing the empty plastic cup away. 

"You've packed your entire living room in one day, it's confined into boxes now. You plan to move out tomorrow or something? Exactly, no. Let's take a break, let's go somewhere, come on." She stood up too, throwing her empty cup away. 

"Like a cafe?" 

"No," she drawled. "Like a club." There it is. There are the mischievous eyes, the teasing smile. 

"No," I said quickly and firmly. "There's no way I'm getting drunk tonight." 

"You don't have to get drunk, do you? You can just enjoy, dance a little. Find a cute guy to flirt with a little and that's it. Forget about the horrible day you've had, that's all." She stared at me hopefully. "It's called a distraction, Persephone. Indulge in it because you need it." 

"A distraction?" I deadpanned. 

"You don't even work tomorrow so you have no excuses. Come on, get ready. And lend me a dress," she grinned. 

"You always steal my dresses," I scoffed as she pushed me towards my room. 

"You have good style, Persephone, take it as a compliment."  

♡♡♡

We stood in line in front of Enchanted. I haven't been to this club since it opened. It's a new club, I'm sure of it. It opened this summer. When my doom began. 

Maybe the club brought my doom with it. 

"I can't believe you haven't been here since it opened. You should have gone with your co-workers when they offered." 

"I'm not friends enough to get drunk around them. And I get drunk after one shot, so..." I trailed off as we reached the bouncer. 

"ID," he demanded. 

I pulled mine out of my phone case, showing it to him while Annie did the same, then he stamped our hands with the logo, and then we were let inside. 

"Remember, Percy, you're here for a distraction. Don't start stressing yourself out about anything. To make sure you don't do that, let's have a drink. Just one, not enough to get you drunk," she laughed softly, both of us walking to the bar. 

I really only drink when I want to get drunk, or I sip on some wine because that keeps me sober. But do I want to get drunk tonight? We Ubered here, I can uber back. Or even get a taxi. Annie ordered the martini she always drinks and I ordered some rum. 

Rum gets me tipsy. Tipsy is the way to go tonight. 

"Let's dance!" Annie yelled from beside me, over the pounding, deafening, booming music that's almost as bad as torture to my eardrums. Almost. 

"Let me finish my drink!" I replied. 

She nodded, disappearing into the crowd. I watched as she crashed right into a guy. Oh, a cute blonde. Well, she has some company for tonight. I know that she's nice enough to drop a guy if I get too drunk and end up needing her help, but she's not here to babysit me so I'm not going to bother her for the rest of the night. 

I downed the rest of my drink, letting out a sigh. Screw it, I should just get drunk tonight. "Excuse me." 

The bartender walked over to me with a smile on his face. 

"Can I get another one of these, please?" 

"That's rum, yes?" 

I nodded with a smile. 

"Coming right up," he smiled back and then started preparing the drink. 

I took that time to look around the club itself. My brows furrowed in confusion when I spotted a black spiral staircase near the back. 

"Here's your drink." 

"Thanks," I mumbled. "What's up there?" 

He followed my gaze and then looked back at me. "That's where our boss has his office." 

"The owner of Enchanted?" I questioned. 

He nodded in response. "It's off-limits to all customers. So, just don't go up there." 

I nodded in understanding while he began serving other people. I slowly drank down my drink while looking around and then stood up, thinking I should dance or at least mingle with some people. Maybe find that cute stranger Annie suggested I flirt with. I was walking to the dance floor when a guy blocked my way. 

"Hey there," he smiled politely. 

"Hi," I chuckled, feeling the rush of alcohol run through my body. 

"You looked a little lonely sitting at the bar." 

"Not lonely, just alone," I smiled. 

"Ah, I see. I'm Griffin." He stuck his hand out. 

"Persephone," I replied, shaking his hand. 

"Do you dance, Persephone?" 

"When I feel like it," I nodded. Oh, I'm definitely tipsy. I'm flirting with him. 

"And do you? Feel like it right now?" And he's flirting right back. 

"I sure do," I grinned. My hand, which was still in his, was tugged forward as he led me to the dance floor. 

"Comfortable?" he asked. 

I nodded. 

"Willing?" 

"Yes," I laughed softly. I liked that he asked to grab my waist instead of just doing it. Seems like a gentleman. 

It was after at least thirty minutes of dancing that my feet began to hurt in the stiletto heels and I started getting dizzy because of how drunk I was. More like wasted. The drinking, the dancing, the flirting. It all leads to being wasted. I slowed my dancing and he looked at me questioningly. "I'll be right back!" I shouted over the music before heading to the bathroom. 

I went in there, did my thing, and then rinsed my hands before stumbling back out. I was about to walk back to Griffin when I stopped at that spiral staircase. 

I bet the owner of the club isn't even here. And if he was, someone would probably be here to make sure nobody heads upstairs, but there's no security here whatsoever. The pounding music is starting to make my head hurt too. I bet it's nice and quiet up there. 

I grabbed the railing and started walking upstairs, not even bothering to be discreet about it. I don't see anybody watching me. I made it upstairs and walked through the black, oak door, and stumbled inside the empty room. I sighed in relief and walked to the couch, falling onto the plush cushion and kicking my heels off while resting my head on the backrest. 

I sat like that for a few seconds, getting rid of the pounding in my head and the music that was still echoing in my ears. God, I need air. Like right now. 

I stood up, stumbling over my own feet while groaning as I walked to the balcony door, finding the handle, and pulling that door open. I stepped out, resting my arms on the railing and looking at the nighttime New York City view. I let out a groan, thinking about how unlucky today was for me. 

I was fired, I was kicked out of my apartment, I couldn't contact my parents even when I tried to and now I have to go live in that creepy old house. I let out a frustrated scream which died down in a small cry. 

"Goddamn it!" I yelled, grabbing the railing tightly. So tightly that my knuckles grew pale and white. So tight that my fingers hurt when I softened my hold. I bet anybody who could see me right now would know that I've had one of the worst days of my life. It's painfully obvious, isn't it? 

I walked to the wall and then grabbed the railing, throwing one leg over it and sitting on the bar, leaning against the wall behind me while holding onto the railing, my hands between my legs, clutching on the bar while I kept the foot on this side of the railing firmly planted on the ground. 

I closed my eyes, feeling the cold breeze blow past me. It's summer and this is New York. There shouldn't be any cold breezes. It's sticky and humid and gross being out in this weather. But tonight it seems nice. It's the least God could do for me after the shitty day I've had. I even woke up badly. 

I fell off the bed, I stubbed my toe on the bathroom door, I ran out of shampoo. Just a bad day overall, huh? At least the night isn't too bad, Annie's distraction idea worked after all. Well... I guess not since I'm just thinking about all the bad things that happened to me. 

My eyes snapped over when I felt my foot slipping from under me, slowly lifting off the ground. I tightened my grip on the railing but I could feel myself rolling forward. 

Really? After everything today? Tonight God chooses to kill me? Well, fuck me then, but no. I am not dying tonight after the shitty day I had. 

So, I did the most logical thing to do that's likely to catch someone's attention before I fall. I screamed at the top of my fucking lungs and I started praying to every god out there.

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Chapter 3

It's like a freaking movie in this bitch

not even, it's like a fucking drama show lmao

next chapter: stranger