We walk out of the club into the chilling night air, goosebumps rising viciously over my skin. I ignore it and the clamoring lights of photogs as Tom leads me to his BMW X6.

We quickly jump into the car and I hit the AC button, cold air comes out in full blast and it was all I could do not to scream.

"Calm down" Tom drones, he twists a nod and deliciously warm air envelops me.

Engulfed in the feel I lean down in the chair and literally begin to purr like a cat.

"You're a weird one, Emb" he chuckles and starts the car.

"Says the person who's still uncomfortable around gay people" I murmur back.

He balks.

"I'll have you know I am-"

"Oh please spare me!" I wave him off and sit up.

He grumbles something to himself and drives off the curb. 20 seconds into the drive something hits me.

"OW! GROSS!" I hold my nose and puff out my cheeks, "Dude! Did you fart!?"

Tom cracks a sly grin but says nothing.

"Oh dear sweet lord, it's in my eyes!!!" I slap for the window button but it was locked.

"Uhm!!!" I shrieked thought closed mouth. I turn back to Tom with pleading eyes. "HMMM!!" I cry out.

"I don't smell anything" he shrugs, then points behind him. "You're probably smelling the gym bag in the back."

I start tugging at his arm desperately, the lack of oxygen in my system getting to me.

Tom must have noticed it because he rolled his eyes, "Fine, fine" he says. Then proceeds to roll down the window.

I waste no time as I throw my head out and gasp in the biggest breath of air I've ever taken in my existence.

Half my torso was sticking out and I feel strong hands forcefully grip my hips and pull me back inside.

"Jesus, it wasn't that bad" Tom complained.

"'It wasn't that...' MY EYES ARE WATERING!" I scream at him. "My skin must be green! My eyes kinda look green" I says as I get a look at them in the side view mirror.

"Your eyes ARE green"

"I always found that weird," I confided, "As someone of Middle-Eastern decent, that's kinda off"

"You have special eyes, they kinda change color depending on the angle and distance you look at them from" Tom says.

"You think my eyes are special?" I coo at him.

He shrugs in reply.

"I think chocolates are special, don't rub your ego too much" he adds.

I sit back and we continue to drive in silence, 3 minutes later Tom's bolting down the express and then asks,

"Your place or mine?" simply.

"Mine" I replied in the same monotone.

He passes the exit on the right that would lead to the residential district where he lived and went down left off to the center of town.

I faintly notice Tom eyeing my outfit.

"Don't you think that was a little over the top? Even for you?"

I freeze, "What're you trying to say?" I ask slowly.

"Nothing" he says innocently, "Just that...that's a lot of skin..." then he trains his eyes back on the road. "Not that I'm complaining or anything"

I fiddle with the hem of my crop top, "Well I was going for a certain look..." I confess.

"Which was?"

I try, in vain, to pull down my skirt. "I don't know," I mumble meekly.

I feel warm hands cover mine, I refuse to look up.

"You don't have to dress like that to prove you're sexy" was all he said. I feel his hand squeeze mine for a second...and then let's go.

I let out a harsh breath I didn't even know I was holding.

"Thanks" I say awkwardly as I look away.

The atmosphere was starting to become a little tense, so I start fiddling with my fingernails over my outrageously short skirt which I was now too self-conscious about.

"When's the last time you had sex?"

I literally jump up in my seat and look at him with wide shocked eyes.

"Really? Of all the things to ask that was it?"

"It's the perfect ice breaker," Tom says cheerily.

"Urgh!" I roll my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. "Inappropriate topic aside, why do you care about the last time I had a dick inside me?"

"Just being a good friend," he played for sounding mock offended.

He jerked the wheel to one side as he barely made it through the traffic red light and started down the avenue leading to my apartment.

"If you must know..." I sighed out, feeling a little like my old self again. "I almost hooked up with Chad last week"

Tom had a moment of pause where he looked like he couldn't breathe, I fought back the smug look on my face then was completely shocked when he bursted out in an uproar of laughter. So much so that it was to the point where the car began swerving dangerously on the street.

"Chad!?" he belted out in utter delight. "The grocery store CLERK!!??"

I feel a blush creeping up me, I bite my lips and look away. Tonight was just an off night for me, I didn't normally feel shy or awkward, or even timid!

"So what if he's a store clerk?" I countered harshly.

"You just went from a movie star...to a bag boy?" I don't know what's worst, Tom's words...or his incessant laughter.

I steeled my spin as I felt a little of my old self return in anger.

"He may be a bag boy...but he's amazing with his hands" I say dreamily.

Tom stutters.

"I beg your pardon?"

"We almost got it on in the back-storage room," I say passively, acting like I wasn't trying to get under Tom's skin. "And the things he did with his fingers! Uhmmm," I moaned in delight at the memory.

All Tom could do was look at me in shock, "Isn't the dude younger then you!?"

"No!" I yell defensively, "he just looks 19"

"He's just a skinny toothpick, what can he even do!?" Tom questions out loud.

I swirl my tongue visibly for him to see, "A lot of things..."

Tom was silent for a moment, I could see him visibly think, then he looks back at me with a straight face.

"What did he do wrong?" he asks, deadpan.

I fake confusion, "What do you mean?"

"You said you 'almost' hooked up with him," he says, "Fess up, be honest"

"Urgh!" I groan, "He's a wizard with his hands...but terrible with his lips"

"Euw!" Tom made an apologetic sound.

"I knooooow" I reply in agony. "When it came to kissing I was ready to burst into tears"

"Don't worry sweetheart..." Tom pated my shoulder, then my thigh. "No man can be as great as me"

I shove his shoulder.

"You know you're not the greatest sex being in existence, right?" I scrawl out.

"Nah, I am" he says confidently, then parked in front of my apartment complex.

"See you tomorrow?" he asks mock sweetly, then reaches over and kisses me on the cheek.

I roll my eyes at him, "Don't try to be cute." I scold, and take off my seat belt.

I had a moment of pause, do I tell Tom what I thought I saw? No need in scaring him over nothing.

It was most probably nothing...

"Gnyt" I told him, and hop out the car.

I look back and see him wave at me from inside his car and then drives off, zooming down the street and disappearing into traffic.

I look on at his disappearing taillight for one more minute, sigh, then slowly walk in.

It had taken a while to get an elevator up, but I reach my door and pressed my thumb against the pad panel hidden on the right.

It only had two authorized finger prints on it.

Mine, and Tom's.

I hear the familiar veeep! of my locking mechanism come to life and I enter inside.

The whole apartment was pitch black, making me momentarily pause at the door.

I don't remember turning off the lights...

I stifle a gasp.

That's because I didn't!

I jump for my couch and reach under it for my emergency gun, 1 of 20, hidden around my apartment.

It wasn't there.

I begin to perspire. I shot myself up and begin to back slowly towards my window.

Everywhere was so dark, and I couldn't get a sense of if I was in danger or not. I reach behind me to pull aside the curtains when...

Mybody hits another body.