DANGEROUS TERRITORY

                             Jessica's POV
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One-day someone is going to look at you, and bless the maker for creating you
***

Every week, I keep getting better, Kendra practically stays at mine, and I'm sometimes at hers, Romeo checks up on me every single day.

For some reason, Angel has been avoiding me, for the first week and second, I tried to get her to talk to me, but she found an excuse every time to walk away. I stopped trying by the third week, hoping she comes around

Now to the part you want to hear, I barely see Arman, barely is the wrong word to use. I haven't seen Arman since the last time I encountered him. It hurts how he hurt me, and I've been trying so hard not to think about him, but like I said 'trying'. I'm failing miserably, he's always on my mind. It hurts to think that he doesn't even think about me, even a little.

"Are you not going to get dressed?" Kendra's voice brings me back to reality, currently we're dressing up to an all masked party. I had to beg Kendra so many times to allow me to go, I can't keep living in paranoid for the rest of my life, I have to put everything aside and then leave my life at least

"Are you sure about this?" I know she's worried, "I'm sure, besides it's a masked party, who is going to recognize me"

She takes in a very loud breath, "alright fine, stop overthinking that dress and wear it before I change my mind". "Yes ma'am"

I take my clothes to the washroom and then wear it, the dress fits so perfectly, it's not my usual type of dress, but I really want to go all out today, I want to be spontaneous, I want to feel the thrill of being in school. Especially because I'll be writing my exams a few weeks from now and I won't get the liberty to go anywhere.

"Oouuuu" Kendra whistles from where she sits, "you look edible" I blush at her comment, "do not exaggerate"
"Exaggeration, I'm definitely not exaggerating, you look like someone I could turn gay for"

"Ow shut up you sweet talker"
She burst out into a fit of laughter, I pair my outfit with my new heels that I bought recently.
"Are you ready, Princess" she says the Princess like Romeo would, "that's Romeo's line"

"I know right" she turns to me looking serious, "you know he likes you, right" I'm mute for a while.
"I do, I just don't think I feel the same way"
"How do you know when you haven't even tried"
She has me thinking, what if I tried, what if I gave him a chance, what if he'll be the best thing that happened to me.
These weeks, he's been the most caring, loving, bestest of friends I've ever had

If only i could stop thinking about that asshole. "What ever you're thinking has got to be very bad, because your face is scrunched in a very angry state, and you're fisting your hands"

"You have no idea how bad whatever I'm thinking is", "you know you could share, right"

"I don't want to bore you"
"C'mon Jess, you always do this"
"I'm sorry"
"Don't worry about it, tell me at your own pace okay"
"Thanks for understanding"
"I've got you"

We sing to different songs in the car until we get to our destination, outside the huge building streams cameras and expensive looking people with their mask on taking pictures like it's an award show

"You didn't tell me it's going to be this huge"
"Welllll, now you know"
"Really"
"I'm sorry babes"
"I hate you"
"And I love you too"

As we make our way through the venue, I see a sea of beautifully adorned masks, each one telling a unique story. The air is filled with excitement and anticipation, with whispers of conversations and laughter. People move gracefully, their identities concealed, adding an element of intrigue to every interaction. As I navigate through the enchanting crowd, the masks seem to hold a magical allure, inviting me to explore the hidden depths of each reveler's persona. I begin to wonder who could be who behind these beautiful mask. The music pulses through the air, setting the rhythm for this masked waltz of anonymity and charm. Conversations flow freely, filled with laughter and intrigue, as I find myself lost in the mystery of it all. It's a night where the ordinary fades away, and the extraordinary takes center stage, leaving me captivated by the enigmatic energy that surrounds me.

"Hello Princess" I turn around to find a masked Romeo behind me
"You recognize me"
"I could recognize you even with my eyes closed" I blush

"Stop exaggerating" I laugh out loud, "I'm not"
"Do you two still know I'm here"
We turn to Kendra at the same time and burst out laughing.

"My beautiful looking elegant ..." before Romeo finishes his statement, she puts her hands up to stop him
"Stop mister, I'm out of here, see you later" she leaves before we even agree to let her go

"Ignore her" I turn to look at Romeo, "you look dashing"
"Stopppp" I'm blushing like a teenager
"Have you had anything to drink"
"No, I just got here"

"Then I'll be your waiter for tonight" I walk with him to the bar area, "what would you like to take"

"Something strong, I really want to let loose today, I've been living fearfully for a while"
He nods in understanding, and I'm happy he's not asking me any further questions.

I regret the decision of gulping down the alcohol instead of sipping it, it burns my throat and my eyes waters instantly

"Will you please dance with me"
He looks at me as if he can't believe I'm asking him to dance with me
"C'monnn" I blame the alcohol for making me whine like a baby

He takes my hand and takes me to the dance floor crowded with dancing couples

The lights suddenly become dim and the music gets slower. Romeo takes my hands in his and draws me closer as we begin to move slowly to the rhythm

Alcohol is not my everyday thing, but I surely know feeling suffocated, nauseous and dizzy as if I'm sick shouldn't be part of the symptoms of drinking alcohol

I close my eyes for a while and just try to enjoy the feel of his warmth and the atmosphere the music is pulling us into, trying so hard to forget how my body is feeling.
I begin to sweat just immediately and then I can't stand the discomfort anymore

"I'm feeling a bit unwell, I think I have to use the washroom"

"Let me take you there" with his hand to my back he leads me towards the washroom.
He stands outside the washroom door, I hear him say he'll be right there when I come out

I sit on the toilet for a while to calm myself down but the discomfort gets more overwhelming

I come out to splash water on my face, completely disregarding the mask.
I step out with the intention of telling Romeo to take me to the hospital but suddenly my steps falter, the tension in the corridor is palpable as I hear the click of a gun being cocked. Arman's hand doesn't even tremble, his eyes is filled with rage and determination. My head slowly moves to the victim, Romeo, frozen in fear, and his hand in surrender.

I'm speechless, I'm unable to move, Arman turns to me and smirks for a brief seconds before his eyes return to Romeo, his finger tightens on the trigger, the room echoing with the deafening sound of the gunshot. Romeo crumples to the ground, a chilling silence following the violent act. The shock and horror in the room are overwhelming as the reality of the situation sinks in.

One minute I'm screaming for help, and the next minute I feel myself hit the floor and then darkness takes over.