I screech to a stop outside, my heart racing. What am I doing? I hate confrontation, I hate fights, but here I am about to burst into this club for a woman I don’t even know the name of, who is – let’s not lie to myself here – in an incredibly risky profession. I don’t even let the thoughts of why she chose this specific profession get very far in my mind right now. So I throw the thoughts out of my head, adrenaline pumping.

I run up to the entrance and past the bouncer, yelling “Jayden Belle” as I rush past. I hate using my name to get free things, but I think this classifies as an emergency…right? Running into a bar to save a woman I’ve only met once and don’t even know the name of from any number of men that are most likely bigger and more apt to fighting than myself counts as an emergency…right?

I hear giggling that sounds a little like the voice of the woman, if I can even remember clearly what it sounds like. My eyes scan for her black hair as I push through the crowd. Llama damn it, where was she? As I begin to move towards the bathrooms, a soft hand brushes against my chest as a young woman falls into me.

“Ohhh, there you are, honey.” That voice purrs, sending chills down my spine. What the fuck was wrong with me. I turn to look at a group of three men and then the blond haired girl at my side. She winks and turns to the men. “Sorry boys, but it seems our lovely night is over. My darling bodyguard has come to take me home. A girl can never be too careful.” She giggles again, blowing them kisses and leading me out of the bar.

“Uhm, what was that, are you okay?” I ask as soon as we get outside, turning to face her. I pull her in front of me, staring at her, looking for any injury – at her face, her neck, her arms, her body, her eyes, and even that damn hair. I can’t get past the hair.

“Oh, do you not like it?” She pouts, taking a curl and spinning it around her finger. “I heard my client liked them blond and ditziy, did I do a good job?”

“I-I guess.” I mutter, still incredibly confused. She wasn’t hurt. She probably hadn’t needed me at all back there.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, it’s a wig. Black isn’t my real color either.” She winks and smiles. “So, shall we go celebrate?”

“Celebrate what?” I ask.

“Your victory tonight, duh. It’s why I called you out here.” She says.

How the hell does she know about that? How does this woman know way the hell more about me than I do of her? And why am I a stuttering mess around her, letting her voice and touch turn me into…into…what I had been when I first met Selena. But my biggest question of all was still the one I had a few weeks ago. How the hell did she know I had been new to Bridgeport. I must have tensed at the thought of Selena, because she raises an eyebrow.

“Hm…maybe I should have asked you to bring your incredibly colorful and fun looking friend with you.” She loops her arm through mine and begins walking away from the club with me.

“No, no, sorry. I mean, I don’t care if she’s here.” I feel slight anger rise in me, “So let me get this straight, you text me out of the blue after weeks of nothing to call me to save you, and all you want to do is celebrate? Did you even need my help in there? Why are you wasting my time?” Something flashes in her eyes and I do admit, I sounded meaner than I meant to.

“I can take care of myself as far as the men are concerned. They wouldn’t ever truly hurt me…” A slight frown pulls at her lips, but she quickly replaces it with a smile. “However, they were boring me and their time was up, so I really did need you to rescue me. From boredom. Was it a mistake to call you? Did I pull you away from some incredibly nerdy groupie sex in your back room?” She asks.

“No.” I force out through gritted teeth. No, you only saved me, again, from possibly doing something with Selena I would have most definitely regretted, I think to myself. “There was no one. How did you know I would be on? How do you even know who I am?” I change the subject.

“Oh, that’s easy. I’ve been watching you on TV for a couple of years now.” She says like it’s the most normal thing in the world, although I guess it is for mine and Tilly’s fan base. Suddenly she laughs, and the noise ricochets through my mind. “Gnome, that sounds so stalkerish. I’m not, I swear. I just happen to be slightly nerdy myself, so I’ve seen you in competitions that have been broadcast over the past couple of years. So, can we go celebrate now?”

“Sure.” I say, getting exhausted of how many questions she brings up. “Just one thing, I need to know your name.”

After assessing me for a moment she smiles. “Ash. Ash White. But I refuse to tell you what my real hair color is. A girl has got to keep some mystery to her.” She winks, and I swear to plumbob that this woman is a witch for the effect she has over me.

“Yea, whatever.” I mumble, looking away from her so I can try to forget the way the moon reflects off her skin, or the way her eyes crinkle when she smiles. My family spends four months trying to get me out of my funk and here comes this woman out of the blue who would never ever have any reason to be attracted to me, in a profession I would not be okay with someone I care for in, making me feel things I had honestly never cared to feel again. I try to push it all down. Making men feel these things is part of her job. She probably has tons of men she calls on to “save” her. I’m not anything special.

“Stop looking so pouty and let’s celebrate!” She exclaims, picking up our pace and leading us down the road towards a club that’s blaring music.

I have a feeling that I’m going to regret this all in the morning.