Chapter 7 Quiet night
A knock on Rey's apartment door interrupted her reverie as she was applying dark red lipstick in front of her small mirror. Slightly nervously, she opened the door and found Rose standing in the doorway with her signature wide smile.
"Rey! Finally! I'm so glad you came!" Rose exclaimed cheerfully, immediately stepping into Rey's tiny apartment.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Tonight is going to be fun! You deserve to have fun after all that time with paint and... that mysterious man." There was a teasing tone at the end of Rose's sentence.
"Come on, Rose," Rey replied with a thin smile, feeling a little embarrassed but excited at the same time.
Tonight, she decided to get out of her comfort zone. She wore an emerald green slip dress that she had just bought. The dress was simple yet elegant, with a cut that fit her body and a modest length, reaching mid-calf. She paired it with a dark denim jacket and a pair of comfortable black ankle boots. The final touch was the dark red lipstick that gave a bold yet elegant impression.
"Now that's my best friend!" Rose said, putting her arm around Rey's shoulders.
"I know just the place. 'The Velvet Room' in West Hollywood. It's decent, the music is good, and it's not too far from here. They have a rooftop lounge with a great view of the city too."
Rose's look tonight was eclectic, as usual. She wore a paisley crop top paired with a deep purple velvet midi skirt. Several large silver bracelets adorned her wrists, and a necklace with a crescent moon pendant adorned her neck. Her curly hair was styled high with several colorful clips, and she wore bronze platform boots that made her look even taller.
Rey imagined 'The Velvet Room'. She had heard of a nightclub in West Hollywood that was known for its elegant yet lively atmosphere.
Its facade might be a mysterious unmarked door, which once opened would lead visitors into a dark hallway sparkling with candlelight and mirrors.
Inside, the beat of house and indie pop music would mix with the sounds of laughter and chatter of fashionably dressed people. The long bar lined with colorful bottles of liquor would be filled with bartenders expertly mixing cocktails. The dance floor would pulse with energy, silhouettes moving in the flashing strobe lights.
And as Rose had said, the rooftop lounge would offer the cool Los Angeles night air and the view of the city lights, a place where people could relax over drinks and quieter conversation.
"That sounds... interesting," Rey said, trying to hide her nervousness behind a casual tone.
"Interesting is not quite right, Rey! This is going to be great! Now, let's go! We're a little late for happy hour, but the night is still long!" Rose took Rey's hand, and together they walked out of the apartment, into a new night for Rey.
×××
The deafening music and the disco lights spinning around the ceiling of 'The Velvet Room' were a little too much for Rey. She sat alone on one of the empty bar stools, sipping her Cosmopolitan slowly. Rose, as expected, immediately found a 'new friend' on the dance floor and was now happily swaying to the energetic house music, her cheerful laughter occasionally heard above the din of the club.
Rey looked around. Fashionably dressed people were milling around, laughing and chatting excitedly. Couples were hugging each other in the dimly lit corners. On the dance floor, bodies were moving wildly in free synchronization.
This was a whole new world to her, a far cry from the silence of her small apartment filled with sketches and paints.
Slowly, Rey began to question her decision to go to the club tonight. She felt awkward and out of place.
This first attempt at 'opening up' felt more like she was observing other people's lives through a glass window. She didn't know how to start a conversation with a stranger, and the intense energy of the club was making her feel tired and a little overwhelmed.
She glanced over at Rose who seemed to be enjoying herself. Maybe Rose was right, she deserved to have some fun. But maybe her version of 'pleasure' is different.
As Rey was lost in thought and sipping her nearly finished cocktail, a man suddenly sat down in the empty chair next to her.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said in a soft baritone voice that was loud enough to overcome the music. "My name is Finn." He extended his hand with a graceful movement.
Rey was a little surprised, then shook his hand awkwardly. "Rey."
"Pleasure to meet you, Rey," Finn said, his gaze casual but full of concern.
"Why are you here all alone? Is something wrong?" He tilted his head slightly with a curious expression.
"Another round on me?" He gestured to the bartender without waiting for Rey's response.
Rey felt a little surprised but also not intimidated by this man's familiar greeting. There was something pleasant about his demeanor.
"Oh, thanks," Rey replied a little hesitantly.
"But this is almost gone too." He raised his glass that was almost gone.
"Take it easy, babe," Finn said with a casual smile.
The bartender nodded and began preparing drinks.
"Where's your friend? There's no way a beautiful girl like you alone in a crowd like this, right?" There was a familiar teasing tone in his voice.
Rey felt her cheeks heat up a little.
"she's in the dance floor"
"So," Finn said, leaning his body slightly against the bar, his smooth brown skin glistening faintly in the club's lights,
"what do you usually do when you're not 'dragged' to nightclubs like this?" There was genuine curiosity in his question. His short curly hair was neatly styled, and he had dimples that showed whenever he smiled.
Rey thought for a moment. How could she explain her simple, art-focused life to this African-American man who seemed to be enjoying the glitz and glamour of the nightlife?
"I... I paint," she replied simply.
"Painting? Cool!" Finn exclaimed enthusiastically.
"What do you like about your paintings? Abstract? Landscapes? Nude portraits?" He winked mischievously, showing off his neat rows of white teeth.
"murals"
"I write about music for 'West Coast Vibes', so I know a bit about creative expression."
Rey was a little surprised.
"'West Coast Vibes'? I've heard of that magazine! Isn't that a popular music website that often reviews indie and hip-hop bands from LA to Seattle?" He remembered reading some of their articles about local musicians.
"the one and only," Finn said with a proud smile.
"I'm one of their regular contributors. Usually reviewing new albums or doing features on up-and-coming musicians." He raised his glass slightly.
"So, you're an artist, huh? No wonder your aura is different," Finn said, looking at Rey with a more interested gaze.
"I really like art. Maybe next time I can see your work?"
Their conversation flowed smoothly. Finn turned out to be a fun and easy person to talk to. He talked about his work writing about music, his passion for various genres, and his experiences interviewing cool musicians.
Rey found it strange how she could feel so comfortable with a stranger in the middle of this noisy club. Maybe Rose was right, she did need to get out of her comfort zone a little.
Time passed quickly in the flowing conversation between Rey and Finn. They exchanged stories, laughed, and found some unexpected similarities in their taste in music. Suddenly, Rey's phone vibrated in her bag. She reached for it and saw a text message from Rose.
Rose: Rey, I'm so sorry! I think I found my person tonight! 🤩 We're going to continue somewhere else. Have fun! I'll tell you everything tomorrow! 😘
Rey frowned at the message. She didn't even say goodbye right away. Rose really did forget about her surroundings when she was attracted to someone. She sighed softly and showed the message to Finn with a wry smile.
"Well, that's how it is Rose," Finn said casually after reading the message. "When she clicks, she really clicks. Looks like you're left alone, sweetheart."
He shook his head with a chuckle.
"Want me to take you home? It's not nice to be alone at night like this."
"Oh, no need, Finn. Thank you very much," Rey replied quickly, not wanting to bother the man she had just met any further.
"I can get a taxi from here. It's close."
"Are you sure?" Finn asked worriedly.
"It's late at night. At least we can exchange phone numbers. If anything happens, you can call me." He took out his phone.
Rey felt a little relieved by the offer. Even though she refused the ride, having a new friend in the city was reassuring. They exchanged phone numbers quickly.
"Okay," Finn said after saving Rey's number.
"Don't hesitate to contact me, if you need someone to talk to or next time you want to go out again. Be careful on the road."
"Thank you so much, Finn," Rey said sincerely. "Nice to meet you."
"You're welcome, Rey. See you later," Finn replied with a friendly smile before turning and disappearing into the night crowd.
Rey sighed and started walking along the sidewalk, hoping to find a passing taxi soon. However, the streets seemed increasingly deserted, and the taxi she was hoping for was nowhere to be seen. The streetlights cast a cold light on her face. The night air felt increasingly cold, piercing through her denim jacket.
She walked, her eyes sweeping every corner of the street, hoping to see the yellow light of an approaching taxi. Her thoughts returned to Rose who had disappeared and a slight disappointment that this night did not end as she had hoped.
Frustration and a little loneliness began to envelop her as she continued to walk aimlessly in the middle of the Los Angeles night.
×××
Rey was just about to take out her phone to order an online ride when suddenly her arm was pulled hard from behind. She gasped in surprise and turned around with her heart pounding. Before her stood Kylo Ren.
Kylo's face was dark and tense, his jaw was set, and his eyes were burning with cold anger. His hand was still gripping Rey's arm tightly, a painful grip.
"You!" Kylo hissed lowly, his voice full of suppressed growls. "What are you doing here?" His gaze sharply examined Rey's appearance. "I didn't take care of you all this time to see you throw your life away like this." There was a strong possessive tone in his words, although he tried to control his expression.