C6 Episode 5

(Keisha’s Pov)

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, my heart sinking as I took in my reflection. I looked hideous. With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly put on the bodycon spaghetti dress I received from Aunt Mandy on my 17th birthday.

She believed that every girl should have at least one bodycon dress, even if she's from a religious home.

My mom was initially furious about it but eventually agreed that I could keep it as long as I wore it with a jacket and kept it hidden from my dad.

Now, it seemed like it was finally going to good use as I slipped on my denim jean jacket.

My gaze turned from the mirror to Morgan, who sat on her side of the bed, her eyes fixated on her laptop. "How do I look?" I managed to speak, feeling a sense of unease around her.

Morgan lifted her head, the dark eyeliner around her eyes making it difficult to tell if they were open. "I thought you said you weren't going. What changed your mind?" she asked, her attention quickly returning to her laptop.

Feeling guilty for not sticking to my word, I remained silent and bit my lower lip nervously. Morgan's gaze slowly met mine, sensing the tension in the air.

She brushed off the subject and complimented my appearance instead. "It looks good, the dress," she finally said.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I turned back to the mirror, deciding to style my curls into a loose, wavy bun. I brought out my ankle-length black boots and slipped them on.

Just as I was about to leave, my phone chimed, indicating a text message. I picked it up and read Ivy's message—she was waiting outside my dorm. I grabbed my handbag and rushed out to meet her.

We arrived at the fraternity house, and as I stared out the car window, my heart sank at the sight of already intoxicated partygoers.

Fraternity parties were infamous in college, thanks to Ivy. The place was crowded, and crowds were never my thing. We stepped out of the car, while the waiter, Jordan, looked for a suitable parking spot.

Ivy danced to the music, her mini pink skirt leaving much of her skin exposed. It was undoubtedly a poor choice of clothing for this kind of event.

Ivy grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, clueless to my worry about Jordan searching for us. "Aren't we waiting for Jordan?" I asked anxiously.

She waved off my concerns, "Oh, please, Keisha. He's not a kid. I'll text him when we're about to leave." With that, we entered the house.

My eyes scanned the scene before me. At the entrance, I spotted a couple passionately kissing as if they hadn't seen each other in centuries.

My attention shifted to the keg barrel, overflowing with alcohol, and a blond guy chugging from it while facing downward. The surrounding crowd cheered in amusement, reveling in the rowdy atmosphere.

Ivy ran in, arms wide open, and embraced two girls wearing matching mini skirts. Were they part of a band or something?

The deafening music and screams pounced on my ears, and the air was thick with the stench of alcohol and sweat.

"Guys, I'd like you to meet my friend, Keisha," Ivy introduced me to the girls.

"Hey," they both greeted in unison.

I couldn't quite discern if they were twins. They bore a striking resemblance to each other, but something about their features set them apart. One had black hair, while the other was blond.

Ivy leaned in and whispered in my ear, "They're fraternal twins, both dating the same guy. It's a secret," she said, smiling mischievously.

I smiled back at them as I made my way to an empty couch to claim my seat. Ivy handed me a cup filled with alcohol, but I politely declined and placed it on the table.

"Don't you drink?" the handsome guy sitting beside me asked as he turned to face me.

"No, it goes against my beliefs," I replied, managing to keep my composure.

Everyone burst into laughter, making me feel foolish. "What are you, a nun?" he teased.

"Leave her alone, Davin," the blond twin interjected, shooting him a disapproving look. Davin scowled at her before redirecting his attention to me. "I was just making conversation."

"I simply choose not to drink," I reiterated, determined to ignore his taunts and the rest of the partygoers.

"You must be a freshman," he continued. "Hey, Ivy, you never told me you had such a beautiful friend," he said, smirking.

There was something about him that made my skin crawl. I clenched my fists, trying to quell the anger rising within me. What was I doing here? I felt like an outsider amongst these carefree party animals.

I asked a girl seated next to me where the bathroom was, and she directed me upstairs. As I stood up, Davin couldn't resist making another snide remark. "Leaving so soon?" he teased, eliciting chuckles and murmurs from those around us.

I ignored him and made my way upstairs. The maze of doors confused me, but I eventually unlocked one on my right. However, the sight of a couple passionately making out inside startled me.

"What the fuck!" the guy exclaimed.

"Sorry," I apologized hurriedly, shutting the door and hastening away, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and discomfort.

Standing before another door, I was about to unlock it when I heard voices emanating from inside.

"Come on, you promised I would get to see it. Show it to me," a sweet but husky voice pleaded.

"You promised we'd find somewhere private and quiet," a female voice replied.

I heard him sigh, realizing that whatever he wanted wasn't going according to plan.

"Are you taking it off or not? If you weren't ready, why did you drag me here? Are you toying with me?" his voice turned cold.

"I-I just wanted us to take our time," she stammered.

She must be oblivious to his true intentions. It was evident that he didn't care about her opinion. He only had one goal in mind, and obtaining it was all that mattered to him.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, I unlocked the door. They both turned to look at me, surprise and shame evident on her face as she skulked past me and left.

I stood there in a daze, staring at him. He was the most captivating boy I had ever laid eyes on. Tall, with a low fade haircut that accentuated his features. He wore a sleeveless T-shirt vest that revealed the intricate tattoos adorning his arm.

His piercing blue eyes bore into mine, sending a shiver down my spine. There was something undeniably alluring about him. With his almond-like eyes, he exuded a mysterious charm that I couldn't resist.

"Sorry, wrong door," I stammered, desperately trying to escape the intensity of his gaze.

"Hold on," he said, his voice commanding my attention.

I could hear his footsteps approaching, and soon he stood before me. "Is there a problem?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling.

"You ruined my fun," he spoke, his voice sending electric currents through my body.

I took a step back, my eyes fixated on the tattoos that adorned his arm. "Excuse me?" I asked, my brows furrowing in confusion.

"I was so close, just $5,000 away from winning a bet, and you ruined it all," he explained, a trace of frustration seeping into his tone.

I stared at him, holding his gaze, as he moved closer. What was he doing? He leaned back for a moment, only to move towards me again, pressing me against the wall.

"What... what are you doing?" I managed to say, trying to sound brave despite the fear pulsating through me.

"I just lost a bet because of you. How do you plan to make it right?" he asked, his face inches away from mine.

I could feel his hand toying with the strap of my dress, causing discomfort and unease to wash over me. I tensed, feeling trapped.

"It's simple," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. "Either you take her place or pay me for the bet."

"Are you serious?" I blurted out, disbelief lacing my voice. I could feel my heart racing as I processed his words. Was he suggesting what I thought he was?

My mind was spinning, trying to come up with a way to get out of this situation.

"I can't believe you just asked me that," I said, my voice shaking with both fear and anger. "I am not some object that can be traded or replaced. I won't be a part of your sick bet."

He smirked, his eyes filled with amusement. "Well, it seems you have quite a lot of attitude for someone in your position. But I assure you, I am serious."

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I had to stay strong and stand up for myself. "I won't do it. Find another way to settle your bet."

His grip on my arms tightened as he pressed me harder against the wall. "You don't seem to understand. I always get what I want, by any means necessary."

"I am not some replacement for you to play with," I spat, my voice filled with anger. "I won't let you manipulate me into doing something I don't want to do."

His eyes narrowed, his expression turning from amusement to pure rage. He grabbed me by my dress, his face so close to mine that I could feel his breath on my skin.

"You're making a big mistake," he growled, his voice dripping with venom. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

Taking a deep breath, I looked him straight in the eye, fighting back the tremble in my voice.

"I won't let you intimidate me," I argued, my voice filled with stubbornness. "I'm not the one who ruined your bet. You need to find another way to solve your problem."

His grip loosened slightly, surprise flickering across his face. His eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in his head as he considered his options.

“This isn't over," he muttered, his voice dripping with threat. He released me, and I stepped back cautiously, never taking my eyes off him.

As he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the hallway, the weight of what had just transpired sank in. I crawled on the floor, my hands trembling.

“Who was that?” …..