2. COLLISION

~ Zoie’s POV ~

Zoie lay on her bed in the darkness of her room. The only light source came from the window where the moon was high and bright. She checked her phone carefully under the duvet, it was 11:59 PM.

Perfect.

Zoie quickly got up from the bed. She was wearing a short leather skirt, high leather boots, and a black tank top. Definitely not something one would wear to go to bed.

Moving swiftly, she whisked her purse from underneath the bed and headed for the window. Right before she opened the window, she checked her phone again. 12:00 AM. Time for the guards to change.

Zoie looked down to see the guard right below her window moving away. She slipped quietly out of her window and scaled the walls until she got down through the planters on the wall. Once she was on the ground, she looked around to make sure the coast was clear. She then raced across the garden and hid herself behind a tree when she spotted another guard walking nearby. The guard didn’t see her, thankfully. And when he was gone, she went running again.

Since she couldn’t leave through the front door without the guards noticing, Zoie had to escape through the gates surrounding the garden. There was a specific spot on the gate that was perfect for escaping. One of the rods could actually come apart. Zoie discovered this when she was out exploring one afternoon when she was twelve. Ever since then, this was the thing she loved the most about living in the estate. All the little secrets it holds.

Zoie skillfully took the steel rod off the gate and slipped outside. Then she put the rod back as if nothing happened. Once she got outside, she ran through her neighbor’s yard, which was her aunt Talia’s home. After making it out of the yard, she got to the streets where her Uber was waiting.

Yes, she thought. Another night, another perfect escape.

---

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NEW YORK CITY

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Thump. Thump. Thump.

The music was loud and pumping as Zoie entered the club. Red and green laser lights shot across the room as people were dancing, drinking, and having the time of their lives. Zoie showed her fake ID to the bouncer who then let her into the VIP section.

Oh, yes. Of course, she had a fake ID. Zoie went to a prestigious private school with kids who had senators, ambassadors, and lawyers as parents. These kids knew exactly how to get around their parents’ strict codes and Zoie was learning. Too bad she only became close friends with them during the last half of her senior year. If she’d known sooner, she’d have gotten the fake ID since Freshman year and she would’ve had so much freedom to party. But alas, she only had just gotten the fake ID last month, so this was only her second time using it.

Zoie’s heart was beating to the beat of the music as she stepped toward the dance floor. This was only her second time going to a club. The first time was for her friend, Emma’s birthday party last month.

Zoie threw her glance around and locked eyes with the people on the dance floor.  There were girls in short, sexy dresses, and guys that looked like models. The good-looking crowd in New York City was second to none. And it was perfect because Manhattan was only a half hour away and no one would recognize her here.

“Zoie! Over here!”

Zoie turned around and saw her girlfriends, Emma and Brianna, waving their hands. They were standing at a VIP table with some other people that Zoie didn’t know, but she swore one of them was Jacob Elordi.

“Guys! Hey!” Zoie went over to them and they hugged.

“Oh my God, you’re finally here!” Emma said.

“Bitch, what took you so long?” Brianna chimed in.

“It’s not easy dodging five bodyguards at home, okay?” Zoie scoffed and tossed her hair to the side. “And can I get a drink, please? I need something to take the edge off,”

The girls chuckled and Emma handed her a glass of peach martini.

“What’s wrong, girl?” Brianna asked.

“My dad still wants to argue with me over Stanford,” Zoie sighed as she took a big gulp of the drink. “Basically, he’s not gonna let me go unless I take a bodyguard out with me. Like, how am I supposed to live a normal life like that?!”

“A bodyguard to college?” Emma laughed.

“I seriously don’t get your dad,” Brianna shook her head. “Any parents should be happy their kid got into a school like Stanford. It’s a great school, and totally safe,”

“Yeah, my dad would fall over and kiss my feet if I got into Stanford!”

“I don’t know, he’s so weird and overprotective like hell,” Zoie shrugged. “Like, come on. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“His daughter falling for a complete stranger?” Brianna teased.

“What?” Zoie gaped.

“12 o’clock. He’s totally checking you out,” Brianna nudged her in a direction. “He’s been staring at you ever since you walked in,”

Zoie turned her eyes to the bar where a tall, handsome stranger was looking in her direction. He had dark, dirty blonde hair, eyes that were deep hazel, a jaw so chiseled and sharp, and he was wearing this cool leather jacket and ripped jeans.

Damn.

Zoie felt her stomach twisting into knots just by looking at him. He was not just hot. He was drop-dead gorgeous. And when he caught her looking at him, he threw in a devilish smirk. Zoie instantly looked away in embarrassment.

“He’s not checking me out,” she denied quickly.

“Oh, he sure is,” Emma replied. “And you like him too, I can tell!”

“What are you waiting for Zoe? Go for it! He’s so damn hot!” Briana was practically pushing her in his direction.

“Girl, if you don’t want him, I’ll take him,” Emma added.

Zoie swallowed hard and turned her body around completely, giving him only her back. Sneaking out and jumping off a window was one thing, but this? She was way too shy to do anything like this.

“Nah. I’m good,” she shook her head dismissively.

Emma and Brianna exchanged a look. Then they turned to her and shook their heads disapprovingly.

“Oh, Zoie,” Emma tsked.

“What?”

“Girl, you really need to step out of you comfort zone,” Brianna pointed out.

“I am!” Zoie defended herself. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yeah, you’re here with us, but you never take any risks,” Emma argued.

“We’ve known you for, like, four years, and we’ve never seen you make a move on anyone,” Brianna added.

“That’s ‘cause my dad won’t let me date anyone!” Zoie clapped back.

“Well, he’s not here now, is he?” Emma said with her head cocked to the side.

“Yeah. You need to stop using him as an excuse. If you really wanna be free, you need to step out of the gates of your own heart,” Briana added, pointing to her chest.

Zoie fell silent. Her friends’ words struck a nerve. All these years, every time her friends would push her to go out with someone, she always found an excuse not to. Mostly they were due to the fear that her dad would find out. But secretly, there was another fear that Zoie was battling herself. She was afraid to fall in love.

“Especially now that you’re going to Stanford, you gotta be ready for that,” Emma added, as if she could read her mind.

“Hey, it might be scary at first, but you need to start making bold moves. Exercise the muscles,” Brianna said, flexing her arm.

Zoie looked up at her friends. They made a very good point.

“Oh, on second thought, you should be ready right now!” Emma said suddenly.

“What?”

“Incoming!” Brianna said as she turned Zoie’s body around completely.

As soon as she looked back, Zoie gasped in shock. The handsome stranger was standing in front of her!

---

~ Asher’s POV ~

Damn. She’s like something off a movie screen.

Asher didn’t mean to stay in the club for too long. He just wanted a quick drink before continuing on his journey. But just as he was about to leave, he saw this girl walking into the club.

As soon as he laid eyes on her, Asher felt a magnetic pull. It was like he couldn’t look away. This girl was maybe 5’ 4, she had jet black hair and the most mesmerizing eyes he’d ever seen.  It was this bluish, purplish color. She came in through the doors in her high leather boots and short skirt. Her slender legs were the first things he noticed, but her eyes were the nail in the coffin.

Asher cocked his head to the side as he watched her. Most New York City people actually bored him. He felt like they were trying too hard to stand out from the crowd. But this girl, she was effortlessly beautiful. And best of all, she was ignoring him all night. Even after she saw him, she just turned around and pretended like she didn’t see him.

Asher took it as a challenge. Letting out a smirk, he put his drink down on the bar and strode over. The girl was talking to her friends and she had her back turned to him. Asher stood at an arm’s length away and waited. Her friend noticed him first, and finally, she turned around.

Asher almost forgot what he was doing. Being in such close proximity to her, she was even more beautiful than he’d imagined.

“Hey,” he said finally, locking his eyes with hers. He felt a jolt in his chest, sending vibrations all around his body.

“Hey,” she replied, looking up at him expectantly.

Asher noted the curves of her face, her sharp little nose, the plump juicy lips, and the blushing cheeks. Her skin looked so soft, he wondered what it’ll feel like to kiss them.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. Something about her felt so mysterious yet familiar.

“No,” she shook her head.

Asher narrowed his eyes at her. The girl swallowed hard as she held his eyes. She looked like she was scared of him. Asher let out a smile.

“Hm. My bad,” he said, stifling out a laugh before walking past her.

Nah. She’s way too inexperienced, he thought.

Asher saw the fear in her eyes and decided this wasn’t gonna be worth it. He had better things to do anyway. He walked straight past her and back to the bar, finishing up the rest of his drink. Once he was done, he pulled out a twenty dollar bill and put it on the table.

“Are you not gonna get me a drink?”

But just before he was about to leave, he heard a voice. He looked up to see the girl with blue and purple eyes standing in front of him.

Ah. Looks like she wants to play after all.

“You already got one,” Asher said, motioning to the glass of martini in her hand. “Besides, I don’t wanna get in trouble,”

“What trouble?” she asked.

Asher paused for a beat, letting out a knowing smirk. The girl just stared at him quizzically.

Finally, Asher took a step forward and closed the distance between them. The girl suddenly looked uncomfortable and stepped back. Asher put his hands out and trapped her in between his body and the bar. She had nowhere to go.

“What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?” he asked, staring deeply into her eyes.

“W-what?” she stammered.

Asher leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “I saw the student ID in your wallet. You’re still a high school student,”

The girl let out a shocked gasp and pulled away instantly.

“Wrong. I just graduated!” she argued. “B-besides, who do you think you are? Peeping into a girl’s wallet?”

Hm. Feisty.

Asher let out a laugh and put his hands up.

“Hey, I’m not here to bust your balls,” he chuckled. “You’re a big girl. You can do whatever you want,”

Asher grinned mischievously and the girl was staring at him in total disbelief. A part of her looked like she wants to fight him, and the other part felt like running away. Asher could see through all of that. Her eyes gave everything away.

“This place isn’t really your scene, isn’t it?” he said finally, taking another step closer. “You wanna get out of here?”

Asher gave out his hand like it was a challenge. The girl looked at it and then looked back at him, swallowing hard.

“N-no, I’m good,” she said finally. Though she didn’t sound too sure about that.

Asher let out a disappointed smile. It was worth a shot, he thought.

“Alright then,” he said as he grabbed the drink in her hand. He chugged it in one swift move before putting the empty glass back in her hand. “See you around,”

The girl’s mouth fell to the ground. She was totally caught off guard. Asher let out a chuckle as he walked past, grinning victoriously.

“H-hey! That was my drink!”

He heard her yell, but he just kept walking away. Once he got far enough, he turned back to look at her. She was angrily glaring at him and that made his smile grow wider. He winked at her playfully before turning a corner.

Oh. This will be a fun night.

• • • • • • To Be Continued - - - - - -