Page 110 of Like A Moth To A Flame

My eyes widened as I looked at her.

“Really?”

She nodded, the blanket balled in her fists, and pulled up to her chin to protect herself from the cold.

“Yeah, I’m going somewhere called ‘The Doghouse’ with Carl?”

I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

“It’s a bar, but it’s the closest we have to entertainment in Cottonwood Falls.”

She shrugged.

“I kinda don’t care. It’s a small town bar but like…” she trailed off, and I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. “I like him.”

My mouth dropped open, and my breath caught behind an immovable wall in my throat.

“Oh mygod,” I gasped, barely able to get the words out. “Amelia, really?! That’s awesome!”

She squealed, pulling the blanket up over her head and kicking her feet like a giddy teenage girl. I could feel the embarrassment rushing off of her in waves.

“Anyway,” she said after a minute, coming out from under the blanket. She sat up, jerking her head toward me for me to follow. I did, and when I sat up, she leaned into me, her lips against my ear.

“Does the camera have audio?” she whispered.

I shrugged.

“I dunno, why?” I whispered back.

“I have an idea.”

She cleared her throat.

“Anyway, I want you to come with me,” she said.

“No way, I can’t do that. I don’t wanna be a third wheel. I want you to have fun.”

“Please?!”

“No! Amelia, it’ll be awkward.”

“It will befun, I promise. And it’s not a third wheel if we’re all hanging out together.”

“But what am I going to do there? Just sit and watch you drink?”

Amelia thought for a moment, then a mischievous smile spread across her face.

“You’ll see.”

Later that night, we arrived at the Doghouse, a dimly lit bar with a pool table and a jukebox in the corner. Amelia had insisted on dressing me in a black-and-white checkered corset top with matching earrings, a tight black faux leather skirt, fishnets, and short black boots, adorned with chains and spikes. She helped me take my hair down and style it and did my makeup.

I looked… nice. I couldn’t even lie.

Carl was already there, sitting at a booth with a group of his friends. Amelia confidently led me through the crowd, her arm around my waist, and mine around hers. I couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place.

This wasn’t a place for me, especially not dressed like this.

We joined Carl and his friends at the booth, and as soon as we sat down, one of Carl’s friends, a tall, rugged-looking cowboy who introduced himself as ‘Stephen’ pulled out a chair for me and helped me sit, putting his hand on my back to guide me in. It wasa simple gesture, but it sent a shiver racing up my spine just the same. I had a feeling it wasn’t just the cold air that made me shiver.

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