Cheating Heart, A Lost Souls Novel: A Lost Souls Novel (3 page)

“Finally,” Kim groaned when the light changed
a second or two later.  A green hand lit up informing them that it was now safe to cross.  They scurried across the intersection and hurried down a dark side street.  Their clicking heels echoed loudly off the vacant business buildings. 

“This gives me the creeps,” Vienna complained, trying to keep her voice down.

“We’re almost there,” Kim reassured. 

They passed by a trashcan and brick wall covered in posters advertising bands, clubs, houses for sale, cars for sale
, and more.  Vienna was glancing at the wall, not watching where she was walking, and accidentally tripped over something. 

“Ough!” a gruff voice barked.  “Watch where you
’re steppin’!”

Arms flailing wildly,
Vienna tried to regain her balance.  To her relief she managed to stabilize herself at the last second before doing a face plant onto the sidewalk.  That would’ve been the last thing on her to-do list for Valentine’s Day.

“I – I’m sorry,” Vienna apologized, once she realized she’d tripped over the legs of a homeless man.  He was sitting on the ground with his back
pressed against the brick wall.  The trashcan had been strategically placed to hide his body from the fluorescent light of the street lamp.  She surmised that he must’ve been sleeping there.  “I didn’t see you.”

“You hurt me,” he said, rubbing his
red nose.  He then reached down and touched his sore shin.  “Watch where you’re going.”

“I’m sorry,” Vienna apologized again while studying him. 
A part of her was afraid to look at him directly.  The other part of her was oddly drawn to him.  He was wearing an olive green overcoat buttoned all the way up.  She could see a hint of a dingy red and black plaid collar to his shirt that he wore beneath.  His jeans were light blue, old, faded, and extremely dirty.  One of the knees of his pants had a large rip in it.  Vienna could see the pale white of his skin through it.  And his grimy boots looked two sizes too small.  It looked as if he’d found them and crammed his feet into them because it was better than not having any shoes at all.  His toes bulged at the ends of them, threatening to break through the leather.

The man stroked his long matted gray and white beard.  He glared at her as if he was
furious, but Vienna didn’t feel anger coming from him.  Instead, she felt sorrow and sadness.  It was something that most people wouldn’t have noticed.   His eyes held a pain that radiated deep within his soul.  And he was lonely.  Vienna could tell.  He’d isolated himself from society, but he was regretting his decisions.  He wished he could go back and change the past, but he couldn’t.  And now, he felt he needed to live alone.  He was an outcast.  His life was over and he was just waiting for it to end.  He believed he was a coward for not having the strength to end his own misery. 

“Come on,” Kim said, putting her hand on Vienna’s arm.  “Let’s go.”

“Hold on,” Vienna said, unzipping her small black beaded purse that was slung over her shoulder.  Earlier that evening she’d pulled out forty dollars in cash at the ATM.  She only needed twenty to get into the club.  “Sir, I’m sorry I tripped over you.  Let me give you something for your troubles.”

“I don’t want charity,” the man said.

Vienna pulled out a twenty.  “It’s not charity,” she said quickly and held out the bill to him.

The man eyed it hungrily.  He
tightened his chapped lips and accepted the bill out of need.  “Thank you,” he said.  “Next time watch where you’re going.”

“I will,” Vienna said, her heart fe
eling heavy.  She picked up on his pain.  She didn’t quite understand it, but she thought that he may have been grieving for someone and that’s what started his downfall.  She wanted to ask, but stopped herself.  She knew he wouldn’t like her invading his space.  “Take care.  And, and…just remember that you’re not alone.  That’s a choice and it can be changed.”

“What do you know about it?” the man grumped.

“Whomp!” 
Vienna jerked back at the loud deep sound.  A wall of energy so intense jumped up in front of her and blocked her from feeling the man’s pain, from knowing anything about him.  She couldn’t actually see the wall and she knew that neither could anyone else, but she could feel it.  She also knew no one else would’ve been able to hear that heavy noise.  It sounded like a heavy curtain had been dropped down with great force on the hollow wooden floor boards of a sound stage.  It came down so hard and fast.  It was one of the strangest things that had ever happened to her. 

She wondered if this is how Jack felt
when she didn’t want to talk to him.  Could she make a wall?  Numerous times he’d mentioned that she had blocked him out. Did she put up walls of energy like this to protect her feelings?  Did she really push him out just like this man did to her?  It was an eye opening experience.  She wondered if she could learn to do something like that on command.   

Kim touched
Vienna’s arm again.  “Ready?  I’m freezing to death.”

“Um, yeah.  Me too,” Vienna said, suddenly feeling the
bitter cold again.  “Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter 3

When they arrived at the club they stood in line for a good fifteen minutes waiting to pay the entrance fee.  Vienna took her glasses off and slid them into her little purse. Wearing them made her feel insecure.  She knew it was stupid to feel that way, but she couldn’t help it. If she could, she’d wear contacts, but her eyes were too dry.  So that wasn’t an option.  It was times like these that she wished she wasn’t so self conscious about her looks.  Without her glasses, everyone in line looked like bog blurry blobs except for Kim who was standing right next to her.  Tonight, she’d be able to see just enough to get around.  Unfortunately she wouldn’t be able to see detailed features unless someone was within a foot of her or closer. 

F
inally they reached the front of the line, and the bouncers at the door checked their IDs, searched their purses, and then scanned them from head to toe with a metal detector to make sure they weren’t bringing in any weapons.  Being searched like that unnerved Vienna.  In one way it was nice to know that the club took those extra precautions to make sure everyone was safe, but at the same time it bothered her that the weapons problem was an issue to begin with.

“I love this song!”
Kim squealed, grabbing hold of Vienna’s hand and dancing them over to the bar.  There as a large crowd gathered in front of them waiting for drinks.  “What do you think?  Should we start with a drink?  Or just head straight for the dance floor?”

Vienna shrug
ged.  “It really doesn’t matter,” she said, but then decided it might take awhile to get served.  “Well, I guess we could go dance for awhile first.”

“Awesome!”
Kim yelled over the booming bass of the dance music.  She grabbed Vienna’s hand and led her to the dance floor that was located on the other side of the bar.  Little round tables were strategically placed all around the wooden dance floor and nice private booths with soft lighting lined the walls.  

Kim spun on her he
els and laughed as she got into the music.  Although Vienna knew Kim was singing the lyrics at the top of her lungs, she could barely hear Kim’s voice over the combination of bass and loud chattering of the other club goers.  Kim grabbed hold of Vienna’s hands and spun her around.  They both laughed again.  Vienna joined in and started singing the lyrics with Kim.  She forgot all about her insecurities.  She let loose her inhibitions and enjoyed the moment of total freedom.  She felt the music pulse through her body.  She felt so alive.

When the song ended and the next
one began, Kim pulled her close so Vienna could hear her. “I love this song!” she squealed. 

“Me too!” Vienna screamed
over the noise.  She closed her eyes and moved with the music.  When she opened them, two good looking guys moved into their space and began dancing with her and Kim.  Kim shrugged and laughed.  Vienna laughed, too.  It had been a long time since she’d felt so relaxed and happy.  She was so grateful that Kim had talked her into going out on Valentine’s Day.  Otherwise she’d be sitting at home remembering her last Valentine’s Day before she and Brandon broke up and how her future dreams with him had been crushed.  The thought made her stomach clench up. 

Or even worse,
she thought,
I’d be sitting around pining for Jack.
 

Vienna
wondered if she did that purposely to herself because she knew she could never have him.  After all, he was of another realm.  They’d never be able to be together the way she’d want them to be. 

When the song ended, Kim grabbed hold of Vienna’s hand and led her off the dance floor.  The two guys they’d been dancing with moved on to another set of girls. 

“I need something to drink,” Kim complained.  “I’m dying of thirst.”

“Okay,” Vienna said, letting Kim lead her to the bar.  She’d hoped that the crowd surrounding it would’ve thinned out
by now, but if anything, it got busier.

Kim squeezed in between two really tall guys, trying to reach the bar.  “What do you want?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Diet Coke,” Vienna said.

“What?” Kim complained.  “I know you didn’t just say that.  How about a Rum and Coke?”

Vienna scrunched up her nose.  “One of us needs to be designated driver.”

“Loosen up.  One drink won’t kill you.
” Kim rolled her eyes.  “We’ll be here for several hours.  You can fill up on soda and water afterwards.”

Vienna thought it over for a moment
and nodded.  She guessed Kim was right.  “Okay, um…Sex on the Beach.”

Kim smiled.  “All right!  That’s my girl!”  She pushed her way up to the bar.  Vienna stood behind her and looked around at all the people surrounding her.  The only ones in focus were within her reach. 
Again, she cursed herself for needing glasses.

A few moments later, Kim handed her a
dark pink drink with three cherries.  “The cute bartender gave us extra cherries,” she swooned. “Talk about a hottie!”  She looked over her shoulder to try and get another glimpse of him.  Vienna tried to see him too, but couldn’t.  The gap at the bar had filled in with other people.  Plus, everyone was good looking when she had her glasses off anyway.  It wasn’t like she could see them.  So it didn’t really matter.

Vienna sipped her drink.  She followed closely behind Kim through the crowd while looking for a vacant table.  Sudde
nly Kim stopped, and Vienna bumped into her.  For a moment she held her breath, afraid that her drink splattered on Kim’s back, but it hadn’t.  Only a small amount splashed over the lip of the glass onto her hand.  Relieved, she let out a sigh.

Kim turned around and gnawed on her lower lip.  Vienna was close enough to see the hint of worry on her brow.

“What’s wrong?  All the tables taken?”

Kim pursed her lips.  “The table in the corner…”

Vienna looked over Kim’s shoulder in the direction of the table in the corner.  She could barely see two blurry figures.  One was larger than the other.  “What about it?”  Vienna scrunched up her nose while squinting to try to see what was bothering Kim.  “I don’t have my glasses on.  So I can’t see that far.”

Kim sucked in air. 
“It’s Brandon,” she said.

“What?”  Vienna’s heart thumped hard in her chest.  “
My
Brandon? 
My
ex-boyfriend, Brandon?”

“Um…yeah.”  Kim
’s eyebrows knit closely together.  “Let’s go see if we can find a table over there.  I don’t think he’s seen us yet.”  She nodded in the opposite direction of the room.

“Why?  It’s
no big deal.  Really,” Vienna lied.  “I mean, it’s been a year.”  She stared at the two blurry figures at the table.  Her heart felt like it suddenly dropped into her stomach.  “I’m fine.  Really.”  Forgetting her insecurities because curiosity got the better of her, she unzipped her purse and retrieved her glasses.  She wanted to see Brandon for herself.  She slipped them on and the world around her tightened into focus.  Brandon,
her Brandon
, was sitting at a table in a romantically dark corner with a gorgeous red head.  He leaned in, whispered something to her, and they began to kiss.

“You okay?” Kim asked.

“Yeah.  I’m fine.”  Vienna could feel tears prick her eyes.  After four years of dating, Brandon had decided he wasn’t ready for a full commitment.  He’d told her he needed to see what else was out there to be sure of what he wanted before settling down.  It looked to her like he may have found it.  The woman he was with was absolutely stunning. 

She could be
a model,
Vienna surmised,
or even a television star.
  She’d always had the feeling that Brandon was cheating on her the last year that they were together.  She couldn’t help but wonder if this was the other woman. 

“Hey!” a
familiar man’s voice said from behind.  Vienna practically jumped out of her skin.  She spun around to see Kyle standing behind her.  Again, she almost spilt her drink.  Kim beamed and winked at Vienna with approval.    

“Hi!”
Vienna forced a smile.  She was still fighting back tears.

Kyle leaned in to talk to her.  “I came with some buddies.  You want to join us?”

“Um, sure,” she said.  “Let me make sure it’s all right with my friend Kim.”

Kim nodded, overhearing them.  “
Of course it’s all right with me!”

Vienna glanced over her shoulder and
saw Brandon staring in her direction.  She wondered if he had noticed her.  Just in case, she grabbed hold of Kyle’s arm and playfully squeezed it, hoping that Brandon was watching.  Enjoying the attention, Kyle tilted his gorgeous head and flashed a stunning smile at her.  Vienna returned the smile.

After being introduced to Kyle’s two buddies
; Matt, and Chris, and then scooting into the booth they had at the far end of the room, Vienna felt a little better.  Kim sat cozily between two men on one side of the table and Vienna sat across from them, next to Kyle. 

She
wondered what Kim was thinking.  Kim was smiling brightly and was obviously attracted to the man with the dirty blonde hair and deep blue eyes, but it was the short, heavy set guy with the scraggly goatee that was chatting with her.

“I’m glad I found you,” Kyle said, then took a gulp of his beer.  “I was beginning to think you weren’t here.”

“Really?” Vienna asked, surprised by his comment.  “Honestly, I really didn’t think you’d come.”  Then she wished she hadn’t voiced her thoughts.  She didn’t want to sound dateless and desperate.  “I mean, you know…”

Kyle shook his head.  “No, I don’t.”

“Um, well,” Vienna could feel her cheeks redden.  She really didn’t want to elaborate.  “I, uh…”

Kyle took another swig of his beer.  “Hey, you want to dance?”

“Oh, um, sure.”  Vienna was relieved that he wasn’t seriously waiting for her to explain.  She gulped down her
Sex on the Beach
hoping that the alcohol would give her some liquid courage for the dance floor.  She really didn’t want to dance.  Her good mood had disappeared as soon as she’d seen Brandon with another woman.  But then again, this was her chance to have him see her with a suave, handsome man.  She wondered how he’d like it.  In her head, she gave herself a pep talk.  She told herself that it was time to give him a taste of his own medicine.  She hoped Brandon ended up seething with jealousy.

“Would you like to dance?”
The short guy with the goatee whose name was Matt asked Kim. 

“Sure,” she said.  “Why not?”   Kim
nodded reluctantly as Vienna scooted out of the booth.

Vienna watched as Kim eyed the
hunky blonde guy named Chris one more time before getting up. Vienna noticed that Chris hadn’t even seemed to notice Kim.  She couldn’t help but wonder if he played for the other team.  After all, Kim was drop dead gorgeous and the guy hadn’t even batted an eye at her.  And Vienna knew that Kim had given him every opportunity to show his interest.

The
four of them moved out onto the dance floor.  Vienna was thankful that it was a fast song with upbeat music playing.  Both she and Kim knew the lyrics.  And before she knew it, Kyle and Matt were singing along with them, too.  Halfway through the song, Vienna was having so much fun that she forgot all about Brandon and the other woman.  Again, the upbeat music took over her body and soul, washing away all of her inhibitions.  She moved her body with the music and sang out her feelings. 

Over the next couple of songs, the four of them danced together, switching partners from time to time and took turns goofily swinging each other around.  It was the most fun Vienna had had in ages.  She was really
quite surprised at how down to earth Kyle seemed to be.  She’d never have believed it in a million years if someone had told her he was laid back and fun to hang out with.  At work he was all charm, good looks and always immaculately dressed in a suit and tie or a dress shirt and nice pants.  He was suave, yet together.  Never had she thought of him this way.  Tonight, he was decked out in a pair of dark blue jeans, that hugged him in all the right places, a pair of sneakers, and a short sleeved black button down shirt.  The top two buttons were left undone and he wore a thick silver braided chain around his neck.  The silver shined against his tan skin.  He was casual and gorgeous, yet not pretentious.  Looking at his necklace and then following his unbuttoned shirt with her hazel eyes over his broad chest, Vienna couldn’t help but wonder what the rest of him looked like. 

Suddenly the song ended and a slow song
began.  Kyle grinned at her.  Before she could say anything, he pulled her closely to him and her head was resting on his strong shoulder.  The warmth of his body radiated through his clothing as he pressed himself against her.  Vienna looked over; Kim beamed at her and gave a
thumbs up
.  And then she and Matt vacated the dance floor to head back to the table.  She guessed Kim refused the slow dance and made an excuse about being thirsty or something.  Seeing the two of them slow dancing would’ve been a bit awkward especially since Matt was short and his head was eye level with Kim’s chest.  Kim was tall, but not overly tall.  And Matt was, well, he was just plain short.