Amelia sat alone for a long time, Emily still hadn't returned.
The music thumped loudly around her, laughter and voices blending into an overwhelming noise that made her chest feel tight. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, scanning the crowd again and again, hoping to catch a glimpse of Emily's familiar figure.
Nothing.
Men had approached her, one after another.
"Can I have your number?"
"You're really beautiful."
"Just one drink."
Each time, Amelia forced a polite smile and shook her head, turning them down gently. Yet their gazes lingered, crawling over her skin in a way that made her want to shrink into herself.
Across the room, she noticed a few female couples kissing openly, completely unconcerned about who was watching. Amelia quickly looked away, her discomfort deepening.
I don't belong here… she thought.
She tugged at the hem of her short dress, trying to pull it down as she sat. The stares around her grew bolder, lustful, hungry.
