As soon as Justin’s lips were on mine, a huge bolt of electricity jumped through my body. My spine tingled from his touch; my hands shaking he put his arms around my shoulders; my lips felt dry as he kissed me, like all the moisture had been sucked out by him.
            It went fast. Too fast. For me anyway. I parted from him as quickly as I could, and muttered, “I can’t! I’m sorry!” With that, I turned around and rapidly headed towards the exit. I felt pairs of eyes turn to stare at me as I ran out the door in my high heels. I silently thanked God for not making tripping.

            Outside in the chilly Orlando air, I realized I had nowhere to go. We had been driven to the club, courtesy of Justin, and I was supposed to go back with him, but I just couldn’t. I needed some space to take a breather. I started walking in the air, putting my arms around myself, instantly regretting how I had quickly put down my jacket that evening, insisting that it would be hot with all the “body heat” in the club.

            I hovered near the sidewalk, and put my arm out. I soon saw a yellow cab stop in front of me. I hurried in a mumbled, “Hilton Hotel.” I said. I was pretty sure my voice was inaudible, but somehow he heard me, because we were off. I felt a jolt as we sped off. I knew that the taxi drivers here weren’t as crazy as the ones in New York, but it still took me by surprise.

            On the way to the hotel—which was longer than I thought it would be— I thought about what I was going to do. I insisted to myself a day ago that Justin didn’t want to have anything to do with me, yet today, he kissed me. I enjoyed the kiss, but I was still really confused. But…doesn’t Justin have that girl? I asked myself. Oh, right. She’s more into Lance… I smiled.

Suddenly, I saw something I shouldn’t have had. 5^th Avenue East. We were supposed to be heading to 12^th Avenue West, which was all the way across the city! I tapped the taxi driver’s shoulder forcefully. He pulled over and turned to me.
            “Yes, ma’am?” he asked politely.
            “Where are we going?” I asked as calmly as I could.
            “Where you specified. The Hildin Hotel.” He smiled like nothing was wrong. I checked the meter, in a panic. It said 34.50. I didn’t have much more money. I could only do one thing.
            “Okay, drop me off here.” I shakily said, handing him just enough money. He looked concerned.
            “Are you okay, sweetie?”
            “Yeah. Fine. Thanks! Bye.” I smiled and chirped. I probably looked fine from the outside…but that was all that was fine.

            “Come on…” I muttered desperately. There must be a taxi around here somewhere. My feet were hurting like hell; I’d been walking for about 45 minutes, and I had no clue where I was. I didn’t have my cell phone or purse, I left them in the club, and it was dark and cold. I sighed, and sunk down near a corner that hit 7^th Street East. Oh, great. Now I’m on “street”! I’m supposed to be on “avenue”. Oh crap. I yelled out a cry for help, but no one heard me. With nothing but tears in my eyes, and a tear in my heart and dress, I started sobbing uncontrollably. I shivered and ran a hand through my tangled hair. I wrapped my arms around me, and fell asleep, feeling the start of what would soon be Orlando’s biggest Thunderstorm.

            I paced in my room of the Hilton Hotel. Lance was on the couch reading.
”Lance, where could she be? I’m really worried!” I exclaimed. Lance glanced up from the book, yawned, and looked at his watch.
            “Justin. It’s 3:00, and you’ve been up since 5:00 this morning. She does have connections,” He said calmly. I felt a burst of anger inside of me.
            “Connections?” I spat. “Lance, she walked home, she left her purse, she hardly had any money, and got trapped into a huge storm! What am I supposed to do? Her cell phone was in her purse—she wouldn’t have been able to call a damn person!” I yelled.
            The door that connected the rooms opened loudly. Chris came in, his hair messed up. He had obviously just woken up from a nap.
            “Chill out, man!” he said, glaring at me. I sheepishly frowned.
            “Sorry…” I started. “But still! How can they just sit here and not go out and find her?!” I said aloud. Chris looked at me.
            “You still love her.” He stated. I shook my head briskly.
            “No! But as a friend, I have the right to be…” I started, but Chris had already closed the door. I sighed. I glanced at Lance. His sea green eyes peered at me from over the book. He gently lowered the book, smirked, and raised it again. I threw my hands up in defeat. “I give up!!!” I put my arms down to my sides. “I’m going for a spin in the car, I have my cell,” I laughed, rolling my eyes. Lance always asked me whether I had my cell. He could be so damn annoying sometimes.

            “Come on, Soph. Where could you be?” I muttered in my car. I had already been riding for well over and hour, and I saw no trace of her anywhere. She couldn’t be out of Orlando I thought. But she could be on the other side of it! I smiled. “You’re a genius, Timberlake.” I praised myself.

            “12^th avenue…11^th Avenue East…” I muttered to myself as I drove through the streets of the Orlando that people didn’t see. It wasn’t exactly nice…it was more like the grundgy stop of America. Poor people were huddled in groups, all wet because of the rain that had drenched them last night. I sighed, and tapped my fingertips on the steering wheel. I started thinking about what could’ve happened to Sophie during the storm. Was she okay?

The sound of a loud horn and voice woke me from my trance. A man in a yellow beat up Mitsubishi was leaning his head out of the side mirror. I looked at him though the rear mirror.
            “Hey buddy, MOVE IT!” He yelled. I smiled.
            “Cool it man! There isn’t any freakin’ traffic sign anyways!” I snapped back, and pressed the pedal, which made the engine go, making the car go with a loud squeak. I smirked when I saw the guy scratch his head. Focus Justin I reminded myself. Sophie, oh Sophie…where could you be… I silently hummed in my head.

I stopped in the middle of 7^th Avenue East. Now I had a choice: Continue on 7^th Avenue East, or change into a street that became 7^th Street East. I wasn’t sure, so I quickly turned left as my instincts told me. I really hoped I could get Sophie and get out, because seeing how much of Orlando was of a dump that wasn’t seen in the public eye made me dizzy. I slowed as I reached a pretty-clean street with shops and small stands on it. I looked around. Left. Right. Left. Right. Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, a lock of shiny brown hair stood out from the dull brown of the streets. Could it be…? I slowly stopped on the side of the row and peered out from the window. I slowly opened the car door and got out. I didn’t need my sunglasses so I just threw them in the back seat carelessly.
            “Soph?” I said nervously as I approached the figure. She was slumped against the adobe wall, huddled into a human ball. I didn’t know what to do. I inched towards her. “Sophie?” I asked tensely again. I leaned down and rested on my knees and tapped her on the shoulder lightly. She looked up, bewildered.
            “Ju..Justin?” She said quietly. Then, she broke into sobs. I just quieted her and wrapped my arms around her. I didn’t let her go…and I never would.