FALLEN…Mia pov

I stormed into my room, and locked the door behind me. My heart was pounding because I have never been so confused in my life before.

I went to the closet and hurriedly threw my clothes onto the bed. I then grabbed my suitcase and began to stuff the clothes into it.

'What am I even doing?', I groaned, throwing my shirt across the room. My face went red as I heard laughter from below, floating through the floorboards - careless, distant, free. I took off my bra, and it gradually became easier for me to breathe now that I was topless.

I needed to leave. I wasn't safe. One of them was probably going to try and make advances at me....and I wouldn't be so lucky to say no next time.

I had wanted it so bad. I recoil in disgust, knowing that Joe would never cheat on me.

Why did my body react to her every touch?

This was all too much for me to take in right now. I heard a knock on the door.

Mirabel. Alexa. They must have been worried sick about my absence. 'I couldn't let my behavior ruin their night ', I thought as I rushed to the door.

My worry slowly turned into shock as I looked at her from head to toe. It was her — the woman from the room downstairs, the one whose hand I’d pushed away.

She stood there barefoot, her hair slightly wet, eyes lowered. She still had her bikini from the event, but unlike then, her demeanor had changed from seductive to repentant.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, voice quiet. “I....didn’t....know... you weren’t… like us.”, she played with her fingers as she struggled to find the right words to say.

Something in her tone made it hard for me to slam the door. I should be angry, I should be mad - but I found myself stepping aside, and letting her in.

I had a feeling that the worst decision I'd made today was about to happen.

I watched her as she scanned the scattered clothes and the open suitcase on the bed. Nobody speaks for a minute or so, and I keep watching her slowly scan my room. Her eyes settled on my naked breasts, and I became very conscious of the fact that my chest was bare.

"You're leaving because of me?", she asks in a tiny voice that sounds heartbroken.

I put my arms over my breasts, hoping to cover my hard nipples. She wasn't going to take advantage of me. "I...."

She cut me off “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” she said. “It’s just that, you were at the orgy, so I thought that, hey, she's a lesbian, you're a lesbian, lets....".

"You said you've always had a crush on me...", I cut her off.

"Ah", she blushed.

"From my first day at work? But I don't even know you", I don't

"I'm Molly". I shook my head. "From the Administrative Department?"

"I don't even know where the Administrative Department of the company is"

"Fifth floor, small hallway, tiny office", she shrugged, "we always seat opposite each other at every company meeting"

"Huh". Our eyes locked in for a brief moment, and I could catch the glimpse of something in it. Guilt. She came here because she was guilty, and she wanted to escape any awkwardness that might occur when we met at work in a few days' time.

"Sit. I'll pour you a drink", I say, unsure about whether I wanted her to stay

"Why are you on this voyage anyway?", she asked, taking a sip

Great, I'm being nice and suddenly she feels entitled to ask me about my personal life.

I end up answering her anyway. "I came on this voyage because I'm tired of feeling like furniture", I say, startled by my honesty

"That's worse than being alone", she comments.

I'd rather be alone", I disagree.

"I get horny a lot, and I fantasize about the people who I know I'll never get a chance with".

'Including me?', I thought, but I dare not ask.

Her honesty disarmed me. I found myself smiling, then laughing at how strange this all was, me opening up to a total stranger. I steal a look at her figure, her perky boobs which I'd kill to have. Mine always felt like too much

She walks up to me, then drops the cup on the table. We lock eyes for a brief moment, and the secret message is passed across.

She bits her lip, and I've got goosebumps all over my arms.

"I shouldn't be here, but I couldn't think of how sad I made you. I ruined your night", she apologizes again.

I wait for her to reach for my breasts like she did before, but she doesn't. She doesn't want to take advantage of me. I'd only met her, but she cared about how I felt.

. She didn't want anything from me, she didn't ask me to suck her off , or strip, or anything. She just wanted me to feel comfortable. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t think about Joe. I thought about myself. What I wanted. What I missed. What I’d never allowed myself to feel.

All I wanted was to feel seen. Joe used to make me feel seen, but now I was right - he was treating me like furniture.

"I need to find him", I found my voice. "He left for Coney Island. Work. I need to know what's going on with our relationship".

"Coney Island. Coney Island". She began to fiddle with her bra. I know a friend there", she says, bringing out a business card from a hidden zip

I had a feeling that they weren't just mere friends.

"Here", she said. "Her name's Lola. She runs a bar in Coney Island. Give this to her, and tell her that I sent you. She'll help you with everything you need".

I gave her a look. Why was she helping me?