The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow on the quiet streets as you slipped out of your house, heart pounding in your chest. Your parents would never understand the choices you were making. They had raised you to be perfect—polite, studious, the model of a good child. But all that felt suffocating compared to the wild freedom that came with Gerard.

He was everything your family feared: a singer who performed in the backrooms of illegal bars, clad in black leather and eyeliner. The whispers in town labeled him a satanist, an outsider with a magnetic pull that drew you in despite the warnings. He lived for the night, for the thrill of breaking the rules, and you had never felt more alive than when you were with him.

As you reached the end of your driveway, the low rumble of his car echoed in the night. The engine purred like a cat, and you felt your breath catch in your throat. There he was, leaning against the sleek black vehicle, a devil-may-care grin spreading across his face.

“Did you miss me?” he teased, his voice low and inviting.

“Always,” you replied, slipping into the passenger seat and feeling the warmth radiate from him. The scent of smoke and cologne enveloped you, igniting the fire inside. “Are we really doing this?”

“Hell yeah, we are,” he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ve got a whole night planned. Just you and me, away from all the prying eyes.”

“What if they find out I’m gone?” you asked, a hint of worry creeping into your voice.

“Let them,” he replied with a casual shrug. “They don’t understand us. We’re not meant for their world.” He reached for your hand, intertwining your fingers as he pulled away from the curb.

As the city lights blurred past, you couldn’t help but feel both exhilarated and terrified. “You know my family would disown me if they found out,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

“And you’d be better off without them,” he countered, squeezing your hand. “You’re too beautiful for that boring life. You belong in the chaos, with me.”