By Friday night, the week finally loosened its grip on me.
I told myself I deserved this one night where I wasn't the quiet girl with the weird past or the unwanted houseguest.
I wanted to have fun.
Still, the rest of the week, I'd avoided the boys like they carried something contagious. I took longer routes through the house, waited for doors to close before stepping out, kept my head down. I especially avoided Seb. I couldn't even meet his eyes anymore.
The black dress Violet picked out defined ny curves.
Alia and Violet pulled up in front of the house.
"Okay," Violet said as I climbed in. "We look soo good. Tonight us about to be fun."
By the time we got to the party, the house was already vibrating.
My chest tightened, but I forced myself to breathe anyways, as we walked past sweaty bodies, and teenagers gulping alcohol directly from the bottles.
And then I saw him.
Drew.
Standing near the corner of the living room, leaning against the wall, flirting with a girl with glossy lips.
She laughed at something he said, and tilted her head back.
"What is he doing here?" I scoffed quietly, the words slipped out before I could stop them.
Alia followed my gaze and sighed. "Ignore him. You're not here for him."
"He's not going to bother me," I said.
But when my eyes accidentally met his, the shock that flashed across his face made me smirk. Like he hadn't expected to see me here. In a dress, looking like this.
Good, I thought bitterly. Let him be surprised.
I turned away before he could say anything and pushed deeper into the house. Violet immediately grabbed my hand, dragging me toward the center of the room.
We danced, laughed, yelled over the music. Violet pointed out a girl whose outfit looked like she'd lost a fight with a glitter factory. Alia nearly cried laughing. For a while, I forgot everything else.
Eventually, my legs got tired, and I sat down on the couch near the wall. Alia stepped outside to take a phone call, promising she'd be right back. Violet leaned down and whispered that she needed the bathroom, disappearing into the crowd.
I was alone for maybe thirty seconds before someone dropped into the seat beside me.
"Hey," he said casually. "You're Evelyn, right?"
I turned, surprised. "Yeah."
"I've seen you around school," he said, smiling. "Hard not to notice you."
That caught me off guard. "You… noticed me?"
He laughed softly. "Of course. Who wouldn't? You're really pretty."
My cheeks turned red. He was also attractive.
"Thanks," I murmured.
He handed me a cup. "You want a drink?"
I hesitated, then took it. One sip burned its way down my throat, and I coughed.
"Oh God," I laughed weakly. "That's horrible."
He laughed too. "It grows on you."
We talked. Or rather, he talked, and I listened, nodding, smiling, refilling my cup without really thinking about it. My head felt light. My body felt loose, like my edges were blurring.
Then his hand slid onto my waist.
My body stiffened instantly.
"I…" I tried to stand, but he grabbed my wrist, and dragged me back. I felt him sniff my hair.
What the helly?! Why is he so weird?
"Get your filthy hands off her." A voice growled, loud enough for the people around me to turn.
I looked up, and saw Drew.
"Is there a problem?" I pretended like i didn't want him around him.
Honestly, i could use his help right now.
"Let's go home," he said coldly, grabbing my wrist. "You're not supposed to be drinking."
"Chill, man," the guy beside me scoffed. "She's just having fun."
Drew's gaze snapped to him. "Take your hand off her. Or else..you would hate…"
"Whatever," the guy cut Drew off, rolling his eyes. "I don't even care about the bitch anyway…"
Did he just call me a bitch?
I was about to open my mouth to clap back. Just as i blinked, Drew moved fast. The next second, the guy was on the floor, with a busted lip, holding his face.
"Say that again," Drew said quietly. "And it'll be your eyes next time."
Did he just?…. I was still trying to process what happened.
Drew turned to me. "We're leaving. Now."
I stumbled as he pulled me through the crowd, my mind kept spinning. As we reached the door, I caught a glimpse of Alia rushing inside, her eyes widened in shock.
"I'll call you," she whispered urgently.
Then the door shut behind us.
I slowly looked down at my hand in his, then back up at his face.
He looked furious.
Did he really just… punch someone?
Because of me?
The same Drew who barely spoke to me, and acted like I didn't exist most days.
So why….
Why did he care?
The moment we stepped outside, I yanked my hand out of Drew's grip.
"Don't touch me."
He stopped walking and turned slowly, like he was forcing himself to stay calm. His jaw was tight, eyes blue eyes darkened.
"Get in the car, Evelyn."
"I will not!" My voice trembled, but I lifted my chin anyway. "You didn't bring me here. What right do you have to drag me out like that?"
His eyes flicked over me….my dress, my bare legs, my unsteady stance.
He let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair. "You're drunk."
"I'm not…"
"You are," he cut in, furiously. "And what the hell were you thinking?"
I laughed bitterly. "Oh, here comes the lecture."
"I thought you were naïve," he shook his head, looking annoyed. "I didn't realize you were also stupid."
Something snapped inside me.
"Call me stupid one more time," I said, pointing at his chest. My hands shook so badly I could barely keep them steady. "And see what happens."
His eyes darkened. Slowly, he leaned in closer, until he was towering over me. My back pressed against the cold metal of the car door, and i felt my knees went weak.
"What would you do about it?" he asked, softly.
I opened my mouth, tried to answer, but all I could manage was a stammer. "I…I…"
He leaned closer, and could feel the warmth radiating off him, and the faint scent of his cologne. His hand still gripped my wrist, holding me in place.
And then his face moved closer to mine, so close I could feel his soft breath against my neck. My breath caught.
What was happening? Was he going to kiss me?