It was hot in LA. That's really all I had to say further about the city. It was the first week of April for heck's sake and I felt as though we were visiting this city in the middle of summer, the sun blazing down on us despite it being 7 in the afternoon.
It should have be cooling down by now right?
Shading my eyes, I squinted at the theatre. It was tinier than I had anticipated, the name Pantages glittering on the side of the building. On the billboard read: Chicago The Musical in blazing red letters, the silhouettes of women hidden behind the name.
Ryder got our tickets a few weeks ago, a few weeks before he had even asked his parents to help fund this trip and I had to wonder how long he had been planning on taking Eros and I to Los Angeles.
Knowing him, he probably booked the tickets when he realized the three of us were friends and had intents to complete the list together.
That sucker probably did it after the Gala.
"Alice I really hope this is all you hoped it to be," Ryder tugged at his black tie uncomfortably as though it was choking him. He leaned up against a light pole and glanced around the area.
I looked back at him and smiled, "Stop being a baby Ryder, you look hot, and I'm not the only one who thinks so..." I trailed off, gesturing with a shake of my head to the many admirers that were looking after Ryder, in his navy blue suit. He was a picture of grace and beauty.
He smirked, as usual, loving the attention. "Well you don't look too bad yourself Alice," his hand reached out and smoothed some of my hair off my shoulder, exposing the bare skin.
I shifted in the dark green dress that was too tight and I hoped my ass didn't look too flat in.
It probably did.
I gave Ryder a knowing smile and turned to the box office, and then finally to the pair of them, avoiding Eros' gaze, until I couldn't and looked at him for the first time that night.
He, probably looked the best of us, uncaring and loose, dangerous and still so self-assured. The first few buttons of his white button-down were undone, exposing the pale skin and small tuft of blonde chest hair, a silver charm sticking out boldly. He was sans tie, a suit jacket emphasizing his broad shoulders.
He was the most beautiful boy, and I had him in the palm of his hand, and I had chosen to give him up.
"You guys ready?" I said after I tore my attention away from Eros.
"Yeah," Eros' voice was gruff and he was the first to walk forward, brushing his shoulder against mine and then, come to a stand-still, fists tightening ever so slightly. It took a few moments for Ryder and I to realize why.
I spotted his chestnut hair before I saw his face, and still, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.
"Is that?" Ryder started, but the boy had already found his way towards the three of us, a gleaming white smile brightening his already welcoming face.
My shock was overcome with an insane amount of giddiness. I was just a young girl with a boy that wanted to date me, screw Ryder and Erosâ my attention become solely diverted to the tall figure coming our way.
"Alice!" his eyes sparkled with true excitement and happiness and I felt myself returning that, launching myself into his outstretched arms with a girly squeal and giggle.
"What are you doing here?" I asked in complete glee as he spun me around in a circle and set me on the floor, cradling my face in his hands, resting our foreheads together.
"I couldn't let my girl spend her whole vacation in LA without me," he leaned down and pressed our lips together.
It took a few moments for me to register that he was kissing me, but when I did, I reacted with an equal amount of giddiness, heart speeding up in the heat of the moment, the soft curve of his lips against mine, forgetting who I was standing in front of.
Forgetting how this may hurt Eros.
He pulled away slowly and leaned our foreheads together. "God I've missed your kisses Alice Black."
A figure next to us coughed. Extracting myself from Henry's arms I gave a sheepish shrug to an expectant looking Ryder. His arms were crossed against his chest and did not at all look pleased to see Henry here, with us.
Eros, well Eros regarded Henry with a blank stare and a slight lift of his eyebrow as though Henry were a joke.
"What are you doing here Henry?" Ryder shot daggers at him through his glare.
Henry laughed uncomfortably, "Well Alice told me you guys were seeing this play at Pantages and I wanted to see Alice so badly I decided to fly out and come see it with you guys!"
Ryder pursed his lips in disapproval. "You took a flight, from New York, to LA, just to see Alice?" He squinted skeptically. "That seems like an awful waste of money."
I frowned at Ryder, wasn't it him two weeks ago wasting an equal amount of money for something as frivolous as my list?
Henry rubbed the back of his neck, the other hand pulling me into his side. He was warm and brought a sense of security to me, and I leaned into him.
"Alice is worth it."
Ryder's lips thinned. "That's not what I meant," he let out an aggravated sigh, admitting defeat. "Did you get your tickets already?"
Henry smiled and pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket studying it. "Yeah, I'm sitting in the mezzanine row C, in seats 105 and 106," he looked up to Ryder and Eros for confirmation. "Where are you guys sitting?"
"You got two tickets?" Ryder's face became more and more stoic and I became more and more anxiousâ maybe Henry being here wasn't the best.
"Yeah," the grip on my waist tightened. "I was hoping Alice would sit with me."
Eros had grown impatient and waved Henry and I off. "That's fine," he turned to Ryder, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his sockets. "They'll figure it out Ryder, let's just go."
I pretended like his disassociation with me didn't hurt, even though I was the one who said this needed to happen. Eros was faithfully going along with the words I said a few nights before, and I wasn't expecting it.
I wasn't expecting that it'd be so easy for him to slip back into his former self, just a figure that was with Ryder but never spoke, was passive and didn't give two shits about me.
Ryder looked at me one last time with concerned eyes before following Eros into the mass of people trying to shove their way into the theatre.
Lips pressed into the side of my forehead and I tore my eyes away from my friends up to an excited Henry. "Well," he started with a curve of his lips. "Have you seen any plays before?"
I shook my head and allowed him to escort us into the theatre, my eyes widening as we entered the huge entryway, my footfalls absorbed by expensive red carpet and the walls glittering with pictures of other plays all encompassed in gold frames. His hand remained firm on my waist as he maneuvered us through the throng of people, up extravagant stairs as if he knew this walk very well.
"This is a good play to start I suppose," he said thoughtfully, giving me a small smile. "Chicago is an easy play to follow, but after this we must see Wicked. One of my favorite plays."
"Do you go see plays often in New York?"
He laughed as we were escorted to our seats. "I grew up in the upper class of New York City, I think seeing Broadway is in my blood Alice Black."
I returned his laugh with a nervous grin.
Was this a date? Sure, we had been on dates before, but those were casual with no real strings attached to them. This, this was our first outing ever since we made the decision that we wanted to try things between us.
As of this moment, I was his girl.
And I really didn't mind.
Once we were sat in the plush chairs, from the inside of his jacket Henry pulled out a box of Buncha Crunch and Sour Patch Kids, looking at me excitedly. "And from my days of visiting the theatre I learned never to buy food from the concessions and just bring it yourself, so," he grinned. "What would you like Alice?"
His happiness was infectious and I found myself craving it. He was the sun in the haze of clouds that continued to overcast my sky, whisking all negative thoughts and feelings and only bringing light, warm feelings.
"Buncha Crunch," I beamed, taking the blue box from his hands.
A voice from behind us paused our conversation of candy. "Well, look's like we're all sitting together huh?"
Twisting my head, I made eye-contact with Ryder, his eyes hard and lips tipped down in a frown that was so unlike him. He and Eros were finding their seats just a row back from us, aligned so that they had a perfect view of Henry and I.
I know it wasn't their fault, but I felt like I had a chaperone on a date like I was 13.
"Perfect," I forced a smile onto my features and shook the blue box of chocolate. "Anyone want some Buncha Crunch?"
Ryder stuck out his hand expectantly. "You just can't taunt me with candy and not expect me to want some!"
A wolfish grin upturned my lips as I handed him the box. "You pig."
With a mouth full of the chocolatey candy he replied in a stuffed, old-school accent that I've heard one too many times, "Ugh, I love it when you talk dirty!"
I pursed my lips in a vain attempt to hide the smile that threatened to please Ryder. "We're not even saying the right words!"
"You're ruining it Alice! You can't quote Grease and expect it to be right, I'm sure they improvised all their lines!" Ryder shrugged and handed me back the box, offering me a bottle of coke. "Want some?"
I shook my head, eyes flitting to an indifferent Eros that stared down at his phone, fingers skimming over the surface, completely dejected of the conversation Ryder and I were sharing.
A grip tightening on my thigh turned me so my back faced my friends, and I looked confusedly at Henry who wore a cunning, secretive smile.
"What?"
"I'm just imagining what we'll do together after this..." he hummed with a twinkle in his eye, turning to face stage.
"I'm sorry?" I spluttered.
His head swiveled to me and it seemed like he was about to apologize from the sudden fear in his eyes when the boy behind us spoke up.
"Can you fucking get your hand off Alice? I won't be able to enjoy the play if I have to make sure she doesn't get assaulted during intermission," Eros spat at a shocked Henry, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Eros!" I growled before Henry had a chance to ever process what Eros had said to him. "I can take care of myself but thanks for making a scene," I flashed a grin at him, ignoring the people around us that suddenly jumped from Eros' words.
The theatre began to darken and the crowds around us began to applaud in anticipation of the next three hours. I watched the room darken around me, Eros' face being the last thing I saw before we were plunged into momentary darkness.
â¦
My ears were ringing from the applause exhibited by the audience in the theatre, myself a heavy contributor to the resounding applause for the actors that had stood on stage beaming at the adoring crowds.
Henry's hand gripped mine tightly as we slowly maneuvered through the throng of people that pushed out of the small doors to the entrance of the mezzanine, all eager to get out of the bunch of people.
I looked back for my friends, but they were no where to be found and I felt a small amount of nerves creep into my system, I hadn't expected to spend the night with Henry, but if I couldn't find them soon that may be favorable option.
Turning my head, I followed as Henry moved quickly and expertly through the crowd with ease, like I'm sure he had done many times before in New York, on Broadway.
Once outside, he faced me with a nervous grin. "So, what I meant to ask you before the play started is if you wanted to come to my hotel and stay the night with me? I mean we wouldn't need to fuck or anythingâ" I whacked him with my purse cutting him off to which he chuckled but continued, "but I'd love to have you as company, since you know, you're the reason I came to LA in the first place."
A smile creeped onto my features and I shrugged. "Let me see what Ryder and Eros are doing and then I'll get back to you."
I launched Find My Friends on my phone, Ryder and Eros being the only two people besides Angelica that shared their location with me. I pinched the screen in immediately nervousness, my location was five miles from Ryder and Eros.
They fucking left me.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment and I couldn't figure out why they would leave me, why they had such a bad attitude since they left me, but I was going to figure it out, tonight.
"I'm sorry Henry," I flashed him my phone, "but we're all getting some food from Denny's and although I really appreciate you coming and seeing me, I have to spend this time with my best friends." Rising on my tip-toes, I gave him a soft, lingering kiss.
"But I'll make it up to you, I promise."
His hands rested on my waist and he looked bummed, and I couldn't blame him. "You better, and I know just the way you can make it up to me."
I tilted my head and laughed. "I don't want to know."
Henry shoved his hands into his pockets and looked around. "So where are they?"
"I'm catching an Uber."
He looked at me sharply and shook his head. "Absolutely not. I wouldn't be a very good boyfriend if I let my girl take an Uber at 11 in the evening by herself." His hands pulled me in again and I watched as he pulled up the Uber app.
"What are you doing?"
"What Denny's are they at? I'll ride with you and make sure you get there safe."
I pulled myself out of his arms and looked at him sharply. "Absolutely not Henry! I'm a big girl and I'm sick you boys acting like I can't handle myself, I'm ordering my own damn Uber and I'll be damned if you get in the car with me."
I gritted my teeth and placed one hand on my hip as I ordered by Uber, avoiding Henry's gaze.
"Fine Alice, but will you at least share your ride with me on iMessage?" His grip on my waist loosened and he looked down upon me hopefully, eyebrows knitted.
I nodded and kissed him on his cheek. "Now go and get a goodnights rest Henry!"
Henry laughed and raised his hand to his brow in a salute, "Yes ma'am!"
I didn't want to leave Henry, I really didn't, I was enjoying these new boundaries we were crossing as two people interested in each other, but some things were more important than a budding romance between me and an insanely hot guy.
Like my best friends.
"Goodnight Henry."
He leant down and kissed me again, urgent and needy as though I was water and this was his last taste of it before death-row. "Goodnight Alice, I'll be thinking of you."
â¦
The Denny's was considerably busy for it being one in the morning. Thanking my Uber, I exited the car, almost instantly spotting Ryder and Eros in a booth near a window, whom hadn't spotted me yet, deep in a conversation I couldn't be bothered about.
Seeing them, my anger grew tenfold and I stomped into the diner till I stood in front of them, and only then did they notice that I was there, looking at me expectantly.
I grew more and more furious. "Well thanks for leaving me," I grumbled, gesturing with my hands for Eros to scoot over so I could sit and shoot daggers at Ryder with my eyes as he ate his hot sauce drenched hash-browns.
Eros frowned at me but moved without complaint so I could slide into the booth, propping my feet up on the extra space next to Ryder.
"Care to explain yourselves?"
Ryder's face was stoic as he continued to chew his hash-browns, taking his sweet time before replying to me.
The boy next to me tensed but didn't care to speak.
It was then I decided I was going to kill them one day.
Ryder swallowed, picked up a napkin and wiped his face all the while maintaining eye-contact with me, eyes just as steely as my own.
"Thought you were spending the night with your boyfriend."
My ears perked. "First of all, we aren't official." I stuck up a finger, and then raised a second. "Secondly, why would I spend the night with him?"
Ryder shrugged. "I don't know, why did you sit with him at the theatre?"
And all of a sudden it clicked.
"Are you mad at me because Henry showed up at the theatre today?" I spluttered in disbelief.
Ryder's hand slammed down on the table and Eros and I jumped. "You can bet your tits I am Alice! What the fuck was that, him turning up today?"
My jaw was slack, and I goggled at Ryder, my veins pumping with nerves because as much as I might hate to admit it, I hated when Ryder, or really anyone was angry at me and confronted me like this.
"I didn't invite him Ryder, heâ he just turned up! What was I supposed to do? Tell him to leave?"
"Yes!" Ryder screamed, face screwed up in complete anger. "Yes Alice, you should've fucking told him to leave the minute you saw him. This was our trip, with just the three of us and to be completely honest I feel very disrespected when I saw him show up."
Words tumbled from my lips as I angrily made my points that Ryder was in the wrong, not me. "That doesn't fucking justify you leaving me at the theatre! Do you know how embarrassed I was when Henry asked me where you guys were and I had to tell him I was catching an Uber? You should've asked me if I was going to do things with Henry after, not just fucking assume!"
"Well you didn't give us much of a chance did you Alice? You practically ignored us the entirety of the time we were at the theatre!" Ryder's voice was slightly less loud because of the looks we were getting shot, but still just as cold and harsh.
"I couldn't give you guys my full attention and make Henry feel like a fourth wheel! He flew out to see me, what was I supposed to do?"
"Yeah? Well, we took this trip for you." Ryder's grip on his utensils was so tight I could see his nails digging into his skin, knuckles white as the whites of his eyes.
I fell silent.
"This was our trip Alice, for the three of us. I know it didn't go past you that I didn't invite Luna and Claire to this, and trust me I considered it for a long time. But I knew you weren't comfortable with them participating in the list so I decided your comfortability was more important. And then you go ahead and invite Davidson."
"Fine!" My throat was tight and ached with the need to let go a sob I was holding in. "I admit, I was wrong that I treated you guys like that and I'm sorry. But Ryder, what the fuck. You should know me better than thatâ I would never purposely make you feel left out. I wouldn't dismiss the fact that you planned this trip for me and blow it all off by spending it all with Henry. I didn't think you thought that lowly of me."
A few tears escaped my eyes, and under the table Eros' hand found mine and he squeezed it in concern. My heart surged with his touch and I twisted my hand so we could interlock fingers, finding comfort in it instantaneously.
Ryder's face fell apart and he reached across the table and wiped my tears. "I don't think lowly of you Alice."
I jerked my face back. "I know this trip is for my list and I'm super grateful. So thanks."
The boy across the table slouched, lips drawn down. "Alice. I'm sorry, I didn'tâ"
"You didn't what Ryder? You didn't think I would want to spend time with you guys on the vacation you planned? Didn't think I wouldn't be hurt that you left me at the theatre?"
"I was jealous!" He exploded, sitting straight in his seat and glared at me. "And I know I have no right but you're my best friend and things are already changing in our group and I just wanted to have this for the three of us, and I didn't want to share you. Okay fuck, yeah, I'm wrong and I'm sorry."
I stared back in Ryder in shock, my face dried with tears. I couldn't say I blamed him because I honestly felt the same way, with Luna getting involved with Ryder and Eros getting involved with Claire, I felt as though soon I'd be competing for a place in both my best friend's heart.
I didn't know that was reciprocated.
"We're the golden fucking trio Ryder." I was trying to find comfort for Ryder, but was at a loss for the right words.
"And one day you and I are going to get married," I winked jokingly, encouraged by his dry smile that spread across his face. "Things might change in the future yeah, but I will always be your best friend and I'll always be willing to spend time with you, just as long as you are too."
Eros released my hand and pulled it out of the booth so he could sling his arm across my shoulder, pulling me tight into his side.
For the first time since I stepped into Denny's, he spoke, "The Golden Trio will live forever you dip-shits, stop being dramatic about stupid things."
Ryder and I exchanged an annoyed glance and it was as though we were thinking in sync.
"This is why you're Hermione."
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