" Mom he's doing it again!"
" Tyler leave your sister alone!"
" She took my charger!"
" George talk to your kids!"
" I didn't birth them!"
" It takes two to tango!"
My ears are sore from all the yelling. I feel like a person watching a movie corrupt into chaos as the Anderson family members scatter around the house like it is on fire.
Tyler and Hayley keep on arguing while Rachelle tries to look for the charger that Hayley apparently took without his permission. George is tying up his tie and I - well I'm just trying to stay sane.
It's as if the whole house comes to a stop when we hear ringing coming from the kitchen. I watch as Rachelle walks over to the intercom that's placed against the kitchen wall and press a button. She exchanges a few words with the person on the other side before turning towards us.
" The guests are here."
It didn't take long before the house was filled up by guests. Rachelle gave us all a warning to be on our best behavior before opening up for the first guests. I honstley felt like a child when Rachelle spoke to us that way but I can't blame the woman, she has Tyler as a son.
The dress code was formal so I had to make a quick stop at the mall earlier to get a dress seeing as my other dresses aren't appropriate for this occasion. I had on a maroon long sleeved dress with a dangerously high slit showing off my somewhat tanned leg. The top part of the dress showed just enough cleavage for it to still be presentable and I paired the dress off with matching high heels. For someone who just realized they didn't have a dress I did a pretty decent job. Tyler thought so as well as he couldn't stop throwing compliments my way. I always get awkward when someone gives me a compliment but I'll gladly accept it.
" You having fun?" Tyler asks from behind me.
I turn around and smirk when I notice the red lip marks on his cheek.
" I alway enjoy watching the old ladies kiss you."
Tyler rolls his eyes before stepping closer so that he can stand next to me. From where we are standing we have a view of the whole room set up for the party. I don't think fancy will even begin to describe how this place looks. Pictures of Rachelle and George are scattered all over the room in different shapes and sizes of frames. Some family photos also make their appearance here and there. Buffets are set up all over the room with different varieties of snacks to keep the guests occupied until dinner is served. Waiters are walking around with neatly balanced champagne glasses and if someone is not up for champagne there is an open bar in the corner of the room. Classical music is also playing in the background and there is a makeshift dance floor set out for people to dance later on.
" You're just jealous they get to kiss me." Tyler smirks.
A pang hits my heart again. Why won't he kiss me? I'm starting to think I'm going crazy. This really shouldn't bother me for God's sake.
" Whatever floats your boat." I say patting him on the chest.
Tyler chuckles and catches my hand in his. He wraps his fingers around mine before bringing it closer to his lips and laying down a soft kiss.
" Want to dance-"
" Tyler!" I hear someone yell from behind us.
Tyler freezes and breaks apart immediately to turn around to the person behind us. I try not to over think about what just happened and decide to look at who just spoiled an
oddly cute moment for me. Curses.
My eyes meet a guy that looks to be around Tyler's age. He has dirty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His shoulders are broad from what I can see from under his tux and he's definitely toned. He's not better looking than Tyler but he's pretty easy on the eye.
" James." Tyler smiles before pulling the said guy into one of those manly bear hugs. They pat each other on the back before pulling away.
" Thought you caught an STD and died." the guy jokes making Tyler crack up with him.
I hate when this happens. Someone comes up to the person you're standing with and starts talking to them while you just stand there awkwardly.
After a few minutes have passed the guy's eyes lands on me. They widen a bit before a smirk makes its way onto his face. He moves his head slowly up and down, drinking up my appearance.
He better stop lowering his eyes before I make him unable to do anything with them.
" Who's this?" the guy asks Tyler as he licks his bottom lip.
Getting massive Mason vibes over here.
" Oh this is Allison, my uh t-tutor." Tyler tries to say with confidence.
His what now?
A tutor?
A fucking tutor?
" A tutor? On what, sex? I mean damn." the guy wolf whistles making a shiver run up my skin.
" My heel is just itching to meet your balls. " I say through gritted teeth taking a step forward.
Tyler swings his arm around my shoulders to prevent me from stepping closer to his beloved friend's balls.
" Easy now." Tyler whispers loud enough for me to hear.
" Don't fucking touch me. " I say shrugging off his arm from my shoulder.
Couldn't he at least have referred to me as his friend like he does with everyone? I don't mind being called his friend because I know we're more than just friends. Friends don't feel this way about each other like we do. Or well at least the way I do. I need a shot to wash away all this unwanted feelings. It's just toying with me.
Without waiting for Tyler to say something I stomp off to the other side of the room. On my way over to the dessert buffet I bump into Hayley. Why do we always meet like this?
" Oh come - Ally? Why are you crying?"
" I'm not crying."
I trace my fingers lightly over my skin and feel the wetness underneath them.
Looks like I'm crying.
" Look I know we got off on the wrong foot but I know crying when I see it and you my friend are crying. " Hayley states. She grabs my hand and pulls me out of the room and into a deserted bathroom.
" Talk." she demands.
" I don't think -"
" I don't care. "
I'm starting to like this girl.
" Do I look like a tutor to you? " I blurt out all of the sudden.
I at least thought Tyler would have come up with a better name for me. A tutor just doesn't suit me well. I don't think any girl who has feelings for a guy wants to be referred to as their tutor. I mean who the hell brings their tutor to their parents anniversary party?
Apparently Tyler.
" What no. Who said you looked like a tutor? Wait is that why you are crying? Girl I didn't think -"
I clasp my hand around her mouth to make her stop talking. Her eyes widen as she looks at me shocked. I did just shut her up and we barley know each other for 3 days.
" Tyler referred to me as his tutor in front of this Jane guy. " I shrug making it seem like I don't care but I think the tears blew my cover. I don't like being this soft and vulnerable. I guess it's better than being the rock I was back at the start of the semester.
" Oh James. Yeah he's a prick. I wouldn't mind putting him into the hospital if that's what you'd like. I'd do it-"
" No I'm okay." I chuckle at her willingness to kick some ass.
No one has ever offered to fight my battles for me before. Even if it's such a small thing. To most people I come off as a strong and guarded girl. It takes a while to crack me open and understand the way I do things. Ever since I started spending more time with Tyler that armour I carry around to protect me from feeling any more pain has started to fade. For me to cry in the open like this is a very bad sign.
" Listen I know you probably caught feelings after you guys slept together but Tyler just isn't that kind of guy-"
" We didn't sleep together." I stop her from continuing.
I just felt the need to clear that up seeing as she thought I was girl number 47. Turns out I'm just the fucking tutor.
" Right... "
She doesn't believe me. Well that sucks.
" But don't pay him any attention. If he refers to you as his tutor then fucking act like it. Take his own words and use it against him. He'll regret it trust me." she advises me while touching up her hair.
That's actually pretty good advice if I do say so myself.
" You're a wise little one. " I wink making my way out of the bathroom.
" I'm only a year younger than you! "I hear Hayley yell from inside the bathroom.
I chuckle as I step back into the room where all the guests have gathered. My eyes land on Tyler, he's still joking around with James. I watch as two girls make their way over to them with drinks in their hands and join in on their conversation.
At least I got a little more insight on how Tyler's life was back here.
I don't want to know that Tyler.
***
The party continues to flow out through the rest of the night. Dinner was served and Hayley made sure that I didn't have to sit next to Tyler nor near him for the matter. I met a few of Hayley' s friends as well. They seem nice but definitely not my cup of tea. After dinner was finished Rachelle and George said their wedding vows to each other and after a few tears were shed the guests started clearing out of the room and heading home. It was getting late now and my feet are killing me for torturing them into these shoes.
Some of Tyler's friends decided to stick around for a little while longer from the looks of it. They were probably going to go out clubbing or something like that. Not that I care. I don't. He can fly to Europe with them for all I care. All I want is a hot shower and my soft,comfy bed.
I bid everyone goodnight as soon as most of the guests cleared out I rush up stairs and towards my room. My heels are the first thing that flies into the room once I enter through the door. I have to stand still for a minute to regain my balance before hopping into the shower and then into bed.
I'm exhausted.
It didn't take me long before I started drifting off. Tyler was still on my mind the whole time but that didn't bother me. I just hope he doesn't have a huge hangover tomorrow because we need to make our way back to campus.
Just before sleep consumes me I hear the door open. I hear the patting of feet across the wooden floor before feeling the mattress dip from the extra weight. Arms wrap around me and Tyler's scent fills my nostrils with ecstacy. He always smells so damn good. I almost forgot that I was still upset with him but it's hard to resist him in any way.
" I don't think you're supposed to hold your tutor like this." I mumble into my pillow hoping that he'll hear me.
I want to move up and be out of his reach but my body isn't going to do a single thing about that for all I care.
" Ally-"
" Don't. Just stay quiet and let me sleep. " I cut him off.
Tyler stays quiet and allows me to drift off to sleep once again. He mutters a few unclear words before pulling me closer to his chest. I can feel through the t-shirt I'm wearing that his chest is bare and boy does he feel good.
I so badly want to kiss him.
But you don't kiss your tutor now do you?
" I'm sorry." I hear him whisper against my ear.
His hand comes to rest on my behind and I flinch a little. The little fucker- he gives it a light squeeze making me flinch again. Oh he's sly. He knows for a fact that he's waking me up.
" I want you to hear me out okay?" he continues to whisper into my ear.
He now has my full attention. Being this close to my ear and having his hand on my behind isn't something that I can just let go by.
" I didn't like my life here. The popularity was good and all but I didn't like who I was here. People labeled me. Rich fuck-boy. I pretended that it didn't bother me because I didn't care at the given time. I was in high school and the only way to stay afloat was to live up to their expectations. That's exactly what I did. "
46 girls. That's one way to live up to their expectations.
" It carried on that way straight through high school but I always knew that this lifestyle isn't something that I'm proud of. I don't ever want my daughter to date the type of guy I was. Once you have a label on your name it's hard to get rid of it. The times I came back to visit after I started college I really tried to move away from that label but no matter what I did it didn't help. I always found myself right back to where I was before college. You saw a glimpse of that tonight and I'm so fucking sorry if I hurt you. I don't want to make up any excuses for the way I acted but the guys here aren't anything like the ones back on campus. They rule this town and if I don't fit in with the way they do things I'm not sure what kind of dirt they'll throw my family's way. " he continues to explain.
I for sure know how hard it can be to get rid of a bad reputation. Back home things are similar but the diffrence between me and Tyler is that I don't give a flying fuck what the people think of me. I can stop with the whole act when I feel the need to. Nothing will happen to my family name when I start acting a different way but it's not the same case for Tyler. I get where he is coming from but it still doesn't mean I'm okay with it.
I turn my body towards Tyler's face. My hand cups the side of his cheek and I trace my thumb across his light stubble.
" You need to grow up Tyler. Part of growing up is taking risks."
He can't forever be afraid of what will happen to him when he stands up for himself.
It's a risk he'll have to take.
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