(46): New Year, Old Foes

Four words: I look fucking gorgeous.

I don't see or say it often but tonight I really do. The girls and I are currently at Winnie's and getting ready for the new years party. We all ended up deciding on Cuba earlier.

"Chels. Oh my fuck" Kat gapes when she sees me with a huge grin "Gorgeous!"

I smile sheepishly "Thanks"

"I agree" Winnie breathes watching me.

It's cold but we're all dressed pretty cool. It's warm inside the club so it's not a big deal, plus we brought jackets. Anyways I'm wearing a red off-the-shoulder tight dress with a huge slit on the side which makes me look more curvy than I thought I was. It ends just below my knees. I wore it with a matching red chocker, black high heels, a black leather jacket which is casually slung on my shoulders and my large hoop earring.

(ps: focus mostly on the dress and nothing else. it's what i had in mind but you can feel free to use your own imagination)

We went shopping earlier (they forced me... again) and I instantly fell in love with it. Winnie persuaded me to buy it and reassured I'd look good in it. I took her word for it cause the girl knows the color red.

Kathrine did my make-up which consists of shaping my eyebrows, giving me smokey eye, mascara to elevate my eyelashes and red lip stick, and I actually can't believe how good I look. I didn't want to go overboard. My blonde hair is flowing down my back and tucked behind my ear with a line in the middle.

"Okay, Chels, please get away from me. You're making me insecure" Kat says finishing off her make-up.

I roll my eyes smiling "Stop with the drama"

"Seriously. Kyle will not be able to take his eyes off of you tonight" Winnie grins, moving her perfectly shaped eyebrows up and down.

I hope.

She is wearing black high-waisted jeans which make her body look so good and matched them with a white lacey bralett showcasing her flat stomach and black stiletto heels. She has a lot of ear piercing so she's wearing a lot of earrings which suit her. Her short purple hair is let down and neatly brushed.

(this is what I had in mind for the outfit. ignore the unpurple hair)

She looks really good.

Kathrine is wearing a blue two-piece which consists of a tight mini top and a matching tight pencil skirt- showcasing her amazing body- which is long and end just above her ankles. She looks so good. She matched it with a white fur jacket and white sheer stiletto heels. She is wearing an infinity necklace that apparently Nathan gave her as a gift and luckily it goes well with the whole outfit. Her caramel hair is styled into a neat but kind of messy bun which is on top of her head.

(again: feel free to use your own imagination)

She is absolutely beautiful.

"We need selfies!" Kat exclaims when she's done.

Winnie and I agree as she grabs her phone and starts snapping away. We make all kinds of different poses. Oh my gosh, we look so fucking good!

"We should get going. Nathan texted me that they were on the way there" She says.

We all agreed to meet there because they said and I quote 'you girls are going to take forever and we're not going to wait for you'. They've been strangers to us the whole day. We went shopping without them, which took so long by the way, and also got ready without them.

I haven't seen Kyle since this morning when the girls came to pick me up.

I kind of miss him.

"Winnie, we're taking your car" I announce excitedly and they agree.

I'm so ready to end this year and welcome a new one.

Let's go!!

***

"Oh my gosh, it is packed" Winnie gapes as we maneuver our way past the many bodies.

The bouncers let us in easily without much questioning. I think they didn't have time for that because there are literally so many people here. To be fair... every other club is like this so it's not like we could leave.

"Okay, Nathan says they're where we were at Betty's party" Kat shouts through the loud music.

After about five minutes of making our way past the crowd, I locate Nick's curly hair and show the others before we quickly make our way there.

"Woah"

Nathan is the first one to notice us. His eyes are wide as he grins looking at all of us. His eyes stay way longer on his girlfriend as he admires her. I would too.

"You ladies clean up good" Nick compliments grinning at us, mostly Winnie.

Cute.

Kyle is the last one to look our way. His eyes don't even waste time before he finds me in the little red number. They immediately widening looking to be in awe and fascination. They start at my feet before slowly and gradually making their way up to my face, lingering at my small waist and kind of wide hips, at this point they're slightly dark. He clenches his jaw too looking tortured at the sight.

Good.

I can't help but blush and bite my lip when he looks into my eyes. He smirks and says nothing else. I can smell him from here.

He looks good too. His blonde hair is pushed back, like it was the day he went to go see his mom, showcasing his handsome and manly features. He is wearing dark grey loose-ish pants with an elastic at the bottom which he looks so damn sexy in and a long sleeve black light sweatshirt. He is wearing his white Nike Air Forces with.

Effortless but so gorgeous.

"Well, are you two done?" Kat asks.

I'm snapped back to reality as all our friends are smirking at us, looking to notice the little thing that just happened.

"Told you so" Winnie whispers in my ear.

"Friendly warning... literally everyone is here. Betty and her goons" Nick announces before looking to me "Chels, your ex is here and so is Zorro. Just be careful"

Oh no.

I nod stiffly "Of course"

"Let's go get some drinks" Nathan says after a while "I'm way too sober right now"

Same.

The others leave first and as I'm about to start walking too, Kyle grabs my hand and holds me back. I can't help but smile when I look at him.

"Hi" I squeak, suddenly shy.

He raises an amused brow "Almost didn't recognize you there, Chelsea-Anne"

"Can I ask why not?"

"You look beautiful"

My heart skips a beat. I forget to breathe.

I try to hide a blush but fail miserably before clearing my throat "Thanks, Chambers, so do you"

"Red is definitely your color" He notes.

"I think Winnie will beg to differ" I joke.

"I was talking about your cheeks" He says amused causing me to touch them on instinct. Yep, they're hot.

Can I stop blushing like a middle schooler!

"Shut up" I grumble flustered.

He smiles watching me "I can't believe how cute you are"

This boyyyy!

"I told you to stop flirting with me, Chambers" I fake-scold pointing a finger at him.

"I can't help myself" He winks.

Can I just tell him that I like him already? I have nothing to lose. Well... except my pride and my dignity and my heart and my sanity and my-.

Okay, maybe I shouldn't.

The others come back before we can even make it to them.

"Here" Kat hands me a drink "I got you one since you were too busy making love eyes with Kyle"

I roll my eyes "Thanks"

"Let's toast" Nicholas announces enthusiastically with his whiskey glass raised "To an amazing year and an even better one to come"

"Cheers" We grin clicking our glasses.

***

"So why aren't you there dancing with the others?" Kyle asks amused, taking a sip of whatever is in his glass.

I think we're both quite tipsy.

All the others went their separate ways, leaving Kyle and I alone. I'm positively sure they did that on purpose. They always do. Kat and Nathan are obviously together. Nick clearly relapsed and is with his latest conquest. Winnie is with her other first semester friends. Kyle and I have just been occasionally taking sips of our drinks and making fun of everyone else.

I've never laughed so much.

"It's way too crowded in that dance floor" I say before gesturing to my dress "Plus, I doubt this will be comfortable to dance in"

"You won't know unless you try"

I give him an amused look "Is that you asking me to dance, Chambers?"

"Maybe" He laughs.

I blush rolling my eyes "Okay, give me a second, I need the restroom first"

"I'll be here" He dismisses.

I give him one more smile before maneuvering my way to the bathroom which is all the way the other side, next to one of the exit doors. I finally get there and enter a stall.

I keep glancing at my watch and there is about an hour until the new year.

I'm so excited. I wonder if Kyle is going to kiss me. We've been flirting literally the whole night. Or maybe he's just being nice. I mean, why would he want to kiss me? We're just friends. Are we though? I swear he treats me more differently than all the others. Does that mean something? Maybe I'm seeing things.

Shut up, brain.

I splash myself with cold water to try and clear my head and sober up a bit as I look at myself in the mirror. The girl who I see looks happy and radiant and it's obviously because of Kyle.

Maybe I should just tell him how I feel.

I sigh as I start to make my way out of the bathroom. I'm about to join the rest of the crowd when my arm is pulled roughly outside.

Oh no.

"Let me go!" I protest to the dark-haired stranger who is dragging me forcefully and painfully behind him. I'm having a hard time matching his fast pace because of my heels and I'm not exactly sober.

He doesn't look back at me until we reach a secluded spot as he corners me.

Zorro.

"Kitten" He smiles crookedly "Don't you look just amazing tonight"

"What do you want?" I bite, soothing my arm.

"Same question every time" He tseks amused "What I want is clearly something you can't give me, kitten"

"And what is that?"

He just laughs "Oh nothing"

"Why'd you drag me out here, Zorro?" I bite again "Your face is not the first thing I want to see this new year"

I blame the alcohol for my sudden bravery.

"Look who's grown a backbone" He tuts impressed "I'm proud"

I cross my arms "I'm waiting"

"Who helped you? Was it Kyle?" His voice is bitter and cold when he mentions his little brother's name.

"So what if is was?"

"Your little puppy tells me that you two are together now" Zorro says, cocking his head to the side.

I furrow my eyebrows "What puppy?"

"Jared's little friend... Noah?"

Wow.

"Off course he did" I mutter lowly to myself "We're not, okay?"

"But you like him?" He smirks.

How does he know?

I huff looking away from his eyes that look just like Jean's and Theo's. His are much colder and distant than theirs... that's why I didn't recognize the resemblance immediately.

"I don't see how that's any of your business" I challenge.

He laughs "Wow. I really did think you could do better than him, kitten. Seriously? My brother? You know he's a player? And he doesn't do this little thing called dating or love. Our father taught us better"

"Yes I know" I snap harshly; hurt.

"Oh shame, you look pretty pained" He tuts feigning sympathy "Tell you what? You can have me. I'm much nicer"

I wrinkle my nose at the thought "No thanks"

He laughs, putting his hands up in surrender "Well I tried. Now I guess you can't have any Chambers"

Yeah, I guess so too.

"When will you leave him alone?" I sigh.

Leaving Kyle alone will get him to leave me alone too.

"When he knows what it feels like to lose someone you love" He sneers bitterly, his eyes distant and angry.

I'm actually surprised he answered.

"Are you talking about Riley?" I ask.

His cold eyes snap to me "Don't speak about her. You don't even know her"

You'd be surprised.

"He lost someone too, Zorro" I defend "You're not the only one who lost her"

He laughs bitterly, the sound scary and sending chills down my spine... not in a good way "She was my fucking best friend. The only person who understood me. And guess what your little crush did? He killed her"

Oh gosh.

I stay quiet for a while, contemplating my next words "What if I told you she was alive?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" He growls lowly, absentmindedly squeezing my arm that's around his hand.

He's so scary.

I yelp in pain and he notices before easing his hold. "What if she's alive" I repeat.

"You don't even fucking know her"

I do!

"So what?" I challenge "What if she is?"

"I still want that little fucker to know what it feels like to lose someone you love" He snarls "And I know he feels something for you"

I gulp scared "He doesn't"

"Do you think I'm fucking stupid, kitten? I know he likes you. Maybe he didn't at first and I was forcing shit, but he certainly does now. Lucky me"

Is that true?

"What are you going to do to me?"

He laughs caressing my cheek menacingly and I look away from him "Nothing too bad. You remind me too much of Ry"

So they say.

"But dad on the other side... he's not too understanding and is getting impatient" He continues "Your little crush is just too stubborn. He's forcing our hands"

"What does your dad want from him?"

"He wants him to work for the family business" Zorro tells me "But no, Kyle is way too good for us."

"Just leave him alone" I bite harshly.

Zorro laughs shaking his head "I wish I could but he owes us way too much."

"What if Riley is alive?" I repeat again.

He pushes me against the wall "Stop fucking saying that. She's not. She's fucking dead and Kyle killed her"

"What about your mom? She helped too"

"She repaid her debt" He defends.

"Not everything is business" I challenge "Kyle was just trying to help her which clearly you weren't. You were too busy trying to be your dad's favorite"

Zorro shakes his head "If he tells you things like that then I know he definitely likes you. My brother doesn't trust easily"

"So what if he does?"

I hope he does.

"Then he finally has something to lose. Finally. Dad will be happy to hear this" He smiles.

He actually smiles. A genuine smile. His brother's despair will make him happy? He is really twisted.

"Just leave me alone, Zorro" I utter.

"No can do" He winks.

It doesn't make me swoon like Kyle's, it makes me want to vomit.

"If Kyle really likes me do you really think he'll let the two of get to me?" I challenge, suddenly gaining confidence "You may be freakishly tall but Kyle is smart"

"Who says I'll be doing anything to you?" He retorts smirking "There are a lot of people Kyle has upset, kitten. Remember my tattooed friend from the car repairs? He's been dying to get his hands on you"

I gulp scared, my heart beating faster.

"He won't let it happen" I say defiantly.

Zorro just laughs "We'll see, kitten, you better watch your back"

My alarm goes off signaling there are five minutes until the new year.

I regain my strength and push Zorro away from me. I certainly don't want to welcome it with his face. "Whatever I have to go find my friends"

"Have a good new year, kitten. I know I will"

I shake my head one more time before walking away from him. I hate to admit it but I'm shit scared. What is he going to do to me? I try to ignore the dark and scary thoughts.

I'm not letting him ruin my night.

I should be happy. He just confirmed that Kyle likes me. But what if he doesn't? What if everyone is just seeing things?

You won't know unless you tell him.

"Oh look, it's Chelsea" I'm about to enter the club when I'm greeted by Betty who is wearing a barely there dress.

Yikes.

"Yes it me" I say dryly.

"Where do you come from?" She asks curiously, looking around to get clues.

"None of your business"

She suddenly smirks "You didn't happen to see Noah and Lisa, did you? I know they're together wherever they are"

"Wow" I drawl amused "No, I haven't"

Does she think I care? I'm so over Noah. I don't even know who he is.

"Oh well" She smiles sickly "Guess I'll have to go look for them myself"

I push past her "Yeah. Whatever"

I'm pretty sure there's less than two minutes till countdown starts and I don't have time for her nonsense.

I take a deep breath before entering the club.

***

I'll continue on a new chapter.

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