6. Cindy

Alex's POV

What on earth is Cindy doing at a high school party? I look around a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds cheering and laughing at the Brian's 13 year old sister and her friend, who happens to be the daughter of my neighbour that I've been slightly obsessing over.

I go over to her, trying to calm the situation down. I don't know what she's doing here but there must have been a misunderstanding. Cindy looks awfully lost and confused while her friend is having the time of her life.

"Cindy?" I ask her as her eyes finally connect with mine and she seems even more nervous to see me

"H-hi. Please don't tell my parents. I don't know what happened. Emma and I were just hanging out and she took beers and now look!!!" She points at her friend in horror

"It's fine I won't tell-" I say but she cuts me off

It seems like she is hyperventilating now "No Alex but you actually don't understand, we didn't know that her brother would be having a party and people came so fast!! Mom and dad are going to ground me so much." She says almost tearing up

"It's fine, I won't say anything but you need to come with me, okay? We're going home. It's not safe here." I say, knowing that her parents won't be happy that their 13 year old is stuck somewhere in between drunk and high teens.

I look over for Neil and finally see him, talking to Alyssa. I take Cindy's hand as she grabs it firmly and make my way over to them. Once they see me they stop talking. Alyssa never really liked me because I'm always around him, which is understandable, but I don't get why she is judging me without even knowing me.

"Neil I'm getting Cindy home, shes my neighbor, find Brian and tell him to take care of his sister" I say and look over at Emma, how is not flirting with some blonde guy.

He looks over and laughs, then looks at Cindy, who is still frightened. "That Eve's daughter?" He says and I nod.

"Okay text me when you're there. You're coming back later right?" He asks

"Don't know yet, I'm not in the mood. I'll text you" I tell him, honestly doubting I'll come back. My party mood kind of got ruined when I saw Casey

He nods and waves back at me, then gets his attention back to Alyssa. I motion to Cindy that we're leaving and she follows me surely.

Once we are out of the house and onto the empty, early-night street, she starts to calm down.

"Thank you so much. I was so scared. I'm pretty sure I saw some drugs there. I don't want to go to a party ever again. I also had some of the punch because I thought it was only sugar because a guy told me but there was probably some alcohol in it, right? Am I drunk?" She rambles and I softly laugh at her

"I don't know, do you feel tipsy? Dizzy? Even if you were at some point you probably sobered up because of the stress. It's okay." I chuckle, liking this new side of Cindy.

"Okay- how are we going to say this to mom and dad? Can you please make sure they don't ground me? I was supposed to be home a while ago.." She asks me, hoping I help her

"It's okay Cindy, they won't get mad. You didn't go to this party on purpose." I try reassuring her as best as I can

"I'm sure mom will understand but dad has been so shit- I'm sorry, so bad to me lately. I haven't talked to him in a long time." She says and I look over to her. This seems to be affecting her.

"Is your dad hard to get along with?" I ask, subtly snooping in

"Yeah. Him and mom always fight and when he's angry he gets really mean. Especially to me but thats okay because i don't want Cami and Jour to have to see him like this." She says, taking her big sister role seriously.

I nod "I'm sorry, that sucks."

She shrugs her shoulders

"Are you excited to start school soon?" I ask as we keep walking, changing the subject

"I'm really nervous. What if people don't like me." She admits, as I sense that she is easily warming up to me

"They'll like you, Cindy. It's okay. Everyone feels the same way as you do, trust me." I chuckle again. I remember when I was also nervous at her age before I stopped caring about pretty much everything.

"I don't know.. They already have friend groups and I'll be the new girl.. I hate that.. I wish we never moved." She says

"It's hard, I can imagine, but it's honestly an experience that you'll cherish in the long run, Cindy. Now you'll have friends from New York and from Phoenix. That's cool. I've always lived here and really wish I had friends from other places like you do. You're cool" I playfully punch her shoulder, knowing that I definitely am not cool to her right now, but oh well

She smiles a little, indicating that my words had an effect on her. I smile back

***

After a couple of minutes, we arrive on our street, and we see Eve standing on the porch, glass of wine in hand and cigarette in the other. She looks over to us, as if her sixth sense kicks in, and rushes to her daughter.

"Goddamit Cindy why aren't you answering your phone?? I've called you a hundred fu- times!!" She says angrily and gets on her knees to hug her daughter.

Cindy falls into her arms and tears up "I'm sorry mom... I forgot my phone at Emma's. I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened" She says, feeling relieved to be in her mothers arms.

Her mom pulls back, still holding her "What happened baby?" And then looks over at me. Eve seems confused to see me here, but my presence doesn't seem to disturb her at all.

"Um-" I start speaking, looking for my words, not wanting to rant Cindy out about the party

"Emma's brother threw a party mom. We honestly had no idea. I promise you we didn't know. He's Alex's age. Then she saw me and walked me home. I'm sorry." She says and hugs her mother again.

Eve softly smiles at me and gives me a sign, meaning we'll talk later. I gulp, but not anxiously. I'm not under the impression that she is angry at her daughter nor me.

"It's okay baby, I believe you." She pats Cindy's back, who is still quite shaken up.

"Why don't you go inside and take a warm bath, okay? Mommy will be back in a second." She suggest and Cindy pulls away and nods, making her way inside the house.

Once Eve and I are alone, she stands up and crosses her arms in front of her chest. She looks at me and tilts her head to the side.

"So you interrupted your night to get my daughter home safe?" She questions me, asking me to confirm her thoughts

I gulp and nod, suddenly feeling intimidated by her. She looks so, so sexy tonight. Her mascara is a little fucked, probably from nerves, and she is only wearing a white blouse and yoga pants. Her dark hair is down and the way she holds her glass of red wine is just-

I hear her clearing her throat and my breath hitches in my throat as my face turns red. This can't be happening again.

"Thank you so much, um- may I give you a little something? As a thank you?" She starts searching in her back pocket for her wallet

"Oh no- I can't take that. It's the least I could do, really. It's fine," I assure her, feeling a little uncomfortable

She sighs and puts her wallet back in her pocket "Thank you so much, Alex, really. I was dead worried." She says as she runs her hand along her hair. That cigarette she was smoking was long gone, tosses as soon as she saw us arrive.

"It's okay, really. It's normal." I chuckle

"Do you want to come inside for dinner? I would love to- I mean, my husband and I would love to have you-" she corrects herself, as I wish she hadn't.

"Thank you for the invitation, but-" I start saying

"Please, Alex?" She softly begs me to stay and I feel bad for declining a second times

"Okay" I softly smile "You really don't have to-" I start saying

"I do. It's my pleasure." She says and I feel her eyes lingering to my lips and down my body, burning upon me, like I felt the other night.

"How are the bruises?" She asks, as if she was thinking of it too.

"I'm okay, they're way better. Thank you again-" I say and she comes closer, inspecting my eyebrow and then seeing my bare waist. I get self conscious as I watch her look at my body with such intensity.

I suddenly feel her cold but soft hand on my waist, right next to the bruised spot.

"Looks better" She says and looks up at me, as I see a hint of lust in her eyes. She then turns around and makes her way to her house, leaving me speechless.

This crush on Eve has to stop. I try collecting myself as I follow her inside the house but fail as my eyes fall on her hips swaying left and right.