Chapter 14

Ava

After my interesting dinner at the Blacks’ mansion, I tried to ignore the unsettling feelings in the pit of my stomach all week. Now it is Friday morning again, and I am not in the mood to deal with people.

I barely got any sleep last night as I was up late writing all the essays that I had not completed. This behavior is unheard of for me, a self-proclaimed nerd, but my feelings have been so chaotic that they’re physically and mentally draining me. I am on the verge of breaking point.

~What does all this mean? Do I like him, or do I hate him? Is he messing with my head?~

Ugh, too many questions and so few answers.

There’s now a routine in my new life: Hunter picks me up, and we walk in with his friends. We split up to go to lessons and meet up again at break and lunch. We barely communicate the whole time. It doesn’t feel like a real relationship; it feels robotic.

After several painful hours of maths and English, it’s finally lunchtime. I load my plate with a burger and chips, grab a water, and take a seat next to Hunter. As usual, the guys talk about football and girls, so I tune out before I lose my appetite.

I’m brought back to reality when I hear Hunter calling my name. “Ava?”

I turn my attention to him, confusion on my face.

“So, are you coming or not?”

~What the hell is he talking about? Am I going where?~

“Umm, what?”

Hunter shakes his head, and I catch a brief smile on his face.

“To the party Declan is throwing tonight.”

I freeze. ~A party.~ They can’t be serious. I’m a nerd; I don’t do parties. Drunk, hormonal teenagers grinding against each other, making out, and doing whatever else they aren’t ashamed to do in front of others—no, thank you.

I shake my head and turn back to my food, only to see I have eaten it all. Sighing, I look at Hunter, who is waiting expectantly.

“Ava, you are no longer a nerd; you are my girlfriend, and as my girlfriend, you must come with me. If it makes you feel better, you can bring a friend with you, okay?” His voice leaves no room for argument, like the decision is final, yet he almost sounds soft.

Crazy, right?

***

After Hunter drops me off at home, I ring Lily, who wasn’t at lunch today. I tell her about the party, and we decide she’ll spend the night at my house so that her parents don’t find out about her drinking. My mum is working, so I doubt that she’ll ever know.

Good thing it’s Friday.

Lily arrives at my house five minutes later with a massive bag full of clothes and makeup. She even has loads of hair tools.

An hour later, Lily is ready in black, strappy heels and a slim, red dress that hugs her curves. The front of her hair is pinned back, and the rest hangs down in curls. She has minimal makeup on, but it’s not like she needs it anyway.

Meanwhile, I still don’t know what to wear. I’ve showered, washed and styled my hair, and tried on endless outfits, but none of them seem right. Groaning, I turn to Lily, pleading for help. We have forty minutes to finish getting ready, since we wasted so much time gossiping.

Lily sighs and shoves me onto the bed, muttering things under her breath like “useless.” I sit cross-legged and huff as she peruses my overflowing wardrobe.

After showing me a few dresses that I quickly veto, Lily pulls out a white lace dress with short sleeves. The dress feels a bit snug when I put it on, but it shows off the figure that I have been trying to hide for years. I turn to my best friend for approval, and she grins at me.

Fifteen minutes later, I have light makeup on: mascara, eyeliner, and lip gloss. My waves are in an elegant messy bun on my head, and I wear a pair of white flats, not trusting myself in heels. Now we’re both ready.

When we pull up to the house, using the address Hunter texted me, we notice the party is already in full swing. We have to swerve around people littering the front garden, including someone already passed out in the grass, a few making out, and others just drinking and getting fresh air.

As soon as we step inside the elegant house, I can smell alcohol and sweat. It is stuffy and so loud that I can’t hear myself, let alone Lily next to me. Swallowing my fear, I grab Lily’s hand and pull her along behind me, hoping to find the kitchen without getting separated.

Have you ever tried to find a kitchen in a massive mansion while it was swarming with bodies pressed together? No? Well, this is my first time too, and I am starting to lose my patience.

Eventually, I see people leaving a room with drinks in hand, so I head that way. The kitchen is crowded, and the music is still thundering. I grab two bottles of water and check that they are sealed before I hand one to Lily. She shouts “thank you” at me, and then we head outside, where it’s quieter.

I’m not sure how people do it. I already have a headache from the music, and I’m slowly suffocating from all the smells.

I finally start feeling comfortable, and I am heading to a couple of chairs outside with Lily when I feel my body being lifted into the air. I hold my breath until Hunter stops spinning me in his bone-crushing arms and sets me back on my feet.

“I’m so glad you could make it, sweetie. By the way, you look stunning.” His words are sweet, but I know he doesn’t actually mean them.

“Well, thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself, babe.” I cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth, but I keep smiling anyway.

Hunter smirks and then turns to his friends, who I hadn’t seen before. My embarrassment only grows, and I know that my cheeks are a deep shade of red.

~Damn my cheeks.~

Ten minutes later, we are all sitting down, laughing and joking around with each other, and my embarrassment is long forgotten. Lily keeps glancing at Declan, but I don’t say anything.

Hunter goes off to get us drinks, and I am happy yet sad at the same time. After five minutes, he still isn’t back, and I’m getting worried.

“Guys, I’ll be back in a minute. I’m just going to go find Hunter.”

I see all their smirks but say nothing as I stand up and walk away. I don’t want to hear their replies.

Weaving my way through the sea of people, I manage to get to the kitchen, but there is no Hunter in sight. Frowning, I wander into halls full of people making out, dancing, and talking. Then I see him, pressed against a wall by that slut, Jessica.

I feel my heart sink at the sight of them together. Jessica’s lips are getting close to his, and her hands are roaming his body.

I feel my breath stop.

It’s like everything is happening in slow motion until their lips touch, and then I run toward the door.

My eyes prickle with tears, my stomach turns uncomfortably, and my body feels heavy. I’m shaking uncontrollably as I fumble for the phone in my clutch and phone Lily, telling her we need to go home. She doesn’t question me, just says that she’ll meet me in the car.

Before Lily gets there, I sob in the car. I don’t want my best friend to see me like this, but I keep seeing Jessica’s lustful smile and feeling the tension between her and Hunter. I keep feeling surprised by the bullet in my heart when their lips find each other in my mind.

My heart is broken.

~I guess we both broke rules tonight~.

Hunter Black ‘cheated,’ but I was slowly starting to fall for him.

~Oh, what a fool I am.~