Mismatched Compatibility (12)

Dana:

Dakota and Alyson already went home a little over an hour ago. I would've been bored if it wasn't for Sam who kept me entertained.

Sam was the boy who was playing Beer Pong with Aaron earlier. I finally knew his name. He was actually very funny.

Ethan had such nice friends, and yet he turned out to be quite rude. Or perhaps he was just like that to me. I wondered what it felt like to be his friend.

My eyes wandered around the living room. It had been a while since I'd seen him last. I didn't want to think about where he was and what was keeping him busy. So I focused myself on Sam who was telling me a funny story. That was when I caught his eye look behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a girl also eyeing him.

Oh. I was keeping him from that girl.

“You can go talk to her, if you want,” I told Sam earnestly.

His expression told me that he didn't expect me to say that. When he recovered, he raised an eyebrow and looked at me as though as I joking.

“And leave you by yourself?” he asked rhetorically. “Uh, no.”

“I won't take it against you,” I assured him.

He considered it for a moment. “Nah. I'd like to keep myself from getting a black eye, thanks.”

“What do you mean?” I was confused. What did he mean by that? How on earth would he get a black eye just from leaving me alone?

Sam only grinned at me in answer.

“Well, I'm calling it a night,” I declared truthfully. I think it was time to go back and have a good night sleep. I almost forgot that I was going to help Cher in preparing for tomorrow's event. “If only I could find Ethan.” So that he could take me back.

“Um.” Sam shifted in his seat. “I don't think that's a good idea.”

My brows furrowed in confusion. “Finding Ethan?”

“Yeah,” he replied carefully.

It took me a moment, but I understood what he was trying to say.

Outstanding. I now absolutely regret not taking Dakota's offer on giving me a ride. I surely don't want to interrupt Ethan's alone time with a girl. I'm not an idiot. That was clearly what Sam had meant.

It was odd. A gloomy feeling suddenly engulfed me. I didn't want to think about Ethan kissing another girl. The thought nauseated me. It was as though the air left the room and now I was suffocating.

One of my hands flew to cover my mouth because I recognized this feeling. I hadn't felt this in a long while. I couldn't believe that I was feeling it now.

“Are you okay?” asked Sam in a concerned voice.

Am I?

I uncovered my mouth and politely smiled at him. “Yes, I'm all right. Perhaps I should find a ride from someone else.”

“I'd volunteer,” he said sheepishly, “but I had too much to drink.” He paused. “I bet Nigel can take you,” he added loudly, gesturing to Nigel who was passing by.

Nigel looked from me to Sam. “Take her where?”

Sam's eyes turned to me in question.

I blinked. Oh, right. They weren't aware of the fact that I was staying at the Tyler Residence. I hoped it wouldn't be quite a big deal.

“Ethan's house,” I murmured.

Nigel and Sam widened their eyes in shock.

“You live there?” they demanded in unison.

“No!” I said frantically. “Heavens, I'm just staying there for a few days.”

They stared at me for what felt like ages, before Sam raised both of his hands – even the one holding a bottle of beer.

“I don't even wanna ask.”

Nigel nodded, as though he was saying he also didn't want to know more of the complicated situation Ethan and I were in.

“C'mon,” Nigel told me. “I'll take you.”

I stood up, smiling gratefully at him. “Thank you.” I faced Sam, who also got to his feet. “It was good to meet you, Sam.”

“Ditto! See you around.”

“Please let Ethan know that I left.”

Sam grinned and gave me a wink. “Will do.”

With that, I followed Nigel to his car. He didn't open the passenger side's door for me. I actually wasn't expecting him to – and it wasn't because he was preoccupied on his phone. Maybe I was used to this kind of treatment from their world.

“I texted Ethan,” Nigel informed me, before putting the car on gear.

I nodded and gave him a look of gratitude.

I didn't want to appear rude to Ethan so I wanted to let him know that I left, but I didn't know his number. He invited me to the party, after all. The least I could do was not to bother him.

Watching the lights as we passed by the houses, I couldn't help but wonder what it would've been like if I grew up in a place like this. If I didn't have the life I was living in now, what kind of person would I have been like? Would I be happier?

I always wondered about this. However, now that it was in front of my eyes, it felt more real. The thought of it felt more real.

The reason as to why I used Ethan as an excuse to Peter not to come home seemed clearer now. I grabbed that opportunity because I didn't want to return to that kind of life yet – even just for a while.

“I'm sorry.”

I turned my head to Nigel. He looked regretful.

“That drunk moron wouldn't have come near you if I didn't leave you alone.”

“You don't have to apologize,” I told him truthfully. “Honestly, it's okay.”

And it really was. I was able to see Ethan look very . . . irresistible. I couldn't quite explain it but seeing him that way really turned me on.

Goodness, the way he makes me say things. Or rather, think things. I sound like a silly little girl. I'm not usually like this.

Nigel chuckled. “Good thing Badass Ethan came.”

“Is he . . .” I paused, not sure how to put it. “Does he always get that angry?”

“Sometimes,” he shrugged. “He's hotheaded, so it doesn't really take much for him to lose it. What happened earlier was a different matter, though.”

I waited for him to say something, but he didn't add more.

“How is it a different matter?” I couldn't help but ask.

He grinned. “Let's just say that Ethan ain't really the 'knight in shining armor' type.” With that, he winked at me.

I blinked. As his words sunk in me, the realization of what he implied became obvious. I felt my cheeks heat up, making me look away.

Before I knew it, we were at the Tyler Residence already. Nigel parked his car by the driveway. Then, he turned to me.

“Do you have the keys?”

At that, I froze. I closed my eyes briefly in frustration.

“No, I don't,” I replied. How could I be so stupid to forget that vital fact?

Nigel didn't answer. I looked at him and saw that he was thinking. He nodded and told me to wait at the car. He got out and disappeared behind the bushes. After a few minutes, the front door of the house opened and out came Nigel with a smug grin.

My jaw dropped. I immediately got out of the car and walked to him.

He must have seen the question in my face because he said, “We used to sneak inside Ethan in high school. When we couldn't find his keys with him, we'd climb to his bedroom window to open the door from inside.”

I smiled broadly, not being able to stop myself from doing so. The thought of their happy memories during their teenage years was so enticing that I couldn't help but have a huge grin on my face.

“What's with that face?” asked Nigel curiously.

“Nothing, really,” I answered, slightly shaking my head. The smile didn't leave my face. “You have an incredible childhood.”

“Not sure if four years ago counts as 'childhood', but yeah.” He sighed happily, as though he was recalling those memories as of this moment. “When you have Ethan as your friend, you're sure to have an awesome time wherever whenever. Sure, half of his ideas are stupid. But that's exactly what makes it memorable.”

I'd like to have him as a friend.

“Aren't you already friends?”

My eyes widened at the realization that I said it out loud. I swiftly composed my reaction and smiled politely at him. I was about to respond but he raised his hands to stop me.

“Naaah. Don't answer that.”

I giggled. “Thank you again, Nigel.”

“Don't sweat it. See you tomorrow, then?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, nodding.

“Cool. Good night, then.”

“Good night.”

I watched Nigel as his car left the driveway. I stood there for several moments before going inside. As I closed the door behind me, I noticed the quietness of the place. There was some sort of familiarity with the way it felt to be in a place like this. I shook my head, letting go of the feeling.

I went straight to my room and changed my clothes to the pink lingerie I wore last night. Passing by the window, the lights on the pool caught my eye. An idea popped in my mind, causing me to look around for my robe. As soon as I saw it, I put it on. I wasn't quite sure if it was enough to wear outside in this cold. But then, I remembered that it was summer. How silly of me to forget that detail.

After grabbing my phone, I left my room and headed down. I walked past the kitchen and straight outside to the pool. I settled myself at one of the lounge chairs, drinking in the beautiful cozy sight. My eyes looked up and saw that the stars were out tonight – very clear, as well. I leaned back and made myself comfortable.

I longed for a moment like this. Peacefully quiet, thinking about the universe – the bigger picture, bigger than my petty problems.

. . .

“You should've told me that you wanted to leave.”

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I'll update later this week or next week. :)