“Why would I?” Noah asks before handing me a drink that looks like strawberry juice with sparkling water.
“How come you are holding such a big party?” I ask in return.
“I do it yearly,” he explains. “And invite my friends and anyone I know.”
“He has the money,” one of the girls explains, making me laugh.
“That explains it,” I tease.
The girls – Nina and Ava, as they introduce themselves – show me around, chat with me about their lives, and even exchange numbers with me. One of them is in college, the other one isn’t. Like me, she started to work after school for financial reasons, but wants to start some kind of education soon. Her words actually give me some food for thought. I don’t have much time on my hands, but I guess I could start an online course. There are plenty of those nowadays.
I don’t notice how much time passes until I feel my phone vibrating. A message from Brandon that he’s arrived and is coming in now. From my position in the second room, I can see the entrance door, noting how Brandon comes inside togetherwith Josie and one of Maddox’s friends. Soon after them, Maddox comes. too, but he doesn’t join them, instead he goes to someone else he knows. Brandon eventually leaves the group and walks around to look for me - I’m hoping.
“Why are you not going to say hello to him?” Nina asks.
Ava peeks around us. “Oh, is that said Brandon?”
“Yes,” I say.
“So, why?” Nina pushes.
“I don’t like the people he arrived with,” I admit. “The girl and some of the guys used to bully me in school.”
Ava stares at me like I have lost my mind. “Why are you with a dude who hangs out with your bullies?”
“He doesn’t always have an option,” I mutter. “One of them is the son of… of his dad’s boss. He doesn’t want to upset him.”
“Hm.” Nina doesn’t sound convinced. “Still not okay.”
We don’t get to discuss it further because Brandon spots us and comes closer. He ignores the other two, takes my hand and stares at me, his mouth open. “Wow,” he says.
I feel heat crawling up my cheeks at his obvious admiration. He has never had such a reaction to me before.
Nina pushes past me. “I am Nina,” she says. “And that’s Ava. We are Gwen’s friends.”
Friends? Now that was fast. Not that I mind, though.
“Oh.” Brandon blinks before putting on his signature smile. “It’s nice to meet you.” He looks a bit like a player that way, though I have never seen him flirt with anyone, at least not with me around. But Nina and Ava don’t know him. I just hope they don’t get the wrong idea of Brandon.
Ava just nods at Brandon before turning towards me. “We’ll leave you two alone for a bit. You know where to find us, Gwen!”
“Sure, thank you for showing me around.”
I wait for them to leave before turning back to Brandon. He pouts. “Your friends don’t like me.”
His words surprise me. Not because it isn’t true, but because- “Your friends don’t like me either.”
“That’s not the same,” he says.
“Why not?”
“Because they aren’t my friends,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. “You know that, Gwen. Come on, let’s not argue.”
I didn’t think we were really arguing, but maybe he is right. I should probably let it go and enjoy the evening. One of Noah’s friends was hired as DJ and does the music. I lean in, kissing Brandon. “Come on, let’s dance.”
He looks hesitant for a moment, and I don’t quite understand why, as he is not a particularly shy guy. I move towards the small dance floor where others are already dancing and start moving around. I am not sure if I’m sexy or not, and I don’t care, but somehow it seems to work. Noah and one of his friends join me, and so does Ava.
I feel warm arms wrapping around me – finally – as Brandon joins me. He keeps his arms around me the whole time we are dancing. It’s unusual for him because he doesn’t like to show his affection publicly. Part of me thinks that he might be ashamed of me, another feels guilty because I am thinking like that. There are people who just don’t like to walk around hand in hand or kiss in public. Which is why it makes me so happy that he so readily joins me tonight.
