14. Turtleneck boy

When I thought they would invite Damon to the party I had no idea he would be the reason for the party. How was I going to get any time to talk with him alone? Pretty much most of them would be hogging him and want to know all the details of his life. After all, he is the most interesting person at the party because he served time for murder.




Kay, who was busy trying to snatch the Coke bottle from Sam turned her head towards me. Her reaction was so quick that I was scared she would get whiplash. How can she possibly hear his name when she spent her time trying to pinch Sam and kick his feet to get the bottle for herself?





"Uh...Damon as in the new boy Damon?" She hesitantly asked, nervous laughter to her voice as she pulled the chair in front of me.




Asher who was sitting beside me narrowed his eyes at her, pointing the straw in her direction, "How many Damons do you know?"




Kay shrugged, "I'm just asking"



"Sure"



"Why are you acting so weird?" Sam questioned Kay as he pulled the chair beside me. My body tensed at that. Was it that obvious that we both were attending the party only for ultier reasons? I mean I did wanted to meet Asher and discuss our date but the top priority was talking to Damon.




Kay, affronted at the very reasonable question crossed her arms against her chest, "I am not acting weird! You are weird"




"Wow! What a comeback! Really explains everything" Sam rolled his eyes




Before anyone of us could reply to him the doorbell rang. My heart was beating rapidly in my chest at the anticipation of meeting Damon. It felt like I was purposefully avoiding him but that was not the case at all.




"Is it time for the party already?!" Sam exclaimed, pouting as he slammed the bottle on the table. Asher pushed him into opening the door.




"Why did you even invite people if you were not interested?" Kay questioned, her eyes particularly staring at Sam who was walking sluggishly towards the living room. Even though I had not been to many parties I could tell that Sam was the worst host. He seemed so disinterested like he would rather do anything else than host a party for almost half of the class.





Sam looked over his shoulder, his eyebrows knitted together, "Did you not hear anything Asher said? We want Damon to be in the team and what's better than luring him in with the party full of booze and girls?"





Kay made a face, "Sam wait"




"Huh?"



"You just dropped something"



I frowned at that. He did not have anything in his hand to drop something on the floor.



"What?-"



"Don't?" Asher said at the same time when Kay scoffed, "Your morals dummy"




Sam huffed, "I walked right into that, didn't I?"




The doorbell rang again to which Sam let out a huge breath. His eyes met Kay with an unknown glint in them and softly murmured, "This isn't over!"




"Oh, it is" Kay dismissively said as Sam walked out of the kitchen. As soon as he disappeared I turned towards her but then I realised that Asher was in the same room and he could hear whatever I was trying to say.




"Asher...uhh...can you excuse us?"



"Sure" He grinned, his head half tilting towards me. For someone who was trying to impress with drinks, he was actually doing pretty well. Even though I had no idea what he was trying to recreate it sounded pleasant.




"Let's go" I dragged Kay towards the nearest room. It was the guest room which was a few hours away from the living room. At least that way Damon won't be able to find me and we could easily talk without any interruptions.





Kay whined, batting away the towel from her face. It was hanging off the edge of the door. Who even dries them on the door? Or do they? "Why did you drag me here?"




My lips rolled in between my teeth, "What should we do about Damon? He is going to be here soon. Or probably is already here"





"Will you relax? He is not going to run anywhere. If you cannot interview him tonight you can do it tomorrow. This party, however, won't be there tomorrow so maybe let's try to enjoy it"




My shoulders sagged at that. Kay was right. Not everything has to revolve around him, right? I had to get close to Asher so that he can remember about our date. It was embarrassing that he did not bring up the subject yet and I didn't want to come across as desperate.




I patted her hand which was resting on my shoulder blade.




"Fine...Maybe we can enjoy this party"




Kay squealed, throwing her hands in the air, "Finally!"



I roll my eyes at her overdramatic action. She held my hand and excitedly shook her head, "You have no idea how much I prayed for this"




"This?"




Instead of answering me she just took a long breath, "The best thing I have heard for the entire night"
***

When we stepped out of the room to enter the living room, it was filled with students from our class. The loud music filled the room and lights were dimmed down. I had failed to notice the red lightings on each corner of the living room. As always the red solo cups were used to refill the drinks. Good thing Sams parents were out of town.





Asher was nowhere to be found in the hallway we passed. For a second I felt unusual seeing them all together and laughing about something. Most of them did not like to talk with me and kept it to themselves for some reason. It didn't matter I still had to act like the party was interesting.





As I was trying to squeeze in between the crowd and get back to the open bar table in the kitchen my eyes fell on him. Damon Arcuri.





He looked devastatingly handsome. With his hair slicked back and a single strand falling on his forehead along with that over the top black turtleneck he was glowing. As expected some of the girls were surrounding him and coincidentally they were cheerleaders of the football team. Asher did plan everything.





As I moved my eyes away from him I noticed a hand on his thigh. The familiar red ruby ring made my blood boil as it belonged to none other than Erica. How could I forget? Of course, she was going to be a no brainer invitee for being a bloody popular and gorgeous cheerleader. My face fell when I noticed how close she was sitting and unnecessarily stroking his thigh.




The deadweight I felt in my pit of stomach at that action was unsettling. Why was that affecting me? He could be with anyone he wants. Maybe because it was Erica I had the feeling of edge. She had the power to evoke those negative feelings inside me.




"Anya!" Kay nudged me from behind




"Sorry" I sheepishly smiled, moving out of her way so that she could get to the kitchen. Unlike Kay, I had no experience in handling alcohol but for the first time, I wanted to try it.




From the corner of my eyes, I noticed that Damon was trying to excuse himself. Maybe he wanted to talk to me. Erica, however, gripped his arm and asked him to sit down instead. My hands clenched into fists by my sides as Erica whispered something in his ears. It was important enough for him to sit back and lean on the couch.




"Are you alright?" Kay yelled into my ear.



My ears felt hot and I could feel the burning sensation in my body. Everything was weird and I was not used to the feeling.




"No...no I don't know."




Kay gripped my arm and dragged me towards the kitchen before I could get another clear view of Damon sitting on the couch. Erica must have already climbed into his lap and claimed him like she always does. Sometimes it felt like she was still punishing me by doing these things.




Kay raised her eyebrows as she cornered me near the kitchen island, "What's going on? I thought you wanted to party"




I didn't want to tell her about the jealousy I was experiencing or whatever it was. She wouldn't understand and would try to do something crazy. That's the last thing I needed at that moment.





"I do...I do. Trust me"



She was suspicious about my tone but let it go which made me exhale the breath I was holding.



"So should we just go and dance?"




"No, I want to drink"




"Excuse me?" She shrieked, her eyes widened. The people behind us eyed both of us for few seconds before Kay showed them her middle finger.




"Please I just want to get drunk for once"




"Let's get drunk then!"
***