Chapter 12: A Cracky Old Woman.

Rosalie

-Earlier-

Ok, to get one thing out of the way: I don’t like parties. Especially high school ones. And when I usually don’t like something, I try my best to stay away from it. Except this one is different. I'm not going to explain why but it just is.

For starters, I didn’t come here by choice. And two (this is linked to one), I’m only here because Evan wants me here. If I had any say in this I would still be in my room planning new ways to kill off my book characters. It was a process.

I was sitting at the open bar which wasn’t really an open bar because they didn’t actually serve any alcohol but that didn’t stop people from bringing their own and mixing things. Levi and Ansel were doing...whatever they were doing somewhere around here. I had lost them earlier when I got here because I had to help Evan do a double check on everything and they slipped out of my sight.

I glanced at Amani sitting right next to me who was having a worse time than I was. She was in mourning over her long-time crush Allison who guess fucking what? Didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Allison had slept with almost half our year level and Amani wasn’t in that almost half which I found hilarious.

I pointed that out to her and she flipped me off. Truth hurts.

She didn’t talk much about girls but when she did it was always about Allison. I can’t hang out today cause Allison wants to have a picnic, we can’t buy that cause Allison doesn’t like bananas, I can’t talk right now cause Mr. Whiskers (Allison’s cat) is sick. It was really fucking gross. I hope to God I never become like that, if I do, someone has to stab my boobs.

Anyway, she was like in love with her or something. And here her unrequited lover was, grinding on the dance floor with some other girl. She was really pretty, I had to give her that. She always got the good ones.

I can feel Amani die a little inside as she watches them. It doesn’t show on her face though. She, like me, has a resting bitch face. But the hurt is oozing off of her. It's not a good sight.

I don’t get why she’s so hung up on her. I mean, Allison was great, excluding the fact that she’s an airhead, she has a kind heart. Amani could get any girl she wanted so I don’t see why she’s head over heels for someone who doesn’t feel the same way. Blondes aren't even her type.

“I need a drink,” she sighs. “With actual alcohol.”

“You should probably get one then.”

“Really? Go figure."

I glanced at Ansel And Levi dancing next to the drink tables and glanced back at my drink.

I’m so horny.

A dilemma. I should write a book about this.

I steal a glance at Levi again. His hair is a snowy shade of white which looks so soft I want to run my fingers through it. He has this blue eyeshadow thing on his eyes and he looks like a wannabe character from Euphoria but also like a Greek God at the same time (how does that work?) He’s wearing a simple white top and black leather pants (he has a great ass but I knew that already) and damn, his thighs look so good and for a second I wonder how they would look around my head. Or my waist. Oh, and black retro high jordans.

Great. Now I’m even hornier.

Evan makes his way over to us and blocks my view. Hater.

“You’re making it really obvious you know,” he whispers and I roll my eyes. He’s too hot to care about that right now.

“Oh no,” I deadpanned. "I've been found out."

He chuckles and looks over at Amani who was slouched over on the bar, drinking her sorrows away and frowns. “Still hung up on Allison?”

Amani just gives him a sad thumbs up.

“I really hope she moves on soon,” he sighs. “I hate seeing her like this.”

Says the hypocrite.

Says another hypocrite saying says the hypocrite.

“Amani stop drinking, Rosalie let’s go make small talk,” he grabbed my hand, and before I knew it, I was being dragged to where Levi and Ansel were. I was fine with just admiring him from afar but alright.

“Hey, guys, are you enjoying yourselves?” Evan smiled. He glanced at Ansel and I try so hard not to roll my eyes. I really do.

“Of course we are,” Ansel grinned. “This is amazing! You’ve really outdone yourself but I wouldn’t expect any less from you two.” That earned an even brighter smile on Evan’s face. And I’m being obvious?

“Um, yeah, it really fits the valentine's day theme,” Levi tried to add something to the conversation. Cute.

Evan had forgotten Levi was here. After composing himself he gave him a kind smile. “Thank you, you’re too kind. Call me a hopeless romantic, but it's my favorite holiday. I think there's something really great about a day where you're encouraged to just lay it all on the line and tell the person you have feelings for how you truly feel,” He shot Ansel a look as he said this but he didn’t notice because of course, he didn’t. Is he blind?

“That’s so cute,” Ansel cooed. Evan shrugged to hide his embarrassment. I just stood there. I’m not much of a talkative person so I didn’t feel like I had to give my two cents.

“Would you like to join the others?” he gestured towards...the others.

Ansel and Levi glanced at each other. “Nah,” Levi said the same time Ansel said “Yeah.” They glanced at each other once more and did the exact same thing as before.

“Levi can stay with me,” I spoke up. Wait what? No.

Ansel’s eyes darted between Levi and I. He tried to hide the smile creeping upon his lips.

How weird.

Ansel was about to say something but his friend cut him off, “it’s fine, you can go talk to Laron.”

“Yeah, no, I can’t,” he sighed. “I’m way too nervous.” Why? It's just Laron.

Evan gave him a look of curiosity, then he explained, “Laron is his unrequited crush since forever ago.” He nodded like that statement didn't affect him but I know it did. I nudged his arm and he composed himself. What is up with everyone and unrequited loves here?

“Shoot your shot,” I told him, I knew Evan was going to hate me for this but I have something up my sleeve. “He’s really picky though so I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you. I heard a rumor that his last boyfriend bought him a store because the shoes he wanted were out of stock.”

I don’t know if the rumor was true or not but does it really matter?

“Okay,” Ansel decided. “Yeah, I’ll go speak to Laron. I can be smooth. I am smooth. And sophisticated and calm and-”

“Wasting time talking to us when you could be chatting with Laron,” I cut him off. The sooner he realizes Laron’s not interested, the quicker he can get over him.

“Right, right.” After gulping down one last drink Ansel and Evan left us not before Evan shooting me a confused look but I told 'I know what I'm doing' with my eyes and he turned back around and headed over to where the others were hanging out.

“So, uh…” Levi sucked in his mouth. “Where’ve you been? I didn’t see you much this week.” I know he’s just trying to keep the conversation going. He’s still really fucking awkward around me (and in general) and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m not the most social person ever.

“Places,” I say discreetly. I don’t mean to be so vague, that’s just how it comes out.

He probably thinks I’m in a gang. I kind of wish I was.

“Cool,” he took a sip of beer. I didn't peg him to be a drinker. I didn’t peg him at all. I wish I could peg him. “I like places. Places are cool.”

I don’t know why but for whatever reason, that comment somehow made me smile a little. Just a little. I didn’t break out in a shit-eating grin or anything. He better not have seen that. He was too busy drinking his beer like it’s apple juice or something.

. “Did you know that dolphins sleep with one eye open?” he spoke up once more. I tried to process what he just said. I couldn’t.

“...what?”

“Dolphins sleep with one eye open,” he laughed like he was some kind of legendary fucking comedian. “Like what are you afraid of? Sharks?” and he laughed even harder. What’s so fucking funny?

I don’t understand what the fuck is happening right now.

“And apple juice can actually be really good for hydration,” he countered matter-of-factly. “So what I’m drinking right now is keeping me hydrated.”

Oh.

OH.

“..You think you’re still drinking apple juice?” I asked.

“Uh, yeah,” he rolled his eyes. “What else would I be drinking. I’m obviously not drinking alcohol. I don’t drink.”

I-

“Levi... you’re drunk.”

“Rosie...no I’m not.”

“Yeah...you are,” I gaped.

“No, you.”

“That’s not how that works.”

“I think I know how being drunk works bro.” Bro? BRO?

I crossed my arms. “What are you drinking then?”

“Apple juice. Obviously.”

He proceeded to take another sip before I grabbed the red cup out of his hands and placed it on the table behind us. “I think you’ve had enough apple juice for today.” He might pass out at this point.

He shook his head. “You’re actually wrong, you can never have enough apple juice. It’s a fact.” He’s so weird.

“Says who?”

“...says who?” He mocked me and I chuckled for some reason. It wasn't even funny.

“You have a really pretty smile,” he confessed. I stopped smiling. One of the things I hated most about myself is my smile. I try to smile less and less each and every day and I’m positive that I'm starting to become a cranky old woman. Ah, one of my dreams. Being a cranky old woman so I can have an excuse to bitch about everything even more than I do now.

And yell at kids to get off my lawn.

I'm not even gonna have a lawn, I just wanna yell at kids without any consequences and blame my bitterness on my age.

Turning around, he grabbed the next bottle he could see on the table and read the label. Then he drank from the bottle.

The face he makes after makes me think he’s never had root beer. It’s a mixture of disgust and disgust. I hate root beer as well (it’s on my list of things I hate). It almost makes me laugh out loud. Almost.

“I think that apple juice is expired,” he spits out as he tries to get the taste out of his mouth with his hands. He just starts wiping his tongue with his hands.

“That was rootbeer.” what is with his obsessions with apple juice. I like it too but damn.

So many obsessions.

That's the name of one of my books actually. Ew.

“Really? Well, at least I know I’m never drinking root beer again,” he laughed, taking a tissue paper and putting it into his mouth.

Maybe I do like weirdos. The good kind.

Evan’s not gonna be happy about this. “I knew people weren’t going to listen when Evan said not to put anything in the drinks,” I sighed. “You smell like vodka right now.” I’ve been breathing from my mouth for over thirty minutes now.

“I would only be able to smell like vodka if I had drunk vodka,” he raised a finger. “And I didn’t.” he just booped my nose.

He just fucking booped my nose.

“You’re absolutely right,” I lied. He can believe what he wants to but I’m not the one that’s gonna wake up with a huge hangover in a couple of hours.

“I know,” he rolled his eyes. I wanna make him roll his eyes to the back of his head.

Woah, calm down.

This idiot went to grab another bottle and I smacked his hand. “No more.” He’s had enough.

He nodded, agreeing with me for once. “Let’s go socialize!”

I gave him a disgusted look. “No.”

“Come on! Live a little.”

“No.”

He grabbed my hand and led me towards the other royales. I don’t know what being came over me that was letting me go along with this. When we joined them Ansel was dancing against Laron and he was letting him, which was a surprise to me (he doesn’t like Ansel) so he's definitely up to something. Evan was watching them and silently mourning like he just lost his lover. He saw us and gave us a wave and Levi waved back like an idiot.

He dragged me to the dance floor so fast I got whiplash. “Let’s dance first!”

“I don’t dance.” Not now. Not ever. It’s on my list of things I hate.

“You do tonight.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”

“Come on, do the nae nae or something,” he lifted my arms, let them go and they fell back to my sides. What the fuck is the nae nae?

“The what?”

“The-nevermind. Shut up and dance with me.”

“Don’t tell me to shut up,” I snapped.

“It’s from a song, dumdum,” he rolled his eyes. I rolled my eyes. Again with the eye-rolling.

“You’re too drunk to dance anyway,” with how much he’s drunk, he might puke everywhere.

“That doesn’t make any sense. And I’m not drunk.” Seriously?

“Whatever you say snowflake.”

“Can I touch you?” he just asks out of fucking nowhere.

I did a double-take. “What?” Did I just fucking hear what I just fucking heard?

“I would have to touch you if we were to dance so I’m asking if I can touch you. Duh.” A little part of me was disappointed but not surprised.

“Um, sure,” I replied awkwardly. Ew, no. I don’t do awkward.

He places his hands at my sides gently and settles them there lightly like he’s afraid he’s gonna squeeze me too tight. I stare up at him cause I don’t know what else to fucking do.

“Did I mention how pretty your eyes are?”

“What?” he has to stop with this.

“What?”

WHAT?

“Loosen up,” he sighed.

“I know how to dance,” I hissed. At least I think I do. I haven’t danced in a while.

“Sure you do,” he replies. What’s that supposed to mean?

He’s staring at my hands for a while and normally that would bug me because I hate people staring at me but I don’t really mind because it’s him.

He moves his hips to the beat of some Rihana song playing and forces me to do the same. A smile spreads across my face like a fucking idiot as he twirls me around and something inside me feels warm. I try to ignore it. I press my fingers further into his shoulders, you know, 'cause that’s what you do when you’re dancing. I think.

And then someone whistles, someone fucking whistles, and the moment’s completely fucking ruined. We tear our gazes off each other and see more than one pair of eyes are on us. As in everyone can’t just mind their own fucking business because they’re all staring at us.

“Huh,” Levi lets out a huff.

Who the fuck whistled?

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Thank you for reading!

~Potchachoe~