Making my way back inside the venue, I couldn't help but feel slightly proud of how I had left TJ in her state out in the alleyway. The last thing I wanted was to try and sort out in my head why she was acting the way she was - considering how opposite it was to the last time we had seen each other. Whatever the true reasoning behind her actions, I knew one thing for sure: she was jealous.

I didn't tell Ryan he could leave because I wanted to spend my night with TJ. I did it solely with the intention of having another drink. Well, maybe to spend a few more moments alone with her to catch wind of her game plan. But, it was mostly the access to alcohol that caused my desire to stay. Plus, the chaotic environment was a welcomed distraction.

"Carter!" Whatever-her-name from earlier called out, waving me over.

I wasn't sure why my feet had led me over to her table on the slightly elevated platform - especially when considering she was exactly the type of person I wanted to be far away from tonight. Yet, there I was, making my way over - shockingly, even with a smile. Before I knew it, I had a drink in hand and was surrounded by people I vaguely remembered from my days with Elosie.

"I can't believe it's been that long since we last saw you!" Jason, one of the guys at the table, said. "We used to get wild back in the day!"

I took a sip from my drink to avoid having to respond. As much as I wanted to try and tempt fate, those old habits were something I worked hard to not fall back into. And discussing it felt like I was walking along a dangerous line.

"Where the hell have you been, Young?"

"Putting together his album. Duh!"

"I know that, Fiona. I mean since he and Elle broke up. That was like, what, beginning of the year?"

There were two things I quickly picked up on. Whatever-her-name was actually named Fiona. And these friends were Elle's social friends - because her real friends would have known that one, we had broken up long before the beginning of the year, and two, known not to discuss it in a public setting like this.

"When is Elle even back? I feel like she's been gone for, like, ever," Fiona said to a female friend beside her. "She's in Europe," she said to me, pouring another drink, "Shooting some big movie, or something."

"Oh, good for her." There was no sarcasm in my tone. I truly meant what I said. It wasn't like the two of us ended things on bitter terms; our contract was up.

"I think she's dating some art dealer now or... a model... or..." Fiona shrugged. "How about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

I shook my head, taking another, and much longer, sip of my drink.

"Not even the girl shooting me daggers from the bar?" Fiona reached out her hand as I turned to look, and gripped my arm. "Don't look so fast, you freak!" She looked past me for a brief second. "Okay, look now - but, not so fast!"

I rolled my eyes and slowly turned my head. There she was, leaning against the bar next to a guy who appeared to be talking her ear off. I could sense her annoyance from all the way over here.

"Is that the girl?"

Looking back at Fiona, I did my best to give her a nonchalant shrug. "Sorry. I don't know who that is," I said, refilling my glass.

"So, do you think I should be worried that she is going to murder me or something?" She asked with a laugh. When I didn't answer, she added, "I love her dress. And her hair. It's such a pretty shade of pink..."

I tuned out the sound of her voice as my eyes found their way back to TJ. She looked forward, meeting my glance. That famous smirk of hers made an appearance. How it was even fucking possible for her to make me weak with one simple look - I would never know. And yet, there she stood, commanding my attention with it.

"Carter?"

"Huh?" I turned my head.

Fiona had a smug look on her face as she said, "Still want to pretend you don't know her?"

"Fine," I huffed under my breath. "I know her. But, that's it. Okay?"

She nodded. "Okay," she said, as she stepped forward and placed her hand on my chest.

"What are you doing?"

"You want to make her jealous, don't you? Just like how she's trying to do to you right now with that guy." Fiona ran her hand up and down the material. "Don't worry. I won't shriek or anything. I know how much you love that."

Wait - she knew I found her annoying? And where did that shrill voice of hers go? I almost forgot who I was talking to this entire time. She sounded... more tolerable now.

"You would wince every time you heard my fake voice... You got all tense and weird. It's quite funny actually how hard you try to cover it up but fail so miserably at it."

"You fake that voice?"

"All the time." She cleared her throat and squealed in a high pitch, "Oh my god, Carter! All the time!"

"Why? The fake voice, I mean. Why do you do it?"

Fiona shrugged. "We all play a character. I play the ditzy socialite who doesn't have an inside voice. And you play... well, I think you're still trying to figure that out." Her eyes darted past me for a quick second. "Put your hand on my waist."

"Why-"

"You want to make her jealous, don't you?"

I did as she said and placed my hand on her side without any further questioning.

"What are we in middle school?" She placed her hand on top of mine and pushed it down further south. "There. Now, whisper in my ear."

"Whisper what?"

"Anything, dummy. You're not actually trying to turn me on here." Her hand went to the back of my neck, guiding me closer.

"I seriously can't think of anything to say," I whispered against her ear.

"Well, the good thing is that doesn't matter because it's working. She's definitely jealous." Fiona let out a light laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Dramatic effect," she said, tapping my shoulder. "Okay, that's good. Don't want it to seem like you fell asleep on my shoulder."

I pulled back, keeping myself within close proximity to her. "Is she still looking?"

Fiona nodded. "She's very pissed. It's a bit scary, actually."

"Does she still look like she's going to murder you?"

"Oh, definitely." Her arm wrapped around my neck, as her hand went back to my chest. "Something bad must have happened."

"Just a little payback. That's all."

"Well, I'm going to the bathroom. Let's hope she doesn't follow me there, or something."

As I was left on my own, I refilled my glass and looked out into the crowd. The raised platform provided an easy view of her - who by no surprise was staring directly back at me. Now I was the one in control, sporting the smirk while she stood with a slightly bewildered expression. Raising my glass, I tipped it towards her before taking a sip. That simple action clearly pissed her off. Her eyes narrowed and she licked her lips. I watched as she turned to the side and grabbed the hand of the guy who was talking her ear off.

I leaned against the banister and watched as she led the guy, who followed behind like a happy puppy, towards the dance floor. TJ wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His hands went to her waist, daringly lower than where mine had been on Fiona. I took a sip from my drink. They stayed close together for the duration of the song. My mind began to wonder what a piece of soggy cardboard like him could be saying to make her toss her head back and laugh.

The next song came and went, and the two of them were still together. I refilled my drink. When I found her in the crowd again, TJ had turned her body around, pressing her backside into his front. Her eyes were fixated on mine as the corner of her lip tugged upwards. That look told me one thing; she knew she was winning. And I did too. He brushed the hair from her shoulder to the side and kissed along the skin of her exposed neck. I was about ten seconds away from jumping off the platform and tackling the guy to the ground.

I knew I couldn't, even though I desperately wanted to. Not only had I just tried pulling the same moves with Fiona, but I knew it would give her the satisfaction that she had successfully pissed me off. Instead, my hand wrapped tightly around the glass of my drink as I drained the rest of the burning liquid. I heard the sound of a small crack and looked down, realizing I had broken the glass.

That was a sign. I needed to go before I did something truly stupid. Let her think she had won - it didn't matter. The old habits were finding their way through again.

Placing the half-broken glass on the table, I was thankful everyone else was too consumed in their own conversations to notice my exit. I felt bad for not saying goodbye to Fiona - but, clearly not that bad as I didn't give it much thought as I texted Mike, saying I was ready to go.

I stepped outside, the cool night breeze providing little relief for the tension that was still rising inside me. Reaching into my jacket pocket, I pulled out my carton of cigarettes, cursing under my breath as I opened an empty pack.

"Car's here," Mike's voice announced as the black escalade rolled to a stop. "Are you alright, Mr. Young?"

I tapped my fingers against the empty box, contemplating the burning question that was on my mind. Old habits be damned. "Could you go get someone for me?" 

oop - wonder who that's gonna be?

& dang - what are these old habits carter?

WHAT'S YOUR FAV SHOW TO WATCH RN?! GO GO GO!!