Chapter 4

"Are you ready?!" Tamera yells, knocking on my door.

I put on my knee-length black leather boots, giving me an extra five-inch height thanks to the high platform. "Almost!" I yell back.

After debating about the outfit for the chill party, I managed to find a solution. I put on black bike shorts hidden by the oversized white Calvin Klein sweater.

With an A cup and a tiny arse, I prefer looking cute and adorable instead of sexy. I leave that part to Tamera.

I grin when I open the door, finding her leaning against the wall on her phone; With only a black sports bra, combat pants, and laced heels, Tamera is stunning.

Her dark brown hair is free, falling past her shoulders. "Aw, you look cute," she comments, squeezing my cheek that I slap away.

"Where's Liam?" I ask just as the door of his bedroom opens.

"I'm telling you, tonight I'm bringing a girl, so don't you dare make her uncomfortable," he says, locking his door.

We walk up to him, chuckling. "I'm sorry, but if she's a screamer, I'll be screaming as well," I say.

"And I'll be sure to make my guy's voice creepy as hell," continues Tamera.

Liam groans as we pat his shoulders, trying to comfort him as we hold back our laugh. "I hate you," he grumbles.

"We love you too, sweetie," Tamera and I say simultaneously. This is nothing new between us.

It's surprising how much we clicked last year. I didn't think two random people in a flat I chose because it was the cheapest would become my best friends.

I was sure I was going to spend the rest of my first year locked in my room, reading, and writing, instead of going to parties and becoming one of the organisers thanks to Liam's vast social circle.

When we go outside, there's already a few people chatting while smoking in front of Kevin's building. Liam warmly greets them, exchanging bro hugs before getting the door's passcode to let ourselves in.

RnB music is booming in our ears when we set foot in the crowded flat. Chill party, huh? My eyes squint at the glass window separating the hall from the kitchen.

It's dark inside, and I bet there are way too many people from how loud they are. Liam doesn't seem to care, pulling the door open and instantly receiving his friends' attention, yelling his name.

Tamera shakes her head from beside me. "How does he remember so many people?"

I shrug, leaning against the wall. "Perks of being an inspiring actor, I guess."

The door from beside me opens, and I look toward it, holding back a gasp. "You came," Kevin says before nodding at Tamera.

I swallow the excitement. Was Kevin waiting for me? Is it wrong for me to assume that he did? I know it might not be healthy, but it makes me happy nonetheless. "Why aren't you in the kitchen?" I ask.

He sighs, leaning against the side of the door. "Flats from the east side are in there. I don't want to deal with that mess."

I raise an eyebrow. "Mess?"

"They're the dirtiest one to have as guests. They will fill the bins and throw the place upside down, and I really don't want to wake up to clean their shit, so I'm leaving everything in Jaden and Andro's hands."

I know Kevin lives with four more people, although two girls are always out, hanging out with the other university's students. I don't get why they keep paying the rent since they're rarely here.

"By the way, Andros is looking for you," Kevin says to Tamera.

Her eyes widen as her body stiffens. "He's here?"

The door of the kitchen bursts open, and a couple stumbles out of there. My nose scrunches.

Andros Barinov. The future CEO of an advertising company I don't remember the name of. I just know it's a corporation, which means it's important, right?

Anyway, he and Tamera have been going back and forth for a while now. Neither of them succumbing to their desires. He likes sleeping around, while she likes getting his attention, even if it means kissing the girl he slept with a few hours earlier.

Andros pushes the curly-haired girl he's with against the wall when his blue eyes land on a frowning Tamera. With a buzz cut that enhances his jawline and the tattoos covering half an arm with others inked here and there on the other arm, he manages to get any girl he wants.

The husky Russian accent also helps.

"I don't even get a 'hi'?" Tamera asks, tilting her head to the side.

Andros clenches his jaw as I feel a tug on my shirt. Kevin is silently asking me to go into his room, which I gladly do. Would you rather listen to a couple of idiots bickering around or spend quality time with your crush?

You bet I'll go with the latter one.

"Sorry about the mess," Kevin speaks up as I sit on his unmade double bed. There's only the desk lamp illuminating the room; The dimmed light is sparking my adrenaline up.

"Don't worry about it. What were you up to?"

He sits on the chair, facing me. "Writing the relationship-counseling script. Actually, do you mind if we do the soul-gazing exercise?"

My heart stops. Yes, I do mind, because I might kiss you.

"On a daily basis?" I ask.

He nods. "Yeah, and—"

The door opens, revealing a sobbing white girl. I frown as the blonde girl sniffs her tears away. "Kevin, you were right," she says in-between hiccups when her gaze looks up from the floor to me. Her sapphire eyes are glassy with tears and her full lips are trembling. What happened?

"Amanda, this is Nöelle. Nöelle, my friend, Amanda," Kevin says.

Amanda ignores me. "Can we please talk? Alone?"

Kevin sighs but nods anyway. "I hope you don't mind," he says as I'm already on my feet.

"Not at all." The tenderness of my voice comes out forced.

"Nöelle—" I close the door in his face. My hands turn into fists. I've never seen her with him. Are they really friends? Why was she crying? Is he involved with it? Ugh, I hate this.

I need a drink.

I walk into the kitchen and get sucked by the swarm of bodies dancing and drinking. I push past them, going straight to the table and finding red cups all over the place; Some have fallen, others are crunched, and a few are half empty.

I take a fallen one and pour myself some gin and soda. I down it in one go, loving the burning sensation in the back of my throat before taking another one.

A hand grabs my waist, pulling my body against a broad chest. "You're really pretty," a drunk voice says into my ear. I can smell the alcohol from the guy's breath.

I push him off, narrowing my eyes at the dark-haired white boy. "I'm not interested," I say loud enough for him to hear me through Doja Cat's singing.

The boy doesn't take the hint, taking a step forward and pulling my body toward him again. I try to squirm my way out of his hold, but he only tightens it. "Why are you playing hard to get?" he slurs into my ear before kissing my neck.

What is it with boys and their denial when a girl clearly says no?

"Why would I play hard to get with someone looking like a fucking fish?" I snap when someone shoves him away from me.

"What's your problem?" my saviour says, and I instantly circle my arms around his waist, knowing by heart who the voice belongs to.

Liam.

The white boy glares at Liam. "What is she? Your girlfriend?"

"And what about it?" Liam asks, raising a challenging eyebrow.

The boy rolls his eyes and walks away from us. I squeeze my hold. "My favourite saviour," I say, making Liam laugh.

"You know I'll always have your back," he says as I break the hug.

Liam becomes handsome as hell when he gets defensive, and I'll never get tired of it. I place my arm around his, joining him and his friends playing Ring of Fire in the middle of the hallway.

Everybody is sitting on the floor with their drink in hand. My back is leaning against the wall of Kevin's bedroom. With the loud music, I can't hear what's happening inside, which saddens me.

The more the card game goes on though, the more I forget about him. My mind gets dizzy, and I lean my head on Liam's shoulder. He tenses up at first before relaxing. Cute. His hand aimlessly traces circles on my crossed knees. Even cuter.

The night goes well until the music stops for a couple of seconds. My heart drops as the boys chuckle knowingly. Friend, huh? I quickly blink my eyes, holding back all the tears.

Moans come out from Kevin's room. The boys whistle at him. "Get it, Bailey!" someone shouts.

His grunts mix with her moans as the music starts playing again and their voices dissolve.

I'm such an idiot for thinking he was waiting for me. I'm such an idiot for thinking perhaps there was a tiny chance for him to be interested in me.

Fuck me and my daydreaming brain! I should stop being so damn optimistic about life.

"Nöelle, it's your turn," Liam says, and I shake my head, putting my drink to the floor and getting up. My intoxicated head spins, and I have to hold myself on the wall.

"I'm going home."

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