The Return (De Laurel Trilogy #1)

22

trigger warning: homicide

"So, Olivia. Any reason why you didn't come with your oh so perfect boyfriend?" Gigi asked, taking a sip of the champagne. "I thought that you were going to. You mentioned to Adeline that you would go with him."

"That was before," I chuckled, leaning against my seat. "Honestly, I thought so too," This time, it was a cold chuckle. A spat of some sort. Like the words that came out of my mouth were venom. "Until I texted him and he said that he had to do something." I took a shot of tequila since there was some in the car, surprisingly.

"That's enough," Nic took the shot glass from me. "You're already drunk." He tsked. "Your eyes are already bloodshot and your nose is already reddish." He pointed them out. "How many shots did you even take anyway?"

"Six or seven? I honestly don't know." I slurred, trying to enumerate the numbers with my fingers. "By the way, I. Am. Not. Drunk."

"Tell the time," He pointed out at the digital clock in front of the limousine. "Tell the time then, Olivia." He pushed me slightly for my face to get closer to the said clock.

"I. Am. Not. Drunk. You stupid clock!" I spat, pointing my finger at the numbers.

"Here," He pulled my shoulder lightly and gave me a huge bottle of water. "You're wasted, Olivia. I am not letting you go to the ball drunk, with mixed emotions, and exasperated. No way in hell would I ever do that. Because, I know you'll regret if you ever did so, tomorrow."

"Thanks," I smiled before chugging the whole bottle of water. "Do you have more?" I asked him. "I think I want to be sober now."

"Here," He handed me another bottle. I drank it once again and I was half sober and half drunk. I asked for bottles until I was fully sober. I gave Nic a small "Thanks" before leaning in his shoulder while Gigi was telling stories about famous celebrities. Lewis on the other hand, was sleeping. He said that he wanted to conserve his energy for the day.

About an hour later, we had reached our destination. It was an arena. Distant music can be heard and the flashing lights of cameras and disco balls can be seen. As we entered, there was a red carpet so, we took pictures individually, as a group, and with our dates.

"We headed to a table and sat there. There were appetizers and water to keep ourselves occupied while waiting for the program to start. We were talking and I was leaning against Nic's shoulder when Gigi's eyes suddenly widened out of shock.

"Liv!" She whisper-yelled. "Look behind you," She instructed, making me furrow my eyebrows. "I said, look behind you." I did so, and saw Alexander wearing a tuxedo a bouquet of flowers in his hands with both jealous and an angry look sketched on his face. He turned around and walked to the exit.

I stood up, said goodbye to my friends briefly before chasing after him. I saw that he was going towards his car but luckily, I caught up to him and held his shoulder to stop him.

"Why are you here?" I asked him, with shock evident in my voice. "I thought you had an overnight practice today?"

"To surprise you, isn't it obvious?" He glared at nothing coldly. "The match was real. But, I scheduled to another day. I made an excuse. Your brother, told me about the ball a few weeks before you asked me. I wanted to deny and surprise you which I did so. Imagine the look on my face when I saw you with another man."

"Are you jealous?" I suddenly asked him. "Look, I thought that you weren't going. It was just the thing I could do. Go with a friend."

"Of course, I'm jealous." He suddenly whispered. "Who wouldn't be? I begged Coach RJ to move the match just for me to surprise you. I was ecstatic, not until I was you almost cuddling with another man."