Catch Me

Chapter 5

Maddy

The party had only been in full swing for about an hour and I was already feeling the effects of the alcohol I had drunk and the heat of there being so many people in our place. I sit at the counter on a bar stool, drinking a beer. I have had enough shots for a while. Kierra introduced me to a few people she knows that came and they all wanted to take shots with me. I did so and smiled but now, I'm feeling a little dizzy.

"There you are," Cleo says as she sits beside me. I lift my beer up at her then take a drink. "What's up with you?" She laughs.

I shrug, "guess I thought it would be calmer."

"How the hell did the words party and calm go together in you head? No one else does that." She takes a drink of her pink drink and flips her long curly hair over her shoulder. "Was summer so long that you forgot how much college students need to let loose after the first week?" She laughed.

"No, but does the music have to be so loud?" I rub my temples. I can feel myself getting stressed. I know its ridiculous but it is happening.

"You seriously need to chill out, Maddy."

"How am I supposed to do that? You know my dad already knows this is happening and I am going to hear about it for who knows how long. We never needed to have a party before. Why now?"

"I don't know," she shrugs at me, "what I do know is that you need to take a breath and then go talk to that guy that has been watching you since he came in." The smile that spreads across her face almost scares me.

"What guy?"

"That one," she softly nods her head in the direction across from us. I look around and don't see anyone. There are just too many people to know exactly who she is talking about.

"That one," she shouts. I cringe but look in the direction she is so obviously pointing in.

The guy is cute. At least six feet. Classic good looks. You know the whole blonde hair, blue eyes, and lean muscles. He smirks when our eyes lock and it makes him look cuter. From the corner of my eye, I see Cleo waving her hand. Looking at her, I realize she is waving him over to us. "Cleo," I whisper at her like someone could hear us over the noise.

She stands up and smiles at me. As she grabs her drink, she leans into me and whispers, "good luck," then winks and walks away.

"Is she coming back?" I hear a deep voice and look away from Cleo who I was watching in shock blend into the crowd in our apartment. Up-close he is even better looking. He is wearing khaki-colored pants and a polo shirt. Very... clean, you could say. Even though he seems nothing like anyone I have ever dated before, I can't find my voice, so I just shake my head at him. He laughs and it's deep. I like it. "I'm Clark," he tells me and holds his hand out.

I clear my throat and will myself to find my voice, "Maddison, but everyone calls me, Maddy," I take his hand, "are you enjoying the party?" Great! I find my voice only to ask a stupid question. He's a guy. There is beer and hot girls dancing around of course he is enjoying it!

He lets go of my hand, laughing and he slides into the chair that Cleo had vacated. "Yeah, it's great." Now his smirk is a smile and it lit up the room. I smile at him. "So, are you a student at Columbia?"

I take a drink and shake my head, "the fashion institute," I tell him. His eyebrows raise and I laugh. "What? Is that a shock? Do I not look like someone who could be into fashion?" I try to frown causing him to laugh at the look on my face.

"No, not that at all," he holds his hands up. He looks at me from head to toe and back up again. Taking in the outfit that Kierra and Zara picked out. "I think you look great."