Tommy boy | c.t.h AU

chapter 16

chapter 16- new years day taylor swift

there's glitter on the floor after the party

My face was flushing and my heart was racing. I couldn't tell if it was any remnant champagne or the other thing getting to me. I kind of let go tonight, and I'll surely regret it all in the morning.

The bass of whatever pop song was synchronizing with my heart beat. Or maybe I just had a headache. Who thought it was a good idea for me to drink? I need to find Inez and go home. For once she was the DD and currently I needed rescuing. I saw Luke somewhere, I think someone brought their dog? And naturally he ran off with it.

I knew he was around here somewhere too. But I don't think I could face him right now. Or ever. So I'm trying to do what I do best, which is run away.

I should probably start from the beginning.

3 days ago...

A week after me and Calum's snow day, I was holed up in my bedroom. Slipped under the covers with fleetwood mac playing softly. I was flipping through the December issue of British Vogue when I got a text message. The vibration snapped me out of my daze and I opened my phone. It was from Mali.

It opened with "Heyyy my favorite intern 😘"

Because I loved her and working for her so much I would never say anything but with all the errands she has me run I really should be getting paid. Besides the point. It was an invitation to a new years party. She not so subtly added at the end that Calum was sure to make an appearance as if her simply asking me to come wasn't going to seal the deal. I tell her I'll be there and relax back in my seat for a second.

Then the panic set in. What the hell am I gonna wear?

Gently I closed my magazine, trying to dent the least amount of corners possible. A sudden spring in my step I rushed to my closet. Slowly I began to flick through every individual hanger, analyzing it all. I couldn't over do it nor under do it. I felt very grown up just then. An adult's new years party, where other local models and artists would be. I had to measure up, prove myself.

And I guess Calum would be there too.

Now I am nothing short of a feminist and I care way more about how I feel in my clothes rather than how a boy might perceive me. But I wouldn't be mad if this one boy said I looked pretty maybe.

And so I spent the next day and a half pulling things from hangers and mixing pieces together. Trying them on. Liking this and hating that. This accessory was wrong. Or god forbid my pants fit weird and I end up in a heaping teary mess in front of the mirror. When I finally found the right clothes it's like an angel chorus somewhere began to sing.

This is when I finally remembered to extend my plus one to Inez. Even though Calum would be there, Mali-Koa too, I still needed a best friend by my side to ease any anxieties. Plus Inez loved a good party and the excuse to get out of her big house.

I felt bad about not inviting Mikey but he and Ashton were planning on pulling an all-nighter to play some video game and probably wouldn't notice Inez or I's absence. It's all either of them had talked about since winter break started. Lord knows why they settled on new years especially since Ashton was only getting back home the 29th and classes start the 4th. When was he gonna rest?

I brought this up and all Ashton did was shrug at me and purse his lips, "Sleep is for the weak, Adwin,"

At the time we were drinking our daily tea together and this nearly made me spit it out. He said it with such conviction, who was I to argue.