There is Everything for You Here

Chapter 18

I would have liked to say I was surprised to see who he was with, as my gaze dropped to the petite brunette I had come to hate. They were dancing close to the band, and my heart was in my throat as I saw their bodies so close together. 

A pang of jealousy ran through my veins as she reached up to run her well-manicured hand through his soft hair. That should have been me. My head already felt dizzy from the alcohol as I pursed my lips together, trying to tear my eyes away from them as fast as I could. I tried to duck behind Liam before he saw me but it was too late. 

Isaac turned his head, smile on his face, and froze at my sight. I couldn't even imagine what we looked like right now, both deer in the headlights. I could see Charlie shake him a bit, annoyance on her face before following his gaze to me and her exasperation grow further. I took the chance to slip away as he turned back to her, shouting something about the bathroom over the music to my friends.

I pushed my way through the crowd, hot and sweaty bodies all around me, desperate for some air. The floor was so sticky as I made my way out, I almost couldn't handle it, until I reached the empty stairwell and took a few deep breaths, steadying myself. 

Picking a spot against the wall that didn't look completely filthy, I leaned against it, giving myself a rest from the shoes Klara put me in. The alcohol made my head so fuzzy I could barely think straight, and I didn't have a moment to collect my thoughts before Isaac found me, fuming.

"What are you doing? Following me now?" His tone was even despite his expression. I hated that he was able to do that.

"Oh right, because I'm totally obsessed with you? Get over yourself," I spat out, my words harsh, just as I had intended. I cleared my throat, straightening up. "No, it was Jameela's idea. She thought it would be good for us to get out for once." I tried to make my voice as steady as possible, not letting him chalk me up as being hysterical. He took a step towards me, a light shine of sweat on his forehead, looking impossibly sexy. "Look, Isaac, I'm sorry for yesterday, I swear I wasn't—"

"Have you been drinking?" He cut me off, frowning.

"No. Maybe. Yes, okay? I didn't know there was anything wrong with having a little drink." My words came out slurred, and I cursed myself internally. He took a step towards me, and unable to be any further away from him, I wrapped my arms around him, giggling a little. He laughed too, pulling me in closer, his tense attitude melting away. Burying his face in my hair, I could feel him give me a sniff.

"You smell flammable," he said, wrinkling his nose.

"Your mom smells flammable," I retorted, studying the curve of his lips.

"I think we should go home now." He said, gently unwinding my arms from around his neck. Unwillingly, I feel myself rip away.

"Your mom thinks you should go home now," I laughed even louder, finding myself hilarious.

"Come on Stella," he rolled his eyes.

"You're not the boss of me." Childish, I know – but he wasn't! He cocks his head to the side, and I know he's fighting the urge to laugh.

"Where did you even get the alcohol from?"

"No one. Your mom. Liam." Man, I really had no filter. I saw his expression darken as he crossed his arms.

"Of course, it was. He probably wanted to get you nice and drunk and—"

"Why do you have such a problem with him?" I snapped.

"I don't, remember?" He ran his hands through his hair, shrugging his shoulders in nonchalance. "Do whatever you want." He pushed past me, getting lost in the crowd before I can protest any further. I realized I was lost too, with Liam, Klara, and Jameela nowhere in sight. 

Pushing past a heavily tattooed couple making out, I tried to find the bathroom, a quiet place to call. The liquor was hitting my stomach weird, and I feel nauseous. It might not have been a bad idea to go home. Although I wasn't about to agree to anything coming from Isaac's lips. His perfect lips. Perfect body too. I'm so lost in my thoughts, wandering around, looking for the bathroom, that I didn't even hear the footsteps behind me.

"Lost?" I turned around and there is a very attractive guy smiling at me.

"Uh, yeah. I'm really just trying to find the bathroom so I can call my friends and find them." I gave a small smile, internally wishing he would go away.

"Well, I can help you find it, if you want," he said, and took a step towards me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath, giving some uncomfortableness to his nice smile. The music from the club was muffled then, and I was suddenly aware that everyone else was preoccupied just down the hallway, probably dancing their hearts out.

"No, that's okay, my friend is coming anyways." I mustered as much authority as I could with my words. He tilted his head to the side.

"I thought you didn't know where they were?" He asked, running his hand up and down my arm and I didn't like it and I suddenly wanted to be far away.

"No, I do, so if you'll excuse me, I'm just going to—" I tried to push past him, but he took a firm hold of my wrist. "Let go," I order. "Take your hands off my body." I wracked my brains for my 10th grade 'safe-teen' talk for what to do.

"But the fun is just getting started," he cooed, trying to pull me in closer. "Why don't you just stay here with me for a little while?"

"I think she said let go." I whipped my head around and I could almost cry in relief at the sight of Isaac, standing tall behind me, hands on his hips.

"Hey, what's your problem man, she wants to stay with me," he said, but released my wrist – I snatched it back, furiously rubbing his touch away.

"No, she doesn't." Isaac got closer to him, a dark expression on his face, and I backed away, nervous to see what was about to happen next. Isaac certainly was taller, but he was also slightly thinner. The dude pushed him, and I could already feel that something bad was about to happen as Isaac would back and socked him right in the jaw. 

The cracking noise it made on impact made me want to throw up, and the stranger reeled back, holding his chin in his hands, before scrunching up his face and charging at him. He knocked him into the edge of the stairwell, and started hitting him, again and I felt the wind get knocked out of me as if I had been hit, watching this guy attack him. 

Panicking, I look around frantically for something, anything to use. I spotted an empty glass beer bottle. Perfect. I picked it up and summon all my courage as I ran over and smashed it over the guy's head. He stood up very slowly, despite the fact I expected it to knock him right out. Thankfully, Isaac used the time I bought him and got up, steady on his feet.

"Why you little—" the stranger didn't get to finish his sentence before Isaac knocked him in the back of his head and he finally went down, crumbling like a rag doll. There. He was out.

"We need to get out of here," Isaac panted, and wiped the blood trickling down from the edge of his lip, grimacing as he looked at it on his hand. I stood frozen, watching the guy slumped on the ground, trying to process what just happened. "Stella!" he pleaded, as a few people started to gather, curious to see what was going on. 

His words jolted me into action, and I looked at him, fear struck. The music from the main room seemed to become even louder. He rushed towards me and grabbed my hand, using the other to tuck some hair behind my ear, and we ran down the dark hallway, through the booming club, and out into the streets.

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Oooo! Keep reading to find out what happens next! : ))