Until Them...

Chapter Ten

NORAH

I can't believe Avery managed to persuade me to come out tonight. I haven't been to one of Wyatt's parties since the start of college, and I remember now why I avoid them. At least I won't really know anyone here, so nobody will know of the embarrassment I was put through two weeks ago so there's that. The only way I agreed to come tonight was if Xavier came too because Eli's sick, and there was no way that I'm doing this party on my own.
"I can't believe you hang out at these things" I tell Xavier, judging the atmosphere and people here. This is so not my scene and I'm very uncomfortable here. Loud obnoxious techno music blares through the very small cramped apartment. There's no room to move let alone dance to this terrible sounds.
"It's not so bad once you get a few drinks down you" he explains passing me a red cup full of dark liquid. When I take a sip it's bitter and tastes like liquorish. It's disgusting.
"Is there any lemonade or coke? Something that doesn't have alcohol in it?" I ask him, not really wanting to drink tonight.
"Not at this party there isn't" Of course not, cause who doesn't drink there spirits with mixers anymore.  I take another sip trying to get used to the taste but it's disgusting so I put it down and start looking over the bottles trying to see if I recognise any of the brands. I finally find a clear liquid and take a sip, I thought it was vodka but it's something else. But it doesn't taste as harsh as it glides down my throat.
"Don't worry we don't have to stay long" Xavier tells me.
"Well, well, well... long time no see" a raspy voice says towards us, and Wyatt appears around the corner into the kitchen.
"Yeah it's been a while" Xavier says giving him that handshake all guys seem to know and give each other. Is it an American thing, can't they just shake hands like people usually do?
"Your looking good Norah" he says eying up my body.
"Hi Wyatt"
"Heard you and Gabriel broke up. I guess that means your single right" he makes me uncomfortable, I can't put my finger on it but there's something about him. He reeks of pot, and it gets stronger the closer her gets to me.
"Have you seen Avery, we know she's around here somewhere?" Xavier interjects and causes Wyatt to step back from me. He's inappropriate but he's not stupid, he knows better then to try anything with Avery around.
"She's somewhere" he looks me up again glaring heavily at my breasts."It's good to see you Norah"
I feel Xavier stiffen and edge toward him but I reach out and take his hand to calm him down, "I'm sure I'll see you later" Wyatt states rather than suggests and walks back into the busyness of the party with two bottles.
"I really don't like that guy" Xavier says under his breath.
"Let's just get through another hour and then we can go" I tell him. Avery of course disappeared as soon as we got here, like she usually does. I do not know why she wants us to come if she's just going to do it every time. After about forty minutes I've had two drinks and my head is throbbing, but we've managed to find Avery.
"I think we're going to go soon" I tell her, trying to get her attention as she laughs along with a group of strangers.
"Oh come on stay. Please, I never get to hang out with you anymore " she moans at me, batting her thick eyelashes the way Grace does to my father when she wants something.
"Ten more minutes and then we're going"
"Great lets go get one more drink then" she says getting up from the sofa and joining us for the first time tonight. The party has filled with more people and it's even more crowded. We finally squeeze our way through to the kitchen and get ourselves another drink.
"Lena... I heard you were back in town" I hear Wyatt yell out and I turn hoping that it isn't her. That the Lena isn't the one who I'd wished to never see again... just my luck. There she stands with her long wavy brown hair and tanned skin, looking unbelievable. I'd never be able to pull of the clothes she wears, the tight ripped denim shorts and black laced top that hands off her shoulders. If I didn't hate her so much I'd be envious of her. But this girl purposely ruined the one good thing I had going for me and there's nothing about her that will make me like her or even tolerate her. Why is she even here, shouldn't she be back in LA by now? James and Emilia trail behind her, loud and over the top. Making it known that they are here. Then my night gets worse as Gabriel appears around them and stands next to Lena. I can't believe he showed up here, and with her for all people. What the hell is he doing hanging out with her? Are they back together again? It's been a little over a week and he's already ran back to his ex girlfriend, the one who completely humiliated and tormented me. Just when I thought I was starting to get over this something pulls me back in.
"Did you know they were coming?" Xavier asks Avery, equally as angry that he's here as I am.
"I had no idea" Avery looks at me concerned, obviously thinking I'm going to cry again.
"Guys it's fine. Honestly, I'm fine" I lie.
"Do you want to go?" Xavier asks me. And I down all of my drink and refill it with the bottle of clear drink I found earlier.
"No, I'm not going to let them ruin our fun" I say to him, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. I'm not sure if I do this because of the alcohol or incase Gabriel's watching me. But I don't pull it away, I let it linger for a little too long.
"Good" he smiles down at me and taps my cup with his. I need to drink more if I'm going to stay at this party while he's here with her. I know we should leave, that this is the perfect excuse to get out of this. But I don't want Lena or Emilia to think that they can get to me and scare me off. I need to be brave and strong. This is going to happen so I might as well get used to it.
"I can't believe he came here with her" I say not meaning to speak my thoughts out loud.
"They've been hanging out apparently" Xavier tells me, and I feel the blood rush through my body. My heart thumping prominently in my chest that I can feel it all the way from my fingers to my toes.
"What?"
"Yeah, James told me. She's come around the apartment a couple times and he's gone over to Emilia's" I knew it. I knew that as soon as I ended things with him he'd jump right back to her. I didn't want to believe it, but know I see it with my own eyes I can't hide away from it anymore.
"It's not like that" Avery glares at Xavier, obviously unhappy at what he's insinuating.
"Why is she still here?" I ask to both of them. Seeming as they know more than I do now.
"Norah...Lena's moved back" Avery tells me apprehensively.
"Back?"
"To New York...she transferred to the Fashion institute" Avery says.
I look over at them and I can tell by the change of expression that Gabriel's finally noticed we're here, and that he wasn't expecting to see me. Makes two of us. He told me he never came to these parties, yet here he is, and with Lena no less. He steps back from her to create some distance, but it's too late I've already seen them together.
"Do you want me to go over there and make sure he says away from you?" Avery asks me.
"No, I don't want to make things awkward. He already knows to leave me alone" I tell her. The last time we spoke things were very tense and I made my feelings clear to him. I didn't realise how much it would hurt seeing him with her, it's like the blood in my veins is boiling over.
"Let's get another drink and find a different room to hang in" Xavier suggests, pouring more drinks into all of our cups. I feel Gabriel's eyes follow us as we move out of his sight.