The Fourth of July and the Surrounding Events

Chapter 23

My heart did a flip and then immediately sunk as I processed the scene unfolding in front of me. Morgan leaned back into Emery, her eyes avoiding me. I stood there frozen, but honestly, it wasn't much of a shock. What else did I expect? Her to stay attached to me? I trashed Morgan and I's relationship, it's only fair. I'll never keep her back from happiness. 

Shaking my head, I spun on my heel and walk-ran out of the room. Hearing footsteps behind me, I walked faster. I am not facing either one of them right now. I'm not in my right mind nor my rational one. 

"Wait," Emery called after me, the concern dripping from her voice, "what's wrong?"

She has no right to be concerned. She doesn't know me. 

Stopping, I turned to face her. You, you are what's wrong. Stay out of Morgan's life. You don't deserve her. But I didn't say that. "Nothing, I just need some air. I'll catch up with you later," I lied through my teeth.

"Alright then," she mumbled in the confident tone she always managed to have. 

Rounding the corner to the kitchen, I walked by the two girls I was messing with earlier; they both waved. I didn't wave back. This is exactly why I don't go to parties where I don't know anyone, because here I am, looking like a loser.

Where the hell is Gael? 

The European boy popped up to the side of me as if he could read my thoughts. "Hey, you look a little peachy," he worried, "Anything wrong?" 

Oh, if you only knew. 

"Nothing too bad," I joked, "you still having a good time?" I hoped he'd say no so I could get him to leave the party and drive me home, but no such luck. 

"Yes, it is completely lit, as you Americans say, yes?" 

Nodding, I walked straight to the alcohol counter. If I am going to be stuck here with Morgan and her new lover, or whatever the hell Emery means to her, I may as well not feel it. Drinking helped Sarah, and you know what they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Well, I think it dropped directly underneath it, or maybe that was the alcohol in my system talking. 

Many, many drinks later, I found myself between Talia and Jessica again. I'm not a player and I don't play with girls on purpose. I know I can be flirty, but tipsy me was a different story. I let the two girls do and say whatever they pleased to me. Morgan doesn't want me. What's the point of not hooking up with anyone anymore? 

Not that I got to that point. Talia was practically dragged off of me by a slender but firm hand. "Get yourself together," a blonde girl, slightly shorter than me, fumed. 

Ah, Morgan, what great timing. 

"Hey, Blondie," I said, using her nickname slightly to mess with her, but mostly because it slipped off my tongue before I could stop myself. "You need something?"

"You're making a fool of yourself"

As if I cared. Morgan doesn't know what I've done for the past week or so. I fell deeper into a depressive spiral day after day; my Uber Eats driver has seen me make a fool of myself more times than acceptable. 

Giggling like a child, I simply said, "Okay."

But that may have been Morgan's last straw with me because she snapped. "You do not get to waltz in here, to Em's place, and ruin the ambiance and company with your selfishness." 

"Em's place? Em? Ambiance?" I sat back on the couch with a look of disbelief, "What have you come to?"

"Me?" Morgan hissed, eyes lit up with fire, "Look at yourself. You're drunk, flirting with not one, but two girls, and you're being rude. On top of all of that, you're ruining your social reputation." 

Ouch.

Ignoring the first few of her comments, I focused on the last one. "Okay, Sarah Jr. Is my social reputation worth that much?" I mocked her. "Like anyone wants the fucked up girl anyways. And back to Em, when did you guys get on a nickname basis? Did you have dessert after we had dinner?" 

Recoiling as if I had slapped her, Morgan turned around so fast she bumped into Emery, who had just walked over. 

"Hey, what's going on here?" Emery asked, holding Morgan at arm's length by the shoulders. 

My heart still aching from the residual effects of Morgan's true but insensitive words, I held on to my sarcastic tone. "Oh, nothing Em. Don't worry about us. I was just telling Morgan, my dear best friend."

I was cut off by the blonde girl, who pointedly retorted, "Ex-best friend."

"Sorry, ex-best friend, how much her words meant to me," I taunted, "As I was saying, they mean nothing to me." 

Emery gave me a look that screamed: "what is wrong with you" in my face, while Morgan's face nearly broke the hard shield I had built for myself. My childhood best friend's eyes were watering as she turned to bury her face in Emery's chest. 

Ouch, ouch, ouch. Why did I say all of that? That was so mean.

Steeling my face back over, which had started to crack as I lost myself in my head, I quickly found Gael and explained that I needed to get home because I had a curfew. It was almost like I couldn't stop telling lies tonight. Every other word was a lie even when I did not need to tell one. Gael knew nothing of me, I didn't have a reputation of being strong to hold up to for him.

Dropping me off at my house a quick ride later, we said goodbye and I walked inside my house, which matched my emotions. Dark, cold, and lonely. My mother was probably asleep, her wallet and keys were by the door, a telltale sign she wasn't out, and Tyler was, well, I don't care where he is. 

I headed up to my room and immediately rushed to the toilet. 

Wrong move, Alexandria. You fucking lightweight. 

A/N: sorry for the long wait for an update... it's been a stressful week. thank you everyone for reading, it means a lot to me.