If Not For Her

Chapter 31. "Emmalyn?"

"Go on that date with me today evening?" Nicolas asked, dangerously close to her ear. She giggled a little as she felt his hot breath on her ear. It was like a dream she didn't want to wake up from but she was forced to wake up by her brother. "There you are," he said, grinning ear to ear. "Calm down Leslie," Annabeth said as Nick moved a bit away from her.

"I am throwing a party," he said. "You have got to be joking," Annabeth said, "mum and dad will be home you idiot" "that is exactly why we will be throwing it at granddad's lakehouse, now I can't do it alone" "clearly," Nicolas said. Alex ignored him, he was too busy. "I need both of you to help me, come on we don't have the whole day," he said already ahead of them.

"He had to throw it today," Annabeth said under her breathe but Nick heard her, he interlaced his fingers with her, "I will make it up to you" he softly said kissing her knuckles as he noticed the smudged 4 next to Alex's 1, he smiled as they got into Alex's car. They started planning and on their way, they bought all the decorations, food, and alcohol they needed. By the time they reached, the party was all planned out.

"I am going to call Mum," Alex walked out of the house as they started decorating the house, Alex soon joined them in. Anne placed the foods in the glass paper bowls while Nick worked on the music arrangements and Alex was busy phoning for nearly twenty-five pizzas.

Around 6, Chris entered with a kiss on Alex's lips. She started walking towards Annabeth when she realized she was still in her uniform, Chris being her fairy good mother took out a white bodycon dress, it went well with the wooden setting. "Come on let's get you hot," she said pulling her upstairs.

The lakehouse was huge and rarely used by their grandparents, Alex has hosted several of his parties there, and this was one of the few Annabeth would be attending. Annabeth helped Christina with the zip of her silver dress, "all it took was a Taylor Swift song" she said as Christina turned around. "Well, it took more than that. Emmalyn came to me before we found both of you and she explained what exactly happened and that helped a lot"

"Emmalyn said that?" Annabeth asked. "Surprisingly she did, maybe we misjudged her" Christina finally said applying a coat of maroon lipstick. "Sit," she told Annabeth. She sat on the chair in front of an old vanity while Chris worked her magic on her hair. "So what exactly is going on between you and Nicolas?" She asked pinning a part of her hair to her side. She turned to face her, "I like him a lot and he asked me out" "that is great," she said.

Annabeth nodded. It was great, he was great then why did she suddenly feel unsure. "It is," she said as they heard voices downstairs, "show time," Chris said as they walked downstairs. The music buzzed through every corner as some of the people danced, and others drank. Adam came to her first, "you look hot" he said. "Doesn't she?" Chris asked as she nudged her a bit, she looked at Nicolas talking to Dexter. "Get him," she whispered before joining her brother.

"I will get us a drink," Adam said walking towards the glasses. She tapped her feet to the rhythm, when she heard a voice, "Hello sweetheart" instead of frowning she smiled at Emmalyn. She looked gorgeous in a black dress. "Thank you, for talking to her," she said. "It's nothing, they both love each other and it is stupid to break up over a misunderstanding" she took a sip from her plastic cup.

"Hey, Emmalyn, " Nick said. "Hi," "hey Emmalyn" someone called her, "I gotta go" she walked out. "Can I get you a drink?" He asked. Adam drank from the cup he was holding, "yes" he answered for her. Nick laughed and walked away. "If you were not into him, I would have shot my shot," he said. Annabeth looked at him, "but I won't do it because you are my friend," he sipped his drink. "Right"

"Adam" Emmalyn waved at him, he looked at Annabeth, "go." "You sure?" He asked. "Yes I am sure," she said as Nick came to give her a glass. "Of course you are sure" he walked away. She watched him talk to a handsome brunette. She smiled and turned to him, "you drink right?" He asked. She didn't. "Yeah, absolutely," she said. "You sure because he would kill me if I gave you alcohol" she took a sip to prove him wrong. Her throat burned, "see I am fine" the music got louder, "let's dance" he gave her his hand. She could not refuse and with a cup in her hand, she started dancing. Along the way, the cups multiplied and she was slowly feeling the world turning with her. She was about to fall when she felt someone catch her. "You are so bloody drunk" she heard Emmalyn say.