I Want You

Chapter Four

It was the first day of November and winter was definitely already here. It had been almost a month since Jason's party and I still felt a little guilty. I hadn't actually cheated on Archie, but I had entertained Matt's hands all over me. Then there was my conversation with Kai and the fact I hadn't stopped thinking about him since that party, that felt even more like cheating.
I hadn't spoken to Archie about any of it, I didn't know what good it would do. Kai had gone to Nottingham and me and Archie were back to spending a lot of time together. We had settled back into a routine that worked. I'd hang out with Mia at the weekends, when Archie was working, and then spend the week nights with him. We spent most of our time in his flat, cooking dinner together and watching television.

Archie had booked last weekend off work and we had gone back to Mum's. We'd done everything we used to do. We walked around the lake, visited the local pub and played boardgames until none of us could stay awake any longer. It was peaceful, it really felt like old times. Except the last time I had been home, I hadn't known Kai, and I had spent the entire weekend wondering what it would be like if he was here instead of Archie.

I was sat at my desk working on my latest assignment when I heard him through the wall.
He's meant to be in Nottingham. Why is he back?
I jumped up, grabbed my dirty laundry and shoved it under my bed. I ran to my mirror, tied back my messy hair and wiped away the smudged mascara from around my eyes. I don't know why I was preparing for him to come in here but I wanted to be prepared just incase. I sat at my desk trying to look busy for ten minutes before I heard Mia's door open and close. I then waited another five minutes before curiosity got the better of me and I walked into Mia's room. She was sat on her bed with her headphones in, sketching something in a black book. She noticed me and took out a headphone. "What's up."
"Hey, did I just hear a guy in here?" I teased, trying to play it off- I didn't want her to know I was asking after Kai.
"Ew, no. It was just Kai, he's back for the week."
"Why?"
Mia looked up from her sketchbook, maybe I sounded too interested.
"He's come back for this big firework night party that my mum hosts every year. It's on Friday by the way, make sure you're free."
That meant seeing Kai. I didn't know whether to smile or panic.

~ 

Friday came around quickly, I had been really busy finishing off my assignment and helping Lydia apply for part-time jobs. Lydia is the other girl who moved into our flat, into the room opposite Mia's. I liked Lydia a lot but she wasn't the party type. She pretty much had her head in books most of the time. She was good company when I needed to study because she was always doing the same. Mia on the other hand, I couldn't study with. I'd tried a couple of times but studying to her meant a lot of snacks and a lot of gossiping. It was us three girls in the flat and then Lewis and Isaac. Lewis was the one Mia thought she would scare. She was wrong and they had already slept together twice. Isaac was a proper boys boy and wasn't in very often. I usually saw him in the kitchen in the morning, after he got back from some girls and I was heading off to class. I think I got pretty lucky with my flat mates- I like them all and none of them are too messy or loud.

I hated myself for it, but tonight I wanted to look stunning. I left my hair down and curled, and borrowed another of Mia's dresses. This one was red but also backless, she lent me some red heels to match. I don't know what I would do without Mia's wardrobe! I was spraying perfume on my neck when I heard a knock at my door.
That's definitely not Mia because she wouldn't have knocked.
I opened the door and saw Archie grinning.
"You look stunning." I smiled, trying to hide my shock.
"What are you doing here?"
"Mia told me about the party a couple of days ago so I thought I would get it off work and surprise you!"
He stopped grinning- I obviously hadn't hidden my disappointment very well. It wasn't that I was necessarily disappointed but this was now going to be a very different night than I had planned. The last time Archie and Kai had met, it had been tense and I didn't want to spend my evening keeping them apart.
"You don't look happy?" Archie looked deflated.
"No, no. I am! You just took me by surprise." I laughed it off. "You've come at the perfect time, I've just finished getting ready."
That seemed to do it, his smile returned. He ran his hand through his blonde curls. "It's a good job I'm coming, Char. I'm going to have to fight the boys off of you looking like that."