Inconvenient Attachment

Chapter 36

It's been a week, me and Luke have been hanging out none stop. It's been going well but we haven't been in any social situations to test it. He's been so sweet and generous, taking me out for dinner almost every night. I feel like I'm starting to really like him.

I haven't seen Rafe for an entire week. Come to think of it, I haven't seen my brother either. He must have been staying at Sarah's.

Tonight we're at a party. Me and Luke are going together. We're joining his friends when we get there.

Rafe POV:

I'm walking across to Aaron's house party with Topper, Kelce, Sarah and Reggie.

"I haven't seen V in so long!" Sarah whines. "I heard she's coming tonight."

Those words causes my stomach to sink. I haven't seen Nessa all week and she's gonna be here tonight. Not that I can bother trying to talk to her, she made it pretty obvious the last time we spoke that she doesn't want anything to do with me.

"Yeah she's been spending all her time with that Luke. I think they're dating now." Topper reveals. My heart feels like it's been struck with a bullet.

"Really Topper! You let her date that guy but wouldn't let me date her?" Kelce cries as we get close to Aaron's house.

"Shut up Kelce, you don't stand a chance with Vanessa." Sarah grills him. "That Luke is such a gentleman and he treats her so good!" It's like she's adding salt to the wound purposefully.

I walk in the house first and disappear in search of drugs, girls and alcohol.

Vanessa POV:

I hold Luke's hand as he leads me into the busiest house party I've ever seen. You can't see a thing over the crowds and can't hear yourself think over the booming music.

I follow him through the crowd, clinging onto him in fear for my life. We stop in a small open area near the kitchen where his friends are already stood.

I give them all a quick hug and Joe passes me a drink. I thank him before sipping away.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. It's Sarah. She's asking where I am, I told her I was coming tonight.

I let her know where I am and she tells me she's on her way to find me.

"V!" My favourite familiar voice sounds behind me .

"Sarah!" We hug each other so tight we almost fall over.

"Where the hell have you been the past week!"

Luke cuts in. "Sorry that's my fault, I've not been sharing her." He admits sweetly.

"That's cute!" She squeals looking between the two of us. "Come see everyone!" She drags me away from Luke and his friends.

I shout to him I'll be back in a sec but I don't think he hears me.

She pulls me into a room, I hold my breath expecting to see him but to my surprise he's not here.

"V! Where you been!" Kelce jumps up from his seat to hug me, I hug him back.

"You managed to leave your boyfriend alone for two seconds." Topper jokes with an already drunken Sarah sat on his knee.

"Nice to see you again too, loser." I taunt him before waving bye to them all and giving topper the finger.

I bump into something.

No.

Someone.

"There she is." He shouts over the music. His voice sending shivers down my spine.

"Sorry I was just leaving." I step to walk past him but he pulls me back to face him.

"Don't leave Nessa."

"I have nothing to say to you, Rafe."

"I need to talk to you." Before I can even stop him, he drags me into a room nearby locking the door behind us.

"You don't need to lock the door." I tell him looking up at him.

"Yes I do, I don't want anyone interrupting us."

"There's nothing to interrupt." I try to remain blunt and cold towards him but I can feel myself melting under his stare.

He pulls me to follow him towards the bed as he sits on the end of it holding me close. I shouldn't be letting him touch me but his hands heat up my entire body.

I keep my hands on his shoulders whilst he keeps his around my waist. "The other week when we kissed Nessa, I don't regret it. And I know you don't either. I wanted it to happen and I want it to happen again."

"Rafe we can't."

"Why not."

"I'm seeing someone."

"That loser Luke?" He smirks which makes me start laughing.

"Don't be mean."

"You're not interested in him Nessa." He tells me like he knows how I'm feeling. I can't tell him he's right.

"I am." I try and persuade myself.

"You're not and you know you're not."

"Rafe, I'm sorry I-"

"Kiss me." He interrupts.

I look at him like he's just spoken fluent French. "What?"

"Kiss me." He repeats himself. My heart beating in my throat. He moves his hand to the back of my head and I wrap mine around the back of his neck before our lips crash together. He wraps his arm around me tighter, feeling like he never wants to let me go, I never want him to let me go.

We deepen the kiss hungrily as though we've been starved of this for so long.

Luke.

I can't do this to Luke.

I pull away with every last ounce of self control I've got left when it comes to Rafe.

"I really can't Rafe, this shouldn't have happened." I hold my mouth craving the taste of his lips again. Wishing he'd just claim me as his own and we could shout it at the world.

"If you liked the guy, you wouldn't be here with me. You wouldn't have kissed me. Stop lying to yourself. He doesn't make you feel the way I do, Ness." I can't admit he's right.

"He makes me feel special, Rafe. He wants to be seen with me, which is more than what you'd ever do. So who's the loser now?" He looks down in realisation that I'm right. I push away from him walking out of the room checking no one can see me before slipping out.