limerence | COMPLETED

25

THE PARTY IS IN FULL SWING BY THE TIME THE GIRLS ARRIVE.

They arrived a couple of hours after it actually started because Mercy always made it a rule to be fashionably late. James pointed out how in some places turning up late would be considered rude but Mercy just shrugged and argued that it's a classy thing to do.

Either way, the music is great and the girls don't waste any time hitting the dance floor, enjoying the atmosphere and saying hello to anyone they know along the way. The house is crammed with bodies and the bass is so low that the liquid in Layla's drink trembles along with the beat. It almost makes her feel dizzy.

Finn warmly greets them once he returns from wherever he was before, and he spins Savannah around while she dances, pulling her to him and bending his head down to kiss her. Kyle and Callum also come over to say their hellos, complimenting them all on their dresses to which the girls respond with similar compliments. As for Kai, he had texted the group chat letting them know he's coming a little later.

"I can't believe that it's New Year's Eve already," Callum says, shaking his head as they stand to the side with their drinks.

"That means exams are closer," Kyle groans.

"I feel like next year is going to be a good one though," Savannah replies, flashing Finn a grateful smile when he hands her a fresh drink. "I'm more scared about our final year of school finishing than anything. It's really not that far away if you think about it."

"Yeah, I'm so excited," Layla mutters, placing her cup on the side. She's not in the mood for alcohol.

"Layla, no negative talk! We're going to go into the New Year with positive thoughts and good vibes," Mercy scolds, pulling a disgusted face when some guy who's somehow already drunk tries to come on to her. "Good vibes and good people, do you hear!" she yells, shoving the boy away from her and earning laughs from everyone.

"It looks like some people are going all out," Kyle smirks, leaning in and gesturing at someone behind him with a jut of his chin.

They spin around to quickly spot Logan already at the tipsy stage of things, the liquid in his drink sloshing over the side of his cup as he fails to move out of the way of someone coming through the crowd in time. The victim of the drink curses the boy and storms past him with a violent shove. Layla turns away, uninterested.

"We need to refill our drinks ourselves on that note, does anyone else need a new one?" Mercy asks, grabbing a hold of Savannah when she catches her trying to hide her empty cup behind her back.

A few hands fly up in response and Mercy tows Savannah away with her to go and grab them all some fresh drinks. Kyle and Finn follow close behind them after being told that there's food in the kitchen and Callum also leaves to find Brent for something regarding the upcoming soccer game at school.

Layla and James look at one another as they realise it's just the two of them

"And then there were two!" he exclaims cheerfully, slinging a friendly arm around her shoulder to tap their cups together in cheers.

When did Mercy put her cup back in her hand?

"Oh, wait! The birthday boy has arrived!" James waves a hand in the air. "Hey! Kai!"

Layla automatically turns at the sound of his name while James abandons her to go and greet his friend. She doesn't see much of Kai at first, only glimpses of his embarrassed expression and awkward smile as people come up to wish him a happy birthday, forming a hefty crowd in the process. James disappears amidst the herd and one by one the crowd starts to disperse.

Once the crowd filters out, Layla is finally able to walk over to them. The two guys are mid-conversation and she hangs back slightly to wait for them to finish. With everything that's happened recently, she completely forgot about Kai's birthday and now she feels awful for not getting him anything. Especially when he's done so much for her.