Holliewood (Completed)

chapter twenty-one

After Day and I had rejoined the party, we were immersed in the contagious energy and enjoyed the remainder of his birthday celebration.

We played games, listened to some good music and danced to the music, and as the event continued into the wee hours of the morning, his friends got a glimpse of his newly-gifted Rolex.

We were all seated and they had been engaged in a conversation about Basketball and the ongoing season.

The times leading up to them noticing it, his sleeves had been slightly covering it so it wasn't as visible. But since everyone had been pretty much sitting down around each other, his sleeves did tend to move a lot.

"Damn, who gave you that? You weren't wearing that earlier," His friend, Langston, asked somewhat pulling Day's wrist towards him to observe the watch.

"A Rolex?" Trey squinted his eyes at it, "that's on some other level."

Q nodded his head in agreement, "a whole different level."

Zara's eyes met mine and it's like she instantly knew it was me. I looked away from her, casually staring around.

Day chuckled nervously, looking at the watch, "I didn't believe it too, but hey, we got some nice people among us."

He tried to brush it off, because he instantly took a gulp of his drink and didn't speak further.

"Nice is an understatement. That watch is cold as hell. It looks dope," Raymond nodded, complimenting the watch after looking up from his phone. He had been texting on his phone for most of the night.

"Who got it for you?" Q proceeded to ask out of curiosity.

Everyone stared, expecting his response.

"Babe, stop being nosey," Zara told Q, trying to drown out his curiosity.

"What? I can't ask?" Q raised his brow. Zara gave him a black stare.

Day cleared his throat, "No, there's nothing wrong with asking. It's not a problem..."

I internally shook my head at Day. I was already preparing myself for the unwanted attention because I could tell he was about to tell them. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but from here on out his friends were probably going to blow it out of proportion.

There was always the belief that men and women couldn't have platonic friendships and that there was always something behind it. And since his friends were well aware that Raymond and I were pretty much an arrangement, nothing was going to stop their assumptions.

"It was a gift from Hollie," he said, darting his eyes towards me with a simple smile.

Instantaneously, many eyes burned holes through my face. I tucked my lips in and awkwardly gave a folded smile.

Through the music, there was silence amongst everyone. I pretended to not see how Q's eyes instantly landed on Raymond, but after what I had learnt in London I wasn't surprised.

Raymond just typed on his phone. No eye contact, just full-blown attention on his screen. I couldn't read his facial expression either, it had been neutral.

I felt uncomfortable - no - I felt bad.
Putting into perspective how he felt about me and how everything played out, I just wish I wasn't curious that day. None of this would have mattered had I not known, but now not only had I known but Raymond wasn't aware.

"Yo, Hollie, you need any more friends?" Langston jokingly asked, rubbing his hands together.

They burst out laughing at his remark, somewhat reviving the conversation and ending the brief silence amongst us.