Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 5

(No Control - 5. Change My Mind)

"JESS!" 

A shout echoes around the garden and Jess jumps backwards away from me before I can press my lips onto hers. I close my eyes in quiet frustration as she scoots around me and peeps around the trellis.

"Jess are you out here?" a female voice calls. It must be her friend from before. I stay where I am, partially hidden, unsure what to do. 

"I'm here," Jess replies. "Where have you been? You disappeared from the kitchen."

"Yeah James saw one of his friends so we went over to say hi. I saw you fall over into Harry Styles though. That was bloody hilarious."  

I'm tempted for a second to stay where I am. It sounds like their conversation might be interesting. But that really wouldn't be fair, so I decide to make my presence known.

"Yeah, she really fell for me," I say, walking round and facing the back door.

Jess's friend stares at me, her mouth open. Then she looks at Jess, who explains she bumped into me out here. I resist the urge to crack a joke.

"Again?" her friend is saying, and I detect a suspicious tone to her voice. I hope this isn't going to be all over Twitter in five minutes.

"Yes, quite literally," I explain, unable to help myself. "She tipped her drink over me again."  

The friend looks back and forth between the two of us again, and then winks at Jess and says she is leaving with her boyfriend. I frown to myself. Does this mean Jess is leaving too? They discuss cabs and I hear something about a good shag which makes my fingertips tingle. Jess is telling her to go, insisting she'll call her own cab later. 

Yes, I think to myself. Pay attention, Jess's friend. Leave her here so we can get back to what we were doing. I need to kiss this girl.

They're now discussing condoms for Jess's friend and I politely turn away, not wanting to be caught listening in. 

"Bye Harry Styles," her friend suddenly calls.

"Bye Jess's friend," I reply, grinning. Finally, I get her to myself again. 

But before I can say anything, Jess turns back to me and says, "I'd better make sure she finds James. Nice chatting to you again."

Oh. Is she trying to get away? Isn't her friend capable of finding her boyfriend herself? "Yeah, see you," I reply, feeling disappointed, and watch her walk inside the house with her friend without looking back.

I wait outside alone for a couple of minutes, trying to decide what to do. She had seemed interested until her friend had shown up, and then it was like she couldn't get away fast enough. She'd definitely been flirting with me... hadn't she? Or had I mis-read the signs?

I need to find out. There's something about this girl that's got my attention.

My phone beeps with a text.

From: Grimmy: We're just leaving in your car now, thanks! Good luck with the lady! Catch up soon pal.

I realise I don't really know anyone else at this party, unless Zayn is still here, but he was with all his mates before and I don't want to gatecrash. My car has just left, giving Grimmy and the others a lift to Kahiki, so I have at least half an hour to kill before Paul will be back. I decide to look for Jess again and see if she wants another drink while she waits for her cab.

I weave my way back through the throng, looking out for her and avoiding eye contact with everyone else to avoid unnecessary attention. I finally see her standing in the hall alone, scrolling through her phone. She looks like she's making a call - perhaps ordering a taxi?

I nervously run my hand through my hair as I approach her. I don't want to seem like a pest.

She doesn't hear me coming and jumps slightly as I say in her ear, "You're not leaving are you?" (I'm quietly thankful she doesn't have a drink in her hand to throw over me this time.)

"What are you doing here?" she blurts. "I mean, didn't your car just leave?" 

How does she know what car I drive?

I smirk at her. "Thought you weren't a crazy obsessive fan?"

She rolls her eyes at me. "For your information, my friend told me your car was waiting outside, and then the only car outside drove away. It doesn't take Inspector Clouseau to work it out." 

Oooh, she's sassy. Something tells me this girl is going to be a handful.

"Yet here I am, still," I shoot at her, still smirking. "So, are you leaving?"

"Um, yeah, I'm just calling a cab," she replies, her phone still stuck to her ear. 

I can't help but feel disappointed. I need to change her mind. I jump in with both feet. 

"Do you have to go so soon? I was thinking about having another drink. Maybe you could have one with me, and maybe not throw it all over my shirt this time? Y'know, just for a change." I'm rambling now. Shut up, Harry.

She hesitates, and I feel like an idiot for being so forward. I silently curse Grimmy for insisting she likes me, and inwardly roll my eyes at my own inflated ego.

She looks into my eyes and her gaze drops to my lips. It sends a jolt to my stomach for the third time tonight. "Sorry, wrong number," she says into the phone.

I feel a smile spread across my face. "Drink?" I hear myself say, and I gesture towards the kitchen.