No Such Thing

Chapter 20

Playlist:
Artificial Love - EXO
Take My Love and Run - Bad Suns
Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
Goner - Twenty One Pilots

Georgia's acrylics are digging into my wrist as she drags me through the club entrance. The place is packed like a can of sardines and with the blue light taking over the scene, it looks like we're in an alien mothership somewhere in the next galaxy. Pardon my geek speak but this is hardly my normal hangout spot. "I thought you said this was a rooftop party?" "It is, just not for VIPs like ourselves. We have our own table to mingle with our own people free of the peasants." She really is quite the humanitarian, isn't she? "Why isn't Ryder with us? I thought he'd be glued to your side after last night's little mishap." "How did you kn-" "Sweetie, since I picked you up you've been schlumped over staring at your phone like Brad Pitt is gonna call." Ryder and I clearly made up, but the thought of going out only a day later without him again seemed so soon after my run-in with... trouble. But he insisted that I go and have my girls night with Georgia since it was surprising enough that we're even exchanging words that don't end with throwing punches. "I'm just not very-" "Social? Don't worry after a few of these you'll be walking word vomit." Can she stop cutting me off every five seconds? She's borderline unbearable as it is. A drink is already being shoved at me, too close to my white silk Mugler pantsuit. "What's in this?" I take a whiff and it smells like the inside of a mechanic's shop. She's already downed half of hers. "Do I look like a mixologist? No, so just drink it and loosen up already." Like battery acid down my throat. When I look away from my glass I almost drop it. There he is again. Jace sitting right in front of me at our table. His gaze is unwavering even when I catch him, it only intensifies. Without breaking our eye contact I quickly drink the rest of my poison and tug at Georgia to hand me another. "Oh babe! I didn't even see you there, you fucking creep." She skips over to him and takes a seat on his lap and I feel like I'm suddenly in the middle of the Arctic. Her eyes move back and forth between Jace and I because we haven't budged. A girl comes around with bottle service and another tray of drinks which I grab two of and gulp down immediately, ignoring the shocked look on her face. "Well, I'm going to go have a chat with the man of the hour. Don't have too much fun while I'm gone." She prances over to the dj booth and is instantly batting her lashes at a very tall, broad Tiesto. The uncomfortable staring contest continues. "You didn't think I'd just sit back knowing exactly where you'd be, did you?" "What part of stay away from me isn't clear enough, Jace?" "Say my name again. It's nice to hear it coming from your mouth after so long." I roll my eyes and walk off in search of the girl with the tray of drinks. I need as many as I can get tonight. The atmosphere thickens somehow and I feel everything around me in slow motion. It's all just body heat, lights, and bass. Where are those drinks? I spot her back at our table making googly eyes at Jace, and there I am running to her rescue. "You can just keep them coming!" I slip her a $100 bill and shoo her off before the devil gets his hands on her. I grab two more drinks and throw them back. "Some things never change, I see." "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" He points at the new glass in my hand. "I can handle myself." He simply shrugs and leans back against the booth, smirking at me. I've had about enough of him. Another glass tags along with me as I get lost in the crowd, watching his cockiness fade to jealous rage. He knows exactly what's about to happen.

There I was sandwiched between two very handsome male models. I just so happened to have worked with them in the past and knew they were one hundred and ten percent not interested in women, but Jace didn't know that, and he was fuming. When he got close enough I made my way deeper into the sea of people and deeper into a sauna-like haze with every gulp I took. Rather then crawling through a club, I felt as if I was climbing through a South American jungle. I finally lose him somewhere in the middle. Success. At last, I'm out of the devil's clutches. And that's when I see an angel.

"Stel?" My knight in Saint Laurent menswear. "You came! I've been waiting for you to rescue me." I break through a cluster of elbows and practically maul him. His velvet lips on mine make me feel like I'm home at last. "You've had a lot to drink, Stel. Do you wanna get out of here? I think you need some air." "Yeah, let's go to my place. I've missed you so much." It's only been a couple of hours, but I never should've left his side. "Let me go tell Georgia we're leaving." "That's not important just get me in a cab now now now!" "You always were aggravatingly bossy. Alright, hop on, love." He pats his shoulder signaling me to jump up on his back. I've never gotten a piggy back ride from him but I love the idea so I follow his direction and we make our grand exit.