Invisible string (lestappen)

Chapter 17 : Charles

A few people push me on my way to him, definitely not helping with upgrading my mood.

I hate crowds. I hate people. I hate this party.

I should never have come. But it's too late now. I'll just go get him, bring him home, and forget about the whole thing.

When I finally reach his level, it takes him a second to notice my presence. Too focused on looking at that girl's lips the way a bee would look at a bowl of honey.

It almost makes me want to throw up.

'Charles ?', his smile grows bigger.

One look at his squinted red eyes confirms I was right to come get him. He definitely got other drinks since he left our table.

'What are you doing here ?'

I glare at him for putting me in this situation. I'd give anything to be comfortably in my bed right now. Instead, I'm in the middle of sweaty people, the music already giving me a headache.

'I came to get you. We're leaving'

He gets all pouty. Like a 10-year-old who's been told to go do his homework while he was playing with his favorite toys.

'What ? Why ? I'm having a good time, I don't want to leave. It's boring, right Mila ?'

She smiles at him and nods. I stare at her hand gently caressing his arm for a second before looking up at her with a fake smile.

'Look Mila', I start dryly.

'My friend here has a girlfriend. He doesn't know what he's doing so it'd be really nice if you could go flirt with single people'

She looks at Max confused.

'Wait, you have a girlfriend ? What the fuck'

I give her a sympathetic look. I know I pulled a dick move with the obvious lie but I had to find a good reason for her to leave.

Max opens his mouth to start speaking but I cut him off.

'Yeah, he does. Sorry you wasted your time on him'

She shakes her head while throwing a dead stare in Max's direction.

'Men'

A smile creeps on my lips but I force myself to stop. I'm officially an asshole for finding this whole situation quite funny after all.

'What the fuck did you say that ?', he complains.

'You ruined everything !'

I take his arm and start dragging him towards the exit door. The sooner I get out of here, the better.

'I know, I know. You'll thank me later'

He follows me without a word at first but as soon as we get out of the club, he pulls his arm out of my handle angrily.

'No, I won't. I don't have a fucking girlfriend anymore. She dumped me if you must know'

The vulnerability and sadness I can hear in his voice make me want to pull him in for a hug. So I can take all those feelings away. Or at least try to. But I don't. Instead, I just stand still. My eyes locked on him.

'Look, I'm going to get you home okay ? You're drunk, you're not thinking straight right now'

He scowls.

'I'm not drunk. And why do you even care what I do ? Even if I wanted to cheat on Kelly, it has nothing to do with you'

For some reason, his words hurt me.