Toxic Truth

18

ZELLA

The Gala is in full swing when we arrive. I'm accompanied with my parents, as we were invited as a family.

People are dressed in fancy gowns and suits, filling the huge outdoor space with seas of golden and black.

The location of 'The Gala' is so beautiful this time. There is a large pool at the side with a huge fountain. Then there are round tables and chairs placed throughout the ground on the grass with a dance floor in the middle.

"This is beautiful," Mom gasps as she looks at her surroundings.

"It is," My dad agrees, but he's only looking at her as he tugs her closer to him.

My heart melts at the way they look at each other. It's been so many years but they are still so much in love, they never grew out of it, and their love is what gives me hope for true love.

Looking around, I spot Liam with his siblings, a few tables away. I'm about to go over to them, but get stopped to meet the hosts.

After a quick exchange with them, I look back at his table but he's nowhere in sight. He's probably talking to someone.

"I'll see you guys in a bit," I tell my parents and walk off to where Isabella and Amo are.

Isabella sees me and rushes over to give me a hug. "You look so pretty! I love your dress."

I blush at the compliment. Sage indeed did a great job with my dress. The golden metallic dress stops at my feet, just an inch shy of the ground. There's a slit, which stops on my mid thigh, showing off my toned legs.

I let my hair down is messy waves, which complements my makeup and dusty look.

"Thank you! You look so gorgeous yourself."

She's wearing a golden shimmery dress which stops at her thighs, with full sleeves, and a v neck. She looks amazing.

Next I greet Amo, who gives a me side hug and mutters a greeting.

While Isabella and I have bonded over the past few weeks, Amo and my conversations have been strained. He hasn't opened up to me yet, but he has definitely gotten more comfortable around me.

"Where's your brother?" I ask them and just then a deep voice comes from behind.

"Right here."

I spin around and see Liam standing behind me, his hands in his pocket, as he stands there casually.

Refraining myself from kissing him in front of his siblings, and surprising my parents by dropping that bomb on them, I mumble, "Hey."

"Hi," He smiles slightly, a dimple appearing on his cheek.

"Would you look at that? You look gorgeous Zella!" Sage comes up to my side and hugs me tightly, before moving aside to let Matteo greet me.

"Thank you, it's the dress."

She shakes her head quickly, "No girl, It's you."

Matteo wraps an arm around my shoulder, earning a glare from Liam. "She's right, her dresses are mid as fuck, you make them look nice."

That earns him a punch on the shoulder from Sage. "I think we've gone through this multiple times. Your opinion does. Not. Matter."

She turns to greet Isabella and we three fall in a conversation. During that I lose sight the of Liam again.

Ignoring his absence, I keep talking to Sage and Isabella, until I spot him again, standing with a girl who is currently wrapping her arms around his waist as she hugs him.

He hugs her back and my heart fills with bitterness, as an unfamiliar feeling of possessiveness washes over me.

We aren't even dating, should I even be allowed to feel jealous?

Who is this girl and why is she hugging Liam like that? And why is he so comfortable around her?

As if sensing my thoughts, Isabella pulls me out of them. "She's a family friend, they've known each other since childhood."

Sage nods and whispers in my ear. "You have nothing to worry about Zella."

I just nod, my heart still feels heavy from seeing them together.

I watch them as they walk forward towards us and a guy joins them. The blonde girl goes to greet Isabella and then stands next to Liam again, looping her arm through his.

My eyes zero on their arms, and Liam quickly untangles his arm from her's and steps aside.

But I know what I saw. He let her touch him, hug him, and she even had the audacity to loop her arm through his.

Liam clears his throat and introduces me. "Nora, this is Zella. Zella, Nora's a family friend."

I give her a smile in acknowledgment, and she eyes me up and down, giving me a tight smile.

The other guy doesn't wait for Liam to introduce him. Stepping forward, he holds his hand out to me.

"I'm Samuel, it's great to see you. I don't need an introduction of you, I already know who you are. Zella Walter, the famous artist. I must admit I'm a fan."

I laugh at the wink he sends me and shake his hand, "It's so good to meet you Samuel."

There's a tick in Liam's jaw but I ignore him. So he's going to let other girls hug him and touch him, and get jealous when a guy shakes my hand?

"So, how do you guys know each other?" Samuel asks and I realise he's talking about Liam.

"We're uh.." I trail off to look at Liam, who's just staring back at me, not interfering to say anything or putting a label on us. And that's when I realise, we're not even dating. What are we?

"We're friends," I finish and give him a smile that feels unsteady and unsure.

Mumbling something about needing to go see my parents, I leave them there, and walk away.

The realisation of us not dating hits me deep . What does Liam feel about me? Was I just a time pass to him? Just another fling?

He was just having fun with me by keeping me as a friend who he likes to fuck.

We've been seeing each other for months now, but he still hasn't put a label on our relationship. This just indicates he doesn't want to settle. All of this was just casual.

I can feel Liam's eyes on me but I don't look back. I keep walking, as my throat clogs up with emotions, and my eyes start stinging, until I reach the pool, somewhere away from the prying eyes.

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Yikes.

Situationships aren't great....