Boys Are Liars

Chapter 4

Amelia has her hands on her hips. Her eyes are soft as she stares at me. Her nose was scrunched up, the way it always does when she's upset and I could tell her nails were digging into her palms.

"Please tell you at least told them off," she asked, wrapping her arms around me.

"I tried," I say into her hair. It smelled like strawberries, I was going to have to borrow that shampoo.

"I bumped into her on accident and they decided to use it to humiliate me,"

Amelia sighs. "That's why you'll always be better than me Sariah. I would have dragged his name through the mud,  I would have torn him apart until there was nothing left, I would have bled him dry."

I wipe my face with the back of my hand. "Let's not talk about them anymore, they don't deserve for us to give them the time of day,"

She smiles and kisses me on the cheek. "You know what, you're right,"

She takes my hand twirling me and I laugh. Still, I couldn't shake the burning ache in my heart that was ready to burst.

Someone taps me lightly on the shoulder. I turn around. It's the cute boy that was staring at me earlier.

I freeze, and my heart lodges itself in my throat. "Hi," I stammered.

Amelia wiggles her eyes at me. "Oh?" She says. "Who's this?"

He extends his hand. "I'm Nolan, I thought you were cute,"

A small brunette pops up from behind him. "I'm his friend, Esme!" She chirps.

"She's not with me!" He stated, his words fumbling on his tongue.

I cross my arms, smirking. "Oh is that right?"

He scratches the back of his head, his cheeks turning crimson.

Esme shrugs. "He's my cousin, our parents forced him to take me to this party. It's just easier if we say that we're friends,"

Amelia takes Esme's hand, swaying with her to the music. "I've got this!" She says. "Go have fun!"

Nolan takes my hand leading me away from Amelia. "Want to dance?"

I hesitate, biting my lip as I sneak a glance at Amelia. She puts her numbs up, mouthing the words go.

I pursed my lips. "I don't know..."

Esme pops up behind me handing me a shot glass filled with clear alcohol. Amelia smiles at me as she hands one to Nolan.

"Cheers!" Esme says.

I lean towards Amelia's ear. "She's adorable," I whispered.

"I know," she answers, winking at me. She nods her head over my shoulder. "If Theo can have fun, why can't you?"

I looked over and there he was, hanging by his ankles while someone blasting beer from the beer cannon. He laughs as his entire head is soaked in alcohol. Emma runs over to kiss him.

I turn to Nolan, and he downs his shot, in one go. He smiles at me and I smile back. He was dangerously attractive. Maybe if Theo saw me hanging around him, it would make him jealous and debunk the rumors that I was obsessed with him.

I wanted him to hurt like he made me hurt. But regardless of what I did tonight, I knew he wouldn't have given a damn. At least I could have fun.

I had to feel numb, I tell myself as I curl my fingers around the shot glass, putting it to my lips. It's cold and bitter down my esophagus, leaving a burn in my throat. The crowd was a living breathing thing that had a heartbeat.

It was vicious, violently pulling me in and begging me to surrender, so I did. I find myself twirling with Nolan and his cousin Esme. He slides his hands around my waist and I laugh in his ear, running my fingers through his hair as I swish my hips to the music.

The aura circulating us was intense, infused with an electric energy that shocks the nerves. I found myself elated, taking shots the entire night, the taste soon turning my tongue numb. It was pure, it was sweet happiness as my life's blurs, spinning into Nolan's arms as the night went by.

~*~

I stirred awake, yawning as I stretched my arms out. I pulled the silk blankets over my skin. It was cold to the touch.

I closed my eyes, my eyelids hurting from the strain. I needed a few more minutes of sleep but I could feel the heat burning my face. This bed was so soft and these pillows.

I snap my eyes open, shooting up from the bed. This wasn't my room. I blink trying to get my vision to refocus as I take in my surroundings.

There was a large window with gray silk curtains hanging at the ends. It had a view of a large grass backyard and the sunset, its orange hue peaking out from the mountains. The lavish room smelled of sandalwood and mint.

The door swings open and a tall lanky man with toned arms walks in only wearing blue stripped boxers and a tray full of food. His hair is disheveled and he wears a lopsided grin. I scream.

His eyes widen and he sets the tray on the table. He inches towards me but I just scream louder, wrapping the blanket tight around myself. I freeze, my heart hammering against my chest.

Panic settled into my bones as pieces of last night flashed in and out of my consciousness. A sharp pain rams against my skull. I wince, putting my hand against my head.

"Here," Nolan says, handing me a cold glass of water.

"Thanks," I say, taking a sip.

He lets out a nervous laugh. "We never did it, by the way,"

I raised an eyebrow at him as I glanced at my crumpled dress on his bedroom floor. "Good to know," I say.

"You took your clothes off yourself. You said it was too hot. And I slept in the guest bedroom," He stammered, his cheeks turning crimson.

I laugh, wrapping his blanket tight around me before getting up. "You're good, I'm just surprised I let myself go that far, I'm always careful. I didn't puke did I?"

When my feet hit the floor, a blast of warmth strikes my feet. His wood floors were heated.

He smiles, handing me a plush white robe. "Only a little," he says.

I groan. "At least that's burned from my memory,"

He steers me to the table. "You should eat,"

I put my hand in my arm and he sucks in a breath staring at me. "Turn around," I say.

He nods, turning away from me. "And close your eyes," I say over my shoulder as I drop the blanket to the floor and then put on the robe that he gave me.

I gasped, it was ten times softer than mine, it was like I was being hugged by clouds.

He squirms. "Can I open my eyes now?" He asks.

I laugh as I finish tying my robe around me. "Yes you can," I say.

He turns and stares at me smiling. "Wow you look beautiful," he says.

I hit him in the arm taking a seat at the table. "Be quiet," I say while rolling my eyes. "I'm starving, what's for breakfast?"

Nolan laughs, walking next to me. He places a plate in front of me and begins putting French toast, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries on top of it. He grabs a bottle of syrup and sprinkles a drizzle all over sweet pan-fried bread.

My mouth waters but not at the food, I swallowed, coughing into my elbow. Nolan furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, are you going to walk around all morning without a shirt?"

"Do you want me to?" He asks.

"Yes, wait no, I mean no," I stammered. I grabbed a napkin to wipe the sweat off of my forehead.

He grins taking a seat next to me. "Are you sure that you're okay?" He asked. He pours powdered sugar over my French toast.

I place the napkin on my lap and grab a fork. "Yes, I'm fine, so tell me about yourself,"