Double Take [Sequel to Bound]

23. Parties & Invites

i was supposed to go to Belgium this summer but my passport expires the day we planned to go and now i'm getting it remade and that takes about 6 weeks fuck my life :-)))))

ashton irwin's 21 years old today happy birthday to my stud muffin

here's the chapter you thirsty fuckers

jk i love you all y'all are my lovelies don't hate me pls

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Chapter 23—Parties & Invites

Klara's POV:

"I'm surprised you agreed to this, Klara," Riker said, a smirk set on his lips as he looked down at the invitation card in his hand. "I was certain you'd wanna go clubbing and get drunk off your arse."

I scoffed, taking a bite of my pizza before setting it down on the paper plate. "I did," I replied sourly, shooting Leah—whom sat on the opposite side of the round table—an annoyed look. "But Leah and our parents agreed for something more... family-friendly, whatever the fuck that means."

Leah sighed, rolling her eyes as she set down her water bottle on the table. "It means that for once, you're not partying so hard that you won't remember what you did the next day."

I groaned, leaning back in my seat. "But it's our eighteenth birthday, Leah! We're supposed to get drunk!"

Riker, Talia, and Wyatt exchanged amused looks as they watched Leah and I banter from opposite sides of the table. "You're making it sound like you're not gonna get any alcohol in your system at all, Klara," Leah stated, snorting at my behavior. "It's a barbeque, and that means beer—especially with Uncle Lou. Plus, we can go out later in the weekend."

A glare settled on my face, arms crossed over my chest as I grumbled words incoherent to even myself. With Leah and my birthday coming up this Friday—which was tomorrow—our family had decided to throw a barbeque at our house. Our parents were inviting all of our friends, including my dad's band member's families, and the pool would be open, too, since the weather was surprisingly warming up.

And it all sounded fun and well, only that I wanted to actually go clubbing—since it was the legal age for us to finally drink. Of course, I was out-voted in the Styles household.

So a barbeque it is, I guess.

As the school day progressed, I had tried my best to talk Leah out of having a barbeque, but to no avail. That girl was stuck on the idea of having one, deeming it fun and less sweaty than a tight club, but I knew all she really wanted to do was swim and eat food. Not that she couldn't do that on a regular basis, but Leah was weird and I had stopped questioning her a while ago.

But this didn't mean I was 100 percent okay with having a damn barbeque for my birthday. In fact, I was a bit bitter, but I wasn't going to be a total bitch about it. So as I walked down the hallway where Leah was by her locker, my eyes caught sight of the tall, totally desirable boy next to her and a smirk flitted on to my lips as I subtly quickened my pace and avoided the other lingering students in the hallway.

Reaching Leah, my smirk transformed into a smile as I leaned against the locker to the right of hers—which happened to be mine—and crossed my arms over my chest. "Hey, sis," I greeted pleasantly, causing Leah to look at me, immediately suspicious due to my tone of voice. She knew me too well. My eyes then flickered over to Dylan, who was on his phone with his head bowed down to look at it while his locker remained open. "Hi, Dylan!"

Upon hearing his name, Dylan looked up and over at me; his eyebrows shooting up as Leah stared at me as if I'd lost my mind. I didn't blame her—I've never spoken to Dylan before, really. "Uh, hey," he replied cautiously, his eyes glancing at my sister—whom refused to acknowledge him, surprisingly—before looking back at me.