The Great War

XI

I grip the steering wheel of the car tightly inhaling and exhaling. My knuckles white from the pressure. I let out a small shriek when someone knocks on the window. I look over and glare at Theo as he laughs. I roll the window down and he leans in tilting his head at me. "What's got you so jumpy?"

I sigh and slump my shoulders exhaustedly. "I had a shitty night, barely slept."

He nods and opens the door without warning, "I'm driving then."

I look at him processing what he said, "What? No, it's my car."

He stares at me unrelentingly, "Theo," I whine leaning back in my seat he doesn't respond and just grabs my wrists gently pulling me up.

"Stop whining, it's just for a couple hours. Or we don't have to go, your choice." He says with a shrug, I shake my head and smile tiredly at him.

"No, it's okay, I should be fine, let's go." I walk over to the passenger door as Theo gets in the driver seat and we buckle in and set off to the small get-up with the group. Amber decided to throw a small group gathering for a small goodbye to our high school years, even though it's been months.

"Are you sure you wanna go?"

I nod and stretch my arms above my head. "Yep, all good."

He rolls his eyes and gets out after shutting the car off. Before I could open my door myself. Theo pops up like a damn demon and opens it for me, "Why thank you, good sir."

He holds his hand out like a gentleman playing along with my teasing. "You're such a dweeb."

He winks at me and grins, "But you love me."

I smile and squeeze his hand comfortingly. "That I do."

He smiles sweetly, his eyes staying on me even as I look away and drag him like a puppy to Ambers front door.

It smelt pungently like floral and food, the two didn't really mix well and it burnt your nose if you inhaled too deeply. But free food is free food. I'll take a dead nose if I get to eat for free.

I smile as I see Amber walking up to us, a friend of hers at her side, "I'm glad you're here, not many of the group showed."

I nod with a small smile, "Of course, I wouldn't miss this. It's good to have almost everyone back together in one spot be that it may only be a couple hours."

She nods and points behind her, "Foods in the kitchen, everyone's in the living room." With that she walks away with her friend. I look up at Theo and see a mixed look on his face.

Having still had his hand in mine I squeeze it reassuringly. He looks down at me with hooded eyes, yet very clearly you could see the anxiety he was feeling.

"I know you hate parties and those alike, so we can just be freaks and sit in a corner." I humor with a smile as he shook his head.

"It's fine,"

I roll my eyes and drag him off to the kitchen, which had only about 2 or 3 people just talking quietly amongst themselves. "Better?"

He shrugs, "Yeah."

I pull out an island stool and sit on it, my legs practically dangling. Theo snickers at this, finding my height funny. He sits beside me leaning back against the island twiddling with his fingers as we both watch people come and go, in and out of the kitchen.

"This is so boring." I groan and lean my head on Theo's arm, exhausted.

He pats my cheek softly, "We can go if you want."

I shrug and tilt my head up looking at him. "We could, then we can go binge watch movies till 5am."

He smiles down at me and nods. "That we can."

I yawn and sit up, "Alright, les'go." I hop down off the stool and Theo follows me as I make my way through the house to find Amber and say bye.

"Hurry up..." Theo huffed impatiently as I bumped shoulders with people. I let out an 'oof' when one of the people I accidently hit into moved back suddenly and knocked me over. I land hard on my ass and look up at Theo from the floor as he just stared at me.

"Thanks for the he—" I get cut off as the person who knocked me over by accident turns around and glares down at me.

"Could you watch where you're going? I just dropped my drink."

I laugh quietly and get up brushing my shorts off, "Don't have to be rude." I mumble and turn to Theo who moved to stand behind me, glaring down at the guy who not only knocked me flat on my ass but decided to blame me for his spilled drink.

"Anyway, I'll just text her. It's easier than finding her." I grab Theo's hand again and start pulling him, so he was beside me.

The guy from earlier moved his glare from me to Theo who was still glaring at him already. The guy scoffed and turned away from us once we got away from that area of the house. Not even a minute after we find Amber by the front door, "Daphne, Theo. I was wondering where you two hobbled off to."

I smile at her, "Sorry for running off. Me and Theo are gonna head out,"

She nods and gives me a quick hug. "Alright! Goodnight," I repeat her goodnight and we leave the house.

I release a breath of relief, "Dear god I'm never going to a 'small' gathering ever again if Amber hosts." Theo chuckles and nods, agreeing with me. "Now hurry up I wanna go watch movies."

He steps around me, taking my wrist in his hand—rings cold against my skin—and walks forward towards where we parked the car. He keeps an eye out for people, tugging me when I lag too far behind.

He stops at the passenger door of the car, unlocks it with my keys that he still had—he looked silly with my keychain full of dumb shit—and opens the door for me. Ushering me in with a hand on my back.