MY BEST ADDICTION

Chapter 29

“Haven this is Ezra my roommate and Ezra this is Haven, Seth’s sister”, I introduced when we met in front of our dormitory. Since it was still bright out, we decided to shop for a few things first so Haven had to drive to the mall despite the distance. It wasn’t until we entered the mall that she made us aware that the mall was under S&S Group and she even had her own boutique inside. Ezra and I looked in each other’s direction dumbfounded by the realization with only one thought in mind.
‘Knowing the rich sure is convenient sometimes’, I thought shaking my head in awe.
She pulled us along with her towards her shop and asked us to choose whatever we wanted and insisted we took them despite our persistent refusal.   
After our shopping spree, Haven suggested we go karting which caught us by surprise. I knew she liked having fun but I didn’t know she liked that much fun. Despite our reluctance we agreed and followed her. 
“You guys are going to love it”, she exclaimed excitedly. 
Ezra and I looked at each other wondering if we made the right decision. Once we arrived at the motor park, we readied ourselves and left to the track. Still sceptical about the whole thing, we opted for the double seated kart and I allowed Haven and Ezra go first to prepare myself better. Seeing how much fun they were having made me anticipate the fun I was going to have but the nervousness I felt earlier came back at me when it was my turn. 
“I think I’m going to pass”, I said trying to move away from them because I knew they weren’t going to leave me alone if I chose to run away.
“Come on Penny, it’s very fun and I promise you’re going to have so much fun that you are going to want to come again”, she announced easing my mind a little. 
I joined them and we even raced around the track after I had gotten a hang of it. I checked my phone and realized how much time we had spent just karting and decided to go home to rest since we were tired despite Haven’s grumbling. My phone buzzed with a message and I noticed it was from Seth. He stated he had an impromptu meeting and wouldn’t be home early. As if her prayers had been answered, Haven squealed and pulled us to the car and drove us to her favourite restaurant.
“So how far have you gone with Seth?”, Haven asked making me choke on my drink.
“What”, I asked coughing. Ezra patted me on the back to help but glared at her when I heard her snicker beside me.
“Well I can’t help but ask. I’m a curious being you know”, she defended looking away from me.
“So where have you gotten to”, Ezra added.
“Ezra not you too”, I complained and they both laughed at me. I shook my head at their playfulness and laughed along with them. Waiting for our meals to arrive, we talked and laughed about many things. Feeling the need to use the washroom, I stood up only to stop in my tracks and my smile to freeze.
“Hey Penny, what’s wrong?”, I heard someone ask bringing me back to my senses.
“Nothing”, I answered and rushed to the washroom.
‘Maybe it’s just a hallucination, there’s no way Seth would be here too’, I thought and left the washroom after my business. I was met with the sight of Seth, Marcus and some ladies just as I got out of the washroom. I hid and rushed to our table to join the others.
“What’s up with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost”, I heard and looked up at them. I shook my head and tried to eat my food.
“What the hell?”, someone exclaimed bringing my attention back to them. Haven looked in a specific direction looking clearly pissed. I turned to look in that direction only to meet the sight of Seth and his group.
“Oh that”, I mumbled not knowing I had done it loudly enough for them to hear.
“You knew about it?”, Ezra asked worried and I hummed in response.
“No wonder your mood had changed since earlier. You saw them enter, didn’t you?”, she questioned but I remained silent confirming their assumption.
“I’m going to confront them”, Haven stated actually standing but we stopped her.
“It might not be what you are thinking. Maybe there is a reason why they came here”, I tried to reason and convince them to let the matter go.
“You can’t let him walk all over you like that”, she insisted making me confused.
“Why are you so agitated Haven?”, Ezra asked. Guess I wasn’t the only one who realized her weird behaviour.
“It…. It’s nothing”, she said looking away from us. She kept silent trying to pay attention to her food.
“Haven, what is it?”, I pried and she looked worriedly at me. She sighed and averted her eyes.
“They used to be together”, she mumbled under her breath not really surprising me. It wasn’t really surprising that they used to date each other looking at how intimate they were being with each other. I felt a pang in my chest at that realization and hummed to let her know I had heard her.
“I’m sure there is nothing to them meeting here. You don’t have to worry about anything happening between them”, Haven said trying to get my mind off it. I smiled at her thoughtfulness and tried my best to eat the rest of my food to not make them worry.
“I’m good, let’s continue with our day”, I said ending our discussion. I tried my best to not glance in their direction when we stood up to leave the building but my eyes betrayed me causing me to look once more and feel the pang get deeper than it was before. 
“Let’s go”, Haven said pulling me away from the entrance and I could feel that she was far from the calmness she was showing to us. I sighed and went ahead with her back to the comfort of her car.
“Can you drive?”, I asked no one in particular but Ezra nodded and took the key from Haven.
“Where to?”, she questioned starting the car.
“The Nest”, Haven replied before setting the location for her.
“The Nest?”, she asked confused and I snickered at the reality she was going to face.
“Yeah, Haven’s Nest. Haven’s club and also my former workplace”, I explained and went silent feeling sour once again. I couldn’t bring myself to feel nostalgic despite being in front of the familiar building I had spent most of my time.
“I’m dancing tonight”, I declared firmly before marching to her office.
“You dance too? What else do I need to know about you?”, Ezra questioned perplexed.
Haven returned my room key and Ezra followed behind me to look around only to be shocked by its interior. I didn’t blame her, even I was shocked the first time I saw it.
“Are you still hiring?”, she asked and I wondered if she was serious or just joking. I laughed amid the tension looking through my locker for a suitable costume for the night leaving her speechless. She followed me out of the room after I had worn my mask with a dumbfounded look on her face.
“We are going to have the best night of our lives”, Haven declared dragging me to the familiar room amid the darkness.