It's endearing to watch him completely in his element but also not. He hates parties but he's totally thriving having all his friends here celebrating. It radiates off of him the smile permanently on his lips.
I lean against the kitchen counter with my water in hand, just watching him from across the room while Jolly attempts to explain something dramatically with his hands and Folio nearly spills his beer laughing.
He catches me staring me gives me a knowing smile, then winking in my direction.
"What?" He mouths and I shake my head in protest.
"Nothing." I mouth back fighting a smile.
Bullshit.
He knows it's not nothing.
I can tell by the way his eyes narrow slightly, still fixed on me from across the room like he's trying to pull the answer out of me without saying it out loud. There's something about his expression. Soft and warm that makes me melt feeling heat creep into my cheeks.
before he can question me further someone says his name and drags him back into conversation again.
A second later carnage erupts from the lounge and I can hear Sadie before I can even register the song.
Motionless In White.
Of course it's fucking Motionless In White.
She's screaming along as loud as she can like she's headlining at Louder Than Life rather than holding innocent civilian hostages in our living room. I can only assume she's decided to force some btec karaoke onto anyone who dares enter a five minutes radius of her.
I can't hold back the bark of laughter that leaves me hearing her attempt a growl.
It's fucking tragic.
She drops her voice low for approximately half a second before immediately choking on the sound and dissolving into laughter mid lyric.
"Do it again, you almost had it honey." Nick cheers on from somewhere in the room.
"I'm trying real hard!" Sadie squeals back and I can't hold back any longer making my way towards the doorway unable to not watch this all unfold.
I plant myself in the doorframe resting against it as Sadie attempts a "BLEGH" that's so bad I can feel my body physically recoil.
I glance over towards Noah who's holding onto Jolly's shoulder, bent over with laughter, as is Folio and Jolly's laughing so hard he has tears rolling down his cheeks.
He sees me watching him again and without hesitation makes his way over towards me wrapping his arms around my waist.
"This is a rough watch." Noah whispers and I chuckle nodding against him.
"Oh yeah, it's tragic but I can't bring myself to look away." I whisper back. "She really thinks she's Chris Motionless."
"Y'all just jealous of my talents." Sadie points the microphone in our direction accusingly, one eyebrow raised, a smirk on her lips.
"No babe, I think they're intimidated by your talents." Nick adds only encouraging her.
"I think you're right. That's exactly it." She nods as if what has been spoken is gospel. "Who's up next? Any takers?" She looks around the room eyes hopeful, microphone clutched to her chest, but no one budges.
"I think you've got it." I tell her and she flicks her hair over her shoulder in false confidence.
"Yeah. You're too entertaining." Jolly calls from the kitchen.
YOU ARE READING
Just Pretend
FanfictionMargo Brown, twenty five year old writer is desperate to pave her own path and to get out of her small town. A month before she is due to put down new roots in a new city her best friend Cassidy invites her along to a concert playing it off as Marg...
