City Lights

Chapter 18

The Halloween party at Alisha's only has a few people. Her crowd; which includes random people I don't know such as college friends, friends from her singing class, random guys she's flirted with, and people who are the daughters and sons of her dad's lawyer colleagues etc. Then there are all of the varsity football guys which are Brandon, Bryan, and Jack's people. Then there are Valerie's and my people which we each met in too weird and too random ways to list. Next are Sadie's people such as her mom's friend's daughters. Finally there are Micheal's people who are tech guys, people in college who major in art, and cool nerds.

The population of this party is about a third of the last party Bryan threw which was pretty much everyone at school.

So tonight I only got a few drinks spilled on me and had to witness only a few horny people transfer STDs to each other.

After talking to one of Micheal's friends who was really cute, I decided that though he was funny and sweet I wanted to talk to Brandon. I excuse myself and poke around Alisha's loft looking for him.

I finally find him just walking out of a bedroom. I know Eva's in there and but I try not to care. I was just about to breeze past him but something in his eyes stopped me. He doesn't look happy and his light eyes are darker than usual.

I pause next to him and try lightly teasing,"What wrong? Eva the Snake-Charmer didn't do her job? She leave you unsatisfied and hungry?"

Brandon doesn't answer.

I crease my eyebrows."What's wrong?"

"Why do you do that Jessica?"

"Do what?"

He pauses before answering"Act like a b*tch. You ignore me at school, you let Bryan do whatever he wants with you in front of me, which you would've never allowed to happen a week ago, and you make jokes at my girlfriend's expense."

I almost cringe at 'girlfriend' , though I should be used to it by now.

Brandon continues,"You're making this harder for the both of us and it's like you can't seem to except the fact that we?-aren't going to happen." His firm words echo through the hall.

Shocked and confused I take two steps back as Brandon's angry face immediately turns to regret. Its the first time he's ever talked to me like that.

"Jessica I'm sorry, is just-"

Just then Eva opens the door and smirks at me obnoxiously."Oh hi Jenny. That's your name right?"

Before I can answer she turns away from me to Brandon pretending she's bored. I know without a doubt, she heard every word that Brandon said.

She starts talking to him but I can't really hear her. Brandon doesn't break eye contact with me and soon he eventually cuts her off."Eva could you get back inside for one second? I need to talk to Jessica."

Eva's forehead wrinkles,"Okay Donny, but I'm seriously ready to leave."

Finally she walks back inside and closes the door behind her. Brandon steps closer to me."Jessica I'm sorry--"

I shake my head out of my stupor."So this is the new and improved you, uh? I've noticed little changes about you that I couldn't really place until now. Like the subtle insults you throw at us, your friends to get a high-pitched giggle out of the wanna-be model? Or how you seem to actually care more about football and the popularity now and less about your CEO dream that you've cared about for so long?Or how you talk to people in school? You never actually believed that you were better than anyone, and I know that you definitely do now."

He crosses his arms which is something that  he does when anyone is saying something that he doesn't really want to hear.

I step close enough to see a clear reflection of myself in his eyes,"You've never once used the word 'b*tch' on a girl before, and now that's suddenly okay?"

He turns away from me."Brandon."

His back muscles clench as I say his name again,"Brandon."

He starts walking away and puts his hand on the doorknob back to Eva. He twists.

"Brandon talk to me." I whisper more softly.

He lets go of the knob, storming up to me. I'm quickly backed up against a wall and I let myself think that he's going to kiss me, but he doesn't. He puts his arms on the piece of wall above me and looks at me though his chestnut hair that's now fallen into his eyes. His hair's gotten a lot longer. I glance up at his hard biceps that are trapping me in.

"Jessica, I haven't changed."

I swallow"You have."

"No, I haven't. I don't care about football, and I don't even care that much about Eva. Definitely not us much as I care about you. I just-"

"Don't trust me." I finish for him.

His eyes drop down to my jean-short clad legs of my minion costume."Do you like Bryan?"

The question takes me by surprise. My slightly bare skin taps the cold wall almost making me gasp.

Brandon steps closer now so that my two legs stand in between his open legs. His warmth radiates."Well do you?"

I swallow and think about it."I don't know."

"You're blushing." He notices.

I know I am but not for the reason he thinks. I don't bother correcting him.

"Well do you like Eva? At all?"

He' still almost on top of me as he bites his lip."Sometimes I do but then other times I-"

The door open with a bang. Over Brandon's shoulder, I see Eva there seething." WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BRANDON?"

*****

Song of the Chapter:

"Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
And nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention.
I reckon, it's again my turn,
To win some or learn some.

But I won't hesitate
No more, no more.
It cannot wait,
I'm yours."

-Jason Mraz❤

Hope you liked that chapter. Comment comment comment, don't be shy guys. You don't have to DM me, i'll answer my comments. But i'll still answer your DMs. ;)

-Because789