Recollections

The Time It Was My Birthday

The Time It Was My Birthday
(song of the chapter: I Know What You Did Last Summer // Shawn Mendez | Camila Cabello)

More and more people are beginning to fill the small apartment and I try to keep the scowl from taking over my facial features. I asked, no I begged, Elena not to throw me a birthday bash--especially not here in our less than spacious apartment but she insisted.

Phoebe is sitting beside me at the counter top and she and I are enduring the most boring conversation from a guy name Phillip who's been chasing her for weeks now. Poor Phillip, he doesn't stand a chance with Phoebe she's way to spontaneous and wild for him. I wonder if he can tell how bored we are? Probably not, considering he's still talking about his lame ass job. My eyes keep locking with Phoebe's and we seem to be exchanging words using only our eyes.

Told you he was a tool. Her hazel eyes scream.

Trying to be discrete, I roll my eyes. He's boring me to death, get him out of here.

Our subtle eye exchange goes unnoticed by oblivious Phillip and I flick my eyes towards him once more so that Phoebe knows that I want him gone.

Phoebe holds her hand up in Phillip's face and he falls silent. "Could you give us a minute?" Her words are a question but her tone is commanding. Phillip's cheeks burn scarlet and he dismisses himself from our presence. A breath of air gushes from my lips and I glare at her.

"Jeez, could he have been anymore of a snore?" I complain.

Phoebe laughs and glances around the bodies that are swarmed in our apartment. When she doesn't find what she's looking for her eyes fall back to my face. "Where's Seth?"

I too glance around the apartment. "Well I asked him to get me a wine cooler like fifteen minutes ago, but I have no idea why he hasn't come back yet."

"Phillip probably scared him off." Phoebe teases and our laughs merge together. "How are you two?"

"Me and Seth?" I ask, raising my brows. She nods. "Don't categorize us together, we're just friends."

She nods but I can see the skepticism on her face. "Well you two have gone out quite a few times over the past two months."

"Don't get me wrong he's great, he's just..." I hesitate and Phoebe nods in understanding.

"He's just not Austin." She finishes my sentence. "Do you like him at all?"

I think about her question, wanting to be honest. "Yes, I do. I don't like him enough to commit just yet, but enough that I can't cut him completely off."

Elena's small frame eases through the crowd and she jumps right in to mine and Phoebe's conversation. I scold her for the millionth time about throwing this ridiculous party and she brushes me off, assuring me that it was necessary. The doorbell rings, interrupting our conversation and Elena prances off to answer the door. Moments after she excuses herself, I feel arms snake around my waist and I glance over my shoulder to find Seth.

"What took you so long?"

In front of me he's set down a wine cooler and a shot of something slightly brownish. "Grabbed you some drinks and waited until Phillip was gone." He chuckles. I feel his lips touch my cheek and I take note of how they're slightly chilly and moist. He's probably had a few drinks while waiting for Phillip to leave.

"Thanks," I say grabbing the pink colored wine cooler. "but no thanks." My hand pushes the shot a half an inch away from me and Seth laughs softly.

From somewhere behind me I hear a group of guys cheering and I tilt my head away from Seth to try and hear what they're hollering. Phoebe has a look of discomfort on her face and I turn around to see what the fuss is about. Suddenly the commotion registers in my ears; the guys are chanting a name.