Kismet

Chapter Thirteen

   I trail Ethan to the back, where we move around the moving people, which didn't end up very well.

   My shoulder accidentally hits a guy, and he turns around really angry like. I cower and murmur, "S-sorry." I scurry away before he could beat the crap out of me. He was really big, and I didn't want to get on his bad side.

   I rejoin Ethan, and he seemingly didn't notice I'd left for a second. I keep close to him, making sure to watch around me. We finally walk outside, where the fresh air greets me warmly. There's people out here, but way less than inside. They crowd around the pool, but nobody's in it. Yet. It was lit by a light inside the pool, casting a blue glow inside it.

   I walk with Ethan to the grass, where he greets one of his buddies with a smile and a fist bump.

  "What's up, bro?" the guy laughs. He looks over Ethan's shoulder, directly at me. I freeze there while he stares at me, smiling. "Who's this chick over here, huh? Is this your neighbor you were talking about or something?"

   Ethan turns sideways towards me, holding his hand out to me, as if I were a display case. "Uh, yeah. This is Kiara."

   "Well, I'm Evan," he says coolly, reaching out a hand. Slowly, not tearing my eyes from him, I shake it. His grip was as strong as Ethan's. He was slightly shorter than him, though, but with a stronger frame. They were still both taller than me, though. He lets go after three shakes, smiling with one half of his mouth.

   Ethan stares at me, as if urging me to say something. My mouth fumbles, and I try to find something to say.

   "Y-you're party's loud," I rush out. I want to take back my words, but Evan was already laughing at them. I scowl, adjusting my bag over my shoulder more.

   "Well, hello to you too," he says. "Hey, uh, why don't you go get her some punch, Ethan?" 

   Ethan starts to protest.

   "Nah, I'm not gunna do anything to her, bro," Evan reassures him. "She isn't your puppy.

   He still looks unsure. Please stay.

   "Okay," Ethan finally says. "I'll be right back." Then he takes off, joining the mass of people. I inwardly am nervous, but I try to keep my face level.

   "So you're going to Wilbur?" he asks, clutching his red Solo cup in his hand. There was something unsettling about the way he looked. Maybe it was those blue eyes with the low eyebrows. Or maybe it was the way he leaned over me. Something suggested that I wasn't alright being alone-- sort of-- with him.

   "Yeah," I say, my voice surprisingly steady.

   "Junior?" he asks, sipping his punch.

   I shake my head. "Sophomore. Why?"

   "I don't know, cutie. Trying to get a conversation in here." He looks away, as if bored. My mouth nearly hangs open in shock. Did he just call me. . . cutie?

   "Why'd you-" I say. I am interrupted as Ethan nearly crashes into us, holding two cups. He hands me one, and smiles up at Evan.

   "Have a little chat, did you two?" he asks. I look over at him. There was a tone in his voice that was odd. Defensive almost. "Me and Kiara are going over here. Nice party." Ethan turns around, nodding his head towards the empty part of the yard.

   Evan chuckles, and calls out, "Have fun on you're little date, you guys!"

   Ethan doesn't say anything back.

   He finally stops walking behind the only tree in the yard- a large oak tree. He sighs and leans against it, rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes.