Cupidity (Sequel to Cupid's Daughter)

Chapter 20~ Home is Wherever You Aren't.

I knew that after promising to attend Ethan's birthday party, I had to at least show up. It was being held at a popular club in Hollywood, and apparently there were going to be more people there than I had ever even met.

My flight to Connecticut was booked for 4am Saturday morning which meant that, though I would be exhausted, I had time to make an appearance at the party before heading to LAX and, eventually, home to my dad and Sam.

As Ethan and I pulled up outside of the club, I couldn't shake off a feeling of unease. Paparazzi surrounded the red carpet, snapping photos of everyone walking inside.

"It's Ethan and Isabelle!" A photographer shouted, nudging his pal as he clicked his expensive-looking camera at us.

Ethan held my door open for me, smiling in a friendly manner at the paparazzi and thanking them as they wished him a happy birthday. Otherwise, he ignored their questions and jeers and latched onto my hand, pulling me into the club. I was wearing the only party dress I owned, which also happened to be the dress I wore to homecoming in Junior year (yes ladies and gentleman, it still fit) and yet again I found myself feeling out of place.

Ethan invited you, I reminded myself. He wanted you to come.

I wondered briefly if I would ever feel like I belonged here amongst the A-listers-- or if it was something that you just got used to. I guess only time would tell. I had only been here just over three weeks anyway.

As we entered the bustling club, I was awe struck by how huge it was and how many people were here. Neon lights shone down from every angle, and music was pulsing so loudly that I could feel the ground shaking beneath my feet. To my left, there was a table filled with hundreds gifts and cards and bottles of expensive alcohol and, all of a sudden, my hand-drawn gift of coupons that promised Ethan I would do his laundry, cook his meals and wash the dishes for a month felt childish and silly.

"You okay?" Ethan murmured to me at the same time as someone yelled out "SHOTS!".

I nodded, shoving him towards where the crowds were gathering around the bar. "I'm fine. Go have fun with your friends." I forced a smile, and he gave one last lingering look before joining the other party go-ers who were handing out jello shots.

With a sigh I perched on one of the bar stools, ordering my usual glass of lemonade-- that I could always pass off as vodka if I had to-- from the bartender. I must have sat there for at least an hour and a half, watching Ethan getting completely wasted and chuckling every now and then as he said or did something stupid.

"I don't even know what he sees in her." A feminine voice appeared behind me and, thinking she was talking to me, I swivelled around in surprise. I realized a moment later that the girl was actually talking to someone else-- a brunette in the skimpiest silver dress I had ever seen.

"I wouldn't worry about her, Yasmina, you're way prettier than her anyway." The brunette reassured her blonde friend, taking a sip of her margarita.

"Obviously Lulu! But according to GucciGossip Magazine Ethan's, like, totally in love with her. Plus they arrived together! Holding hands!" The blonde, Yasmina, whined.

My interest sparked, and I shuffled a little closer to them to hear more clearly.

Lulu rolled her eyes and downed the rest of the beverage, slamming the glass onto a nearby table. "So what if he is in love with Isabella or whatever her name is? He's over there dancing and does it look like she's with him?"

I ducked my head as the girls glanced around, and then Yasmina shook her head. "No, I guess not..."

"Right. He's drunk, sexy and right at this very moment, he's alone. What are you waiting for? Go and make a move!" Lulu hollered.