20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Seventeen

"Are you really going to this party?" he frowns.

"Yeah." I shrug. I can't even tell if I'm excited or not, but why would I say no? It should be fun. I hope it is. Honestly, I think I'm going mostly to distract myself. If I stay here, I'll just keep spiraling about Mom and Dad and probably panic.

"Okay." He rubs his chin, like he's trying to figure something out.

"Okay, can you let me in?" I ask.

He steps aside, and I head into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

There's a small clock on the wall—6 PM. I forgot to ask Jace what time the party starts. I still have his number. Maybe I can use... Kyle's phone. Not Nail. Kyle.

I come back out after washing my face.

"Can I use your phone?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"Why?" His tone sharpens.

"I just need to ask Jace about the party time."

"You said Nail," he laughs.

"What? No I didn't. I said Jace." I frown.

"You said Nail," he repeats, still amused.

"I didn't." I swear I didn't. What's wrong with me lately?

"Anyway, it's at 8," he says, catching me off guard.

"Oh... are you sure?" I ask.

He nods, nonchalant. "Yeah."

"Thanks."

I head back to the bathroom to get ready. Nena gave me some makeup to use for tonight—brand new. I'm lucky. I don't usually like using other people's stuff, but this feels okay.

By 7, I'm done. I took my time, really tried to make myself look good. And I do. So much better than usual. Different. But in a good way.

I step out of the bathroom. "I'm leaving."

I really just want to see his face when he sees me like this. Maybe to prove something. That I can be that kind of girl—pretty, confident—like the ones who were all over him at the pool.

His mouth literally drops open.

"Who are you?" he asks.

"Twi," I say, laughing nervously.

"It can't be." He smirks. I guess he liked it. That should make me feel good... but somehow it also makes me feel like I wasn't good enough before.

"It happened to be," I reply, rolling my eyes.

"Be careful. Don't drink," he says in a serious tone.

Why does he always talk like he's my dad?

"I'm eighteen," I remind him.

"I always forget."

"Well, next time you do, I'll wear a badge that says 'Eighteen.'"

"And don't forget to write 'silly and annoying' too, because I sometimes forget just how much you are," he teases.

"Seriously?" I groan and walk out.

But it hits me harder than I want to admit. Silly and annoying. Is that really how he sees me? No one's ever said that to me before.

"How lucky am I to run into such a gorgeous girl?" Jace's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, Jace. Where's the party?"

"I was actually coming to pick you up from your room, but since you're here, even better."

He was coming to pick me up? I didn't expect that.

"Thank you," I smile, not sure what else to say.

"I didn't even recognize you at first," he laughs. "I just knew it was you because of your toms."

"Oh," I laugh awkwardly, covering my face. "I don't have heels, okay?"

"You still look stunning."

"Thanks."

He leads me to the party. It's fancy and packed. Everyone here looks rich, polished. I feel a little out of place, but I try to shake it off.

Come on, Twi. You weren't poor. You had a decent life before all this.

We sit at the only available table, close to the music.

"So tell me about that guy—Nail, right?"

"You mean Kyle?"

"Kyle? Wait, is that another guy?"

"No, same guy. My... temporary roommate." I correct myself.

"Sounds like there's more to the story."

"Why are we even talking about him?" I ask, uneasy. Does he know Kyle?

"He treated me like crap," Jace says.

"He does that to everyone. Don't take it personally."

"Even to you?"

"Yeah. He just called me—never mind."

"What did he call you?"

"Nothing. Just... forget it."

"If he treats you badly, why are you staying with him?"

I burst out laughing. "Because I'm homeless."

"You can always stay at my place," he offers with a smirk.

"No, thank you."

"Why not?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow. I've got my little bed of towels for tonight."

"I don't get it."

"I sleep in the bathroom." Did he think I was sleeping in the bed with Kyle this whole time?

"What? You're kidding."

"What did you think?"

"I thought you were... involved. He looked jealous when I talked to you."

"No, we're not like that. And he wasn't jealous."

"But it's messed up he lets you sleep in the bathroom."

"I insisted. It's... safe."

"Safe? You don't trust him?"

"It's not that. I just feel better there."

"I thought you were sleeping together. Like... that was the deal."

God. Did he think Kyle let me stay with him in exchange for... that?

"No. Never. I'd never do that."

"I'm sorry," he says.

I start to regret coming. I trusted Jace too quickly. He barely knows me and already assumed the worst. Maybe I put myself in this situation... but I had no choice.

"Let's dance?" he offers.

"I don't think I will. I don't dance."

"I can teach you."

"I actually do know how," I admit. "Okay. Just one dance."

We step onto the dance floor. At first I feel stiff, but then I loosen up. I used to dance all the time with Dad at weddings. It feels good.

Then—bam—someone kicks my leg.

I turn. Kyle. Dancing with a tall, stunning girl.

"What?" I say aloud.

"What?" the girl asks.

"Nothing." I give him a forced smile and turn back to Jace.

"He's with someone else?" Jace asks.

"As you see."