Book 1: It's Just Pretend

Chapter 4: One Hell of a Party

 I dragged my hands down my face and flopped onto my bed. Cara closed the shop early, so there I was. Only eight in the evening, but I was exhausted- mentally and physically- but unable to make myself fall asleep. I pulled off my bra and pants. Now only clad in a t-shirt and underwear, I stared blankly at the ceiling and listened to the quiet hum of the fan whirring above my head.

I don't know just when I dozed off, but I do know when I woke up. Two in the morning. Let me repeat that just in case you didn't realize how fucked up that is. Two in the morning. TWO A.M. The bass from the house next door practically shook my room. I felt my eye twitch and the vein in my temple throbbed in pure anger. Who the fuck dares to disturb the first good sleep I've had in ages? I ripped the blanket from my body and hurled it across the room.

"Oh it's fucking on now, buddy," I muttered to myself as I sloppily wrenched on a hoodie. Jamming a beanie over my sleep-muddled curls, I made my way downstairs, observing that my parents' cars were missing when I grabbed a soft pair of uggs from the garage. My fury only grew as I saw cups tossed haphazardly in my lawn and some asshole puking his guts out about a foot away from Mom's roses. I was ready to cut a bitch. I stomped my way into the house, past the crowd of partying teenagers. Navigating my way to the speakers, I ripped the plug from the wall. Disappointed groans came from all around me, but I was in a rage and a couple of salty teenagers weren't going to deter me.

"Who's fucking party is this?" I shouted at the mass of people. I received blank or confused stares.

"Who's. Motherfucking. Party is this?"

"Mine." I froze at the sound of the voice. What the flying shit? Wait, why does that voice sound familiar? I turned slowly. Someone plugged the speaker back in, but I was too busy focusing on the guy in front of me to really notice.

"Bilyk?"

"Tiger?"

"This is your party? You live here?" He nodded dumbly.

"Yeah. What are you doing here?" At those words, I remembered why I had come and how ready I was to throw down.

"Well..." The front door slammed open and a furious man stood in the doorway.

"CHANDLER!"

"Oh shit," he whispered.

"Everyone get out now!" There was a rush of bodies, but I stayed there. Standing in shock in a messy living room with a sheepish looking boy and what seemed to be his very angry father. I blinked and looked at Chandler, trying to figure out what to do.

"Didn't you hear what I said? I don't care what your relation is with my son, I want you to get out of my house." The man's booming voice made me jump. Recovering from my surprise, I walked up to him and held out my hand.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm your neighbor, Claire. I came over to complain about the noise." Then it was his turn to be surprised. He took my hand, hesitantly, and shook it. Faintly, I heard Bilyk curiously whisper my name. I ignored him and smiled up at the man I had introduced myself to. He gave me a small smile in return.

"It's nice to meet you too, Claire. I'm Joshua but I usually go by, Josh. I wish we could have met under better circumstances." I laughed a little.

"Nonsense. The end of a wild party is the perfect time and place to meet your neighbor." His shoulders loosened and he chuckled quietly. Turning to Bilyk, he said in an authoritative voice, "Chandler, apologize to this young lady."

Bilyk's mouth hung open and he looked baffled.

"I- I- uhh," he stuttered, "Sorry."

"Eloquent one aren't you?" I smirked. Turning to his father, I said, "Really, there's nothing to apologize for. I know my house hasn't really been the quietest lately and I want to say sorry for that."