Carmen - H.S

Chapter 6

I luv Harry's hair so much

And please vote if you enjoy it or comment if you have some ways I can improve. Or if you just want to talk about how much you love me. Ok happy reading :)

Daniel's parties were always low key. He didn't like big blowouts, as his mother was a member of the NYPD, and police attention was something he couldn't risk. His parties were small, but wild in their own unpredictable way. Not just anyone could get invited, but the bar wasn't set very high for those who did get in. Daniel didn't care very much, anyway. It seemed as long as there was a pretty girl by his side and a drink in his hand, the world was a beautiful, rosy place, regardless of who or what was in it.

Carmen searched for him in the scattering of people in the lowly lit room. She wasn't particularly fond of these types of parties. They seemed to reek of filth and crude people. She preferred to waltz the night away in vibrant evening gowns that swept the polished floor, delicately sipping champagne and filling the room with her tinkling laughter. At those kind of parties, she was always the glowing star of the night.

But here she just felt like a slab of meat. His creepy friends eyed her as she traversed the room, lust and a certain haunting deadness filling their eyes. More than once, a hand reached out to grope her body, and she tugged the hem of her electric blue miniskirt down as far as it would go. She was uncomfortable to say the least.

Daniel had told her to meet him on the veranda at eleven. Of course she was late, but it was irrevocably ingrained in her to be tardy. She knew he wouldn't mind anyway. There were no set expectations or obligations between them. Everything about their relationship floated as freely as clouds through a blackened sky. She couldn't stand being tethered to anyone. Life was best with every loose end dangling and flapping in the wind as you raced to an undetermined and ever-changing destination.

She pushed open the screen door and stepped onto the tiled ground, heels clicking in the dark. Weaving around exotic potted flowers and small plastic figurines, she made her way to the edge of the patio where she knew he stood in wait for her.

She smelled the smoke before she saw him. He leaned against the wooden pillar that she had absent-mindedly scribbled on countless times, his back facing her. She watched the smoke lazily extend into the air and vanish before stepping forward to stand at his side.

At first, he didn't seem to notice her presence. She could hear the faint noises of traffic from their position on the outskirts of the city. It felt more like the outskirts of the world. Slowly, he handed the cigarette to her, and she took a slow drag to clear her bustling mind. It didn't work, but she wouldn't stop trying. She couldn't at this point.

He turned and looked her up and down, though the look in his blackish-brown eyes was difficult to interpret. She waited for him to speak.

"Isn't it a little too cold to be dressing like a slut?" He smirked and took back his cigarette.

"Isn't it a little too early to be acting like a dick?" she snapped, but there was no real venom in her voice. He was always like this, and eventually, she'd gotten used to it.

"Calm down. You look fine." She smiled in spite of herself and folded her arms close to her body. Silence passed between them, but it wasn't awkward. In fact, it was expected.

"Why'd you wanna meet up?" she asked as they passed the cigarette between them, lips taking in and breathing out mouthfuls of hazy air.

"I missed you," he grinned, and the charming smile that resembled her own spread across his face. She could almost smell the sickly sweetness.

"I meant the truth." She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that popped up on her lips.

"That was the truth, Car," he sighed, stretching his arms overhead. A strip of his toned stomach was revealed. His hands quickly went back to their spot in his pockets. "I've realized how boring my life is without you. It's been hard."