Just One Bite

Chapter 7: James' POV

"Thanks mate!" Charlie Harrison shouts over the music as I hand him his usual high, two twenty pound notes being shoved into my palm at the same time. I just nod in response before I watch him turn to his girlfriend and pop one of the pills into her mouth.

I was tucked away at the back of Laurence's long winding hallway, next to a door that opened to a downstairs bathroom. I had been to Laurence's place many times before but this was the first party in his new house at Penfeild Cliffs - right at the end of the Penninsular. And it was massive, standing right on the end of his cul de sac with a huge garden and forest stretching on after that.

He practically hires me to be the party's official drug dealer: I'll pick a discreet spot to do my business and he'll get the word around. The money is flowing by 9 o'clock.

I've just finished helping this drunk girl roll her joint when I zip up my rucksack and shuffle through the crowds towards the kitchen. Barging my way through, I grab an unopened can of cider from the counter and crack it open, but when I'm just about to take a sip, someone slaps me hard on the back and makes me stumble forwards. By the feel of the force, I've already guessed who it is.

"God dammit, Chris," I scold, wiping spilt cider off my hands. Then I pause, eyes lighting up. "Are the girls here with you?"

"I gave the twins and Olivia a lift in," he replies, "They're outside giving Maria a call."

"The Bookworm and Mad Scientist are in the sitting room," I say with a smirk, leaning against the wall. Maria and Lauren had been here for at least two hours.

"Right," Chris chuckles, grabbing a bottle of beer himself.

I frown. "I thought you were driving tonight?"

"Nope," Chris answers, popping the 'p'. "Maria's driving my car back with the girls; I'm staying over tonight."  

I smirk. "Preferably with a certain red head, I presume."

"Preferably."

I shake my head. "Rebekah isn't going to sleep with you, Chris. At least not here, drunk out of her skull on a cold bathroom floor."

He just shrugs, leaning against the wall next to me. "It's not much different from what you do," he says bluntly, "I can only try."

I roll my eyes, already imagining the drama that's going to come out of it. "You've been trying with her for the past two years," I state plainly, "Wasn't it clear she wasn't interested when she told you to go and die in a hole last month?"

"The only hole I'm dying in is hers."

I give him a look, but we both end up laughing.

"Speaking of which," Chris begins, leaning in closer to me, "Are you pulling tonight?"

"Molly has been pawing at me all evening," I reply glumly, the remains of my smile vanishing at the very thought of it. "She even tried to blow me in the downstairs bathroom but I don't want her tonight." 

"Then who do you want?"

I didn't have to answer. She walked into the kitchen as soon as he asked, dressed in a skin-tight navy dress and black stilettos. When Chris followed my gaze, he let out a laugh. "Looks like we both aren't getting it tonight, mate," he says before pushing himself off the wall and vanishing into the crowds. "Good luck with that."

"Thanks."

I don't let my gaze leave her, taking in every detail like it was the last time I was going to see her. Eventually, she caught my eye and smiled. I smile back and she slowly heads over, grabbing a drink in the process. "Enjoying the view?" Louise teases when she finally reaches me, leaning seductively against the wall.