Bex

Chapter 23:

  I looked at myself in the mirror and a ghost of a smile graced my lips. However, my smile soon faded when my eyes wandered to the pictures of me and Ben I had plastered on sides of my mirror. I felt a dull ache in my chest, but I hastily pushed it down before it could cripple me.

I will only think about having fun. I will smile and laugh and dance. You can do this, you're Bex Woods, I told myself sternly. I grabbed my keys and phone before I slinked down the stairs.

My hope that I could make it out of the house unnoticed diminished at the sound of Tyler's voice, "Where are you going?" I turned around, he was eyeing my dress warily.

"Out."

  "Care to be a little more specific?" He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes darkening with impatience.

  "I'm going to Axel's," I huffed. "Satisfied?"

  "Not really, no. It's kind of late don't you think?"

  "Parties do usually start later in the night." I placed a hand on my hip.

  "A party? And you're going?" He looked dumbfounded.

  "Why wouldn't I go to my own boyfriend's party?"

  He shrugged, digging his hands into his pockets. "Parties didn't use to be your thing."

  "They are now." I said simply, opening the door.

  "Be careful." I turned around, shocked that he wasn't going to fight me harder on leaving. His mouth quirked into a sad smile.

  "I will, promise." I returned the gesture.

  I closed the door behind me, but not before I heard Tyler's whisper. "I miss you."

  "I miss you, too." I whispered into the night air, twisting my head to look at the front door.

  I got in my car and drove to Axel's house. Even though the party was just starting, the streets were lined with cars. I had to park about two streets from his house. I sighed looking down at my heeled ankle boots and started making my way to his house. I could faintly hear music emanating from his house from here; it only got louder with each step.

Before I knew it, I was on his front steps walking through his front door; the bass of the music vibrated in my bones. I slide past drunk girls and rowdy boys into the living room. My eyes scanned the crowd for Axel, but I wasn't even aware that I was also searching for someone else.

Ben.

My heart deflated like a popped balloon when I couldn't find him. Of course he isn't here! For one, he hates Axel, and if there was any chance I could be here he would avoid being near me.

I told myself I wasn't going to dwell on the bad- to only focus on the good. Being alone didn't help that much to not think about him, but at least alone I wasn't getting my hopes up searching for his face in a sea of strangers. Giving up on trying to find Axel, I made my way to the kitchen with that incessant ache in my chest.

  The ache grew into a searing pain. I gripped onto the counter for support, but everyone around was either too drunk to notice me or they didn't care. I felt my bottom lip start to tremble; the pain was too much. I looked through blurry eyes to find half empty bottles of alcohol lined across the counter.