ROSE

38. Anticipated

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"Anthony, don't you think it's one of your exes that does that to us?" I whispered in his ear as the loud music blasted in the whole bar and people half drunk dancing carefree on the dance floor. He was silent for a second, looking at me, not sure why or how I got that idea but he didn't give me a respond. He acted like he didn't care. He just shrugged and kept moving us with the music.

His reaction confused me but at the same time, I tried to just act like he wanted to have fun for the night and not think about it as he told me but giving him this idea, maybe it will help us find out who does this and if Dylan is right and whoever is doing that is doing it because he wants to be with him than it's not far to be someone of whoever loves us and wanted to be with him; his exes. It also could be any other person but his exes are one of the options.

I sighed as he placed a kiss on my cheek. He whispered "stop thinking" before getting up and taking me up with him. We stayed in our corner but he pulled me to dance with him but it wasn't even a slow dance which made him make me curl on his arm then back. We kept dancing like careless kids and I took it as a decision to stop thinking for tonight.

"Hey man." Someone said from behind which made me let go quickly of Anthony's hands and turn to see who was yelling behind me. It was Jace, Anthony's best friend.

Anthony smiled at him and pulled me closer to him, hugging me tightly and laying on my shoulder.

"Are you drunk man?" Jace leaned closer to us for Anthony to hear him. He shook his head with a smile that I could feel against my cheek.

"Didn't get one drink tonight." He added.

"No drinking. No smoking. One girl. Are you good man?" Jace tried to not make me listen to what he said but I did. I tried to hide my smile and decided to leave the two boys some time alone by excusing myself to use the bathroom. An excuse every girl use to have a break, some alone time before coming back out.

I heard clearly what Jace said and I knew exactly what he meant and I was completely fine with it, to be more honest, it made me happy. Without asking, Anthony is changing and without complaining, he knows that being who he was and doing what he used to do isn't what will make me happy and to make me happy, he let it all go and I couldn't be more grateful. Obviously, it was better to do it for himself than for me but if doing it for me will give him the strength to be a better person then so be it.

I went back out to Jace and Anthony standing in the same place. Anthony half sitting on the table and Jace standing in front of him with a red cup in his hand, moving along with the music. Anthony was saying something that made Jace nod but when they saw me coming, they stopped talking and it made me even more curious to know what they were talking about but obviously, I didn't ask. Anthony gave me a half smile as I approached them and Jace mumbled a small "I'll see you around. Have fun" before disappearing into the crowd.

Anthony formed his arms around my waist and pulled me closer then said "you really didn't have to leave us. We were fine with you here."

"What?" I widen my eyes but then recovered. "I was using the bathroom."

"That's a really old excuse that I don't buy." He smirked like a baby who caught his mother making a mistake and was so proud of himself for pointing it out. I looked down and shook my head, not knowing how to defend myself. "Are you always so shy when you're embarrassed?" He teased me even more and when I gave him an annoyed looked, he laughed even louder. "Sorry, I'll stop." He finally said, still laughing, when saw that I wasn't.

The rest of the night we spent it with all of Anthony's friend, Jace and Kade. I also met the only two girls that are really close to Anthony; Beth and Steph and her boyfriend Jason. Their group was huge and it was the first time for me to meet them all because only Jace and Kade are in our college. From what I understood, Jason and Steph dropped out and Beth was in another college.

The two girls were both so nice and they were surprised when they met me. I don't blame them. They were teasing me the whole night about hanging out with Anthony which he didn't really like, not only that, I could feel that he didn't enjoy me talking to any of them. Every time someone would say something he would look at me, watching me and waiting for me to answer. It was as if he feared me getting closer to them. Which I did not get. He should be happy I'm getting along with his friends. I chose not to mind it at the moment but I was sure to remind myself to ask myself about it.

I laughed along with Beth at what Steph was saying about Anthony but he only shook his head and returned his eyes to his phone screen.

"Do you want to leave? I have to wake up early to go see Mister Jones at the magazine tomorrow." I whispered in Anthony's ear. He nodded and got up from the table.

"We have to leave guys." He said.

"What? Why? We're having fun." Beth whined which made me smile. She has an adorable personality that is really wild and really childish but really fun to be around.

"Ugh, let him drive the poor girl home. She must be sick of us." Steph said as she cuddled closer to Jason whom was talking to Kade. On the other hand, Steph was may more rebel if you want to say. She's basically doing whatever she wants to do. Everything is so easy for her to get.

"She has to wake up early tomorrow and I have classes early too." Anthony said as he picked up his phone and waited for me to put my coat on.

"Early classes? Don't say it! You go to classes!" Steph laughed louder than she should which made me giggle for no reason.

"True man, since when you wake up early to go to any classes?" Jace jumped along the game they were having.

"Obviously a hot chick like her will be able to melt a rock." Kade said and I giggled.

"Seriously, good job, Rose." Beth said.

"Her name is Bella." Anthony said. I could hear the protection in his voice as if the nickname she used is just his. I looked at him confused about why he was acting all tough but I was happy that he wanted to have his own nickname for me.

"Jeez, okay, Bella." She put her hands up in defence. "Bring her next week." Beth added. From what I also collected from this meeting is that they meet every week and party in a different club or bar, which I didn't know because since I met Anthony, he never mentioned any parties.

We left the place and my ears rang. The music was so loud that I felt deaf as soon as I walked out. Also, the place was so warm and having the fresh air hit my face made me blink a couple of times. It's cold.

"Are you good?" I automatically asked as soon as I got in the car. I was waiting to ask this question for so long but the answer I got wasn't the one I was expecting. He just hummed. "No you're not so what's wrong." I insisted for him to tell me.

"Nothing, Rose. Just a little annoyed." He started to drive away.

"Because?"

He gave me a quick glimpse and turned back to face the road. "You can't be blind and not see it, Rose."

"What are you even talking about?"

"I'm talking about Jace and Kade." He raised his voice a little, annoyed of whatever was bothering him. "They kept flirting with you and you were completely fine with it, in fact, you were enjoying it."

"Flirting?" I scoffed. "They weren't flirting, Anthony."

He raised his eyebrows, as if he was surprised for me trying to be smarter than him which was one of the things that I hated about Anthony. He always wants to be the one right. He can never be wrong.

"Yes they were. And I didn't like it." He put a period to this subject.

"Alright, fine. Next time when they do that I will tell them to stop."

"There won't be a next time because you won't be hanging out with them again." He said.

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