Better Off (Lil Peep)

Chapter 10: Party Plans & A Date With Wicca

Samara's POV

"Hey. Hey you." I felt someone poking at me in the warm sunlight. My eyes fluttered.

"Haylie?" Her small frame appeared before me, her mint green hair pulled up into a messy bun. Her face of makeup was half done and she was hardly dressed.

"So, I'm going out with some friends tonight to a birthday party for this guy I know. Come with us?" She practically begged. I glanced at my phone to check the time and it was 10:32 am. I had overslept. I jumped up suddenly.

"Um yeah probably?" I responded.

"Luca is coming. And Tracy. And maybe Goth and Gus. I'm trying to get everyone to come." She explained.

"Okay yeah I'm there."

"Cool. You can use the shower now if you want, I'm out of there."

I grabbed my clothes and towels anxiously. A party sounded fantastic at the moment. Today I was meeting Wicca at Jett's, formally. It wasn't really a date but it felt important, seeing as Gus set it up for us to get to know each other. Wicca was older than us and it somewhat excited me. I was supposed to be there at 11:30. I rushed to get ready even though it was only downstairs.

I finished my mascara eagerly, my phone beeped. 11:22. Good timing, Samara. Suddenly in the corner of my eye I saw Luca. I had no idea he was even home and I nearly jumped, seeing him in the mirror behind me.

"Hey. Sorry to scare you. I got those designs! Thank you dude, I um, I actually sent the design out already for shirts to be made! I wasn't going to say anything till later but I'm glad I caught you before you left!" He looked genuinely happy and my stomach turned, I almost had butterflies.

"Really? Thank you so much, Luca- it was fun actually. And it was no problem" I bit my lip.

"Dude I can't wait to sell these. The guys are gonna be pumped. You coming to Haylie's friends party with us tonight? Let's fucking celebrate dude."

"Actually yeah I am. Let's. I gotta go right now but, see you later?"

"Bye Mar, see you." He cracked a wide grin and skipped off down the hall towards his room. Things were falling into place and I breathed a sigh of relief. Rent money, check.

I stared at my face in the mirror and grinned only a little. Today was going to be good. With the reassurance of Gus words, I would not let tonight get awkward.

I met Wicca downstairs in the small coffee shop at 11:30 am sharp. He smiled as I sat down across from him in the comfortable booth. It felt all too familiar to be sitting here again. I ordered my coffee and felt solace there across from him.

"Hey there. Good to see you." He was such a gentleman it almost hurt.

"Good to see you- meet you, formally I mean." I cracked a grin.

"I'm glad you've given me the time of day. The other guys can be obnoxious but I'm pretty low key. Promise."

"Obnoxious or not, they're like my brothers. Wouldn't trade them for the world. And I give everyone a chance. Gus talked to me about you. I appreciated you not approaching me when everyone else was." I said nervously, sipping my drink.

"A lady needs her space. I'm more interested in getting to know you rather than getting in your pants if I'm being honest. I'm not 20 anymore." He laughed, running his long hands through his wavy brown hair.

"Okay..ask me anything." I tried him.

"Who are you? I don't mean your name. I mean, who are you, really?" I loved that he went right deep into it. I grinned.

"I am a moment catcher.  An artist. An introvert with an eye. A wanderer, but also someone who plays it way too safe. I'm- Samara,  I guess."

"Fuck me up. You couldn't have answered it any better."

"What about you?"

"I'm a performer- I feel, everything, I'm patient, I believe in dreams almost too much- I'm basically the dad friend, I look out for everyone. I'm Adam. I'm Wicca."

I grinned at his words, so deep yet so true.

"Shall I call you Adam? I'm used to everyone calling you Wicca." I blushed.

"Beautiful, you can call me anything you'd like. I don't mind either way." Again I felt myself getting red.

"Wicca until I change my mind." I smirked.

"So, do you like boats?" He asked suddenly.

"What?" I asked.

"Boats? Do you like them?"

"Yeah I- I love the ocean."

"Let's go." He abruptly got out of the booth and we walked out of Jett's together. I started down the sidewalk, but he redirected me to the car across the street.

"You have a car?" I asked, surprised. The sleek black Benz truck looked inviting and comfy as we stepped in.

"Of course. And a boat." He chuckled.

"Seriously?" My eyes windened.

"Well, the boats my uncles but yeah. He lets me use it whenever."

"That's amazing." I breathed.  I was nervous to be in the car with him, never mind on a boat with him, but I didn't question it.

He was much more low key than the rest of this guys, a maturity about him that eased my mind a little. He was 26, and I, 20. A big difference, somehow, but also not.

Wicca sparked a small glass bowl in the car and he passed it to me.

"You smoke right?"

"But of course." I grinned. I was used to the guys always smoking blunts and the change was nice for once.

We bumped to HorseHead and to Lil Peep (Gus) and  we laughed and talked about the Clique- about how he was the founder of it all. He talked so highly of all of the guys, each a brother to him.

I loved seeing his passion and his drive. The clique was near completion, I learned, once Gus and Luca were officially in, that was pretty much going to be it.

He asked me questions but he did not pry. I talked about home, about Minnesota, and about my past somewhat. He was gentle with his words and it felt nice to just talk to someone who was equally as sensitive and understanding.

We arrived at the pier where his uncles boat was after nearly 45 minutes in traffic.

"Are you ready for a fucking adventure?" He parked the Benz at the dock and I grinned, ear to ear as we got out.

"Hell yes." I smiled at him.

We boarded the boat and he showed my around, it was small and cozy, but had a kitchen, a bar, a living room, and two small bedrooms. A perfect little getaway boat; I couldn't believe we were all alone on it together.

"You like? Check the bar. Have a drink. There's snacks in the kitchen."

He was at the wheel and he turned on all the settings for the boat to autopilot. I didn't even know boats could do that. We sat in the bar area, me on the couch, while he made drinks for us.

"Margarita, love? I know you're 20 but I won't tell." He was so cheesy that it was actually cute and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Thank you." I sipped the drink and it was delicious.

"Come up top." He whispered, grabbing me hand.

We walked up the stairs to the top deck of the boat and I beamed in the sunlight. It was beautiful up here. There were two chairs, sitting on the deck with full view to anyone who sat in them.

"Just for us, love."

And somehow, right here right now, everything was fucking perfect. Butterflies in my stomach for real this time, I felt it.

I most definitely was into Wicca.