Shifting Currents || E.V.

o5. "hanging out"

// this chapter contains smut.

we arrived at the bar and Eddie held the door open for me, asking what i wanted before he headed off to the counter. i wandered to the back of the busy room and sat down at a small table next to the bathroom doors.

he came back and handed me my drink, and took a seat in the chair across from me.

"you look nice today, by the way," he said, taking a drink from the bottle in his hand.

i felt my cheeks warm up.

"thanks," i said. "i tried to look nice for all the potential employers i visited today."

"at least today you remembered to wear a jacket," he said, smirking. i rolled my eyes.

"yeah, yeah," i said. "sorry."

he shrugged. "i'm not complaining."

i sighed, looking down at my hands.

"you always look nice," i said quietly. "it must be exhausting, being so good-looking." he chuckled.

"so why are you studying elementary education?" he asked me.

"i was always told i was good with kids," i said. "which, i'd like to think i am. but i'm nervous because i have to do my student teaching in the fall."

"do you get paid for it?"

i laughed. "yeah right. no, i don't get paid."

he shrugged. "sounds like something you would have to really enjoy to be able to do."

"i suppose," i said.

"you said you were from Portland?" he asked.

"yeah," i said. "but i honestly preferred Seattle more than Portland. plus, getting away from my family was nice." he smiled. "are you from Seattle?" i asked.

he shook his head. "Chicago."

"i always wanted to visit Chicago." i was about to speak again when i glanced past his shoulder, and something caught my eye.

"oh, my God," i said. "Stephen's here."

Eddie's eyes went wide.

"behind me?" he asked. i nodded.

i looked over to the large, round booth in the corner that Stephen was at. he was with a small group of people, all wearing shirts and ties and nice clothing.

he was sitting right beside a blond woman in a white, button-up blouse. she had large curls in her hair, and bright red lipstick on her lips.

i'd never seen her before.

"i don't know how to leave without him seeing us," i said, lowering my head to hide my face. "he'd be so pissed at me."

"don't act suspicious," Eddie said, trying not to smile at me. it frustrated me that he thought it was funny.

"he wouldn't even let me go tonight because he thought i would flirt with you too much!" i said. "imagine if he sees me with you now."

"okay," Eddie said. "sorry, let's just try to get out of here when he's not looking."

we stood up, which wasn't obvious thanks to the clusters of people standing around and talking.

i didn't look at Stephen, and Eddie put his arm around me to keep me hidden on the opposite side of him so that i wouldn't be seen.

i kept my head down as we began towards the exit.

Stephen was too distracted to notice.

when i looked up to check one last time, i watched Stephen slide his arm around the blond girl's waist, pull her close, and lean in to kiss her right on the lips.