Summer [Completed]

Chapter Thirty-One

┕━━━━╗✹╔━━━━┙
Stay With Me
┍━━━━╝✹╚━━━━┑

rec·on·cile
verb

1. to restore friendly relations between

╝✹╚

Imani POV

I hate parties for many reasons.

There's too many people, said people are reckless, said reckless people always manage to ruin my outfit, my makeup, or my hair. Plus, I don't like big crowds and I don't like to dance. All things combined make for a pretty miserable night. Adding fire to the equation just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Which is why it seems absolutely absurd that I'd be at this bonfire party with Kelly tonight.

The only reason why Kelly managed to drag me here was because I knew Ethan would be here too.

Ever since I cornered him in his room, he's been avoiding me like the plague. I've made up my mind that I'll try one last time to win him over, after that I'm done. I can only endure so much.

So, along with disaster, this party adds a lot of pressure to the night.

I fiddle with the strings of my hoodie as Kelly and I weave through the crowd of people. Sweaty bodies rub against me, and I regret wearing shorts immediately. Kelly doesn't seem to mind as she smiles, stopping at a table full of alcohol and making herself a drink.

"Want one?" She offers screwing the cap back onto the ciroc.

I glance at the alcohol and then at the bonfire blazing behind us. "I'll pass."

"Suit yourself," Kelly smirks, raising her cup in the air as she sways to the beat.

She beckons me closer with a finger and I shake my head smiling. "You go ahead, I'll catch up."

She pouts, but eventually gets sucked into the crowd.

I rest against the table and sigh, watching as people bump and grind against each other.

I could be watching TV right now.

I groan, missing my bed.

"Rough night?" A deep male voice asks from beside me.

"And it's only getting started," I sigh.

"I take it you're not that into parties?"

I turn to look at the stranger and chuckle. "Well aren't you perceptive."

And handsome.

He smiles, his white teeth a strong contrast to his dark complexion. "I'm Jordan." He extends a hand.

"Imani," I take his hand politely.

His hands are surprisingly soft for someone with such a muscular build.

"Well Imani," he says, "I know one way to liven up a party."

"Oh yeah?" I raise a brow. "And what's that?"

"Dance with me." He smiles brightly again extending a hand.

I frown, "Jordan, you're sweet but I don't like to dance."

"You say that now, but you've never danced with me before."

I shrug my shoulders.

"Ahh," he clutches his chest, "you're killing my pride Imani."