Pressure | m.h

C H A P T E R 1 - The Ghost

I watched as the main singer finished off the song on a low and husky note, the kind that could make a shiver slide down your spine and make any female swoon – which, by the looks of it, was exactly what they were doing as they sighed, danced and reached out toward the current band on stage.

"I'll be back," I told the guy behind me before slowly making my way over to the VIP side, watching as a ghost strode forward and plopped himself against the bar, calling out to the barmaid.

"Excuse me, you can't be here-"

"If you know what's best for you; you'd let me go," I said calmly, giving the security's hand a pointed glare as it was wrapped around my bicep.

His eyes widened and he immediately yanked his hand away, going from an intimidating man double my height and weight to a mere boy who withered under my glare. "M-miss Carter, I apologise! I didn't know it was-"

"It's fine, you were only doing your job," I dismissed before continuing on toward the ghost at the end of the bar.

Of course, however, the ghost wasn't actually a ghost; but rather someone who once held great importance in my past.

An old friend.

And when his dark familiar eyes met my own green ones as I stopped not far away from him, any bravado, any confidence and any wit I managed to gain on my own since he left me went straight out the window.

"Matty, is that really you?" I ventured, heart racing, palm sweating and a familiar ache stirring in my chest. He hadn't even said a thing and back was the 12 year old girl he'd left behind, the girl I'd tried so hard to hide away and never become again. "Matt, it's me; Lily," I tried again as I inched closer and did my best not to fall into a sobbing mess in front of him, the burning of my eyes and the tingling in my nose a very bad sign of it.

Instead of answering me he simply looked away and brought the glass of pee-coloured liquid back up to his lips, the pink of his tongue slipping out momentarily to lick away the froth of his beer.  

I knew I looked different, I knew I've changed a milestone since he'd last seen me and vice versa, but I couldn't have changed that much.

"I'm sorry," he muttered as the burn of his stare eventually made me turn toward the bar and meet his gaze in the mirror in front of us, his eyes showing not a single emotion.

"You asshole!" I snapped giving him the best glare I could muster as I felt anger replace my hurt within moments. "Bullshit you don't know who I am even after six years! There is no way you could have forgotten me!"

But still he refused to look at me directly as he took measured and slow sips of his beer, so tranquil and casual as if a hurting girl hadn't just exploded at him only a moment ago.

"Tell me," he said turning his head only slightly until his gaze met my own head on, "is your father still rich?" he asked me quietly, voice so low and tantalizing that I could've hit him for it.

Which, of course, I tried to do only to suddenly be pulled back right before my fist made contact, an angered noise ripping out of my lips as my back hit a body and familiar arms came around me. "Is there a problem here?" a voice asked calmly as he not once loosened his careful grip around my waist, just knowing what kind of damage I could do and apparently not wanting me to do it – not yet.

"Who are you?" Matt asked coolly, still not fully turning his body or head to give us his full attention despite the fact that I was seconds away from breaking his nose.

The audacity on this boy!

The guy who I'd been dancing with all night and whose arms were once again around me clenched his jaw slightly, "Jeremy Woods; Lily's boyfriend," Jeremy ground out as he loosened his hold slightly, knowing that I blew off some steam and allowing me to stand straight again as I crossed my arms over my chest. "And you are?" Jer asked as politely as he could, playing off the tension and holding his ground much better and much smoother than I've ever seen when the opposition was no other than Matt Healy himself.

"Her boyfriend," I heard Matt murmur to himself amusedly as he turned back to his almost-empty-glass, a smirk on his face like it was the funniest thing ever.

"What?" Jeremy growled obviously fed up with the other boy, letting me go and stepping forward as if to straighten him out.

Already knowing how this would turn out (badly, very, very badly) I was quick to jump in and stand between them, my back brushing Matt's shoulder and my front almost pressed up against Jeremy's torso.

"Jeremy-" I panicked, pressing my palms against his chest and doing my best to ignore the way Matt was intentionally breathing down the back of my neck – literally – and quietly laughing to himself as if he knew I only jumped in not to save him, but rather, my boyfriend who was double the size of Matty yet would be unable to win the fight. "Don't do this; we don't have time for this," I swallowed and hoped to God that it sounded true.

He frowned.

"C'mon, let's go back to your place," I said instead, voice firmer and an eyebrow lifting in a suggestive way as I put the slightest pressure against his chest until he back off a step.

"Now?" he asked, eyes flickering to a no doubt amused Matty who I noticed had finally turned to us.

"Yes," I nodded as he met my gaze again and I stepped forward to trail a hand down his arm until I reached his hand, "now."

"But – okay," Jeremy finally relented swooping down to kiss me in a not-so-innocent way that it was obvious he was just showing Matt who 'owned me'.

That made me angry.

"Let's go," I bit out already walking off and dragging him with me, the sight of a pissed off Matty with a glare that could kill causing me to grin despite myself even though Jer and I was passing the security guard who'd tried to manhandle me.

"What a tosser," Jeremy muttered, breath warm against my ear as he slid an arm around my waist.

I rolled my eyes and led him outside.

x x x

"Lily," a voice murmured, pulling me gently out of sleep as I felt someone pepper kisses against my neck. "Lily," the voice called out again, louder this time, "it's almost 10," he whispered getting closer to my jaw, the number he just murmured causing my body to suddenly jerk as I all but shoved him off me.

"Oh shit!" I exclaimed jumping and rolling off the bed as I scampered around to pick up and slide on my underwear, bra and clothes on within seconds. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier!?" I hissed hopping around like an idiot as I tried to slide on my high waisted jeans standing up.

"You were sleeping so peacefu-"

"Jeremy! I have my dad's conference to go to in half an hour, I told you this!" I squeaked running to the other side of the room to grab my heels before going to the other side again to grab my purse and phone. 

"What's the big deal, it's not like you even like going anyway," he frowned, sitting up now to watch me run around his giant room stupidly, his naked body in full view up to his waist where the duvet covered his lower half.

"I don't but – my dad he – I promised I'd –" I cut myself off as I tripped over in the middle of pulling on a heel, Jeremy barking out a laugh as he got up to help me off the floor.

I stuck my tongue out and gave him a mock-glare, doing my best not to let my eyes linger too far down his body even though I knew he wouldn't have cared.

"C'mon, I'll give you a lift," he chuckled as I succeeded in pulling on my other heel and brushed down my morning-after-sex hair – not a good look, believe me.

"What, butt-naked?" I rolled my eyes as I pointedly stared down at the thing hanging shamelessly between his legs.

He grinned, "If you want," he shrugged teasingly moving closer to kiss me only to be shoved away by my purse.

"You have ten seconds to put something on and drop me home before I dump your ass," I warned only half-joking.

"Jesus, you and your demanding ways," he replied shaking his head with a smile before turning around to hunt for some clothes just as I rolled my eyes and walked out of the room.

Oh boy, this is going to be a very long and painful day, I can feel it already.