Insane - Who Are You To Judge? (Gripping Psychological Thriller)

Chapter 64 - Avery

I stare at the sign for Old Bernie's and take in three deep breaths, willing myself to go in.

I've always been skilled at getting people to like me when I want them to. I don't usually get nervous. But tonight I am. Tonight the butterflies are zipping around, as if they're high. For some stupid reason, I care if his friends like me. I want them to like me.

After I have stood outside the pub for enough time that I feel like an idiot, I make my way inside.

"Happy birthday!" A chorus of voices greets me as I walk through the door. Shocked and overwhelmed by it all, the butterflies hold hand and dance circles in my belly. Not only do I see Him smiling back at me, but I see several other familiar faces too.

I can't wipe the grin from my face as I look around at everyone staring back at me.

I rush up to one of them. "Kelly!" She runs at me and I squeeze her tightly.

When we loosen our grip on one another, I exclaim, "Oh my God, I haven't seen you in forever, I thought you were in Australia?"

Kelly swings her tightly curled hair over her shoulder. "Yeah I was," she replies in a soft Aussie accent, "but I couldn't miss my bestie's birthday, could I?"

We squeal like two schoolgirls and embrace each other again. She whispers in my ear, "I know I'm a million miles away but you still have to keep me up to date. Like for example why am I only just meeting your new boy toy?"

I shush her, conscious that he is only two feet away.

She then mouths tell me everything later.

As I turn my attention to Him, he wraps one arm around my shoulder and pulls me in. I stretch up onto my tiptoes and kiss his cheek.

"Did you do this?"

He shrugs with a subtle smirk. "Well, I had to do something for your birthday, didn't I?"

"How did you find my friends?"

"I may have taken a sneak peek through your phone a couple months ago."

I shake my head. "If I wasn't really happy to see Kelly I would be so angry at you for going through my phone." I then kiss him again and wiggle out of his grip.

"Thank you so much for coming, this is amazing!" I go around the room and repeat this to everyone as I briefly put my arm around them before moving on to the next.

Most of them are friends from work, so as glad as I am to see them, I see them every day. I'm more excited to see Kelly.

"Here you go, Avery. On the house," Frank calls to me as he slides a pint down the bar. I've known Frank since we were little kids, he used to swim naked in my paddling pool. He took over the pub after his father passed a few years back.

"Cheers," I mouth to Frank, and I have now circled back to Him.

I see Him there with Kelly and his friends. A sudden wave hits me – I completely forgot to introduce myself to them. They must think I'm so rude.

"Hi." I greet the circle with an overly enthusiastic flick of my hand. "I'm so sorry I haven't introduced myself yet, this is all so overwhelming."

For a moment I'm afraid they're all going to stick their noses up at me, but they flash me a grin and wave off my apology.

He puts his arm back around me and gestures to the short man to my left, whose hair seems to be shy as it has crept to the back of his head. "This is Leslie. Don't comment on his hair or name, he's very self-conscious," he mutters into my ear, although he intentionally says it loud enough that Leslie overhears.