No Such Thing | ✓

Ch.25 | 1, 2, 3 Strikes You're Out

N O

S U C H    T H I N G

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We ended up going to Blake's party after all.

Abby and Lena practically begged me to go with them, and wouldn't shut up about it.

I told them that James and I had plans of our own, but they insisted, so here we all are.

Blake's house is a decent size. Two-story, big living room and an even bigger kitchen.

I've never really been too big on parties, especially high school parties. Lena, Abby and I have been to a few over the years, but we normally like to avoid the scene if possible.

James laughed when I told him we were actually going to the party, but agreed nonetheless.

He said as long as he's spending time with me, he doesn't care where we are. I admit I swooned a little over that.

He was a little weary about going at first, simply because he didn't want to deal with Avery or Percy, which I understood. They both have a certain aura that makes you want to second-guess being around them at all. They both just seem so sketchy all the time. It's weird.

The party is in full swing, and I can't say that I'm not enjoying myself. The girls and I danced for a bit while the boys played some beer pong with Blake and a few other guys from school.

Everything is going relatively normal, for the most part. We haven't laid eyes on Avery or Percy, so I still have a small feeling in the pit of my stomach that everything could go downhill at any moment.

Some call it paranoia; I call it being cautious of my surroundings.

"I am literally dying from thirst. Let's go get some drinks!" Abby manages to shout over the obnoxiously loud music blaring from numerous speakers set up around the living room. Blake has really out done himself. For a Monday night, this party is "lit", as the cool kids would say.

Yeah, I'm not that cool.

"Amen, let's go!" Lena agrees as the three of us begin to make our way through the crowd of sweaty teenage bodies.

When we reach the opening to the kitchen, I spot James standing near the island in the middle while a random girl is trying to talk to him. He looks composed on the outside, but I know on the inside he's praying for an excuse to walk away.

Well, I guess I better go save my boyfriend.

I walk up slowly but then suddenly wrap my arms around James' waist from behind, briefly catching him off guard before he turns his head and smiles at me.

"Babe, I've been looking for you. Can you pour me a drink?" I smile up at him. The girl opposite of us crosses her arms as a glare settles on her face, but she doesn't make a move to leave.

"Excuse me, we were having a conversation." She says dryly and I want to roll my eyes, but I refrain.

"Excuse me, but now it's time for my boyfriend to get me a drink. You okay with that?" I raise an eyebrow and the girl's eyes widen for a split second, before turns around and walks away.

"You're my hero." James laughs while turning his body to pull me into his chest.

I snuggle against him for a few moments, before pulling away and looking up into his eyes.