The Dating Game

Chapter 42: Party Time

Haylee's Point of View

My fingers lazily raked through Louis' hair, the pads of my fingers pressing into his scalp soothingly. His body was slumped across my own, his arms wrapped around my waist, trapping me. By the way his breath fell from his lips, I knew he was asleep, but I was too afraid to move. I didn't want to risk waking him, but I knew I would have to move eventually.

A deep, achy feeling appeared in the pit of my stomach at the thought of sneaking out without his knowledge. I knew the threats that lingered at that party. I knew what Jake was capable of, but I have to do this. All the answers to our problems are at that party. It absolutely hurts me to betray him, to lie to him and sneak away from him. He trusted me when I said I wouldn't go, and I'm minutes away from leaving him alone and doing the exact opposite of what I promised.

My fingers ceased their gentle running through his hair, coming to rest at my sides where his arms wrapped around me securely. His embrace was tight, almost like he could sense what I was about to do, and his arms were trying to keep me with him. I slid my arms behind my back, grasping his hands, and started to gently untangle them from me. I froze when Louis stirred, a low mumble leaving his lips while he nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck, his breath fanning across my skin. After I was sure he was fast asleep again, I slowly released his hands from behind me. Then, I wiggled my way from underneath him, my heart racing in anxiety for the possibility of him waking up.

Finally, I was able to get completely free of his body. I stood up from the bed, my body cold without the heat of his body to keep me warm. I leaned down by his head, my lips gently tickling against his ear while I whispered "I'm sorry". Pressing a light kiss to his cheek, I backed away from him and hastily pulled on my shoes, picking up my phone that was on his bedside table before leaving his room.

I felt a pang invade my heart the second I had left his room. The further I walked away from him, the more painful the pang in my heart felt. It hurt with every breath I took, with every step I took. I felt cold and empty without Louis' arms around me, and the fact that I was betraying him. I sucked in a harsh breath, my pace picking up while I headed into the direction where all my answers were.

*

Red solo cups littered the ground as I walked up to the large house, people filling the front yard with drinks of their own in their hands. I could already hear the music from outside, the loud beat making the ground shake. I shrugged my way through people to get through the front door, my mind preparing me for the night I was about to have before opening the door.

The pungent smell of alcohol and sweat invaded my nose, making my nose sting and my eyes water slightly. The main room was packed with people, their bodies pressed up against each other's while they danced to the music. The house was mainly dark, only a few lamps offering people the necessary amount to see. The darkness was something I wasn't expecting. I could barely make out anyone's face, much less recognize if Jake was anywhere near me.

I could feel my palms start to sweat, along with a sinister tingle that raced up my spine. I felt naked and exposed, just like a tiny deer out in the open, just waiting for a wolf to come up and finish me off. I briskly turned in a complete circle, my eyes trying to find Jake among the other people. I could feel someone's eyes on me, and I had a good feeling it was him. By now, he knew that Louis wasn't with me, which would give him the perfect opportunity to attack the scared little deer.

"Haylee? Is that you?" someone shouted behind me. I turned around, fear racing through my body, until it was washed away when I noticed it was Cassidy; a girl who was in my math class. She was looking at me with widened eyes, a cup cradled in her hand. I didn't blame her for looking at me like that, I'd never really been to parties; tonight was an exception.