𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ⇀ 𝗍𝗌

six

// CHAPTER SIX:: nice guy antics //

AUDREY didn't know what she was getting herself into for some reason until she stepped inside of Harry's house. It was insane to think there would only be the Prom Committee, which consisted of ten people, attending and crazy to think that she would survive the ten minutes Harry had offered.

She took a deep breath, but her lungs filled themselves with the toxicity of marijuana and strong alcohol that clouded itself in the air. She was already having regrets, but she didn't want to panic in front everyone and have another thing added to her rep-sheet.

She turned to Harry, watching him laugh with his friends, which he had happen to make when Audrey was gone. She then looked around, noticed Kelly was talking to her cheer friends, Clark boasting to Luke and Jason about another idiotic accomplishment, and Grizz swirling his beer around in his red cup.

She didn't want to pull Harry with her like he was her dog- she didn't even know if she was still his best friend. Though, when she looked back to Harry, he had disappeared, leaving her standing in the middle of his entrance by herself.

Her heartbeat picked up like she was a little kid losing her mother in a supermarket- fear kicking in. So stupid, she thought, I'm so stupid.

Her eyes wandered crazily, soon losing sight of all the people she knew. Don't panic. Don't panic, she worriedly repeated, as she forced herself to soon walk through the crowd of people.

She didn't know where she was headed, but she felt freedom when she saw the backdoor that lead to the pool. Once she reached the door, she quickly opened it and shut it behind her, seeing about five people outside.

She avoided their strange looks and walked to the pool, kicking off her shoes to sit and put her feet in the water. The cold sensation caused her to close her eyes and let out a shaky breath of relief. She gripped the edge of the pool tightly, her knuckles turning white, but when she felt a presence next to her, she opened her eyes to see Campbell.

She huffed to herself, "What?" He silently chuckled and held out a red cup to her and she glared, "How much of a dick can you be right now?"

"Calm down, Stewart, it's just water," He assured, swaying the cup lightly, "Call it an apology for this morning."

"Bringing me water is your way of saying sorry?" She wondered and took the cup out of his hands to eye it, "How considerate of you, Campbell."

He chuckled lowly and kicked off his shoes to join her in the water. He had his own cup, but Audrey wasn't sure if it was alcohol or not. He glanced at her as she subtly sniffed the cup, "Well, I saw how you were inside. You looked like you were about to pass out."

"Yeah, I'm just not-"

"Adjusted?" He wondered before she glanced at him and nodded. He hummed as he watched her drink, "I am sorry, you know? It wasn't right of me to call you a pill popper."

"You think?" She scoffed, before glancing around, "What are you even doing here? I thought you didn't like Harry."

"I don't... I just tolerate him more than I did before," He honestly answered, "Plus, I didn't want to be home with my father." He took a large gulp from his cup, "How about you? Why are you here?"

She glanced at her feet swaying in the water, "I'm not staying long."

"I know that, you obviously look uncomfortable, which is why I'm asking why did you come?" He continued to ask.

She met his eyes and sighed, "Harry wanted me to come-"

"And where is Harry?" He asked and she hesitantly shrugged, "This is the exact reason why I don't like him. He makes you come to this stupid party only to leave you."

"We just lost each other in the crowd," Audrey assured and turned to look back inside the house, "I didn't think this many people would be here."

"It's a Harry Bingham party," Campbell explained as if it summed up everything, "No party of his is small."

"Yeah, which is why I should get going," She was about to turn her body, to get her wet feet onto the stone pavement, but Campbell grabbed her leg to stop her from getting up.

She froze at the touch, his hand cold from his cup. Her eyes landed on his hand, which gently laid itself a little bit above her knee, before looking at him. He held a soft smile, his dimples on display as his brown hair brought out his hazel eyes.

"I could walk you, if you want." He suggested and she furrowed her brows.

"It's just across the street, Cam. I think I'll live." She chuckled, before eyed him for a second. He didn't break eye contact with her, even when he felt someone staring at the from a distance because he knew who it was. He knew it was Harry.

Harry stood inside of the house, but at the glass door, watching Campbell sitting close to Audrey. Once he had lost her, he was keen on finding her, but he didn't expect Campbell, out of all people, to find her first. He watched Campbell move his hand from her leg to behind her, close to her lower back.

Audrey, clueless of Harry's distant presence, laughed to herself, "This is so weird."

"What?"

"That you have your good moments and your bad," She continued, "You choose to be nice when you want to and a also a dick whenever you feel like it."

"That's what you like about me, though," He assumed and she chuckled again. She lowered her head, her hair falling in front of her, but Campbell was quick to bring his hand up to her face and push her hair behind her ear. Harry, still watching, soon boiled in anger and stormed off, unable to stomach the scene in front of him. Campbell smiled lightly, glancing back to notice Harry's figure was gone, "You sure you don't want me to walk you home? Anything could happen between here and the walk there."

She turned to him and she smirked a bit as she watched him hold up his kind act, "Nice try, Campbell," She sighed and got her feet out of the water, to put on her shoes, "I'll see you at school, though."

He kissed his teeth and nodded as he chugged his drink, "Night, Audi."

She patted his shoulder before walking off, "Night, Cam."