You're Always With Me GxG

Ch. 2

Despite my efforts to not go to the party Ian had invited me to, I went. It had been a while since I saw actual people outside the office and they usually worry when I don't come around. Well at least Ian did. I got ready in my best black ripped jeans, t-shirt, Vans, and leather jacket. I grabbed my keys and was out the door.
I drove up to the address that Ian gave me. It was already packed with people. They all acted like they were still in college. Some of the people out on the lawn and inside probably were college kids. I was twenty-six and trying to find jobs and ex junkie but I wasn't the partying type.
I got out and walked through the crowd and went inside the house. It wasn't long when I found Ian. He was shouting and getting pumped to take on a keg upside down. I gave him twenty seconds until he spewed it all out. I loved the guy but he couldn't hold his alcohol.
I stood there watching, arms crossed. I counted to twenty seconds and he didn't even make it to eighteen. I laughed. I clapped my hands going over to him.
"Eli! You made it!" He yelled.
I gave a smile. "Yeah, I had nothing to do. You know you don't have to scream. I'm right here."
"Sorry. The blood was rushed to my head." He wiped himself off with a towel.
"That's what happens when you're upside down trying to drink from a keg." I laughed.
He stuck his tongue out at me. "Yeah, yeah. Come on, we have mingling to do."
He threw his arm over my shoulder taking me into the kitchen. It was a bit quieter in here than the rest of the house. I was happy for that.
He got out a beer. "You want a beverage?"
"No. I don't drink." I crossed my arms, leaning against the counter.
One of his eyebrows raised. "Since when?"
"For awhile now. I stopped all my bad habits. I had to. I got put on antipsychotics." I shrugged.
He popped the cap off his beer. "I respect that. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you Ian. So, why are you at a college party?" I looked around at everyone.
He chugged the beer in his hands. "I just get invited. I have fun. Plus the girls aren't bad to look at."
I shook my head. "You have problems."
"Look who's talking Eli." He side eyed me.
I flipped him off. Before I could say anything. A girl came up to me. "Would you like to dance?"
I looked from her to Ian, then back to her. "Rain check."
She hung her head. "Okay."
She walked off. "Ouch. Eli, you are hurtful. She just wanted to dance."
"No, she wanted to dance then have sex. I'm not like that anymore Ian. I have changed a lot." I played with my lip ring.
"I can tell. Slicked back hair, lip ring, nose ring, and tattoos. We haven't seen each other in a long time. I had no clue you changed so much. I should have asked for a picture while we texted for these past few months. When I saw you at the job fair. I was shocked." Ian got out another beer.
I chuckled. "It has been a long time. But I'm glad I have someone at work who I know. It doesn't make me as nervous."
"Me too. I mean I work as the technical support. But still, it's cool to have you there." He smiled at me.
"Yeah, well, I'm going to get going. Work tomorrow and I really don't need to be late. Again." I gave him a hug.
"Alright, see you tomorrow Eli." He patted my back.
As I left, a girl slipped me her number and smiled at me. I smiled back to be nice. But as soon as I was out the door. I threw the number in the trash. I wasn't looking for hookups anymore. I wanted something more. I wanted something real. Those girls and most others I met was not it.
. . .
Before I went home. I decided to go by the store and get a snack and something for lunch tomorrow. I knew exactly what I needed for a night like this. Mint chocolate chip ice cream. The only thing to cure a lonely pathetic human like I was.
I walked through the doors and headed straight to the ice cream. I grabbed two little pints of my favorite and headed to see what I could take to work for lunch. I finally decided on a salad and the cheese with the meat wrapped around it. I for the life of me couldn't think of what it was called.
As I headed to the register, I saw her. Hayley. Gosh, she was beautiful. My fixation on her, I don't believe was healthy. She looked so innocent and sweet. I walked over to her. She was standing at the buggy looking at crackers.
"Hey Hayley." Her head whipped around.
She smiled. I couldn't help smiling back. "Getting some gold fish for lunch tomorrow?" I looked from the goldfish back to her.
She shook her head yes. "You don't talk much do you?"
She shook her head no. "Okay, I get it. Well, I just wanted to say hey. Hope to see you at work. I got to go before my ice cream melts and I have to drink it."
I earned a giggle from her. I waved goodbye and went to the register to check out. When I turned my head back to where she was, she was with an older woman. Must have been her mom. Hayley looked away quickly and blushed. Then her mom, I'm assuming, started talking to her.
I headed out to the car and went home. I had The L Word calling my name and my ice cream  needing to be ate. While my cat Lena laid on my lap. Us both covered up and cuddling together.