After You

chapter seventeen

Dean's warning is both unwarranted and unneeded. I don't care for Kyle, and it's not like I'm purposefully bumping into him. Yesterday and today have been purely coincidental.

And I don't know him. I know nothing about him. And there will never be the opportunity for me to get to know him. That way I don't have to 'stay away' from Kyle because I'll never be around him for me to then avoid him.

Ugh. Thinking about it makes my brain hurt.

I wonder where Liv is. I wonder if she's looking for me like I've been trying to look for her. Then it hits me. My phone. I could simply text her and ask her where she is. Duh.

Checking my bag and patting down my body, I realise that I can't find my phone. I spill the contents of my bag onto the table before me, and everything but my phone is there.

I've lost my phone.

My heart beats faster at the realisation that I have no idea where it is or where I could've left it. Where did I have it last? When was I last looking at it? I hate not having my phone on me, and I hate how much I depend on it.

The anxiety of not having my phone propels me to my feet – albeit a bit unsteadily. I sweep everything off the table and into my bag before I leave the room and head back downstairs so that I can hopefully find it.

The music is non-exist now, and everyone has congregated inside what I can only call the lounge room – which has a grey marble fireplace, large, square mirror above the mantle, huge, leather sofas, a chandelier made of crystal.

Dean stands at the front of the crowd, being the centre of attention that he supposedly hates. I carefully manoeuvre my way through the congregation, catching the end of a speech before everyone erupts into applause and laughter. I still can't see Liv, but I can only assume she is somewhere in this room like everyone else.

Music returns in the form of Ed Sheeran. The congregation of people move and split, many approaching Dean while others leave the room to return to wherever they were beforehand. I stay where I am in the hopes that I might catch sight of Liv.

And I do. I spy her blonde ponytail through all the bodies and the colours and the patterns.

"Liv!" I exclaim, but she doesn't hear me; she simply chats away to the small group that she stands with, eyes bright, smile large.

I move towards her, eyes never straying from her form so that I don't lose her again. And because I'm so focussed on my best friend, I bump into a few too many people, Kyle included. I'm so preoccupied that I don't realise it's him until he reaches out to grab me, warm hands holding my arms to stop me momentarily. All I can do is stare at him, because my mind and my body are frozen. How can this guy always be where I am or where I need to go?

Kyle lets go of my arms and holds something out to me: my phone. How-?

"You left it at the table," he says like he can read my mind.

"Thanks," I say, taking my phone from him.

And like we're in sync, he turns and leaves, just as I turn and leave to find Liv.

I grab her arm before she can think to escape. She looks at me, somewhat surprised that someone is touching her, but her surprise quickly turns into another smile. She beams at me, pausing in her conversation as she wraps me up in a hug.

"Guys, this is Lucy, my best friend," she says when she releases me. "Luce, this is everyone."

I wave meekly at the group, greet them when they all give me an interpretation of "Hi", before I turn to Liv and whisper, "It's been two hours."

Liv glances down at her phone - so inconspicuous - then looks back up at the group. "Looks like we've gotta go. It was nice seeing you all!"

Taking my hand like I didn't just rudely interrupt the conversation, Liv steers me away from the group, who start a new conversation without us.

"I've been looking for you!" Liv says to me as we make our way to the front foyer of the mansion. Her hand is like an anchor on my arm, strong and steady. I don't think she's had as much to drink as I have. "Where did you go?"

"I was looking for you!" I retort. "Where did you go?"

"I never left," Liv replies as she loops her arm through mine. "I got stuck in the most boring conversation."

"What, talking about sport?"

Liv elbows me in the side. "No, work," she says. We step outside onto the portico, the driveway and gardens lit up before us. The night has a bit of a chill to it now, and I can't help the shiver that runs up my spine. "And my god that Kyle is such an ass."

"Oh?" I say.

Liv nods then groans. "He would not stop talking about himself," she says. She rolls her eyes. "I swear his head is so far up his own ass he'll never be able to get it out again."

I stifle a laugh. "No one can be that bad," I say. "Or, well, unless it's you."

Liv casts me a glance, her blonde hair a golden halo in the lamp glow. "You are the worst." She slaps me on the arm, mostly playful, slightly painful. "At least I have a nice ass."

"Call a cab," I reply to her jest. "I want my pizza."