Nineteen

Chapter Sixty-Five

Mac's head is shining with sweat, and I can only hope that I look that good right now after dancing for what seems like hours.

"I'm starving," I say as we try to find out way back to the table.

"I'll order us something to eat," he replies as we both spot Clark at the same time. He leads me to the table before joining back into the wave of bodies.

When we walk over to the table, Clark lays his phone face down.

"Collin has been calling and texting me nonstop. He's wondering where you are."

My heart momentarily stops at the mention of this. A ping of embarrassment hits me when I remember my earlier encounter with him.

"What did you tell him?" I lean in close to him.

"I said you were dancing with Mac." He shows no emotion when he says this except a casual shoulder shrug. He doesn't fully realize how jealous Collin can act. 

Is he jealous, or is he just overly emotional? I don't know him enough to classify him, but I know him well enough to know that he probably didn't take it well.

"Oh," I say, "are you hungry? Mac went to order something to eat," I try to change the subject, and to my surprise, it works.

"Yeah, actually I am," he stands to look over the crowd for Mac.

I sit down and let out a sigh before pulling my phone from the small bag on the table.

Zero missed calls. Zero unread texts.

It's odd. He seems so distraught with my absence but doesn't seem upset enough to call or leave me a text. I turn my phone off and place it where it was earlier.

I swivel my chair around and head back into the ocean on people to look for Mac or Clark. My feet are killing me and honestly I'm ready to go home. I believe we've only been here for a few hours, but I had a long night before.

When I spot Clark he's keeping the attention of a girl leaned against the bar. Mac is a few feet away waiting for his food. 

I walk over to Mac and nudge his shoulder. "I hope you like nachos, because that's all they have," he laughs.

"I do," I say, "I think I'm ready to go. My feet feel terrible and I had a long night."

"Oh, okay, we can go," he says as the young woman places the plate of food in front of him.

I walk past him over to Clark. "We're ready to leave," I say. I know I sound rude to the woman standing with him, but I just want to get out of here.

"Em, this is Alex. She's one of the cheerleaders at our school."

She's very pretty. I'm sure she likes Clark, as well. He's very attractive and an all around catch. 

I feel like I've interrupted more than a friendly conversation.

I look back and forth between the two and I get the impression that they know each other very well.

"Nice to meet you," I say with my best fake smile.

Clark gives me nervous eyes and I know what's next. "I, uh, think I'm going to let Alex give me a ride home. If that's okay with you, of course."

He's asking permission like I'm his mother. "That's fine. We're just going to go," I say. I realize I've spoken for myself and Mac and I turn to him. "Unless you want to stay too. I didn't even ask you."

He waves me off. "No, I really need to go, too." We both tell Clark and Alex goodbye and search for the exit.

Once we make it outside, the air feels twenty degrees cooler. 

"It's a madhouse in there," Mac says as he pushes up his sleeves. He has a few tattoos on his arms. He doesn't nearly have as many as Collin, but he has a few.

I shake my head to rid the image of Collins arms in a t-shirt. He has one tattoo on his rib cage, as well. I seen it when we woke up.

I shake my head even more. What is happening to my mind?