Green Hearts

Chapter 25

We walk into the house with November at the lead. She's all smiles with the various amount of people that greet her on our way, introducing those that aren't totally drunk yet to me

Muna on the other hand looks like she has no interest meeting people that November knows so she tells me to call her when I'm ready to leave before disappearing into the crowds with the bags of food

I don't feel entirely okay with the mood of things and silently pray to the seven seas that Muna makes good decisions today since she's obviously in the frame of mind to do the opposite

"...and this is my good friend, Autumn" Nobi's hand on the small of my back brings me back to the introduction to people I probably won't remember by tomorrow

She knows this so I'm not really sure what the use is of what is going on right now when I can be stuffing my face with food or shoving drinks down my throat

A plaster a smile on my face when my eyes meet with the small group of people huddled by the stairway. They all look smiley and touchy so I conclude that they are all friends

"You have really great hair" I reach out to the hair of the girl next to me that's dyed in a vomit looking pink and purple with dull blue highlights

She gushes "Oh thank you, I always tell my hairdresser that his......" And I zone out from whatever her drunk mouth has to say

"Sorry, excuse me" I politely excuse myself even though I've already caused enough distraction with vomit hair girl to slip away unnoticed

The house isn't that crowded and certainly has enough room for air to pass so I'm thankful to the seven seas as I weave past groups and couples for the cool atmosphere

This is definitely a great party

With a sole purpose in my mind, I move around determined to find the kitchen area and when I do, it looks glorious

There are kegs every which way while the food rests in the middle in all majesty. I pick up a paper plate and fill it with fries before taking a swig of whatever is in the keg

And to think that by now I'd know not to drink just whatever

"You've always been a professional liar" I hear Nobi's voice as I stuff my mouth with fries

Her red hair comes into view and I shrug innocently like I don't know she's referring to vomit girl's hair and also because I can't exactly speak right now with all the fries in my mouth

She giggles lightly when she notices this and resorts to watching me struggle to chew while she rests on the island

"So what's up, is this your house or something?" I ask, my eyes flitting over the kitchen and taking in every artistic detail just in case I need a reference in the future

"Nah, a friend's. She's the one throwing the party, I'm just the squatter" she brushes it off

"Cool" I say and go back to eating since I have nothing more to say

I can still feel her eyes watching me and I feel slightly uncomfortable cause I don't know how to react with her. It used to be so easy between us till I needed her and she disappeared

Not that I want any beef though, I'm not that petty and all that transpired is perfectly forgotten and left to memories alone

But all that doesn't shake the tension and uncomfortable silence hanging like a thick wet fog over our heads

I turn my gaze to her and her eyes snap off my face, lookin anywhere but at me

She clears her throat subtly "I think I'll head on now, still so many people I'm yet to meet" she says and begins to back away, taking the fog with her

"Sure" I give her a warm smile which she returns before turning and disappearing into the crowd like it's her born talent to cease to be visible

I sigh and finish the rest of my food, deciding to take a look at the rest of the house since I have now fully explored the kitchen

I respect this party though. No sweaty bodies and stupidly drunk people. I should come to more of these

My eyes skim the living room as I stand leaning at the doorway when of course my eyes see the wrong person

Of course

Hey author! Is this a darn romance book? Can I offer my friend Muna in my place as the lead protagonist, she has no love life and is in dire need of one not me!!!!

And there he sits, arm resting on the back of the chair while the other holds a cup to his knee and a pretty girl snuggles into his side, giggling at what I'm sure isn't even that funny

Ciao

I turn to leave when bump into someone and my head hits theirs hard

"Oww" I press my palm against my forehead and try to massage the sore spot when I open my eyes to find Melissa wincing

"Oh Autumn!" Her voice rings in my head cause of how loud she is considering she's right in front of me

My hand immediately cover her mouth when I know she's about to blow my cover and I turn to look behind me but it's too late, my eyes meet his green ones

Can a girl not just disappear in peace?

I sigh and pull Melissa along with me as I make my way to the backyard that look so inviting with muchless human beings out there

I dump myself in the soft grass

"Are you and Jace having another episode cause I noticed that back there and also that I haven't seen you guys together in a while also the...." Her blabbering is cut off by his voice

"No, we aren't having an episode"

I mentally groan, close my eyes and lay down in the grass, at least that will give me some kind of comfort for the moment to come

"Okay, I'll leave you two to it" and I hear the blabber mouth's receding steps

"Can we talk?" He asks and I nod, my eyes still closed

"What's up?" I ask

"You didn't tell me you were coming" his voice is quiet and I can tell he's sitting right beside me

"It's not like we've been talking a lot lately though I hadn't intended on coming here. I was hijacked by a friend at Starbucks" I shrug lightly

"About that...." He's cut off by some guys that invade our space. I crack open my eyes to count three of them before shutting it back

"Jace man, what's up?" Their voices are so loud I nearly wince

"Hey guys, can I talk to you inside? I'm kind of in the middle of something" I hear him say

"Uhh is this your girl?" One asks

"No"

"Yes"

Jace and I say at the same time. I open my eyes again to look at him who is looking straight back at me. We keep up the staring game while his friends watch us

"Trouble in paradise" one says and they begin to back away towards the house

"Seriously?" Jace asks as I sit up cause this is obviously going to be a tough one

"What?" I ask him

"Do you have a problem with me?" He asks back

"And why the hell would you ask that?"

Okay loads of questions going off here

"Cause the slightest moment you get affiliated with me, you back off" he pinches the bridge of his nose and turns his chin skyward

He looks tired like dealing with me is some kind of exhausting chore. Has he met himself?

"That's not true" I take offense even though it may be half true

"I'm not even going to argue with you Autumn" his green eyes bore holes into mine, he sighs heavily

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask as he gets off the grass

"That you'll prove me right before this party ends" is all he says before he walks away