The boy next door

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The consequences of falling for someone...

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The consequences of falling for someone that doesn't love you back.

You know what? I was having the time of my life. I finally understand the big deal about these weekend teenage parties.

After Mason rejected me like Stefan did Katherine, I found myself practically swimming in a pool of alcohol. Okay, Over-exaggeration—but I did have a lot to drink. To the point where I felt like I wasn't really me. As if some powerful force took over my body...an alter ego.
For the first time in a while, I didn't care about what was yet to come, or how, or why—I was just kind of living in the moment. Going with the flow.

Arturo—the guy from the ping pong game earlier— and I, talked a lot too. A couple of minutes into our conversation, I came to the conclusion that Arturo was an eminently fascinating person.

To start things off he came from the small town of Canmore. He moved here in Toronto just over a year ago to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a successful musician, which I found very cute.

Arturo mentioned that he lived with his grandmother for over nine years, before he left for Toronto. I listened in awe, as he told me about his life back in Canmore and his relationship with his grandma, and how she was his inspiration everyday to never give up, and keep trying.

I almost teared up.

Arturo wasn't a big drinker though, which was disappointing. The alcohol made me seem much more OTT when I was with Arturo. Leo noticed that, and told me to slow down on the drinks, but I ignored him.

His opinion was about as important as a white crayon.

And now, I was dancing to the upbeat rap music that tonight's designated DJ was playing. Arturo beside me.

I swayed my hips to the rhythm of the music, my hands lost in my wavy curls as I let any worries or anything to do with Mason, slip to the back of my mind. Like I mentioned—I was living in the moment.

I felt Arturo dance beside me in a very shy manner. Which wasn't good. He offered to dance with me, but I wouldn't really consider bopping your head dancing. It wasn't enough.

I moved my body to face him, and smiled. He smiled back at me, politely. "Dance, Arturo!" I yelled over the loud music, and he chuckled nervously.

"But I am dancing?" He said, still bopping his head. I rolled my eyes. "Bopping your head isn't dancing, Arturo. Come on, there's no need to be shy...dance, man." I told him with what I imagined was a winsome smile. He looked at me hesitantly, before he slowly brought his hand to my waist, and pulled me against his body. I admit, I was shocked by his gesture at first, but it didn't take me long to recover.

I leaned my head into the crook of his neck, as I swayed my hips to the throwback hits the DJ was playing. I caught a whiff of some kind of vanilla fragrant smell, mixed with a hint of aftershave from Arturo. He smelled really good. Not as good as Mason-

No. I will not go there.

Push him to the back of your head, Sofia. Just live in the now.

"Hey, I need to go to the bathroom real quick, wait for me here?" I informed Arturo after we came back from the dance floor to sit on the couches. Arturo nodded his head, and took a sip from the red cup in his tattooed hands.