A year to remember

11. Alyssa

Jared's party had been a little out of control; with such a large place he had invited as many people as possible to fill it up, not just the seniors like it was originally meant to be. The music had been pounding, the drinks free-flowing. Mila's on the other hand was quieter, more exclusive. Only the twenty most popular people had been invited, so it was much more intimate. I liked that there were less people here tonight; it meant less people to have to mingle with. It also meant less people to distract Jake, who had agreed to come in the eleventh hour.

I could see him now, working his way through the room; stopping to talk to every person along the way. I went out of my way to avoid people who were trying to start up small talk with me tonight, I just couldn't be bothered with them. I had one goal tonight, and one goal only. And that goal was smiling at me handsomely in his navy shirt and blue jeans as he approached. His dimples popped, and I noticed, not for the first time, how his left one seemed to dimple slightly deeper than his right. 

I poured myself a drink, and a stronger one for Jake, intent on getting him drunk tonight so that I could finally crack through his hard exterior shell. I had spent so much time with him these last two weeks, and at times our relationship was quite flirtatious, but there was something holding him back. Part of me knew he felt bonded to me, the way I did to him. But I wondered if that would wear off one day when he realised I was no longer vulnerable and didn't need saving.

"Hey," I smiled, handing him a drink. 

"Hey," he responded, a slow, steady smile spread easily across his face. His hand touched mine briefly as he accepted the drink and my stomach did tiny somersaults, the way it always did around him. It reminded me of the night we had met and I had laid my hands gently on his chest. He didn't flinch away as a stranger might have, he just stood there and accepted my touch, watching me with a steady, intimate gaze.

"How are you?" he asked, always with that gentle tone he had when he spoke to me. His clear eyes seemed to really see me and I had to look away. I noticed he never looked at anyone else that way; his intimacy was reserved for me.

"I'm doing pretty well," I said lightly. I wanted to move beyond the victim stage of our relationship. I wanted him to see me the way other boys did; as sexy and independent. I wanted him want me as more than a friend.

I watched him take a sip of his drink, he blinked slightly at the alcohol content in it. "Geez, that's strong, Lys," he said and I smiled innocently at him. 

"Oh, is it?" I said lightly, taking a sip of my own. Mine wasn't as strong as his. It only had two shots in it, whereas his had closer to five. "I don't think so. Maybe you Australian's just don't know how to drink."

He laughed at that and my stomach fluttered as he looked down at me. He was handsome, and breathtakingly so.

"Cheers," I said to him, tapping our drinks together, encouraging him to have more as Jared appeared by my side. I needed to get him drunk, to loosen his inhibitions, to break down those walls and his careful controlled ability to hold back.

"Jakey, my boy!" Jared exclaimed, already a bit drunk. The boys clapped hands and hugged in the easy way they always did. I felt a jolt of jealousy at their relationship and the ease between them. I had noticed Jake didn't ever initiate physical contact with me, the way he easily did with Jared and I found myself wondering if it's because I was still a victim in his eyes. When I touched him, he often watched me closely, careful not to move suddenly or touch me in return, but never flinching away from my touch. I had to get him out of that habit. It was part of my goal of breaking down his walls.

"What's happening over here?" Jared asked as he poured himself another drink. I watched as he poured, his drink would have been as strong as the one I had just poured for Jake.