Caught In Your Chaos ✓

Chapter Nine

My whole body vibrated under the impact of the bass. It blasted as soon as we stepped inside the house. The place was crammed with sweaty and drunk people, dancing around, not even caring who was with whom. Jessie and Xavier disappeared somewhere in the crowd, leaving us to suit ourselves. I tried holding my nerves and settled to accept the surrounding. After all, the night has just started.

I was scanning the place, not sure what I searched for, but my heart wouldn't stop beating fast. Someone from the crowd handed Elijah two red cups, which he took hesitantly. He smelled the content inside and instantly scrunched up his nose. He looked cute.

"Let's find something else to drink," he said with a nervous smile, heading towards the open kitchen. I followed him, squeezing my way through the wild crowd. The kitchen was comparatively less crowded, with only a few people getting their refill. But that relaxation was short-lived as eyes fell on a couple eating each other's faces. As if it wasn't already embarrassing, Elijah followed my gaze and his face instantly heated up.

"I think we should go and find Xavier. Take this. It seems drinkable," he handed me a cup with a nervous chuckle. It was a fruit punch of some sort. I took a sip, trying to calm my senses, and luckily the sweet taste worked.

We made our way through the crowd, looking for familiar faces. I wondered where my sweet roommate was? She was the only friend apart from Elijah. By looking at the party, I wasn't very hopeful I would make new ones.

Our small search operation ended the moment we spotted Xavier. He waved at us wildly from the middle of the hall. We headed towards the small group huddled together on a couch. Some of them were also occupying the counter behind, while some had made a place on people's lap. And not a second later, my eyes fell on Jake, who was very comfortable sprawled up on the far end of the couch. His one hand was on the armrest while the other was around Leah's waist. She was sitting on his thighs, but what caught me off guard was the look in his eyes. The moment his black orbs met mine, I knew I was in trouble. He had a bored expression, but that changed into something I couldn't comprehend.

"Everyone, meet Elijah and Amy," Xavier introduced us to the group, and they gave only one second of attention to us with quick acknowledgments.

"Hey, Amy, you are finally here." Leah smiled brightly, making her way towards me. I heard a deep sigh from Jake the moment she stepped out of his lap. He quickly gulped down whatever liquid was there in his cup and gave me an intense look.

"I need a refill. You guys can continue with the boring pleasantries," he scoffed, getting up abruptly. Didn't he invite me to the party? But again, he was a jerk, what you expected. I glared at his retreating back. Better he doesn't show up for the rest of the night.

I took a sip from the cup and placed the half-filled cup on the table. Leah looked a little drunk and was still gulping whatever drink was in her hand.

"And guys, Amy is a writer. You should see her with the typewriter and all those papers around." She slurred to the group, who suddenly perked up to the new information.

"Weren't you supposed to major in literature? Why Engineering?" a tattooed guy with ash hair asked, sharing a look with the rest of the group.

"It's what it is." I tried not to make it a big deal. "Moreover, it's a hobby."

"My hobby is to get wasted all the time," he laughed it out. "I'm Dan, by the way."

Elijah nudged me, trying to grab my attention. I felt bad for ignoring him completely. "You didn't tell me you write." He gave a disappointed look. When did he start expecting things from me? Our friendship was still new.

"I would have," I shrugged.

"So, are you guys dating or what?" a red-haired girl asked, giving me a look and then letting her gaze settle on Elijah. Her face looked familiar, or she looked similar to someone. Her short hair was tied up in a half ponytail and had several piercings on her nose, ears, one on her bottom lip, and one on her left eyebrow.

"N-no, we are friends," he quickly responded, adjusting his glasses out of habit.

"Are you planning to?" she didn't shift her gaze from him. I could feel the tension in her voice. Was she interested in my nerd friend?

"Leave him alone, Liz. I thought nerds were off your list." Jake's voice reached from behind as he pushed her a little to the side, adjusting himself.

There it was. Jake and Liz shared the same black eyes and facial details. I might have been observing them for more than necessary because I met Jake's questioning eyes. There was this feeling deep in my guts whenever he looked at me, a fire that his intense gaze radiated. I quickly shifted my concentration elsewhere. Leah found her place back at his lap. Only this time, he did something that caught me off guard. He kissed her lips rather casually, while his intense gaze never left me. I felt my face heating up, and my breath became ragged. I wanted no scratch that I tried looking away, but his black eyes held me captive.

I didn't know for how long our gazes locked. But only when Jake pushed her aside gently and rushed out that I regained my senses. I was sweating like hell, and my throat felt dry all of a sudden.

And I knew I needed to leave that place as soon as possible.