I look at my old friend as if he's sprouted two heads. What the hell happened to him? "Move on?"
"Yeah, Gabs, move the hell on. They don't want us; maybe they never did. Maybe we were just convenient little play things. Either way, they got over us so why not get over them?"
I look down at my red plastic cup of lukewarm beer, hoping to find the answer somewhere in the foamy brew. "It's just not that easy."
"It is, Gabs. It really is. You are just still too hung up on that asshole to even try. I mean, look at you. Yeah, on the outside, you look good. But you've got this scowl on your face and this rigid, withdrawn stance," he says, waving the length of my body. "No one is gonna want to talk to the girl that's got ‘Baggage' stamped on her forehead."
My jaw drops and my eyes narrow in pained shock. But before I can lay into him, a blonde Playboy bunny stumbles up to us and pulls Jared's arm.
"Come on, Jay! You owe me a dance, baby!" she whines in an annoyingly shrill baby voice. Gag. Jared turns to her and tells her he'll be right there before turning his attention back to me.
"Wow, well, don't let me keep you, Jay. Looks like the frat boy lifestyle has rubbed off on you." I shake my head, hoping to reject the sting of his words and my irritation. It doesn't help and I find myself scowling at his handsome, albeit arrogant, face. "When did you become such an insensitive dick?"
Jared smirks at me mockingly, and I have to squelch the urge to slap him. "Geez, I don't know, Gabs. Probably around the same time you decided to hook up with a rich, pretty boy prick over the guy that's been there for you since the 9th grade." Then he reaches over to flick the pearl and diamond pendant fixed around my neck and snorts before casually turning his back to me and rejoining his group of soccer jocks and half-dressed slores.
"There you are!" Morgan calls walking up to me. She follows my line of vision and spies Jared's retreating back. "So you saw Jared?"
I nod then bring my cup to my lips, downing it all. "Yup. And now I need to see the bottom of a bottle of tequila."
We make our way inside to the beer can littered kitchen where the hard booze awaits. Normally it would be reserved for the brothers of the fraternity, but since we are girls, and Morgan has made friends with most of them, they welcome us with shots. I take the first two with ease and by the third I am bobbing my head to the music, laughing as one of the guys tries to woo Morgan with corny pick-up lines. I turn away in search of more when a frigid sensation rips through me, causing me to shiver.
"Sure you can handle another, baby girl?" a velvety voice coos in my ear. I whip around only to be momentarily stupefied by the sight of ice blue eyes beneath long, dark lashes.
"What are you doing here?" I sputter, nearly dropping my glass.
"I came to see you. And I am so glad I did," Niko replies undressing me with his magnificent eyes. "A devil, huh?"
"Yeah," I reply rolling my eyes. I take in his grey tailored suit and tie, and while he stands out like a sore thumb in a place like this, he looks ridiculously sexy. "And what are you supposed to be? A pretentious tool?" I down my shot and chuckle to myself.
Niko smiles and I force myself to look away. "No, not exactly." He pulls out something from behind him and slaps it into his hand. A riding crop? "I am dressed as a certain billionaire playboy with a fetish for pain. And something tells me that you're into that sorta thing," he winks.
My head snaps back to him, my eyes wide with a mix of horror and embarrassment. However, Niko stows his intense gaze and breaks into hysterics, slapping the riding crop against the counter and successfully drawing quite a few questioning stares. I have no other choice but to join him in his fit of laughter. He looks ridiculous- in a hot and sexy kinda way.
"Heeeyyy, Gabs," Morgan slurs, sidling up to us. "Who's your friend?" She smiles sweetly at Niko, a hand on the curve of her hip.
Crap. How do I explain this one? "Oh, uh, this is … "
"Niko," he smiles, saving my ass and dazzling Morgan.
"Hi, Niko, I'm Morgan," she gushes. Sheesh, get a grip, girl.
"Nice to meet you, Morgan. Wow, Gabs didn't tell me she had such gorgeous friends. But I would expect no less." He smiles again and I swear Morgan's panties melt right down her legs. Luckily, Miguel enters just as Morgan leans into Niko, successfully grabbing her attention. Thank God. I really didn't want to bear witness to the famous Skotos mind-fuckery.
"Ok, I'll ask you again. What are you doing here?" I whisper once Morgan walks away.
"I'm here for you," he says simply.
"What? Are you following me?"
"Honestly? Yes. Dorian asked me to. Plus it is Halloween. Supernatural energy is at its highest and this would be the perfect time for someone or something to strike. I need to make sure you're safe."
I nod, understanding exactly what he means, and am a bit thankful for his presence. I grab another shot glass and fill it along with my own. "Well, no one likes to drink alone," I say handing him the shot of tequila. "To not getting killed!" I hold up my own glass and clink it with his before downing it.
Niko smirks then gulps down the liquor. "See, Gabs, I told you we'd be friends."
"Yeah, yeah, you're still a dumbass. A stalking dumbass, at that."
After a couple more shots, Niko pulls me onto the dance floor. I am too tipsy to even resist him, plus he smells oh so damn good as he pulls me into his strong arms. It feels good to be held after so many lonely weeks without contact from anyone. Just being in his presence soothes my dejected soul.
"He misses you," Niko whispers in my ear as we sway to a slow song. His cool breath tickles my neck, sending a shiver to every erogenous zone.
"I miss him too," I find myself admitting.
Niko assesses my blank expression. "Then why are you here? Why aren't you with him?"
"He's the one getting married," I frown. "And I haven't seen nor heard from him in damn near a month! He doesn't want me."
"How could he not? How could anyone not want you?" he whispers, fire burning in his ocean blue eyes. The intensity in them causes me to halt all movement, completely captivated by the pure desire they emanate. His gaze slips down to my lips, and I am only too aware where this is headed. But when Niko leans in, his lips just inches from mine, he stops. It's as if some unseen force is compelling him not to go any further. The frustrated furrow of his brow tells me that whatever is keeping him from advancing is unwelcome. The pause gives my intoxicated brain just enough time to wake up and I pull away from him.
"Shit, uh, I, uh, gotta go to the bathroom," I stammer, nearly sprinting and leaving him on the dance floor.
Luckily, the bathroom isn't crowded and a second stall has been installed. I lock myself in one and try to get myself together. What the hell was that? Was I really about to kiss Dorian's little brother? What is wrong with me? I take a few deep breaths then head to the sink to splash some water on my face, hoping it will sober me up. As I am reaching for a paper towel, my hand collides with another, causing a jolting current to crawl from my fingertips and up my arm.
"Oh shit! Sorry!" I say pulling my hand back and rubbing it with my other. I smile apologetically at the blond staring back at me with wide, horrified eyes. Then I see it. Her brown eyes momentarily flash bright gold, shining like luminous stars. Familiarity sets in and I realize that I know who she is. And what she is.
"You!" she whispers, taking a step back.
"You!" I repeat, taking a step towards her. "From the sports bar. You are-"
"Don't!" she commands, cutting me off. "Don't you dare say it. Stay away."
"Why?" I ask, standing straight up, feeling a bit offended.
"I cannot consort with you. It is forbidden!"
Just then a group of giggling girls stumble in, startling us both. The blonde peers around me and scowls. "Leave us!" she commands in an ominous tone. The group quickly complies without question.
The girl, who I now see as startling beautiful, something I didn't notice before, looks back to me. "I cannot speak to you, Dark Light. Especially now that you have chosen to associate yourself with them."
"That's because they are the only ones who will talk to me! And I am not with them. Please, I just have so many questions. I just want to talk."
She shakes her head, and I notice that she grows lovelier by the second, as if she was purposely masking her beauty. Yet, slowly but surely, I can see her. Even the brown fa?ade of her eyes falls away, revealing remarkably golden irises.
"I cannot. It is forbidden for us. You will get us both killed if you do not forget about me." She holds her hands up as if the thought of contact repulses her.
"Fine! Turn your back on me then. But isn't the Light supposed to help and heal? And what if I choose wrong? What if you could be the deciding factor in which side I was destined to align to?"
The Sorceress sighs with exasperation, shaking her head. "Fine. Tomorrow. There is a coffee shop in the strip mall on the corner of union and Academy. Meet me at noon. I'll give you ten minutes then you will forget you ever saw me."
I nod enthusiastically, gripping her shoulders before I can stop myself. "Oh, thank you, thank you! I won't tell anyone I saw you. I promise."