Falling For Best Friends

Dinner Plus One

Maddox POV

Javier was the first to put up a finger. “If I may,” he began, his thick accent apparent with each word he spoke. “There have been whispers of a new drug hitting the street. It started in the vamp dens up north, but now we are seeing it trickle down to campus parties.”

“What’s this drug called, Javi?” asked Veronika.

“POLLY.”

“What is it?” asked Declan.

“It makes you feel invincible. You can’t feel pain. Some users say they get powers or some s**t, but I haven’t been able to secure a viable sample.” Says Javier, grabbing the back of his neck.

“Why should we care about this new drug?” asked Declan.

“Because a vamp died last night. I am having the body transported here. I am told POLLY was in his system. He walked out into the fu*k*ng sun, Declan. He was out of his mind and stood there as his flesh burned. Do you know how many humans we had to use compulsion on?”

“I don’t think we should interfere,” says Wella. “It’s one vamp. Don’t get me started on the humans.”

“Aren’t you half human?” asks Autumn.

“And I still don’t give a f**k. Go figure.” Says Wella in a bored tone, looking at her nails.

Autumn rolls her eyes.

“Javi, baby,” says Wella with wide blue eyes. “You said it started with the vamps. This seems more like a you problem. You can’t handle a few fiends? You need Daddy Declan to help clean your own house?”

Javi bares his fangs and is on his feet. Wella, the b***ch that she is bares her neck before laughing.

“That’s enough,” says Declan. “Autumn, what about at your school? Have you heard of this new drug?”

Autumn shrugs. “Wintyr and I don’t do campus parties. We are more sophisticated than that.”

“Well, maybe you should. Maybe we should all go to one of your campus parties. Make it happen.”

Autumn sat up in her seat before nodding, and I knew immediately Declan was messing with her head. It took everything I had to stay seated. Declan smiled at Autumn before looking at Wella. “See what you can find out about this new drug through your contacts. Autumn will let us know when the next campus party is, and we will see if we can get a live demo of POLLY.”

Everyone at the table nods in agreement. I hate the fact that my sister is taking the lead on this. If anything were to happen to her, my loyalty to Declan would be forfeit. With one last look around the room, Declan signaled to the man at the door before saying, "Well, with that said, this meeting is over.” Three waiters came in with an assortment of serving trays and took everyone's orders, and Declan’s harem was not far behind.

“Autumn, I heard you brought a friend. Why don’t you have her join us?” he mused while a copper-toned girl with white blonde hair sat on his lap.

“Thanks for the offer, but I think we are just going to have a quiet dinner in the main...”

“Nonsense, Mase, go get the girl. What does she look like?” He said, ordering the guard and looking to Autumn for a response.

“I...” Autumn began looking at me to save her, but she knew it was useless. “Her name is Wintyr. She should be at the table to the left of the stage.” At that, the guard went out to grab Wintyr.

Wintyr POV

When Autumn invited me to dinner, I had a feeling things would not be simple. As I was scrolling through my phone, a man twice the size of Maddox appeared over me and ordered me to follow him. I did not see an opportunity for me to escape, so I complied and followed him into a private room. The moment I walk in, every set of eyes falls on me. I feel my skin begin to heat at the attention, especially from the man at the head of the table. His eyes looked like storm clouds, and I did not want to be caught in them. An exotic-looking woman was on his lap, and several other women stood along the back wall of the private room - each one was beautiful and dressed impeccably. A woman with red hair sat next to him and eyed me with a look of disgust that made me avert my eyes.

Maddox stood up, got a chair for me, and placed it right next to Autumn, who sat on the far right side of the table. The moment I sat down, Autumn grabbed my hand and whispered something, but I could not hear her.

“So Wintyr is it? Where did you meet my sister, Autumn?” Asked the man at the head of the table,

Autumn never mentioned having another brother. Also, they looked nothing alike, but genetics were a mystery at times.

“We met at school,” Autumn answers before I can respond.

“Is she a mute?” Asked the redhead with a smirk. “Wow, Autumn, well done. Leave it to you to befriend an invalid.”

“Excuse me?” I said before Autumn could snap. “I can speak just fine.”

“Well, good for you,” responds the redhead.

“Well, now that we know, you can talk. Tell me about yourself, Wintyr.” Orders the man at the head of the table.

“Um..” I began avoiding his gaze. “I am a new transfer student to the university.”

“What are you studying?”

“Art,” I respond.

“She’s being modest,” interrupts Autumn. “She’s a double major in business and art. My girl is smart. Unlike the rest of you broads.” That last part was said more like a whisper.

“You’re not from the city?”

“No.”

“Where are you from?”

My eyes go to Maddox, who has taken out his phone and seems to be texting. As if by design, one of the girls who was lined up against the wall came forward and started making out with the girl on the stormy-eyed man’s lap. The food arrives not too long after that, and that luckily ends that round of questioning.

I am staving and dig into my plate the moment it is placed in front of me. As I looked up, I saw that no one else had touched their food. I feel like I am missing something and push my plate away with a few bites left. By the time the waiters come back, the plates look identical to when they were placed.

A brown-skinned woman who was dressed like a voodoo shop owner in New Orleans stood and nodded at Declan before being escorted from the room by a man who looked a lot like he could be twins with Mark Anthony.

"So, Wintyr, you never answered my question. Where are you from?" Asked the grey-eyed man.

"Croix. It’s a small town upstate."

"You have family there?"

"Not anymore."

"Not a very talkative one, are you?"

"This is boring, Declan. Nobody cares about this wet blanket. Obviously, she's just some pet project for Autumn." says the redhead, and though I know I don’t like her, I am actually thankful for the interruption.

Declan side-eyed her but didn't respond to her. Instead, he turned the girl on his lap to face him and started making out with her. Maddox and Autumn ignored him completely. I, on the other hand, am embarrassed to say I stare. My eyes stayed glued to them as the kiss deepened. I can feel my throat become dry as the girl gets down on her knees. While I could not see what was happening beneath the table, the unmistakable sound of a zipper was all I needed to know what was about to happen. Declan’s eyes found mine, and he smirked before mouthing join us. I shook my head as a cloudy feeling came over me. I feel myself about to rise from the table when Autumn grabs my arm.

"Maddox, Wintyr, and I have a test in the morning. Can you take us home?" asks Autumn.

Maddox nods and gets to his feet. Autumn doesn’t let go of me as she drags me behind her.

The moment we get into the car, I finally feel the fog in my mind subside. Autumn grabs my hand again as she looks out the window, and I wonder what exactly I have gotten myself into. My mind can’t escape a play-by-play of the night's events. Stormy eyes haunt me until I make it back to my dorm and finally go to sleep.