Fake Bully, True Crush

Birthday Party

“There you are, you will never know how happy I am to see you,” Noah said when he saw me arrive, and Ava arrived later behind me.

His stormy eyes gazed into mine, turning into cloudy skies. He greeted me happily, it was a surprise for him. He thought I didn’t want to come, I had to repeat that I came for Mia the last million times. But his reaction got me smiling if it wasn’t for the diva that stood behind.

I gave him an uncomfortable smile, but he didn’t notice my unease until he witnessed the blonde behind me. I didn’t want to stall because I could feel Ava’s glare from behind. The last thing I wanted was another fight, I had enough of those.

He had on an olive shirt, half of the first buttons were opened to reveal his pale chest, along with denim jeans, his hair was in a quiff making his jaw even more carved. I didn’t know I was staring until he grabbed onto the bag in my hand, smirking slyly at me as Mia fidgeted beside me. He unwrapped it as he took in the silver tie and although it didn’t quite match what he was wearing, he made sure to wear it around his neck for me as he adjusted the length. It looked good on him, and I smiled warmly at him.

My eyes averted to the party around him, the neon red and white lasers intricated all the attendants, the wide stage took its place in the centre, the double golden doors automatically opened for the guests as the bartenders swayed to the rhythm of the bass, it was a wild party with cushions and a table in the middle for each. There was a bar on the left side with black granite flooring and sparkles on the ceiling. It was dim and dark, the lamented lights barely showing as the neon lasers kept sweeping away on the people as they partied together.

The fiesta had only started as the booths lined up behind the cushions for people to socialize, it was spacious enough for four each booth. It had pretty ribbons from behind and stools for people to sit on. The MC booth was playing hot and heavy music with bass to get the crowded area pumped. It was one for the books type of fiesta, the type that made riled people up in a good way.

I saw Zoey with some guy in her flimsy white dress, the jocks danced goofily with each other, the cheerleaders sipped attentively as they rolled their eyes at other people. There were only few people I recognized; the rest were strangers dancing in the dark.

When we went inside, I noticed Aiden was here early, had taken one booth in the corner, and waved for us to approach him. Aiden was very gallant to Mia, ordered two beers for both of us, I secretly smiled about the gesture. He was really into Mia; anyone could tell that those two had chemistry between them. The eyes talked a lot when they investigated each other, their lips both broke out in wide grins, and I felt like a heavy third wheel.

“I thought you guys couldn’t make it,” Aiden started after he sipped on his drink, Mia’s confusingly glanced at Aiden, “I bumped into Emma at the library, she said that she didn’t go, so I thought you didn’t want to come too.” He ranted adorably towards Mia.

She blushed, looking over at me, and I winked at her secretively. “Oh, we changed our minds.” She simply stated. It was a part of the truth, but the hopeless scene in front of me warmed me to no end. She was head over heels for Aiden.

“I’m glad you did; it would have been boring without you.” Aiden confessed and Mia’s cheeks seemed to protest as they turned scarlet at his statement. His proximity to her made her even more love-stricken than she was already. It was like I was watching a romantic movie.

“I’m glad that I’m here.” I couldn’t believe how much of a hopeless romantic she was. Aiden’s goofy smile to Mia made my heart mush as they stared at each other, he held her hand in his, tangling their fingers.

“You look beautiful, Mia.” He swooned over, and I wiggled my eyebrows at Mia, who had a flushed look to her as she nervously gave his hand a squeeze and he chuckled at her innocence.

“Thank you, you look good as well.” She repeated to him. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. We drank our punch with cheerful smiles after we cheered to being healthy and loved.

As if addressing me once again, Aiden complimented my look and I thanked him before the neon lights stopped and the stage lit up with its own white flashlights.

Noah tapped the punch glass in his hand with a spoon to make his birthday speech, his height charming and his charismatic eyes assessed everyone in delight.

“I am glad that everyone attended this special party, I am thankful for the amazing birthday wishes and the overwhelming love I received today. Thank you for this special memory that I will hold to my heart forever. Cheers to the best parts of life!” He lifts his glass to everyone, and they all copy, lifting theirs in the dimmed lights.

He continued to surprise us with another announcement, “There is a rumor that Ava and I are engaged, it’s NOT true. We never had a date before, and it brings us so much trouble, so I want to clear it here. If any boys want to be Ava’s boyfriend, just show what you could do.” The silence in the air was deafening and I saw Ava running away from the crowd, tears in her eyes. The people gasped as we could hear the glass clinking sounds from the bar and a pin drop, my chest constricted at his open admission. Was that what he meant by time? My doubtful thoughts surrounded me and I found myself staggering to the side.

Ava was heartbroken, the flames in her heart doubled and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. The rage, the volumizing anger that seared through her, and the sadness was nowhere indescribable to what she felt. Her reaction was to retaliate, she wanted revenge at the embarrassment that was caused by her own boyfriend, she locked the bathroom door on herself as she heaved sighs, she cries a lot in frustration as she let out all her emotions in the cubicle, her reaction was raw sadness, the kind where people would die because of it. She clutched at her chest as she sobbed hard in quick breaths. She stood up to adjust her dress as she stomped on the ground in disbelief, her thoughts darkened to the guy that was about to sing. His voice was heard all the way to the bathroom.

I witnessed it all, but I didn’t want to get in trouble, I wanted to leave. In the meantime, Noah started singing, I got that it was a display of affection, I couldn’t leave, I was implanted on the ground as the popular guy sang his heart out, his voice was gorgeous when he sang a romantic slow song. He slowly stepped down on the stage and approached me. Mia and Aiden watched in awe, cuddling together.

‘And baby we found love right where we are.’ He finished the end of the song, he walked to me courageously and looked me in my eyes, I wanted to die right then and there because the next thing he did set me off to eternity. He kissed me softly, his lips moulded into mine like it was meant to be. A spring of sparks going along the edges of a dawn horizon, tumbling through my body and within my existence. He pulled away, our faces close to each other, the light shining into the smoke in his irises as he stared at me in devotion. My tingling lips curved on its own.

The surprise was that I kissed back just as much as he kissed me. It was like my heart acted in its own accord; I was on a high up all the way in cloud nine. I couldn’t make sense of the foreign attached feelings in my body. Maybe I had too much of the drink that I didn’t know what was since Aiden had more knowledge than me. His arms touched mine in a halfway embrace, our lips lightly touched each other again as he whispered the beautiful words that I would never have imagined it to be.

“I love you and I want you to know that.”