Before I knew

Chapter 2

"Maybe I should have got the red dress!" Rachel shouts out from the bathroom. She gets so stressed when we are going to a party. She has to be the hottest girl in the room. She always gets worked up over nothing. All three of my girls are stunning and when we dress up, we look banging if I do say so myself.

"Just wear the black one! Everyone loves a little black dress. Now hurry up we are waiting for you and if I drink any more wine I won't be able to walk through Dan's front door without my legs buckling from under me." I beg her to hurry up as the guys have been standing outside for twenty minutes and I'm on my fourth glass of wine already.

We all check ourselves over one more time in the full-length mirror in Nina's bedroom before we walk downstairs with wobbly legs from heels to high and tight dresses. As seniors, we have to uphold a certain look when it comes to parties. Which us four hate. Give us our jeans back. The boys are dressed smartly too. We walk to the party as Nina's house is only ten minutes away from Dan's which means when I'm drunk later I don't have very far to walk before I crash out in Nina's huge bed. No doubt Rachel will go home with Zack and Alex will probably get picked up and drop Esme home as they only live a few doors down from each other. That's if neither of them gets with someone. It is our senior year, after all, anything could happen.

"So Alex, Chrissy tonight yeah?" Esme teases Alex.

"Oh and the endless jokes of this evening begin, starting early there Es." I laugh loudly at myself even if no one else thinks so, I'm a funny girl.

"You're starting on the bottles early tonight as well I can see, so how about keep your mouth quite before you say something you'll regret. Loverboy isn't here tonight Mads" Alex's voice is harsh. I stop in my step and the whole group goes quiet while Alex walks ahead. We all share the same look before our heads snap back to our friend wondering off.

I realize I've done something wrong, Alex gets to Dan's door before I do and I jog inside following behind him leaving my friends a few paces behind me.

"Alex! wait up stop walking off!" I shout and push through a crowd. My heels are not on my side. They are not made to chase your pissed off mate through a party.

He finally stops as he gets to the kitchen as turns on his heels, glaring into my eyes. Yet, it feels like he is looking straight through me.

"What Maddison?" His words sharp and cold. Why is he so angry at me, the whole group made jokes about him and Chrissy. we all know he respects himself enough not to go with a girl like her. Also, why did he mention the fact that Edward is not here?

"I just wanted to apologize I know you are not going to get with Chrissy, you're not like that." My voice is sincere and I'm leaning my weight on his shoulder with my hand as my feet start to ache and the buzz from the wine wears off. I need another drink. He still just stares at me, I can't figure out what is going on in his mind behind those eyes. Those eyes again, they are so beautiful. I lean into him and give him a hug. He smiles at me.

"Want a drink, might help the ache of those shoes," he asks me passing me a cup full of what smells like rum. I smile and take the cup. Take a big gulp and instantly regret it as the taste makes me screw up my face. Alex giggles at me.

"I've got to look at least normal height, I'm a senior now I honestly don't think I'm growing anymore, could I borrow some of your tall man genes. you're huge" I gesture to the height difference between me and my close friend even though I'm in heels that give me about 7 inches on top of my tiny size. A smirk appears on his face and I realize what I've said and felt my eyes roll as I prepare myself for his ego-boosting comment.

"You know it baby, but you'll never get the chance to witness just how huge," he says mimicking my use of the word huge adding more emphasis than I did. I go to bite my lip at enjoying his flirtatious behavior before snapping myself out of his glare and turn round going to find the girls.

"You'll never be able to keep up with me Alexander, don't kid yourself," I say over my shoulder as I walk away wiggling my hips at him. He keeps calm and throws a little wink my way. I look away feeling my face burn up and heart race a little. I hate when he does that to me. Ever since we met me and Alex have always picked on each other and joked about getting with each other but it's only jokes. Only jokes Mads.

"Have you and Alex sorted it out now?" Nina staring at me.

"Of course he's just being a little b***h, as usual, he loves me really. I mean I'm one of his best friends he can't get angry at me, not really." I stare back at him through the crowd and I realize he is still watching me whilst talking to Dan.

Another dozen drinks down and I'm on the table in the garden dancing with Rachel. I love the buzz from drinking, it warms my body and makes me feel alive. However, I fast regret the table idea as my foot slips and I fall off the table. I scream and close my eyes shut as I fall. I'm caught by strong arms and spun around and held against someone's body. My legs and arms are wrapped around the random body.

"Were you having fun up there little one, someone with your body capacity probably shouldn't try to keep up with the big kids" Alex's voice is whispering in my ear, my eyes still closed shut. As I open them and look at him he shouts and laughs.

"Well then, back up you go!" His laughter filling my ears as he throws me up into the air never letting me go before pulling me back down. My head was thrown back with playful screams and laughter.

"Alexander! Put me down!" He lowers me down. My body slides down his till my feet are on the floor. I steady myself, never losing eye contact with Alex. I can stare into his eyes all day. I adore how playful he is. I feel his arms still on my shoulders. His hands are warm on my cold skin. We are slowly getting closer to each other again without realizing. His mouth just an inch away from mine and I can feel his breath against me. My eyes flutter shut.

"Mads! Mads! It's your phone, it's Edward" I'm Snapped out of my gaze with Alex as Esme is waving my phone in my face, I turn around and answer the phone.

"Hello?" I say still lost in my own thoughts.

"Hey darling, how's Dan's party? Wish I could have come down for your first senior party I bet you look stunning" Edward's voice is excited and I can tell he wants me to play along but I find myself turning around looking and trying to find where Alex so quickly ran off too. I manage to let out a laugh and a small respond.

"It's good, wish you were here too."

Giving up looking for where Alex disappeared to, guessing he has probably just gone to play beer pong with the guys or get another drink considering I think he dropped his when he caught me. I stay on the phone with Edward for some time, then all my friends stumble over to me laughing about some joke I have not been let in on yet.

"I've got to go now. I'll call you tomorrow, I miss you" I say to Edward before hanging up the phone.

"What is so funny?" I ask Zack, who is in stitches. He tried to get a response out but holds a hand up for me to wait for him to get his breath back before probably telling me a lame story starting with 'one of the guys just..' Finally he starts to speak.

"I swear to God, Esme has a crystal ball or something hidden in that purse of hers. You should charge people to tell them how their night will end Es."

"What are you on about Zack?" I ask, Nina and Esme's faces looking just as lost as mine.

"We were coming out of the toilet upstairs and we saw Chrissy walk into a bedroom with our loving little Alex." Rachel fills us in while Zack is still crying with laughter.

My jaw has dropped open, I slowly shut it hoping no one noticed my response. I feel a horrible tug at the pit of my stomach, I start feeling sick. Maybe it's the drink.

I lean into Nina, who thankfully looks just as shocked as me.

"I think it's time to go home now" Es gestures to me and Nina. we both nod. I can't manage words right now.

So much for self-respect, Alex.