It's Still You

Chapter 3: Meet

Staciel

"He did what?!"

"Talia, calm down, will you?" I rubbed both of my temples. It's been 5 minutes since she's been here and I told her everything about what happened last night and this morning.

"I can't! I mean this is so sudden. Yesterday you were just friends and now you two are going to get married," she exclaimed, and I glared at her.

"Look, I didn't agree with all of this and there is no way I'm marrying him. You know I just see him as a friend. Nothing more," I explained, but she only gave me a weird look, so I raised my brow.

"What's wrong with being with him? He got the looks and the money. I'm sure he's gonna be good in bed too," she wiggled her eyebrows.

I scoff," Seriously? Are you even my friend? I do not dream of being in the same bed with him."

"Let's just forget about that for now. You promised that we would shop together," she said, changing the subject.

"Right," I replied. I grabbed my shoulder bag and went outside the house. Talia was already in her car so I opened the passenger seat.

"You know, why don't we go to the bar later? If you really want to forget about him, then drinks are the answer to that," she suggested casually, which made me roll my eyes. Nice try Talia, but I don't want to go there.

"I have already said that many times. The bar is not my thing," I replied. She didn't reply but she just pouted like she usually does. We both were quiet for a while until we were finally here in a mall. We got out after Talia parked her car.

"I want to have a new dress. My birthday party is coming very soon so I want to take the measurements as early as now," she said. We entered inside a dress shop and Talia squealed with excitement as she eyed those beautiful dresses upon entering.

"Good afternoon ladies. What can I do for you?" the woman approached us with her smile.

"What dress is the best here?" Talia asked.

"Please follow me, we have the best dresses here at the back." We followed her towards a separate room and my mouth opened the moment I saw the dress. They look very elegant.

"Oh my god! This is heaven!" Talia exclaimed and she rushed towards the dress designs worn by the mannequin.

"Can I please have your measurements ma'am," the woman said.

Their voices became vague as I stared at the ultramarine colored tube dress that had a V opening in front and a slit on the side which surely exposed a leg. I've been wearing dresses ever since I was a kid, so surely this will look good on me. Raptalia's birthday party will be held next week on their hotel property, so I want to look as elegant as I can.

I heard a gasp behind me, so I turned and saw Talia staring at the dress in front of me.

"Staciel, are you wearing this? This is so perfect for you! Ultramarine suits you the best!" She giggled, which made me smile at her remark.

"Thanks. I guess I'll take this one then," I said.

"I'll take your measurements so I can make adjustments to this dress. Rest assured it will be delivered by Sunday," the woman said to both of us.

After an hour of picking up our dresses, we went to have some food and continued our shopping. Both our hands have paperbags now, so we put all of it on the backseat. It's already 7 in the evening and we are now inside the car ready to go home. Just then, I received a phone notification. It's a message from Jace.

"I just got out from work. I'm on my way to your house. Wanna have dinner together?"

I didn't reply and just stared at his message. I still can't forget how he shamelessly kissed my neck and now that I remember it, an embarrassment suddenly came on me.

"You know what, Talia? Let's just go to that bar you were talking about," I said, and closed my phone before putting it in my pocket.

Talia eyed me suspiciously. "Really? I thought you hated going there? You have said it many times ever since we met. What's with the sudden change of mind?"

"I just want to do something new," I sighed.

"Is something wrong? Does it have to do with Jace?" One thing I noticed about Talia is she's pretty sharp and she can tell immediately if I'm lying or not.

"Let's just go straight away." Talia did a U-turn and even if there were questions visible just by looking at her expressions, she didn't ask away.

The bar is lively just by looking at the entrance. Talia parked the car and we both went out. Now she is grinning from ear to ear and looking at me.

"I don't know what happened between you and Jace, but let's forget all about it. Let's go have a drink just for tonight." She held my right arm and got inside. The place reeks of perfume and alcohol and the loud music is somewhat annoying to my ears. This is my first time. I've been staying in my room reading books for years, so I have to adjust myself to this new environment.

Talia went straight to the counter where the bartender was mixing different kinds of drinks that I was not even familiar with.

"Two glasses of vodka please," Talia pointed at me. Okay, I'm really not familiar with that kind of drink, but I do hope I won't get too drunk later on or my uncle will definitely kill me. He's been so strict with me ever since my parents and my sister died in a car accident. He even went to the point of not buying me a car. He only lets the family driver take me to places I want, with the exception of Talia.

"Do you want to dance?" Talia asked me after she got her second glass of the day. Geez, this girl is a hard drinker. I sipped mine and I felt weird somewhere in my throat.

"I don't dance. I'll just stay here," I said.

"Okay then. I'll be on the dance floor. Hopefully I can find a handsome guy." She winked at me before she disappeared in the crowd.

I scanned my eyes for the whole place. There are a lot of women whose outfits almost look like they are naked and men who flirt with them. In the corner, couples and flings are making out. I suddenly regretted coming there.

"One glass of Martini," a baritone voice made my head turn on his way. He's sitting just a few chairs away from me. He was wearing casual clothes but I can't deny the fact that he looked handsome. He's a bit tan and his hair is messy like he just got out from bed.

He may have noticed my stares because he suddenly turned his head on me and I met his beautiful blue eyes.