I Will Always Be By Your Side

Chapter 3: The Manor

Eric’s POV:

I hate formal parties; I am sick of them honestly. I have never understood why we did so many of these. It seems every time anything happened within this family, we had to have a party to celebrate it. I was not even sure what we were having a party for this time. However, knowing that I was going to be able to see some of my old high school friends was a bonus. I understood the dangers of having them as friends and knew why my parents did not like me spending time together with them, it was far too risky. Nevertheless, I missed having them around.

Even though I hated these parties, I could not deny the fact that my mother knew how to throw an event. The main hall was beautiful with flowers cascading down the banister of the grand staircase, the ballroom was bustling with people decorating and putting the final touches to everything. I was not ready. I was walking around in an old pair of joggers and a hoodie. Parties, as fun as they can be, often also provoke profound anxiety and dread, since I hardly ever had anyone to talk to at these things. Furthermore, I had never been good at meeting new people, the idea of having to make small talk made my stomach twist in knots, I always ran out of things to say. I was not confident like my dad; he could walk into any situation and deal with it with such certainty it made it look easy. My siblings had inherited that trait, I had inherited his leadership qualities when it came to dealing with the family and the pack, but meeting new people had always made me pray that the ground would open and swallow me whole.

I walked up and went behind the bar and got myself a beer. As I stood up from the fridge, I was startled by the guy standing in front of the bar. I had not even heard him arrive. He smiled slyly at me, and I grinned with excitement! ‘What are you doing here?’ I said, startled. I had not seen him in years.

‘Your mum never told you, did she? You not even going to offer me a drink?’ he laughed ‘The whole family is here.’ Jaxon was my best friend. Our fathers had been friends since childhood and, because of that, we had been practically raised together. I passed him a beer from the fridge. ‘Come on bro you need to get ready!’ he chuckled and led the way back to the staircase. Knowing that Jonathon and his family would be here was the comfort that I needed.

Chloe’s POV:

I picked up the phone, dialling Abbie again, and voicemail once more. I tried to fix my makeup in the mirror. You could see where I had been crying. Charlie shyly creeped into my room, ‘I didn’t mean for your feelings to get hurt Clo!’ I could feel the tears brewing in my eyes yet again ‘I just feel like it was a bit too much! I hate it when other guys look at you. I know we are not technically together right now, but that does not mean I want to see other lads gawping over you!’

‘I meant what I said Charlie. We are over! You do not have the right to tell me what to do for f**ks sake! I knew it was a bad idea to go with you! Now please go!’ I could hear how shaky my voice was and I could not bear to look at him, so I kept looking in the mirror, making sure not to shed another tear. I knew I would start bawling all over again if I looked at him, and I hated looking weak in front of people.

‘Fine, but please still come to the party Clo, Abbie will be so upset if you do not! I will see you later’, he replied as he left my room. His apology had not even lasted 36 hours before he had gone into another rampage, but this time about the outfit I had on and his worries he had about me at the party and the unwanted attraction I would get.

I looked at the black cocktail dress I had on. I knew I could not go to the party wearing it now that Charlie had ripped into me about it. I loved this dress, but after everything he said I was starting to feel uncomfortable in it.

I opened my wardrobe to look for different options. I sifted through the possible options and then I came across it, the dress my mother had given me for my parents' 30th anniversary party, which was meant to be 5 years ago. Just looking at the dress made the memories of them come flooding back. I took the dress gingerly off the hanger and slipped it on the silky material that felt so smooth on my skin and I could see how beautifully it draped over my body and clung to just the right places. The thin straps made it impossible for me to wear a bra, so I took it off and turned to face the mirror. I had never felt so beautiful and seductive, it was a stunning emerald green that, along with my dark brown hair, really made my blue eyes pop, the low cut neckline showed off my cleavage and the hem of the dress brushed against the floor, the slit from the bottom of the dress to my hip showed off the gold strappy heels I had on.

I looked at myself in the mirror. It was the first time I had put the dress on since my parent’s accident. There is not really a better time to wear it. I thought to myself as I admired my reflection. I retouched my mascara, made sure no tear marks were visible and picked up the black and gold clutch that I had ready on the bed. I looked at my phone and put the details into the taxi app and sat and waited.