Just Friends

Chapter 17

Lilly walked next to Courtney as their group left the apartment. The guys behind them and she could tell all of them had their eyes on her. Or at least it felt like it. Her cheeks refused to return to their natural color.

They all squeezed into the elevator, Lilly between Cameron and Aaron. Courtney by Cameron and Jaxon in front of them. Lilly felt Cameron’s finger tips brush her hand and she found herself pulling away.

Getting out of the elevator was a breath of fresh air. She stuck close to Courtney who seemed to be slightly avoiding Cameron. That struck her as odd considering she’d been practically forcing herself on him. She ignored it.

Courtney ordered an Uber, one big enough for all of them. She whispered to Lilly that she’d sneak her drinks. Lilly smiled, a shot or two should help with the nerves dancing around in her stomach.

Medusa’s was a crowed, loud, colorful place. Courtney had somehow been able to skip the line and bring the rest of her group in despite people in line being angry about it. She directed the group to a table on the second floor and told Lilly she’d be back. Aaron went along to get drinks for the guys.

“I can’t wait until I’m 21.” Jaxon groaned, his face a half scowl. “2 more months, it can’t come fast enough.”

“At least it’s months and not years.” Cameron rebutted, he and Lilly needed 2 more years.

Lilly kept quiet and pretended to be watching for Courtney. She came back a few minutes later with a whole tray of shots. Lilly’s eyes went wide.

“How in the world did you get all that?”

“It’s a sample tray for a party.” She grinned, her eyes moving from one shot to the next. “And I know the owner.”

“Which one can I have?”

“One? You’re having at least 4! Pick which ever you want, girl.”

Lilly downed shots with Courtney and ended up on the dance floor with her. Jaxon found himself a cute redhead and the other two watched over the girls. Aaron couldn’t keep his eyes off Lilly and Cameron sat there sulking.

Two hours of dancing and Courtney pulled her off to the side to get more drinks. Lilly glanced over at the guys and found them no longer in their spot. She chalked it up to maybe them finding a nice woman to dance with.

A pang a jealous and hurt stabbed at her. Things weren’t going the way she had imagined college would be. She didn’t get to think it over too much as Courtney returned with drinks. She managed to carry two shots in each hand and gave two to Lilly.

“I think I’m good after these.” Lilly slurped down a blue colored one.

“Aw, come on, the night is young.” She finished off both drinks and motioned for Lilly to finish hers.

“I’m serious!” She laughed and swallowed her final shot of the night.

“Hey, do you have any idea how to get Cameron to stop being a jerk to me?”

Her heart thudded in her chest, she didn’t want to talk about him. Not with her and especially not on how to get them together.

“Uh, not really.”

“It’s just, I like him a lot and he keeps trying to push me away.”

“If he’s treating you badly, you should find someone who will do better. You deserve that, Courtney.”

Lilly let her eyes scan the room, her body exhausted from dancing. Even from across the night club she managed to lock eyes with Cameron. They were heated, emotional. She felt her breath hitch and her body reacted to him almost instantly.

“Aw! You’re so sweet Lilly.” She got emotional and hugged her. “But he will be mine. I mean, have you seen the size of his-”

“I’ll be right back.” Effectively cutting her off; She needed space.

Lilly headed for the first exist she found and sucked in the cool night air. She side stepped to avoid being hit by the door in case someone else came out and rested her back on the old bricks of the building.

“Lilly? Something wrong?”

She glanced over to see Aaron who had crushed out a cigarette and waved a hand to disperse the smoke that lingered. She didn’t know how to answer him.

“Yes and no.” Was the best she came up with. “I’m fine, though.”

He closed the gap between them, she could almost feel the heat radiating off him.

“One more thing I didn’t notice about you.” She tried to lighten the mood and get things off her.

“Smoking? I do it when I have to come to places like this.”

“How come?” She tilted her head to the side, her fingers pulling at the tips of her hair.

“The crowds get to be too much sometimes.” His eyes lifted to the sky, then back down to her. “Why are you out here?”

“Needed some fresh air, I guess.”

“You feel okay? Courtney can be a heavy drinker.”

“Yea, I noticed.” A short giggle. “I had to secretly toss some of the shots. I don’t know how she handles it.”

“She doesn’t.” He pulled out his phone to check the time. “In about 45 minutes Cameron will have to practically carry her out.”

Lilly’s smile completely fell, her head pointing to the ground and she used her hair to shield herself from Aaron’s eyes. It sounded like the two of them were a frequent occurrence. Even if Cameron didn’t come here with her, was he picking her up? Carrying her back to his place, to his bed?