Almost Always You

Chapter 2

I showered a little later and decided that I would go to the party. I wasn't tired, and I didn't want to get bored sitting alone in my room.

I decided to wear a white turtleneck crop top with a plaid black skirt. I paired it with matching white high-heeled boots and a gold-plated necklace. I did minimal makeup and was ready to go.

Mercy was wearing a black top and grey suit pants. She didn't even wear any makeup, but she was still gorgeous.

"The frat house is just down the street. We can just walk," she said.

I nodded.

We made our way out. When we reached the street, we heard loud music coming from somewhere nearby.

"Come on, Ella. The party has already started."

Mercy started walking faster.

How in the world can she walk this fast in those heels?

I tried to keep up with her, and we entered the house.

There was a DJ and a dance floor where people were grinding against each other. Balloons were scattered across the floor, and a big "Happy Birthday" banner was hung on the wall.

"Ella! You made it!" James said.

He was drunk. He put his hand on my shoulder and introduced me to his friends.

"This is Harry, Josh, Michael, and Pete."

They all said hi to me. I waved and gave them all a small smile. They started talking about football, and that was my cue to leave.

James was so drunk that he didn't even realize I had walked away.

I went to the kitchen and took a cup. I made sure it was unused before filling it with water.

Yes! I've had alcohol before, but I didn't want to drink tonight, especially with all these unfamiliar people around me. James was wasted, and I didn't bother going near him.

I saw Mercy sitting on the couch, looking around.

"Hey! I thought I'd lost you. Where were you? And you're already drinking?" she asked.

"Nope. It's just water. I didn't want to get drunk. Where's Peter, by the way? I thought he would be here."

"He's probably upstairs getting laid. Trust me, there are more gay men around here than straight ones. I'm going to get a drink for myself. Do you want something?"

"No. I'm good."

"Your loss," she said.

She got up and left.

"Watch where you're going, nerd," someone said behind me.

The voice was so familiar, but I was too scared to turn around. I thought that if I didn't look, maybe it wouldn't be the person I was expecting.

"Shut up," Mercy said as she flipped someone off and walked away.

The person stepped in front of me, and I was shocked. I couldn't move.

He stood there in all his glory. He had gained some more muscle since the last time I saw him. He was so tall and handsome as hell.

It was none other than my childhood crush, Alexander Matthews.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" he asked.

Oh my God! He got a tongue piercing.

"Hey! I'm attending this college. My parents thought it would be a good idea for me to stay near James since he can take care of me, but it looks like I've got to take care of him," I said, pointing toward James, who was now making out with some girl.

He laughed.

"When did you get this? Last time I checked, it wasn't there." He pointed toward my belly piercing.

"Got it last year on my birthday. I wanted to do something daring. My mum doesn't know. When did you get your tongue pierced?" I asked, smiling.

"When I moved here. So, how are you feeling? Do you like the party?"

"Yup! Just not sure whose birthday it is. I'm at a stranger's party with my drunk brother."

He laughed.

God! I missed his laugh. I missed his voice. I missed him.

"You're not at a stranger's party. It's my birthday."

And now I remembered. I knew his birthday. I wished him every year except for the last two years since he had moved to London. I had completely forgotten about today with all the travelling and unpacking.

"Happy birthday, Xander!" I said.

Only I called him Xander. He loved it when I called him that back then. Everyone else called him Alexander or Alex, but only I used to call him Xander.

His expression changed when I called him that.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you that."

"No, El. You're still the only one who gets to call me that," he said, giving me a genuine smile. "Thanks for coming."

"Sorry I didn't bring any gift. I didn't know it was your birthday party, and James never told me. Are you guys friends again?"

"It's alright, El. And what happened between James and me was a long time ago. It's all in the past."

As we were talking, a beautiful girl with red hair came toward Xander and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hey, babe! What are you doing here? I missed you," she said, planting small kisses on his neck.

I looked away because I felt weird. I didn't know why.

"I was talking to her. This is Ella, James's sister. El, this is Nikki."

"Hey, Ella. Nice to meet you," Nikki said, giving me a big smile.

"Hey! Nice to meet you too, Nikki."

"Come on, babe. Let's dance," Nikki said, pulling Xander toward the dance floor.

They started dancing, and I sat down on the couch again. Xander kept glancing toward me from time to time, and I got goosebumps every time he looked my way.

I sat there thinking about the time I had the biggest crush on Xander.

He was James's best friend. I'd been seeing him around my house for as long as I could remember. He and James were like brothers. They did everything together.

Xander was very protective of me. Whenever Mum and Dad were out, he would come to our house to play with James. James never let me play with them, but Xander would insist that James let me join them too.

He was really sweet. I always liked him.

I remembered when I was nine. James had broken his hand, and Mum took him to the hospital, leaving Xander and me behind. Xander was only a year older than me, but he took care of me.

"Let's play prince and princess, please, Alex. James never lets me play with him," I said, giving him puppy-dog eyes.

"Okay, but you have to call me Prince Xander."

"Yes!! I'll be trapped in my castle, and you'll come and save me."

I climbed up to my treehouse and pushed the stairs away.

"Prince Xander, please come and save me. Please," I said, pretending to cry.

"I'm coming, my princess. I'll save you. Don't worry."

He pulled the stairs toward the treehouse and held them tightly.

"Come down, my sweet princess. I won't let you fall."

I carefully walked down the stairs, and I hugged him as soon as I reached the ground.

"Thank you, sweet Prince, for saving me," I said.

"Won't I get a kiss for saving you?"

I shyly kissed him on the cheek.

"Didn't you see that Disney movie where the prince and princess kiss on the lips?" he said.

I got on my toes, since he was taller than me, and gave him a peck on the lips.

"Thank you, Prince Xander, for saving me," I said.

It was my first kiss, even though it was just a little peck. I fell head over heels for him from that day on.

I blushed at the memory.

I looked toward the dance floor. Xander was still looking at me, and this time, he gave me his cute, dimpled smile.

I blushed even more.

Xander had been a playboy in high school. He used to sleep around, and it was hurtful to hear him boast about it to James and their friends.

Xander and James had a huge fight during their junior year of high school. Xander had stopped fooling around and was constantly with a girl named Riley for six months.

But one day, James got drunk and slept with Riley at a party.

Xander was furious. He stopped talking to James. He stopped coming over to our house and completely distanced himself from James.

Before their senior year started, Xander came to our house to say goodbye to James. He told us that he was moving to London because his dad has starteda new business, so he would be completing his senior year there.

James and Xander talked everything out.

We both went to the airport to say goodbye to Xander. I was really sad, but I didn't want to cry in front of everyone because no one knew that I liked Xander.

I cried for weeks in my room.

After school started, I moved on with my life.