A One Night Stand Turned Complicated

Chapter 5

Alice was here again this weekend.

And Camille knew it had to do with Jace.

It shouldn't hurt that Alice only decided to visit her just so that she could see her boyfriend. Their bond was slipping away, and Camille didn’t know how to stop it.

Camille had just come from her classes, tired, and entered her apartment to see Alice lounging on her couch. Her sister was watching T.V. and snuggling up to her cat, Sonic. Alice glanced up when she heard the door open and smiled sheepishly.

"Surprise," Alice whispered.

“Hey sis,” Camille greeted as she closed the door behind her.

“I hope you don’t mind that I decided to pop by for a visit,” Alice said as she came over and gave Camille a hug.

“You know I wish you’d come by more,” Camille said, hugging her sister back. Although she wished Alice would come for her and not someone else.

As she watched Alice head back to sit on the couch, Camille recalled what their mom had said on the phone

“Why didn’t you tell me that you got fired?”

Alice looked up, surprised. “How did you find out?” she asked.

Camille gave her a look. “Mom told me.”

“I can’t believe Mr.Jackson called her,” Alice muttered.

“Well he has known mom forever,” Camille pointed out. “Why would you even lie to me like that, Alice?”

A sad expression flickered onto Alice’s face. “Don’t be mad at me, Cammy.”

“I’m not mad, Alice,” Camille said, going to sit by her sister on the couch. “I just don’t see why you needed to lie.”

Alice sighed, dropping her head onto Camille’s shoulder. “I know. I’m sorry. I just felt awful about it. I mean here you are doing so well in college…and I’m getting fired from a grocery store.”

Camille sighed. “You’re still figuring things out, Alice. You don’t need to be so hard on yourself.”

Alice gave her a small smile. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just hard to remember that sometimes.”

Camille nodded. "Mom said you’ve been missing lately," Camille began gently, “Coming home late or whatever.”

Alice gave Camille a look. "How would mom know that? She’s barely even home," she muttered bitterly.

"Hey,” Camille began, “You know mom’s been using work to cope with dad…" Camille trailed off.

Alice sighed. "Yeah, I know but…” she trailed off, shaking her head." Nevermind,” Alice sighed, then a broad smile appeared on her lips. “Anyway Cammy, you are coming with me tonight, right?"

Camille glanced at her sister and raised an eyebrow. "Coming where?"

Alice gave her a pointed look. "You know where. You need to come with me to see Jace and his band play tonight at Hal’s."

Camille blinked. Oh no. "And why would I need to do that?"

Alice sighed. "Because mom has been getting on my case about my attitude and my life…and if you see how great Jace is then she won't think that I can't make good choices anymore.”

Camille wanted to tell her sister that Jace was far from a good choice.

“I mean the only opinion that matters to her is yours anyway,” Alice continued, rolling her eyes.

Camille stared at her sister. "That's not true, Alice."

"Whatever,” Alice muttered.

Slightly annoyed, Camille responded, " Fine I’ll go,” she sighed. “But I'm bringing Chanelle."

Alice nodded then stared smugly at the TV.

Camille reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell. After a couple rings, Chanelle answered.

"Hey girlie," her best friend answered chirpily.

"Hey Nelly, I have a favor to ask."

"Anything sweetheart, ask away," Chanelle said dramatically and Camille had to smile.

"Will you come with me to Hal's to see this band?"

"Does this mean what I think it does?" her friend responded.

"What?" Camille asked.

"I get to meet you-know-who?" Chanelle paused for a second and Camille rolled her eyes. "The one who has a hot body, is a great kisser and lover and has a huge—"

"Yes that one!" Camille almost shouted to interrupt her. She heard her friend laughing.

"Of course I'll be there."

"Yay, thanks for coming, Nelly."

She heard her friend scoff. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, my dear. Trust me. Tata for now."

Camille laughed at her friend's antics and hung up the phone.

She glanced at her sister, to see her staring intently at the television screen.

"So, Chanelle is coming right?" Alice deadpanned.

"Yes she is, and whatever stupid rivalry thing you guys have going on, just drop it okay?"

Alice raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

“I'm taking a shower."

Alice nodded before saying, "Thanks again for coming. Cammy."

Camille couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t a good idea.

She hopped into the shower and ten minutes later was out. She pulled on black jeans, a red tank top and applied a bare amount of makeup before deciding to leave her hair down.

She had no one to impress, although something inside screamed 'liar!'

When she left her room, her sister was nowhere to be seen. After twenty minutes, Alice finally emerged.

Camille's eyes widened at her sister's appearance. Her brunette hair was curled; her brown eyes were accentuated by heavy mascara. A dramatic shade of red was present on her lips and she was wearing a denim mini-skirt and a pink halter-top with wedge heels.

Camille wanted to tell her to change, but she had to remind herself that Alice was a whole twenty years old and could do whatever she wanted. Even though they were only two years apart, Camille had always felt much older and had grown up very protective of her sister. And this outfit screamed ‘desperate’ to her.

“How do I look?” Alice asked, grinning.

Camille bit her tongue and told Alice she approved.

~0~

They entered Hal's and glanced around. The band had set-up but weren't playing. But music played from the stereos located around the bar.

Camille spotted Jace laughing with the pretty, blue-eyed bartender behind the bar.

What an asshole.

First, her, and now he was flirting with another girl, while he was with her sister.

Unbelievable.

She knew that talking to Alice would be futile. Her sister was stubborn once her mind was made up. But she hoped she would see his asshole behavior herself.

Instead, Alice ran straight into his arms.

Camille sighed, rolled her eyes and flipped open her cell. Her fingers were poised to call her friend when she felt the hair on her neck standing up. She glanced up to see Jace. His grey eyes had darkened once again and his gaze was intense. She swallowed hard.

"Camille!" a squeal came from behind. Camille smiled in relief as she turned to see her friend and hugged her.

"Hey Chanelle!”

"So, where is he?" Chanelle asked, not beating around the bush. Camille shook her head and pointed at the bar.

Chanelle seemed disgusted to see Alice hanging all over Jace.

Or maybe that was her own feelings she was interpreting?

"Well, damn. Camille finally caught herself a hot one," Chanelle teased.

Camille gave her friend a look.

Chanelle laughed. "Let’s go introduce me to him, " she said and before Camille could respond, her friend grabbed her arm and dragged her to the bar.

Camille could still feel his gaze on her and she caught his eyes and held it. She wasn't going to back down.

Alice looked displeased that he was distracted and turned to see who had caught his attention. When she saw Camille walking over with Chanelle, a glint appeared in her eye.

"Jacey," Alice cooed as they approached, "this is my sister as you already know, and her friend Chanelle."

Chanelle held out her hand. "Best friend, actually. We’re practically sisters."

Jace took Chanelle's hand and brushed his lips against them. "Good to know," he replied in that silky voice of his.

From her peripheral vision, Camille saw her sister glaring hard at Chanelle.

"My, my, Jace. You certainly have a way with those lips of yours." Chanelle told him sweetly.

Camille knew she had just said that to piss Alice off.

"So I've been told," Jace responded, smirking, before turning his attention to her. "Camille," Jace greeted.

"Jace," she responded, coldly.

“So Jace, how long have you been with the band?” Chanelle asked. “I mean I’m surprised you’re not a model instead.”

Camille could see how much Alice was fuming as she grabbed onto Jace possessively.

She knew she needed to diffuse the situation before her best friend did something to make her sister even more upset.

"Okay, well, Chanelle, how about we get ourselves a drink," Camille said as she dragged her friend to the bar. They sat on the stools and ordered from the bartender. The same bartender who Jace had been flirting with earlier.

Camille tried to ignore that part.

"Oh hey, I remember you," the bartender told Camille. "You were here on Valentine’s Day, right?" she asked.

Camille’s eyes widened before she laughed nervously, trying not to feel embarrassed. "Yes I was. You must have really good memory or something."

Or had Camille just looked that desperate that night for her to remember?

The girl laughed. "Oh no, nothing like that." She smiled softly, and there was something sparkling in her eyes."I'm Katherine."

"I'm—"

"Camille," Katherine interrupted. "Yeah I know. Here are your drinks. On the house." And before Camille could say another word, Katherine walked off to attend to another customer.

Dazed, she turned to Chanelle.

"Well she seemed….nice," Chanelle said. Camille nodded. She couldn't make sense of what had just happened. But at least Katherine did seem nice.

Although…why was the girl Jace was flirting with being nice to her? If Katherine really did remember her from Valentine’s Day, she must’ve seen when Camille had left with him that night.

Another blush erupted on her cheeks. She decided not to think about it anymore as she sipped her drink and chatted with Chanelle.

Soon the lights darkened around the bar before brightening on the stage. Camille hadn't realized that the band was already on the stage and was about to start playing.

They began playing some slow songs, and Camille and Chanelle gravitated towards the area near the stage and began swaying. Camille tried to ignore the thrill that ran through her as she watched Jace sing.

Alice was at the front of the stage looking ready to jump on it at any moment.

Camille didn’t know what to do with her.

As the songs picked up, Camille soon found herself dancing feverishly and before she knew it guys were coming up to dance with her. She quickly lost track of Chanelle and Alice in the midst of it all.

All the while, she couldn’t stop herself from imagining she was dancing with Jace. She didn't even try to brandish the thoughts out of her mind. She would just take her shame in the morning.

Camille was so lost in dancing that she didn't even realize that she was no longer near the stage but in a rather secluded area. Some guy had pushed her against a wall and was now kissing her neck rather aggressively before his lips moved to hers.

Camille almost gagged.

The kiss was horrendous.

Sloppy and wet.

The guy had no technique or patience and was just grounding his lips into hers. Before she could begin to protest, his lips disappeared and she sighed in relief and wiped his saliva off. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Jace staring intensely at her.

She was about to thank him…when his lips captured hers. She sighed in bliss and closed her eyes. Now, this was a guy who knew how to kiss. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

He pulled his lips away from her, his breathing ragged. "Do you know how it feels to see you grinding your ass against every guy who touches it?"

She swallowed hard, her pulse racing.

His hand slipped under her top and began caressing her already heated skin. A delicious thrill shot through her.

His lips returned to hers and she moved her hips against his. He groaned and nipped at her lips until she opened her mouth. His tongue darted in and caressed hers, and her fingers drifted towards his hair and pulled him even closer. He pulled his mouth away from hers.

"A f*****g siren…" She heard him mutter against her lips, she didn't care. Camille didn't want to think about what she was doing. He kissed her softly once more, before she felt his body heat disappearing.

She opened her eyes to see that she was alone in the corner of the bar.

It felt like a slap to her face. Not only did it sting, but she could also feel the guilt creeping up on her.

What had she just done?

She needed to get out of here.

She looked around for Alice and saw her leaning against Jace, his arms wrapped around her.

It was as if he had always been right there.

Another slap.

She walked hurriedly towards them, refusing to hold his gaze as she felt it burning into her. She grabbed Alice from out of his grasp and then turned to Jace.

Her hand burned as she slapped him hard on his cheek. The sound loud and shocking.

She hoped it would leave a bruise.

She dragged a stunned Alice out of Hal's.

Camille ignored her sister as Alice began screaming at her, letting out a string of curses. Camille made a promise to herself then that that asshole would never be in their lives again.

But what she didn’t see was Jace's smug smile afterwards, and she certainly didn't see her best friend's calculating gaze.