Falling

Chapter 11

By eight o’clock, Anna and I are standing outside karaoke Bar which is also our workplace.

Not tonight though.

Tonight we are customers.

“You look nervous,” Anna says.

“I’m not nervous.”

Why would I be nervous? It’s literally just Dean!

“You changed outfits four times.”

“Five.”

She smirks.

“For Dean?”

“No.”

“Margaux.”

“ANNA don’t start!”

She bursts out laughing.

“I’m kidding.”

“You’re evil.”

“And you wore lip gloss.”

“I always wear lip gloss.”

“You reapplied it three times.”

Traitor.

Before I can defend myself, a familiar black pickup pulls up.

And suddenly…

I forget how to breathe.

Dean climbs out.

Oh.

Oh, that’s unfair.

He’s wearing black jeans.

Black Henley.

Sleeves rolled up.

Hair messy.

Bruises scattered across his face.

The i***t looks even hotter now.

Luke jumps out after him.

“Ladies!”

Then Declan appears.

Anna actually stops walking.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because Declan Maxwell cleaned up nicely.

Navy button-down.

Dark jeans.

Perfect smile.

And he’s carrying flowers.

Flowers.

Anna blinks.

“So you are capable of being civilized.”

Declan grins.

“Surprising, isn’t it?”

He offers her the small bunch of daisies.

“Peace offering.”

“For what?”

“For flirting too much earlier.”

Anna stares.

“Those are daisies.”

“They reminded me of you.”

“Why?”

“They looked pretty and seemed slightly judgmental.”

I snort.

Anna laughs despite herself.

“You are ridiculous.”

“And yet…”

She rolls her eyes.

But she takes the flowers.

Declan beams like she handed him the moon.

Cute.

Disgustingly cute.

Dean appears beside me.

“So.”

“So.”

“Ready?” he asks.

“For public humiliation?”

“For art.”

He grins.

“Don’t worry, I am going to rock your world!”

Excuse me?

Rock my world?

My breath hitches.

I am sure he didn’t mean it like that…but all I can think about is Dean Sinclair.

Shirtless.

“I’m worried.”

He grins.

His hand settles on my lower back.

Gentle.

Casual.

Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

And I swear…

Every nerve ending in my body catches fire.

It’s nothing.

It’s just Dean.

Just Dean.

Except…

His hand stays there.

And somehow he moves closer.

Close enough that I can smell cedarwood.

Close enough that his shoulder brushes mine.

Close enough that my stupid heart starts acting like we’re in a romance movie.

Anna catches my expression.

And her eyes widen.

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

Because she immediately turns to Declan.

“Race you inside if you lose you buy me a drink.”

Before I can protest, she grabs his hand and runs.

Declan nearly trips.

“My lady, we’re holding hands already?”

“Shut up and run!”

“I LOVE THIS WOMAN!”

“YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ME!”

“I KNOW ENOUGH!”

Luke watches them disappear.

“Well.”

“Yep,” Dean says.

Luke points between us.

“You two gonna stand there making eyes at each other or are we going inside?”

I nearly choke.

“We are not - ”

Dean smirks.

“Making eyes?”

Luke snorts.

“It’s disgusting.”

“Jealous?” Dean asks.

“Violently.”

Dean laughs.

And I hate -

Absolutely hate -

How much I love that sound.

Then he looks at me.

Really looks at me.

And suddenly the world feels smaller.

Quieter.

Just me.

And him.

“Come on, babydoll.”

His voice is warm.

Low.

Dangerously warm.

“We’ve got songs to butcher.”

I blame Dean.

Entirely.

Because there is absolutely no reason one human being should look that good under cheap karaoke bar lighting.

It should be illegal.

Hours ago, I’d been perfectly capable of functioning.

Now?

Not so much.

The night has stretched on around us. Songs have come and gone, drinks have been replaced, and somehow Dean has ended up beside me again.

Not that he ever really left.

He’s leaning against the counter beside me, one elbow resting behind my stool, his body close enough that every time he laughs, his shoulder brushes mine.

And every single time it happens, my brain forgets how to function.

Stupid brain.

Stupid Dean.

Stupid cedarwood smell.

“You okay baby?”

I blink.

“Yeah why?”

Dean grins.

“Just checking to see how much damage the martinis have done.”

He laughs.

“I will have you know that I’m perfectly fine.” I can practically hear the tipsy words come put of my mouth.

“Right.”

“What about you Mr Sinclair? Are you drunk?”

“Nope, I’m driving remember. ”

“Oh, right.”

His smile softens.

“I like you!”

What the f**k Margaux?

Regret smacks me right in the face.

Why would I say that!!!!

“Oh, do you?”

My heart stumbles.

Because his voice -

It’s quieter.

Gentler.

Like he’s talking only to me.

Butterflies.

An entire zoo of butterflies.

He notices me staring.

And his eyes drop.

To my lips.

My breath catches.

His smile disappears.

My pulse starts hammering.

Oh.

Oh no.

He’s looking at me like…

No.

No, Dean doesn’t look at girls like that.

Dean Sinclair doesn’t do serious.

Dean Sinclair definitely doesn’t stare at me like I’m the only thing in the room.

Right?

“Margaux.”

His voice is rough.

Way too rough.

“Hm?”

“Tell me to stop.”

“What?”

“Looking at you.”

I swallow.

Because I can’t.

I absolutely cannot.

Because I don’t want him to stop.

Because his hand has somehow ended up on my knee.

Because he’s close.

Really close.

Close enough that I can count the freckles on his nose.

Close enough to kiss.

Close enough that I think…

I think he might actually kiss me.

And the terrifying part?

I think I’d let him.

His forehead nearly touches mine.

“Dean…”

“Yeah?”

“People are watching.”

“I don’t care.”

Neither do I.

I should.

But I don’t.

His thumb strokes softly against my leg.

And my stomach flips.

“You’re dangerous, you know that?” I whisper.

He smiles.

“You have no idea.”

“Dean - ”

“Margaux.”

His eyes flick down again.

My heart is trying to escape my chest.

He’s going to kiss me.

He’s actually…

“DEAN!”

The voice cuts through the moment.

A blonde blur appears beside us.

Georgia.

His ex-fling.

The gorgeous blonde from second year.

The girl every female on campus hates.

Fantastic.

Absolutely fantastic.

She throws her arms around him before he can react.

“Baby!”

Dean practically jumps.

“What the hell?!”

Georgia laughs.

“Wow. Rude.”

Dean immediately peels her off him.

“G-Georgia?”

She beams.

“There’s my favorite boy.”

Declan closes his eyes.

“Oh no.”

Anna blinks.

“She’s pretty.”

Declan looks personally offended.

“Anna, darling, don’t encourage evil.”

Georgia ignores everyone.

Completely.

She grabs Dean’s face between her hands.

“Miss me?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“Georgia, seriously.”

“You never call.”

“Because I don’t want to.”

She gasps dramatically.

“You wound me.”

Dean looks exhausted already.

“Why are you here?”

“To see you, obviously.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Georgia.”

“Dean.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Please don’t do this.”

She pouts.

“You used to like when I did this.”

“Used to being the key word.”

“Ouch.”

She notices me then.

Her eyes narrow slightly.

“Oh.”

Oh no.

She smiles.

Too sweet.

“Who’s this?”

“Margaux,” Dean answers immediately.

“Cute.”

I force a smile.

“Hi.”

Georgia studies me for a second.

Then she grins.

“Oh, I know who you are.”

My stomach drops.

“You do?”

“Of course. You’re the girl he - ”

“Georgia,” Dean warns.

She laughs.

“What? Relax.”

Then she hooks her arm through his.

“Come dance with me.”

“No.”

“Dean.”

“No, Georgia.”

“One song.”

“No.”

“Half a song.”

“No.”

“Thirty seconds?”

“Georgia - ”

“Please?”

Dean sighs like a man facing his execution.

“Fine. Thirty seconds.”

She cheers triumphantly.

“I knew you still loved me.”

“I absolutely did not say that.”

She drags him toward the dance floor anyway.

Dean twists around immediately.

“Margaux, don’t go anywhere, alright?”

My heart skips.

Georgia groans.

“Oh my God, she’s not a toddler.”

Dean ignores her.

“Seriously. I’ll be right back.”

And then he’s gone.

Not willingly.

But gone.

I stare after them.

Noah appears beside me.

“Margs.”

I turn.

Those familiar brown eyes.

The boy I’ve liked for years.

The boy I’ve imagined kissing.

The boy who always made my heart race.

And somehow…

My mind betrays me.

Because all I can think is…

They’re not green.

No.

No.

Absolutely not.

I shove that thought away immediately.

Noah smiles softly.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“Sure! ”

“Great, what’s your poison?”

And just like that…

Butterflies.

Comfortable.

Safe.

The Noah I’ve wanted forever.

“I missed you, Margs.”

My chest tightens.

“You did?”

He laughs softly.

“Of course I did.”

He glances toward Dean and Georgia dancing.

His expression darkens slightly.

“You know…”

“What?”

“I hated seeing you with him.”

I blink.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Noah…”

“I think I was stupid.”

His thumb brushes my hand.

“I think I’ve been stupid for a while because Margaux I like you, a lot!”

The room suddenly feels quieter.

Because this is Noah.

Sweet Noah.

Kind Noah.

The boy I’ve wanted since forever.

And Dean -

Dean is Dean.

Dean who doesn’t date.

Dean who sleeps around.

Dean with ex-flings named Georgia climbing him like trees.

Dean who would break my heart.

Wouldn’t he?

Wouldn’t he?

Noah smiles nervously.

“Say something.”

I look toward the dance floor.

And find Dean.

He’s laughing awkwardly while trying to untangle himself from Georgia.

And then -

His eyes find mine.

And freeze.

Because Noah is holding my hand.

Because I’m standing close to Noah.

Because Noah is looking at me like I’m something precious.

And something changes in Dean’s face.

His smile dies.

Completely.

His eyes hurt.

Actually hurt.

And suddenly…

The memory of waking up wrapped around him.

His pancakes.

His hoodie.

His arms around me.

The way he never tried anything.

The way he looks at me.

The way he says sweetheart.

The way he almost kissed me -

No.

No.

Stop it.

I wanted Noah.

For years.

Noah.

Not Dean.

So why…

Why does Dean walking away with another girl feel like someone just squeezed my heart?