Falling

Chapter 7

Margaux’s POV

Dean eventually leaves.

Not immediately.

Because apparently half the party has decided beer pong is the most important event in human history and of course Dean is the gold medalist.

Luke insists on dramatic goodbyes.

Naturally.

“Romeo!” he cries, throwing himself over Dean’s shoulder. “Do not abandon us in our hour of need!”

Dean peels him off.

“You lost six games in a row.”

“History will remember my sacrifice.”

“History won’t remember you.”

Luke gasps.

“Betrayed.”

Dean laughs.

And then his eyes find me.

Like they always do.

“Babydoll.”

He walks over with that easy smile.

“Still having fun?”

I smile back.

“I think so.”

“You think so?” a slight frown appears on his forehead.

“Noah and I are just hanging out.”

Dean glances over my shoulder.

Noah wraps an arm around my shoulders.

“I’m stealing her back.”

Dean dramatically sighs.

“Another one gone.”

I laugh.

“Dean.”

“What?”

“I’ll survive.”

His expression softens.

“I know.”

Then his voice quiets and he leans in to whisper in my ear…

“Call me if you need me.”

I smile.

“You really worry too much.”

“Occupational hazard.”

“Noah’s not a serial killer.”

“The jury’s still out.”

Noah laughs.

“I promise I only murder people on Tuesdays.”

“Suspicious answer.”

I giggle.

Then he turns back to me.

And his voice softens.

“Seriously.”

His eyes meet mine.

“Anything.”

Something warm settles in my chest.

“Okay.”

“Good.”

Then the smile returns.

“The hottest fuckboy in town has rehearsal tomorrow.”

“Such a tragedy.”

“I know.”

And with one last grin -

Dean leaves.

I wave as he disappears through the front door.

And somehow…

The party feels a little different without him.

But Noah makes it easy again.

Because Noah really is sweet.

We spend another hour talking.

Not making out.

Not flirting endlessly.

Just…

Talking.

Sitting on the couch.

Making fun of terrible tattoos people got during spring break.

Watching Bryce attempt to do the worm.

Laughing until my stomach hurts.

And Noah listens.

Actually listens.

When I ramble about costumes.

When I talk about theatre.

When I accidentally spend ten minutes explaining why Pride and Prejudice is superior to every romance novel ever written.

He’s smiling the whole time.

And when I apologise…

Because apparently I apologize for breathing -

He just says -

“You know, you’re cute when you nerd out.”

Which makes me blush and feel the tingles all over.

Around midnight, Noah gets pulled away.

“Beer run!” one of his friends yells.

“Noah!”

“Come on!”

Noah groans dramatically.

“I’m surrounded by alcoholics.”

His friends boo.

He laughs.

Then turns to me.

“You want anything?”

“I’m good.”

“You sure?”

“Promise.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Five minutes.”

I smile.

“Okay.”

Swallowed by a sea of people.

I don’t think anything of it.

At first.

Five minutes pass.

Ten.

Fifteen.

I check my phone.

Nothing.

No text.

No Noah.

Probably helping carry drinks.

Twenty minutes.

Still nothing.

I wander into the kitchen.

No Noah.

Living room.

No Noah.

Patio.

No Noah.

I text him.

No response.

Maybe he can’t hear his phone.

Thirty minutes.

And suddenly I feel stupid.

Because I don’t know anyone.

Not really.

Not without Dean.

Or Noah.

And Noah is…

Nowhere.

“Margaux.”

I turn.

Oh.

Ethan.

Or Evan.

Definitely E-something. He introduced himself with the friend group earlier but obviously I wasn’t paying attention because Noah had my eyes set on him only.

He smiles.

He isn’t too bad looking, a blonde, fit, smells really good!

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“Noah ditched you?”

I laugh politely.

“No, he’s just helping with drinks.”

“Damn.”

He leans against the counter.

“That’s criminal.”

I smile awkwardly.

“I know right! I should totally lock him up.”

“You can lock me up if he isn’t back in time.”

What the f**k?

Ethan notices my taken back expression and follows up with -

“Kidding!”

Right.

Joking.

He moves closer.

Too close.

“You’re cute, you know that?”

“Oh.”

“Seriously.”

I laugh nervously.

“Thanks.”

“You and Noah aren’t serious, right?”

My smile falters.

“No - We’re testing the waters I guess.”

“Yeah, but not serious serious.”

I blink.

“What?”

He chuckles.

“I’m saying if things don’t work out…”

His hand lands on my waist.

And every muscle in my body freezes.

Not hard.

Not aggressive.

But…

Wrong.

Wrong wrong wrong.

I immediately take a step away.

“No.”

And for the first time -

His smile changes.

Not angry.

Not exactly.

But annoyed.

“Fuck.”

He laughs.

“I’m just being nice.”

“I know.”

“So stop acting weird.”

Weird.

The word makes my stomach twist.

“Yeah, I am going to go look for Noah.”

“Forget Noah we can have some fun upstairs.”

His fingers wrap around my wrist.

Not painfully.

But enough.

Enough that my heart starts pounding.

Enough that suddenly the music is too loud.

Too many people.

Too much.

“Noah?”

Nothing.

I turn.

Crowds.

Strangers.

No Noah.

No familiar face.

No one.

And suddenly…

Dean’s gone.

Noah’s gone.

And I’m alone.

“Ethan, let go, I don’t want to.”

“I’m literally holding your hand.”

“No, you’re not!”

“Margaux.”

His voice sharpens.

“Relax, we’re just having fun.”

And something in me breaks.

Not because he’s screaming.

Not because he’s hurting me.

But because I don’t know where Noah is.

And I don’t know what to do.

And I suddenly miss…

“Dean.”

The name leaves my mouth before I even realize it.

Ethan laughs.

“The pretty boy?”

I yank my arm free.

And immediately pull out my phone.

My hands are shaking.

One ring.

That’s all it takes.

“Babydoll?”

Music blasts in the background.

Luke screaming.

Someone singing.

Then -

Silence.

Complete silence.

Because Dean immediately moved somewhere quiet.

“Margaux?”

And the second I hear his voice -

I almost cry.

“Dean - ”

He hears it instantly.

His voice changes.

No teasing.

No joking.

Nothing but concern.

“Talk to me.”

And suddenly…

I can breathe.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I—I can’t find Noah and—”

My voice wobbles.

“And his friend keeps touching me and I know I’m probably being dramatic -”

“What?”

“Where are you?”

His voice is calm.

“The kitchen.”

“I’m coming.”

“You don’t have to - ”

“You called me.”

Another pause.

“And I’m coming.”

Twenty minutes pass, I am stuck in the kitchen with Ethan still in my proximity. Luke and some other friends are with us so Ethan doesn’t try anything for the time being.

Though I can feel his eyes creeping on me. He watches me like a hawk.

I don’t see Dean at first.

I just feel the shift in the room.

Like the air changes pressure.

Like something important has arrived.

And then…

“Babydoll.”

That voice.

Calm. Controlled. Familiar.

My head snaps up so fast it almost hurts.

Dean is standing in the kitchen doorway.

And for a second, I just stare at him.

Because he looks different.

Not in how he’s dressed.

Not in anything obvious.

But in the way he’s looking at me.

Like everything else in the room has stopped existing.

Relief hits me so hard my knees almost go weak.

“Dean -” I say as I feel the tears starting to sting my eyes.

I don’t even finish.

He’s already moving.

Straight toward me.

No hesitation.

No scanning the room like he usually does to joke around or greet people.

Just me.

“Are you okay, did he touch you? Did he hurt you?”

His voice is low when he reaches me.

Careful.

Concerned.

I nod too quickly.

“No - yes - he just grabbed my by the waist and tried to -”

I can’t even form it properly.

Because Ethan is still right there.

Too close.

Still swaying slightly like he doesn’t understand what’s happening.

Dean’s eyes are still fixed on me when Ethan cuts in.

“Nothing happened hero! She’s a prude!” Ethan slurs provoking Dean.

That’s when Dean’s jaw tightens.

He steps in front of me instantly.

Like a shield.

And my breath catches.

I feel my stomach drop.

Because I feel like something bad is about to happen.

I’ve never seen him like this. Granted I’ve only known him a couple of weeks.

“Wait in the car.” He says while calmly handing me the keys to his Jeep.

His calm expression surprises me.

Even though Dean instructed me to get in the car there is absolutely no way I am leaving here without him coming with me.

Dean turns back toward Ethan who is standing, swaying with a beer bottle in his hand and a provocative smile.

Dean steps closer.

And suddenly the space between them disappears.

It doesn’t feel like a party anymore.

It feels like something else.

Something sharp.

Something dangerous.

Dean eyes look like they are on fire. Every muscle is his body tightens. His shoulders are rigid. His expression is cold.

“Do you want to repeat what you just said?” Dean asks Ethan in a threatening tone.

“I said the b***h is a prude!” Ethan says with a smile.

Just before Ethans smile gets wide enough to reach his eyes everything changes instantly.

Dean swings -

The crack echoes over the music.

Ethan crashes backwards into the counter falling with his back against a glass cabinet.

People scream.

Someone drops a cup.

And I freeze.

Because Dean,

Dean never loses his temper.

He’s chaos.

He’s teasing.

He’s laughter.

He’s ridiculous nicknames and flirting and terrible dance moves.

But right now…

He’s furious.

Ethan pushes himself up and doesn’t back down because the second he is on his feet the pushes back again,

“Aw, don’t worry maybe she will let you into her pants after your heroic moves?”

Dean is already moving again.

And for the first time since I’ve known him -

I understand why Luke once joked that Dean looked like trouble.

Because he does.

His sleeves are rolled up.

His hair is messy from running his hands through it.

His chest rises with heavy breaths.

And there isn’t a trace of a smile on his face.

Not one.

Dean goes in for another swing and Ethan, apparently having no survival instincts whatsoever and swings before Dean can.

Dean takes a punch right to the face.

And suddenly they’re shoving each other.

People are shouting.

Someone’s yelling for them to stop.

Luke appears out of nowhere.

Bryce too.

Trying and failing to separate them.

Eventually Bryce grabs a hold of Dean’s collar and pushes him into the corner while Luke holds down Ethan.

All I can focus on,

Is Dean.

Because I’ve never seen him like this.

And somehow…

Somehow the scariest thing isn’t that he’s angry.

It’s why.

Because every time Ethan tries to move around him…

Dean moves too.

Keeping himself between us.

Like it’s instinct.

Like he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

Like protecting me is the only thing his brain understands right now.

And then Ethan says,

“Dude, she isn’t even your girlfriend!”

Oh God.

My breath hitches.

Dean looks absolutely murderous.

His breathing stops.

His whole body goes still.

And in a voice so quiet it sends chills down my spine, he says—

“No.”

“But she called me.”

The entire room goes silent.

Even Ethan.

Even Luke.

And I swear…

I have never seen Dean Sinclair look more beautiful.

Or more terrifying.

Because his nose is bleeding slightly from where Ethan caught him. His bottom lip is bruised, his knuckles carry open wounds.

His shirt is wrinkled.

And despite all of that…

He’s still standing in front of me.

Still shielding me.

Still making sure Ethan can’t get near me.

And suddenly -

My eyes start burning.

Because Noah isn’t here.

I don’t know where Noah is.

I don’t know why he disappeared.

But I know this.

I called Dean.

And he came.

Without hesitation.

Without questions.

Without making me explain.

And standing there in the middle of a room full of people -

Looking furious and protective and a little bit bruised -

Dean Sinclair looks at me.

Really looks at me.

And the anger vanishes from his face instantly.

“Babydoll?”

His voice is gentle again.

As though the last thirty seconds never happened.

That makes tears spill down my cheeks.