Page 19 of Lines

“I’m just surprised,” I mutter and move from the doorway. Where should I go? I shift my weight to the other leg awkwardly. I’m seventeen, this is my first party and I feel like a fish out of the water. “I didn’t expect to see so many people.”

The look she sends me is a mix of confusion and pity. Like I need that. If I wanted to be some party girl I would have been one, but I don’t like parties and big crowds. They make me feel uncomfortable and uneasy. It’s not like I’m one of the popular girls with a bunch of friends waiting for her. My only friend is standing right next to me, looking a bit shocked and ready to bolt.

“This is a party,” Jeanette points out.

“You are one to talk.” Brook smirks. “You look ready to pass out, princess.”

I guess usual, sarcastic Brook is back. From the first moment they saw each other, the hatred was mutual. I don’t understand why. Maybe, because they are too similar to one another? There are probably better chances of hell freezing over than for them to become friends.

“Ohh, please. Like you goody-two-shoes know how to party.” Jeanette gives a smirk of her own, accompanied by an exaggerated eye roll.

“You are…”

“I see you three are getting along nicely.”

Right on time, Max sneaks behind us, his hands falling over mine and Brook’s shoulders, holding us to his sides. In each hand, there is a red cup filled with stinky liquid.

Beer.

“I got you drinks.” He offers cups to Brook and me. “There is not much to choose from so beer will have to do.”

I frown when the smell overwhelms my senses. “I don’t think so, Max.” Taking the cup from his hand, Brook shoves it into his sister’s hands. “You can have it, Jeanette. You are a big party girl, so you’ve gotta love some liquid courage.”

Jeanette opens her mouth, most likely to brush her off, but one look from her brother makes her narrow her stormy eyes at him and thankfully stops her from saying anything. I watch their silent stare-off go on a few seconds longer before Max looks down at me, a smile returning to his lips. “We can go and look for something else. I’m sure we can find a soda or something.”

Without giving me much time to protest, he takes my hand and starts moving through the crowd toward the kitchen. His hand is big and warm, cowering mine completely. His grip is strong, but without much force. It’s meant to hold me close to him and not hurt me.

The kitchen is state of art, like any other room in this house. Granite counters are full of stainless steel appliances, and there is a big island in the middle of the room filled with different kind of drinks and snacks. Two big kegs are in one corner of the room surrounded by people waiting for their beer.

Max’s hand lets go of mine as he goes looking for something to drink, leaving me standing in the middle of the room, carefully looking around, but in the same time hoping nobody sees me. For now, I’m doing a pretty good job. I think ...

“There is Coke, Pepsi, 7up …” Max’s voice drifts as he looks through the fridge.

“7up will be …” I turn around on my heels, only to crush in wide chest covered in soft, dark blue cotton. Hands land on my shoulders, stopping me from tripping or, more likely, landing on my butt.

The smell of pines and ice surrounds me, and instantly my heart starts kicking faster in my chest. I know whose hands are on me. I know to whom belongs the chest my nose is still touching and shirt my fingers are tightly crumpling. No matter how many guys play on our hockey team, only one of them wears the smell of ice around him like a coat. Winter or summer, it doesn’t matter.

Taking a hitched breath in, I let my eyes slowly move up, up, up ... until they are met with crystal blues.

We just stare at each other, not uttering a world.

His stare is intense. His eyes hold mine, but at the same, time I can feel them trace the lines of my face.

Then, a light chuckle breaks us out of the bubble. “Look at what the cat dragged in.”

Derek

I let her gaze leave mine, but my hands stay glued to her shoulders.

Connection, I have to have it.

The way her body calls to mine is unbelievable. There is no way I can resist the pull she has over me. If I believed in fairytales, I would say she cast a spell on me, but there is no such thing as witches, spells, and magic.

From the moment she entered the room, my eyes found her. Confused and lost, looking around like a child trying to put pieces of the puzzle that’s the world around them in its rightful place.

I let my eyes roam the room for a few seconds, trying to see it through her eyes. I can see how this environment can make one feel edgy and uncomfortable, especially if said person isn’t used to big crowds and parties.

Then my eyes return to her and stay glued there, watching how she shifts weight from one foot to another, how she’s playing with her fingers crossing and uncrossing them, how she looks between her friends, Brook and Sanders’ twin. She is hot, all long, lean legs and curves, sass and stormy eyes. If I was my usual self, she would be my kind of girl, but no matter how hard I try to avert my eyes, they always return to the girl standing in the shadows.

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