Page 23 of Those That Don't Exist
Bree stutters a choked laugh from across the room. We’ve both caused Claire a bit of pain before, taunting her about her hot brother.
“Go, now!” Claire grabs his arm and shoves him out the door. Me and Bree burst into fits of giggles.
“Do not say a word,” she mumbles.
The party is gettingunderway when I finally go downstairs. My makeup took longer than I thought, and I found a gold diadem amongst Claire’s dress up items, to add it to my hair. It sits comfortably around my crown, the gold leaves and swirls a great finishing touch to my outfit.
My dress fits perfectly and I feel confident for the first time in weeks as I descend the stairs. The gold floor length gown mimics armour plating with its geometric shapes. The halterneck with sweetheart neckline hugs my body from chest to hips before flowing out in a looser full length skirt. The thigh high slit up one side makes it easy to walk in and gives me a sexy edge. Even though I know my body is currently glamoured, I’m a bit more like myself tonight, like the me before the accident.
Claire had also gifted me a beautiful chain to wear my dad’s ring as a necklace. I’d told her the fit was a little loose on my thumb and she surprised me with it tonight. The metal loop was now sitting just below my clavicles, on full show with the dress’s low neckline.
The music blares and more people arrive through the front porch as I walk into the main lounge area to grab a drink of vodka and lemonade. I try to nibble on some crisps but I’m not hungry.
Bree is already on the makeshift dance floor, of course, and surrounded by a few of her classmates. I swallow the rest of my drink and shoot another vodka before joining her, we let loose for several tracks. This DJ is on fire.
A hand lands on my waist which makes me jump sideways before I realise it’s just David. He’s brought me another shot, this time a double, which I take gratefully.
“Your costume is amazing,” he leans down to speak in my ear, the music making closeness a necessity to hear him.
“Thanks. Afraid I can’t say the same to you.” I grin up at him. He chuckles, rolling his eyes. We start dancing together, he grabs my free hand to twirl me round making my dress shimmer in the disco lighting. For once I don’t feel the weight of people’s stares.
He stops me when I’m facing him, pulling me closer with his other hand on my lower back. I almost stumble into his embrace which makes me giggle. Maybe I’ve had enough alcohol.
His scent drifts into my nose, sending me lightheaded. The warm and earthy mixture messing with my equilibrium even more than earlier. I notice how my mouth salivates.
We continue to sway to the music but all I can hear is David’s heartbeat above the base blasting from the speakers. The feel of the heat radiating off his body has my own tingling.
All of a sudden we get jostled by the crowd. Three or four other guys push forward shouting David’s name - clearly his friends from the med school are here. We break apart and he offers me a small smile before turning to greet them. I drift away from the crowds towards the entrance.
Today has been strange with him, flirting isn’t our usual vibe. I know Bree and I have joked about David’s good looks but I’ve never felt any chemistry with him. He’s my best friend's brother. We've always had an easy banter but those looks he keeps giving me, my body certainly reacts to his nearness.
Claire finds me at that moment, halting my train of thought. She brings more drinks which I gladly accept, using the alcohol to wash the scent of David off my tongue. We continue to dance but I find my eyes keep drifting over the crowd hoping for another glimpse of him.
An hour later, the party is in full swing, and the packed crowds are getting to me. The air feels too thick and my head isbuzzing. I walk out the back of the house, onto the small patio, and take a deep breath of the cold air.
As I stand watching my visible exhales disperse into the darkness, I remember the mystery guy from earlier this evening. How does he keep turning up wherever I am? On campus, I can understand, it’s not overly large and my eyes pick him out of the crowds, but out here,and in town? It's weird.
I’m so lost in my own thoughts I don't hear him approach until warm hands wrap around my waist. For the second time today my friend’s brother makes me jump.
“Woah, easy,” David soothes as I spin in his arms. His hands don’t leave my waist and mine end up on his chest. It’s a well sculpted chest. “Sorry to scare you.”
“You’re lucky my immediate reaction isn't to lash out.” I let out a nervous laugh.
“Indeed,” he deadpans, giving me a look telling me he doesn’t think I could take him down. I narrow my eyes at him and he gives me the cheekiest grin.
But that isn’t what holds my attention, it’s his heart rate spiking under my right hand. My own breathing increases as I push the pads of my fingers onto the fabric of his shirt.
“We didn’t get to finish our dance earlier, can I claim it now?” He steps closer, and starts swaying my hips with his hands as he starts to move.
“But there's no music out here.” I give him a puzzled look, the only thing I can hear is his pulse.
“Ermm… yeah there is.” He cocks his head at me, lifting his hands to gesture around us with his index fingers. “You must be deaf to not hear that!”
I take my attention away from him. Indeed the music is thumping. Like the neighbours are probably going to complain, kind of loud. I giggle in response, laughing off my stupidity. Thenoise makes it harder to focus on the feel, and sound, of his blood being pumped around his body, so I block it out again.
He steps closer so our bodies are now flush, forcing me to move my hands up and around his neck. I link the tips of my fingers together but keep my palms to his skin, thumbs finding his pulse points. His scent is overwhelming this close. It's sharper in the night air. Saliva floods my mouth again.Strange.
My eyes watch the pulse under my left thumb. I wonder what it would taste like.
