Page 87 of Tell Me Everything
“I want to go, please.”
Alex ran a hand through his hair, which naturally remained spikey, and sighed again. Still, he nodded.
Just as we were about to leave the living room, someone shouted, “Alex!”
Tiago. I wanted to run away, but Alex held me back, again.
“Leaving already?”
They shook hands and chatted about God knew what. After a few minutes, Tiago finally gave me his attention. His eyes lingered a few seconds too long on my cleavage, then his gaze lit up, making my unease return full force. Now that I could see Tiago from this close, I understood why Kelsey always looked at him with drool dripping from her mouth. Tanned complexion, sky-blue eyes, and curly brown hair. Not to mention a smile worthy of a toothpaste ad. Tiago was the stereotypical hunk, which broke his charm. Alex was much more to my taste. But my opinion was biased. What could I say? I'd developed a preference for darker men.
“Who's this?” asked Tiago, pointing at me with his chin.
I didn't like the fact that he turned to Alex to ask this, as if I were a doll incapable of answering. I may have been an introvert, but I could talk. Ten points off for Mr. Handsome.
“That’s Elena, don't you remember her?”
“We've been in the same biology class for five years,” I said, rolling my eyes.
He rubbed the back of his head, unsure of how to react. Tiago tried to dispel the unease by offering us a drink.
“What can I get you?”
“Nothing. We were just leaving...”
“Oh, come on! Just one drink.”
Alex and I looked at each other. Could he see my panic? Apparently not, for he merely shrugged and nodded. Things weren't going the way I'd planned. I had no choice but to stay at this stupid party.
We walked to the bar where Tiago handed us a cup of beer. I watched the liquid, avoiding tasting it. Between my drunken father and my latest misadventure, I'd learned to be wary of alcohol.
Alex beckoned me to drink. It was easy for him; he was used to drinking like a fish and smoking like a chimney. I hesitated, still staring at the liquid. The last time I'd touched beer had been during that infamous game of beer pong. And needless to say, the aftermath had been anticlimactic. I took a deep breath and took a sip. One drink wasn't going to kill me. My past mistakes weren't going to be repeated.
The taste was gross, just as I remembered it, and I spat my sip back into the plastic cup. This time, I wasn't going to force myself to swallow beer to try and impress someone. The two boys bent over laughing.Shame.
“I'll go get you something else,” Tiago offered as he took my beer back, still chuckling.
Alex gave me a mocking smile, and I pouted. This was all his fault.
“What?”
“You never cease to amaze me.”
He gently pinched my cheek. Before I could bat his hand away, Tiago handed me another glass.
“What is it?”
“Vodka Redbull.”
We settled into one of the soft sofas. People continued towiggle to the noise that was getting on my nerves, and Tiago headed back to his group of friends. After a while, Alex left to join him. He assured me that he wouldn’t be long, but as soon as he was gone, I was overcome by loneliness. This was going to be a very long evening indeed. I took a sip of my drink. I just wanted to spend a nice evening with Alex.Such an epic fail. I raised my glass to myself.
“Cheers.”
Chapter 29
Alex
When Alex turned back to the sofa, Elena was gone. He couldn't see her anywhere.
