Flora pretends not to see it, as usual. “Let’s look for Jace,” she says.
I put my arm around her, ignoring the other girls, while leading her and Janice through the crowd. I’m sure Jace is already here. This party is basically co-organized by his mother, and his parents expect him to make not just an appearance, but to attend it fully.
“Here he is,” Flora exclaims, pointing at our friend, who is currently standing together with a young guy, Deacon. He is a young warrior of the pack and the only one Jace trusts.
“Hello ladies,” Deacon flashes Flora and Janice a smile and winks. He is his usual flirty self. With anyone else, I’d be annoyed that they flirt with Flora, but Deacon is gay. No one knows but his closest friends. Jace’s parents would never tolerate him as Jace’s friend otherwise.
The only friend for Jace they truly accept am I. Emerald Moon pack is a lycan pack, but not a royal one. It’s the reason why my friendship with Jace is so important to Jace’s parents, and why they never complain or question anything when Jace joins me in something they disapprove of… such as inviting Janice.
Jace looks happy to see us, his happiness growing when he sees Janice. “A surprise guest,” he says with a smile.
“I am sorry, I’m basically attending uninvited. I hope you don’t mind,” she says.
“Not at all,” Jace says. “I’m very happy to see a kind face here.”
“Is my face not enough?” Deacon pouts.
Jace snorts, and elbows him.
On the other side of the room, some boys are already shaking off to some wild music. “It’s only 8 pm, and they are already drunk,” I mutter.
“That’s the college boys,” Jace says. “They brought beer, cheap vodka and rum. Be careful what they mix together. That said… do you want something to drink?”
I nod. “Just don’t make us drunk.”
“You might want to, to survive this,” Jace mutters, while two girls start to organize a drinking game with the college boys.
Our metabolism works differently than humans, and when we are with ourselves, we are allowed to drink at sixteen. We are not immune to getting drunk, rather the opposite, although some still manage to overdo it, exactly because we can drink more than the humans.
Jace organizes us some cocktails before we join the crowd, so that Jace can pretend he is enjoying his time here. At least Flora and Janice seem to be having real fun, because soon the both of them start dancing with each other. Flora had her hair tied up, but now lets it down and sways her body sensually to the music. When our eyes meet, she smiles at me.
“She is totally flirting with you,” Jace mutters.
“Yes, lucky you,” Deacon agrees.
Jace smiles when he sees Janice dancing gracefully and putting her hands on Flora’s hips. Both of them laugh. “Come, let’s join them,” Deacon pushes us. “Or at least, you two join your girls.”
“Janice isn’t my girl,” Jace argues.
“Whatever makes you happy,” Deacon makes a dismissive gesture with his hand. “But she seems cute and nice, and she is not kissing your feet for being the future alpha. Plus, you are single, as usual.”
“Thank you for pointing that out,” Jace grumbles. “You are single, too.”
Deacon wiggles his brows. “Want to make out?”
“I don’t think I’m that desperate, yet,” Jace says.
“Me neither,” Deacon grins.
Seeing Flora hug herself while she moves her hips to the music gives me the final push. She is so beautiful, easily the sexiest and most stunning of them all. The others keep saying that she looks so young and childlike, but it’s not true. She might be more youthful than others, but nothing about her looks like a child. They are just jealous. I wrap my arms around her from behind, joining her little dance. Jace and Deacon surround us, each of them taking one of Janice’s hands and twirling her around.
I notice some of the girls around us are not looking too happy, but I couldn’t care less what they think. Soon, more people join us and start dancing, just leaving a small group of college kids-I think–at the side, whispering to themselves.
thirteen
Party People
*ELDEN*