“I asked if you wanted to come to TJ’s party with me,” he says, looking up at the ceiling instead of at me.
My first thought is to tell him no. Parties are definitely not my thing; they make me panic. I'm not overly comfortable with large groups of people, and being at one with him would make me feel even more awkward. What happens when he leaves me to go play with the band? I should just tell him what I told Casey and Brie. Em’s letter flashes through my mind, stopping me from immediately turning his offer down. If I say yes, I could maybe cross a few things off that she wanted to do. Hell, if I went all out, I could go to the party with him, get wasted, do karaoke in front of everyone and then maybe even get him wasted enough to kiss me. That would pretty much nail half the list in one evening. I laugh out loud at the random stupidity of the thoughts running through my mind before realizing that Ethan asked me out, and all I’ve done in response is laugh. Shit.
“Okay, sure.”
His eyes snap back to me and he’s staring like I'm some weird creature he’s never seen before. I’m immediately nervous and we haven’t even left the room yet.
“For real?” He sounds surprised and it makes me smile.
“Yeah, Let me just text my mom and let her know I’ll be late.”
This was a stupid ass idea. We've been here all of thirty seconds and I’m ready to leave. I walked through the door with Ethan and it was as if someone had killed the music: all eyes were on us instantly. It feels like every female here is shooting me daggers. I’ve always flown under the radar at school, but apparently walking into a party with Ethan Jamison garners some attention. I thought maybe it would earn me cool points but looking at the stares I’m receiving, I’m pretty sure I’ve just topped every girl’s bitch list.
Ethan shifts his guitar case into the opposite hand and takes a hold of mine, lacing our fingers together. I feel a jolt of electricity race up my arm, awakening every nerve in my body. I can’t believe he’s holding my hand. I’m silently praying that they’re not going to go all clammy and gross, I don’t want him to know how much of an affect he’s having on me, it would be beyond embarrassing.
“Let’s go grab a drink and find the guys,” he states, weaving us in and out of the crowded hall and into the kitchen that’s filled with even more of my fellow students. Looking around, I'm pretty sure I’ve never spoken to any of them. Someone pushes back into us as we enter and I stumble a little into Ethan’s side.
“Yikes, sorry,” I tell him, noticing a look of pain flash across his face. I’m not exactly heavy and didn’t think I’d knocked into him that hard, but from that wince, you’d think a linebacker just tackled him.
“Blairrrrrr!”
I whip my head round to see Casey barging through the crowded room heading straight for me, with an open-mouthed Brie hot on her heels.
“Oh my god, you made it! And with arm candy, too! I'm impressed,” Case says as she envelops me in hug. I stand awkwardly with my hand still clasped in Ethan's.
“Sup Casey, Brie…you guys seen Jackson anywhere?” Ethan asks as I stand like a mute. The fact that he knows them both by name shouldn’t bother me but it kind of does.
“He’s out by the pool with TJ and a few others,” Brie replies. Her eyes are trained on me and a bewildered smile is slowly growing across her face.
“Okay, I’m just gonna go say hi. I’ll grab us some drinks and be right back.” Ethan drops my hand and disappears into the crowd.
“You got three-seconds to spill it, girl!”
Before I can even register what Casey means, Brie is bombarding me with questions left right and center.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! What are you doing here with Ethan Jamison? Why did you not let us know you were coming? Wait, were you two just holding hands? Oh god, are you on a date? You are, aren't you? You're on a date with Ethan Jamison.” Brie fires at me, hardly stopping to take a breath. She’s bouncing about completely animated and her boobs are in danger of making an appearance from the handkerchief-sized shirt she has them squeezed into. The guy behind her is completely ignoring what the girl he’s with is saying; his eyes are glued to Brie, waiting for the show.
“We are not on a date…well, not really. We were studying, he was headed here and asked if I wanted to come is all,” I tell her, grabbing her arm and repositioning her to block the creeper’s view.
“Right, so you’ll come if Ethan asks you but not us?” Brie says wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“Still doesn't answer why you guys were holding hands,” Case interjects in a singsong voice.
“Jeez, guys! He was just leading me through here,” I say, trying not to smile and give away the fact that I was really enjoying the whole handholding thing.