"No offense, Dev, but you drive like a turtle." I uttered, staring at him as he drived.
A woman dressed in blue who was running passed by us like all the other runner we have encountered the last few minutes.
I don't have a driver's license yet, due to the fact I live in a walkable city and it seems a bit impractical since I don't have a car, but Dad has given me a few lessons when I turned fifteen and I bet I could get us there faster.
"We need to follow proper speed limit and not go over." He countered, still driving slowly.
I glanced over at the dashboard and just in time to see a sign outside the sidewalk with the speed limit on it. "No, because you're going under the speed limit." I deadpan.
Dev turned to look my way and said, "I promised your dad to keep you safe, so that's exactly what I'm doing. If something ever happens to you, he made very clear that he was going to feed me to the flesh-eating bacteria. Are those actually real?"
My heart melted into a huge puddle. Dad can get very protective and it only strengthen the past few years after Mom passed. I just didn't know he would be this protective. It's almost funny with how Dev looks right now.
"Yep, they one hundred percent exist." I chuckled. "The term if you get those is Necrotizing Fasciitis. Very deadly if not treated immediately, even then it's still pretty life-threatening."
"T-That's how bad it is?" He gulped, looking scared. "How do you know that?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention my dad is a biologist." I waved it off. "There's other deadly bacterias in the world, too."
My brow raised in question when Dev let out a shaky breath.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked in concern.
He nodded and gave me thumbs up. "I just have the jitters from coffee."
Arriving at the house, more like mansion really, the party was already fully swinging. Dev had a hard time finding a parking space since there were so many cars around the neighborhood that we had to walk a few blocks to get back to the party. From outside the sidewalk, the music was so loud that I could hear it from there.
I have attended a handful of parties over the years with my friends. It wasn't always that fun like how people used to make it.
The place was packed. I saw a lot of familiar faces that I see in school, some stopped to talk to Dev. By the time I leave later tonight I am going to be deaf because of how loud the music was. I'm surprised that the cops haven't come busting down this party.
I look down to my phone when it vibrated. A text message from Ivy saying that they're in the kitchen waiting for me. I replied with asking them the directions where the kitchen was located.
"Dev, my friends are in the kitchen." I wrapped a hand around his arm, interrupting his conversation with someone. I didn't expect him to cut his conversation short with his friend, but he did and accompanied me.
It was almost impossible to get through somewhere with how many people were cramped in this place. I had to watch out for crazy dancers or else I'll be hit square in the face with their hands all up in the air.
"Watch out!" Dev exclaimed, tugging me out of the way before someone could hit me. I collided with his chest, his arms circled around me.
This was the first time I was this close to him. It felt nice to be in his arms. I almost wished that I didn't have to leave. I raised my head, my breath hitched as our eyes locked. I haven't realized that our faces were inches apart until I felt his breath on mine.
Time slowed down right then and there.
How come I just noticed that he had a few specks of freckles scattered like stars across his face and I wanted to trace it with my finger and run my fingers through that hair of his.
Air got stuck on my lungs when Dev starts leaning forward slowly. My heart was racing like it was about to come out my rib cage with how fast it was beating.
"Dyer-Rubes, stop hogging my best friend!" Farrah's loud voice cut right through our moment. "We've been waiting for her and you're just monopolizing her."
Dev and I backed away immediately like we were just caught in a scandalous act. Farrah gave us an annoyed look and made a I'm-watching-you gesture to Dev.
"Jeez, everyone seems to be out to get me tonight." Dev grumbled under his breath just enough for me to hear.
I stifled a smile. "Still better than deadly bacteria, right?"
He chuckled. "I'd rather take Farrah's threats any other day."
Speaking of friends, Ivy and Jordan appeared behind Farrah, moving their bodies to the beat. Jordan did a little shimmy before wrapping me into a hug.
"Hey, Dev." Ivy raised her red solo cup. "Keeping our little Brie Cheese company I see," She trailed off, wiggling her eyebrows.
I swatted Ivy with the back of my hand and threw her a warning glare. She smacked me right back on the arm.
I took a side glance at Dev, I don't know if it was the different colored lights flashing but I think his cheeks were flushed with a tinge of pink.
We moved to the kitchen. There were a wide array of snacks displayed on the counter and load of drinks. I grabbed myself a handful of chocolate covered pretzels. I helped myself with a cup of punch, but before I could take a drink Dev snatched the cup from my hand and sniffed it.
"It's safe to drink." He gave me my cup back.
I look back and forth between him and my cup. I smiled hesitantly before taking a drink. Dev saw some of his friends and excused himself for a while.
"He's playing the protective date well." Ivy came up beside me, looking sly.
I gave her a side eye. "He's not. Dad made some threats and it got into his brain."
"Meeting the parents already?" She teased. "And yet, you tell me he's not your boyfriend."
"It's nothing like that at all." I said honestly because that's what we truly are.
Dev is my friend, who was also the same person who makes me feel things that I quite don't understand. I enjoy spending time with him and Iâ
Oh, shit!
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(Not Edited)
A/N:
Sorry for disappearing on you guys. I have school as an excuse, as always. But finals are next week then after that it's summer for me!!! So hopefully I'll be able to write more chapters.