"Have you seen James?" I asked the nearest person as I ran back into the party.
"Uh he went upstairs I think," the girl slurred back.
I thanked her and pushed past the crowd of friends and dancing couples. The music was loud in my ears, and I was pushed into a couple by a guy jumping backwards.
Breaking from the crowd, I made it to the stairs and began the climb. I didn't know what I was going to say to James. Truthfully, I was hoping it would come to me in the moment.
I needed to tell him that I had feelings for him, that I wanted to be with him. That his past, and my past didn't matter and that we could start afresh. My hands seemed clammy as I made it to the top.
A couple were making out against the railing and I had to move around them. Six doors surrounded the stairs and I sighed.
I'd take ages in finding him. Glancing at the couple, I grimaced.
"Hi," I interrupted.
The girl gave me a dirty look as they seperated. "Sorry to interupt, do you know where James went?" I asked, hoping they knew who James was.
"He's in there," the man replied before taking the girl's hands and leading his lady away.
I turned to face the door, wiping my hands against my clothes. This was my chance. To finally admit it, to tell him that I dreamed of him telling me he loved me, over and over.
I walked towards the door and placed my hand on the handle. I could do this. I was a strong woman.
Lifting my other hand, I knocked five times before turning the handle.
"Hey Jame-" I began to say as I opened the door.
The door swung up to reveal James and the new girl in a lip lock, the new girl straddling his hips. Almost immediately, I turned my head away from the sight and I wanted to die.
"Christie?!" James asked, surprised.
I heard movement and the girl made an annoyed noise. "What's wrong?" James asked, as I felt door move.
Looking up, James was standing in front of me, lipstick smudged across his lips. I wanted to punch him, I wanted to punch her, I wanted to punch myself for waiting too long.
My words faltered in my mouth.
I couldn't tell him.
"Chase is puking in the garden outside," I made up immediately.
James sighed. "Okay, I better take him home," James said before turning around.
I stepped away from the door and began to walk away, hurrying down the stairs like they were on fire. "Hey wait up!" James exclaimed.
I didn't.
James chased me, as I made my way back to Chase. He was laying on the ground outside, staring up at the stairs.
"Christie! Did you find James!" Chase slurred.
I stopped beside him and bent down. "Let's get you home," I said carefully.
"Hey James!" Chase said excitedly as James joined us.
"Jesus, how drunk are you?" James asked his brother.
I couldn't help but glare at James. "Maybe, you should've been looking after your brother and not for whatever was down that girl's throat," I snapped.
James wasn't at fault at all. We weren't together. He had obviously been trying to move on and here I was, snapping at him like a jealous girl.
"What?" James asked me.
I ignored him and pulled Chase up. James looped one of his arms around his shoulders, half carrying him. "Let's go around the side, going through the house would be too crowded," James said to me.
I stayed silent and just followed James around the side of the house to the lawn parked with heaps of cars.
Spotting James's car, I headed for it.
The lights blinked as James unlocked it and struggled to pull the passenger door open. Taking his brother's weight off me, he shoved him into the passenger seat. Chase laughed.
"Aww you guys are cute, I'm so glad you're back together," Chase said, before grinning.
James pulled back surprised and glanced at me. "He's drunk, ignore him," I said stiffly.
Inside, I was dying.
James pulled the seatbelt across Chase's body before closing the car door. "Thanks" he breathed out.
"Don't mention it," I replied before turning around.
"What's with the hostility?"
I closed my eyes, taking a breath. I painted a smile onto my face before turning to look at James again.
"Nothing, just tired, and uh you still have-" I cut off as I gestured to my mouth.
James lifted his hand and wiped his mouth, grimacing at the pink lipstick. "Sorry," he apologised.
"Nothing to be sorry about," I replied, my smile straining.
James frowned and tilted his head. "Are you jealous?" He asked, his face relaxing.
Yeah, I definitely wanted to punch him. Even if he was right.
"Not at all, why would I be jealous?" I asked, shrugging my shoulders.
He didn't seem convinced.
"You should go before your brother throws up in your car," I said, gesturing to the now snoozing boy in the car.
"Yeah course, see you later," James said before giving one last look and moving to his side of the car.
~â~
James's POV
"Chase, dude," I groaned as I tried to drag his ass out of the passenger seat of my car.
"Leave me alone!" Chase mumbled.
"Chase, I swear to god, I will fucking pull your arm out of your socket if you don't get out of the car," I said firmly.
Chase opened one eye. "Man, why are you so pissy, I thought being back together with Christie would help you lighten the fuck up," Chase replied.
"Back together with Christie? What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, half curious half annoyed.
"So she didn't come talk to you then?" Chase asked.
"Talk to me? About what?"
"How she's in love with you and she chooses you and yada yada girl stuff," Chase replied before stumbling out of the car.
I steadied my brother. "She's in love with me?" I asked, surprised.
"So I take it she didn't come talk to you," Chase said before leaning against the garage.
"No, she didn't," I replied before running a hand through my hair.
I spotted the smudged lipstick on my hand and I dropped my head immediately. "Fuck!" I yelled.
Chase looked up.
"What did you do?" He said tiredly.
"I was with a girl."
"What?"
"I was with a girl, fucking hell!" I exclaimed angrily before punching the roof of my car.
Car lights washed over the driveway, lighting up Chase and I. Christine's car pulled into her driveway. She stepped out.
"All good?" She asked, her eyes not even remotely looking at me.
She hated me. I could feel it. I'd broken her heart. Again. "All good," Chase replied.
"Well goodnight," she said, finally glancing at me.
Her eyes didn't linger long and she moved towards the front of her house rather quickly, like she wanted to get away.
I took Chase's arm and began dragging him up to our front door.
I'm a fucking idiot.
A/N
Yes James. Yes you are. But you're hot.
So that makes it.. well.. to be discussed.
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Doing a shoutout for the next chapter!
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