Lesson Nineteen - Stop Yourself From Stopping Yourself.
It has been three hours from I accidentally tripped Ashley up. Of course she didn't believe me but who said I cared and in honesty I couldn't have done it better if I did try. I could feel the glares coming my way from her for the rest of the night but at this point I had already had one to many drinks to care anymore.
It was now 1 o'clock at night and the world was still going on around me. People were laughing in all directions and the once perfectly groomed men and flawless makeup of the women were long gone. Even the rich and famous didn't look perfect after a few drinks in them. What a shocker.
I went up to the bar to get another drink. I didn't realise that I stood beside Riker as I did so. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes and even in my drunken state I could tell he was. In fact he didn't look like he had drank at all. Like that night in his brothers nightclub. Even I could tell there was a creepy grin on my face as I thought back to putting Zane's men in their place.
"You've got a stupid grin on your face." He looked at me amused and I shrugged my shoulders as I told the bartender my drink. The girls on my other side glared at me clearly standing there waiting for longer. Being one of the most known people in the room had its perks after all.
"Can I ask you something?"
I looked at him slightly surprised at the seriousness in his tone. I didn't normally answer serious questions I suppose though who really did like answering questions like that. It might have been the alcohol in my system but I nodded anyway.
"Go for it." I said as I took my drink from the bartender. He winked and me and I gave him a wide smile before turning around. I noticed Riker roll his eyes at the exchange but said nothing.
"How do you cope."
In that second I knew I was going to want to down my whole drink before giving him an answer in any shape or form.
"What do you mean?" I asked bring the drink to my lips. I could see him watching the movement carefully. I could've sworn I seen his eyes glaze over as he looked at my lips but quickly cleared his throat and looked me in the eyes again.
"With all the shit that's thrown at you. You're in between everything and you don't even want to be or try to be. Between your dad and being the Heir to one of the most successful Empires in the world. To the shit you went through with Zane. How do you cope with being pulled in every direction?" I noticed the way his voice changed with more harshness when he said Zane's name but I knew he didn't even notice. The two men had been rivals for as long as I could remember.
"We all cope in different ways, mine is having sex and being awesome."
Riker looked at me weirdly then laughed. For some reason it made me feel good inside that I could make him laugh like that. Then again it could just be the alcohol right now and that he's just laughing at my face. Which I'm sure isn't looking it's best at this point in the night.
He leaned in closer to me though so our chests were almost touching. I could feel my heart beat doing 90 and I frowned. I never felt like that any other time Riker and me were close. It definitely was the alcohol going to my head without a doubt.
"Oh yea what's your favourite position then ?" He asked quietly whispering in my ear. This made me grin when I knew my answer straight away.
"CEO."
He looked at me dead in the eyes with a massive grin on his face. I'd never seen someone so handsome in my life and I wasn't going to lie about it. He had taken off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt slight up his forearms. I could see clearly the tattoos that rested on his arm and I would be the first to admit that I loved them. I was always and always will be a sucker for tattoos. Maybe that's why he was getting under my skin slightly.
"You're something else princess I'll give you that."
I felt someone grab my arm and looked to see it was my mother. Her eyes were glazed over from the alcohol and she basically used to me to help herself stand tall. Downing the rest of my drink I set it on the servers tray as he walked past.
"Lyra!" Screamed my mother as if I was on the other side of the room, not right beside her. I held my mothers arm helping her to steady herself. She had changed out of her her wedding dress a long time ago and was now wearing a beautiful red dress.
I was going to speak when I seen Xavier Kennedy walk over to us. I felt Riker stand taller from behind me. Of course this was his father after all. The one he would one day take over for.
"Son." Greeted Xavier and I seen Riker nod his head in acknowledgment from the corner of my eye. His jaw was sharp as he looked at his father. It was almost like he was waiting for something.
"Lyra are you having a good time." I looked at my mother once more almost forgetting that she was clinging onto me like a monkey. I was to focused on the exchange between father and son.
"Clearly you are." I commented and she grinned but this time she let out a yawn.
"Of course." She yawned again as she spoke.
Xavier laughed and took my mother's grip off me and helped her to stand. He and Riker really do look alike even in my state I could see it clearly. I had to admit even though he's a Kennedy my mum sure knew how to pick them when it came to looks anyway.
"It's best we get going I don't think she's going to last much longer before she passes out." He looked at Riker his eyes hard once more on his son. "I'll text you later son."
I watched as he helped my stumbling mother walk out of the reception. Something about the way he spoke to Riker sobered me up. There was a point to his words and I wasn't one of those people that didn't know stuff like that. Nothing got past me, drunk or not.
"What was that about?" I asked knowing he wasn't going to tell me anyway.
"Nothing." His tone told me not to press on the matter.
Riker Kennedy really did live a life I could only imagine. So I moved the conversation on knowing it was probably for the best.
"It's hard to believe that I'm standing talking to you without me cursing your name up and down the street. I haven't even called you the North side scum in a while."
"You do know that rivalry has nothing to do with the sides that we live on?" How stupid did he think I was. I knew what the true reason behind it was.
"No my ex boyfriend is Zane Knight in case you have forgotten. A few months ago I wouldn't have been caught dead talking to you like I am now."
"Ahhhhh." He said thoughtful with a smirk on his face. He lifted his phone out of his pocket and glanced at it. Judging from the talk with his father only a few minutes ago I guessed he got a text from him. He didn't react though instead putting the phone in his pocket again and looking at me. "When you used to hate my guts."
I rolled my ice blue eyes. "I didn't hate you. I don't hate anyone. I just wasn't thrilled on your existence."
"Is being a smart-ass just a part of who you are?" Asked Riker amused with our conversation. I didn't blame him. I was the best.
"Well I am smart." I said acting thoughtful bring my hand up to my chin in a thoughtful manner. "And I do have a pretty amazing ass. So I guess you can call me a smart-ass. Thank you that's so nice of you." I said squealing in excitement.
"You're crazy."
"My crazy ass mother had me tested don't worry." I said waving him off. I was joking off course the only person that needed to be tested was my mother herself. Oh look there's mean Lyra back again.
I looked over to Hayden who was dancing with a little five year old girl who he had in his arms. It was rare to see my big footballer of a brother being so soft with anyone. My eyes softened at the sight. In honesty my brother could probably of had that life by now. He had a high school sweetheart and they had been going out from they were 14. They broke up when they left for college because she said he was made for bigger and better things.
I loved Emily she was the best girlfriend any of my brothers had. She came from a pretty bad background but was still the sweetest girl you would ever met. As far as I know she moved away after they broke up.
My brother though never got over it. He might sleep around but he never settled down after Emily and I didn't think he ever would. He was properly in love with the girl and I don't think it was one that he would ever get over.
"Lyra?" I snapped out of my thoughts and looked away from my brother who was still dancing with the little girl. Riker stood in front of me with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" I asked of having a clue what he said.
"I asked if you were ok. You seemed to go off into your own world." He actually looked concerned, something that looked foreign on his features.
"Yea just thinking about a past."