Envy

"Willow, I love you. But you're pathetic," I glared at my roommate from my spot on the couch. I'd graduated from spending all of my time at home inside my bedroom, to only some of my time there, the rest of it being spent watching Netflix and Disney classics on the living room couch.

"Cass, I love you, but I'm going back to my room," Past the initial "Oh my god what happened to you" conversation I'd shut down all of her attempts to talk about Will, or about how pathetic I am.

"Yeah Willow, it's time to move on," I peaked around the doorway to see Robin filling a glass of wine in the kitchen. "He cheated, it's his loss." The words were meant to be comforting but they came across as angry. Robin had been angry with me a lot lately, as if somehow this were my fault and I'd done the cheating. She hadn't bothered to try and reach out to me much after my breakup with Will, but she was still coming around to hang out with Cass. She had been Friends with Cass before I came along and we became friends through her, but lately it seemed like I was just an annoyance.

"We could get drinks. Go down to club envy. Make new memories," Cass said wiggling her eyebrows at me. "Tomorrow night. I'll get Olivia to come with us, and of course the twins." She said turning to Robin.

"Of course! Maybe I'll get to run into Callum again. I never got his number. Shame,"

I rolled my eyes. It may not have been his number, but she did get something from him. After several more tries at convincing me, I reluctantly agreed, and so 24 hours later I stood in the bathroom staring at myself. I never got the chance to dress like this when I was with Will, I never got the full college girl experience. Until tonight. Tonight, I was a single college girl. I didn't go quite as crazy with the outfit like the twins usually do, but it was the sexiest I've ever felt. My dark brown hair fell in thick waves, swept over to one side in a soft side part. I had on a shimmery black V neck dress with sheer mesh bits running from my rib cage to my hips, the dress itself stopping only a few inches below my butt, tight to my skin. I relished in being able to do my makeup the way I wanted to with a nice smokey eye, blood red matte super stay 24-hour lipstick, and winged eyeliner. Cass helped me with the final touches before giving me a whistle.

"Where the hell have you been hiding?" She said appreciatively while she checked me out. She laughed and gave me a quick hug before we ran out to catch up to the other girls.

I actually did feel a bit better walking into club Envy this time. I was dressed the way I wanted too, even with a low three-inch strappy heel, and I felt good for the first time in a long time. That also may have been the pre drinks, but I chose to think it was just me.

The twins were dressed fabulously as always in their typical body suit/skirt combo. Olivia wore a tight dark red dress that sat mid thigh, and sported a similar neckline to mine. Somehow it made her green eyes even more vibrant. Cass had opted for a caramel-coloured body suit tucked into black tights with a beautiful white heel. It went well with her caramel highlighted hair.

We started with two rounds of tequila shots, and mixed drinks. I settled on their pomegranate smash. I had no idea what was in it but it was delightful. In no time we were all out on the dancefloor, Robin and Kirsten putting on the twin show, and Cass, Ollie, and I forming our own group. My hips swayed in time, sandwiching Cass between Olivia and I as she was the easiest one to put there. I was feeling amazing. Determined to put Will out of my head, I threw caution to the wind and drank as much as I wanted. On a whim, I'd bought a pack of smokes at the convenience store beside the club, and the alcohol was telling me it's almost cigarette time.

"Do you guys want a drink?" I yelled over the music. When they both shook their heads no, I pointed at the bar to let them know they could find me there. I leaned over the bar, mouthing "Pomegranate?" to the bar tender hoping he would know what it meant. He did.

"Do you know the quickest way to get over someone?" Said a voice beside me.

"Getting under someone else?" I replied, looking to my left to find the owner of the voice.

He grinned at me, his dark eyes raking slowly down my body. "I'd be happy to help,"

I snorted. "Piss off chase,"

"I'm hurt," he mocked. "But I do hear that you're on the market,"

The bar tender handed me a drink, and Chase a beer. I didn't even notice him order. He handed him a twenty-dollar bill and nodded at the drink in my hand, signaling it was on him.

"Trying to soften me up Andrews?"

He laughed. "It's the least I can do after ruining your relationship," He leaned one arm on the bar, leaning towards me

I snorted. "That piece of shit picked me up with lipstick on his collar. Turns out you didn't even have to tell me,"

"Ouch,"

"mhm," I chugged my drink and smiled at him. "But I'm not here to talk about him. In fact, I want to talk about anything but him,"

"I can do that. Are you drinking about it?"

"Damn right,"

He laughed, dragging his eyes over my body again before nodding at the bartender and motioning to my empty glass. It was refilled and paid for once more. "You know he said you were only nice to me to get back at him. That you were trying to sleep with me because I look like a whore, "

"You do not look like a whore," he stated "Not even in that dress, which was a great choice by the way, and not the day I met you. I would probably try to get in your pants, but that has nothing to do with him. I tend to avoid thinking about men while trying to have sex with a woman"

I giggled, feeling my tipping point coming close. Not stopping me this time. I chugged my drink down "pee time!" I sang, prancing away from him.

Five minutes later I was back on the dancefloor with Ollie and Cass. The twins were off hunting so I didn't bother looking for them. I was getting into the danger zone after pounding back two (I think) more drinks.

"Was that Chase Andrews you were talking to?".  Cass asked. I nodded at her and she raised her eyebrows. "Are you a thing?"

I laughed. "God no. He made sure I got home safe last weekend and that's it. He was just buying me a drink; I told him about Will. Somehow, he already knew. So that's great. But Nope definitely not a thing. Wyatt would have my head,"

"Looks like he might have Will's instead," she said, her eyes going wide as she looked over my shoulder. I followed her gaze and felt my heart sink. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Will was here, with his hands all over a petite redhead. She was dressed way more provocatively than he ever let me dress with him, and he seemed to be loving it. They were putting the twins' gross display of PDA to shame.

My heart started racing, tears coming to my eyes. I was doing so well, having so much fun and he ruined my night in seconds. Again. He raised his eyes from her cleavage and met my gaze across the room, and then he got cocky. He winked at me, lowering his hands to her hips, yanking her circling hips against him. I was a deer in headlights, seeing myself running out of the room, but I couldn't force my feet to move. Suddenly Cass was beside me, a soothing hand on my back and she turned me from the scene towards the bathroom. Numbly I registered retriever boy from last weekend seated at the same table he was before, another pretty blonde perched in his lap, Chase right beside him. Were they friends? Was he one of the ones I looked past last time? Chase looked at me questioningly for a second, then grinned. Within seconds he was in front of us.

"Mind if I interrupt ladies?"

Olivia started to protest but Cass cut her off. "Not at all,"

Chase put his hands on my hips and guided me back to a spot on the dancefloor. "No you don't. Not running away today sweetheart." Two more steps. I nodded; my chest still tight. "He's only here with someone else to make you jealous,"

"Yeah, "I said nodding, two more steps. "Nice to know two years was that easy to get over,". I laughed without humor and it sounded sad even to my own ears.

"Well as your new best friend it's my job to return the favour," He turned me around, hands still on my hips and pressed himself against my back, moving with the beat. I hesitantly looked up and saw Will watching us with disbelief, and then anger. I giggled, the nerves starting to break and grabbed Chase's hands. He splayed his fingers out, covering more distance while he pressed his face into my neck. "He's pissed,"

"mhm," I agreed, turning around to face him and pressing myself against him once more. For someone so big, he was light on his feet and moved better than anyone I'd danced with before. We were pressed as tightly together as we could be, his hands respectfully roaming the sheer slits in my dress, grabbing my hips when I moved too far away. Will never danced with me like this when he bothered to come out. It felt like freedom.

Maybe thirty minutes, maybe hours later, I stumbled out of the bar with Chase doing his best to hold me steady. The girls weren't ready to leave yet, but my stomach told me that I was. We lternated between drinks at the bar top and dancing until I lost count. It was definitely too many though. I had never let loose like this before and it was glorious. Even if I was lightheaded with a nice set of the spins starting to set in. Definitely too many

I sat down on the ground, yanking my heels off. Chase had already ordered an Uber but it was a 20-minute wait and I needed some fresh air. He draped my coat around my shoulders while I lit my cigarette.

"I thought you quit?" He asked.

I tried to look him in the eyes but I couldn't focus "You're a bad influence, "I slurred "Some best friend you are,"

"So, you agree, we are best friends," he reached over and took my heels from my hand.

"Mmm," I'd barely taken a drag from the cigarette in my hand before my hand was going up to my chest, all the colour draining from my face.

"Willow? Are you- "

"I think I'm going to be sick,"