~Sitting in the Dark~

"We were just hugging. It was very one sided, actually. Purely for annoyment purposes," I explained to Riley in a plain sailing type of way. She always assumes the exaggerated version of things. It literally meant nothing.

"That's not really what it looked like... I'm just a bit confused on where you stand. I thought you hated each other." Well, the girl does have a point.

"I do hate him, it's just very on and off. After one of my pranks goes successfully, the hatred lessens enough for us to be pretend friends for a day," I said in a theoretical voice. Makes perfect sense in my head. Riley released an audible sigh, which meant she was letting me off the hook for now.

"Okay, sure," Riley settled on, combing through her unfair supply of beautiful blonde hair.

"The party don't start till we walk in, you know," I mumbled, wearing a secretive smile. She lifted her head up with sudden motivation, agreeing silently. Riley exited the bathroom with a look of determination. I tagged behind, trying to hide my Agoraphobic behavior whenever I suspected someone was approaching us. How much I prefer the safety of the womens bathroom over this anxiety attack.

The stuffy little place was full of teenage guys mixed with gorgeous girls my age. Seeing all them was a bit downgrading, but I plastered a big smug smile on my face, ignoring them as they all flirted up hurricanes about the place. Me and Riley headed over to the bar stools and took the first unoccupied seats we could find. I ordered a stawberry mango smoothie (To think I would even consider an alcoholic beverage) and chatted with Riley about the success of the night.

"You gotta stop glancing over your shoulder. You look like a fugitive," Riley remarked in the middle of our discussion. I didn't even notice I had been doing that.

"You can't blame me. He said he'd find me, and I'm just locating the nearest exit, that's all," I told her. She tilted her head, wearing a teasing smile. I wonder what's going on in that head of hers. Pretty sure she's putting the puzzle pieces together wrong.

"Aww, Bailey, you're just nervous to talk to him." I wanted to contradict her, but after doing a self check, I realized she might be right. The bartender-like character slid me my smoothie. I grunted, taking a long sip of it in protest. Why should anything he say matter, much less his opinion of me?

"What's your name, beautiful?" Someone said in a low voice to my very very left. It was directed to Riley. She flipped her blonde hair before turning to face the mysterious stranger.

"I'm afraid it's Riley, not beautiful. But you were so close," She said with an enchanting smile. I watched them engage in a conversation, and, for once in my life, was glad to be left out of it. If my entire night was wasted downing smoothes and watching Riley flirt, that would be perfectly okay with me.

"I thought I'd find you here," another low voice pitched in. This time it was closer, familiar, and I could feel whoever it belonged to standing directly behind me. I turned my head, coming face to face with a certain blonde boy. How is it I forgot about the only reason I came to this little shindig?

"Austen! I meant to find you earlier..." I replied, unsure where to start. The sight of him made me giddy with excitement. Finally, someone I want to see. I'm getting to preoccupied with this whole revenge committment.

"What did you think of our performance?" Austen asked, eyes sparkling. I use my hands in attempt to describe my feelings toward that.

"You guys are incredible! I love your music- it's... like a hyrbrid of Fall Out boy, Blink 182, and a couple other indie rock bands, but it's unique at the same time...." I struggled to verbalize it. Austen grinned at this.

"That's what we're going for. Although our first song was a little too soprano for our taste..." He playfully bumped me in the shoulder, and I burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry... you mad about that?" It's nothing personal, just much deserved payback to your best friend... no hard feelings?

"Haha not at all. It was hilarious. Jaxon explained what really happened to the rest of us, and I must say, I'm proud of you. Takes guts to mess with him," Austen laughed good-naturedly, and I was suddenly very glad for people like Austen. I don't know how I would survive in a world full of people that lacked a good sense of humor. Welcome to adulthood, Bailey. NEVERRR.

"Glad to hear that," I said, giving him a sly smile. Yeah, cuz I'm so well-known for my gutsy behavior. Austen ordered a smoothie as well and took a seat on the stool next to me. We continued to talk for a little bit until he got pulled away by a friend for some emergency. Riley left to go meet that random dude's other random dude friends, leaving me alone with nothing but empty seats next to me and half a glass of obliterated fruit. I took into account that things were working out quite nicely. Too nicely.

"There you are." Ugh, I so do not want to have to deal with this right now.

"And there I was," I said, spinning in my stool to face him. Jaxon stepped into the light, the shadows darkening under his eyes, yet enhancing his immaculate features.

"Was?" He questioned. Before it could process, I stood up and sped away through the massive clump of bodies. People started to catch on that I was going to shove them aside anyway and kindly moved for me. I reached a clearing and took the opportunity to turn and see if he was following me. His brown eyes were the first thing I spotted- they stuck out amongst the crowd. I kept going.

"Bailey, what the hel-," His voice cut off when he saw I had nowhere else to go. I had reached the end of the room. Why didn't I head to the bathroom like a normal damsel in distress? In a bit of a panic, I flew up the stairs and took refuge on the stage, where the curtains were close and the darkness could mask me. Sadly, he stubbornly climbed those stairs with me.

"Where are you? I can't see anything," Jaxon demanded, getting annoyed. I felt around in the darkness for the wall, so I could slip by undetected. All of a sudden, something smacked me in the cheek.

"Ow," I stated bluntly, rubbing my face. He laughed, his hands finding a way to my shoulders and sort of pinning me in place.

"Sorry, that was my elbows fault. Didn't see you there." We were quiet for a second, just catching our breaths.

"Why are you running away from me?" Jaxon asked softly, keeping his hands on my shoulders. I shrugged them off, stepping back a little and coming in contact with the brick wall.

"Just didn't want to talk," I replied, sliding down to sit on the floor. Let's not repeat what happened last time the wall was involved. Our eyes had gradually adjusted, and their was just enough light to see each others faces. He felt around until he found the wall and then promptly sat next to me, criss-cross apple sauce.

"Yeah, whats up with you and talking to people? I always have to go to such drastic measures to have a simple conversation with you," Jaxon pointed out, looking to me for an explanation. I stared ahead, watching him out of the corner of my eye.

"Not sure. Must be a rare predisposed irregularity," I responded all scientifically. He had different theories.

"Or, you're too afraid to talk to someone and say the wrong thing, or even say the right thing, and have to worry about showing too much of yourself," Jaxon argued without cracking a smile. Yeah, that pretty much sums me up.

"You hit the nail on the head, my friend," I said quietly, sinking back into the brick like it would suck me through a portal to another world. When I put some thought into it, that might actually be the exact reason. Think of it this way- Riley is actually my only real friend. She's always accepted me no matter what the circumstances are. I guess sharing myself with another person other than Riley is kind of terrifying. It's always been me and her against the world, and I've never had to worry about making other friends. How have I never caught just how closed off I am from everyone else?

"You know, I've found a way to deal with that," Jaxon blurted out of nowhere, breaking the ensued silence. I looked over at him, and he was already looking at me. Normally, I can hardly form a sentence around him without making a fool of myself. But something about this moment allowed me to forget everything I had put up to blockade people out.

"People are predictable. I used to be the same way you are, believe it or not." I observed him speak, hearing the sincerity of what he was saying.

"But I've found all you gotta do is pretend to have life down... act as if everything is A-OK, like you don't care about a thing, and nobody questions it." Why is he sharing this with me, of all people? Jaxon gazed ahead at his black surroundings. There was some depth to what he told me, and whatever it was caused his eyes to darken, the atmosphere to shift. I had a strange impulse to reach out to him, to take him into my arms. What am I on these days.

"But it's never that simple," I said softly. Jaxon didn't say anything, which felt like he was agreeing without having to say it aloud. We both just sat there for a couple minutes in comfortable silence.

"I guess I'll use your advice..." I concluded dubiously, my voice slicing through the silence.

Jaxon turns and looks at me with an unreadable expression.

"I wouldn't if I were you. It isn't what you make it out to be. Everyone assumes you don't have a problem in the world, and after leading them all to believe that, you start to think that yourself," he paused, his eyes locked with mine, "Then reality swings back in worse than before, reminding you that things will never be how you want them to be."

I was speechless, seeing pain suddenly flash in his eyes. His jaw tightened, and he turned back forward, refusing to show any more signs of emotion. How badly I wanted him to explain, to push him to tell me everything.

But I didn't.

The urge to comfort him was overwhelming, but those stupid boundaries I placed in between everyone was just as strong.

I scooted closer to him, our arms brushing just barely. If this is the only way I could show him that I care, then so be it. Pathetic, I know. Jaxon gradually loosened up from his uptight position, sighing and leaning back on the wall.

Although Jaxon still remained a mystery that I might not ever crack, I felt undeniably closer to him. We didn't say anything for a while after that, but we didn't have to. Just being in his company was pleasant... for now.

"So.... you and Austen, eh?" Jaxon said out of the blue, performing a smooth subject change.

"Me and Austen what?" I queried. Let's not get into that. He saw the irritation on my face and smiled, pushing it further for the sake of my temper.

"I see something going on between you two. The chemistry is too strong to deny. I could feel it from across the room," Jaxon purred, bumping into me. I answered his statement with a grunt. He's not getting any reaction from me. That's none of his business.

"Come on, Bay. I know you like him. In fact, I think you secretly enjoyed that kiss. Feel free to thank me anytime." He flexed his arms, and casually crossed them together. This time, I felt a little bit of anger brewing inside. Okay, Jaxon, don't push it.

"If you don't mind me saying this, he really isn't your type. Though you think you have some unspoken connection, I just don't think it will work out," Jaxon decided, pushing me over the edge. I looked at him with obvious indignation.

"Who are you to tell me who my type is? You don't know anything," I told him firmly, hoping to end the discussion before things got heated.

"You sure about that? I know that you like him, but something's holding you back." I was about to step in, but he interrupted.

"You have feelings for someone else, even though you won't confront it. And I think you know exactly who that is." Jaxon stared into my eyes, waiting for me to figure out just what he was implying. My irritation level suddenly spiked.

"No I don't! I like Austen," I enforced, trying to get that through his head. Jaxon looked unfazed, raising his eyebrows and looking back ahead.

"Okay, whatever you say. But the other night..."

That last sentence made something snap inside me. I became furious, and I'm not really sure why.

"What about last night? What are you trying to say, Jaxon? That it meant something?" I demanded. At the mention of this, the guy instantaneously lost all emotion and sense of humor from before. He ceased movement, his face impassive and unreadable.

"It didn't mean anything to me," He deadpanned. The words were cold and harsh, and made me want to cry for some reason. I convinced myself over and over that it didn't matter, that I wasn't affected by it. I hated him anyway.

"Well perfect. Since you don't seem to care, I don't know why I'm wasting my time then." I stood up in one swift motion, willing back the tears threatening to spill out.

"Bailey," Jaxon called out through clenched teeth. I'm through listening to you. I stumbled down the stairs and into the light, everything a mix of weird washed out colors since I had been sitting in the dark for over an hour now. I shoved through the crowd once again, this time searching for Riley. Jaxon didn't follow me.

I discovered her near the entrance, her back to me as she giggled and conversed in a big group of people. Atleast one of us is having fun. I felt guilty pulling her away from the group, but I was in need of her assistance. She turned as soon as I reached her, taking in my distressed state.

"Bailey! What's wrong?" Riley asked, immediately filled with concern. I swallowed, taking some long breaths so I wouldn't break down.

"It's nothing. Let's just get out of here."

Another update.. I'm trying to be more consistent here, so applaud my efforts.... yeah that ain't necessary. Well if you are confused with what happened in this chapter or where they stand just ask in the comments.... I feel as if this chapter was a little hard to understand, so hope I haven't lost any of ya. Be votely, promote commentation, and share boisterously with your tribe.. Eh this is just getting weird : —— )