EDITED VERSION: Chapter Six

"Please, Audrey?" Darian pleaded, giving me a puppy dog pout. His vibrant blue eyes seemed to seep into mine and I felt myself slowly caving in to his wishes.

Samara was looking between the two of us, arching a brow. The three of us were sitting at the kitchen table, writing our papers for our classes. Samara and I worked on our short stories that we had started the week before and Darian worked on a script. However, the whole time we have been doing so, Darian has been trying to convince me to go to a party his ex-boyfriend, Justin is throwing to celebrate the beginning of the school year.

I looked at Samara, hoping she would help me with an excuse, she held her hands up in surrender. "Don't turn to me, sweetie, 'cause I'm going to the party."

I narrowed my eyes. "You suck."

"And swallow," she winked, continuing on with her work.

"Gross," I groaned, holding back an eye roll. I knew Samara was going, apparently, her and Justin shared multiple classes together as they both are majoring in Journalism. I shifted in my seat, my eyes darting between Darian and Samara. "Why are you even going to a party your ex is throwing anyways?"

"Well, we are working it out," Darian said quietly, his attention now fixed on the kitchen table, looking slightly upset. "I also wanted him to meet you."

I softened, feeling guilty that I was so resistant to attending, "Alright, I'll go."

Darian gave Samara a high five, his look of distress completely gone. "Told you the guilt-trip would work."

"You guys suck," I mumbled as I continued to write my story, which was turning out to be a little bit darker than I intended. Why does heartbreak bring out the most disturbing stories in writers?

"And swallow," Darian winked, just like Samara said only moments before.

After a few minutes, we lapsed into a comfortable silence. The sun was starting to set and the smell of the crisp cold air lingered in the apartment, due to the balcony door being left slightly ajar. Samara left for the bathroom, reapplying her makeup and changing into some of my clothes for the party. Meanwhile, Darian left to take an abnormally long time in the shower, leaving me alone in the living room, watching Netflix.

As I hear voices echo from the television, my phone rings. I pause my show and scrunch my eyebrows in confusion as I answer the call. "Hey Alex, what's wrong?"

"Why does there have to be anything wrong for me to call my little sister?" Alex's voice snapped over the phone.

I rolled my eyes, leaning back on the couch. "Well, ever since mom and dad died you went completely off the map."

"Correction," my sister said quickly. "I've been all over the map. I am currently sitting in a nice Starbucks in New York."

"Lovely," I responded dryly. Alex never called unless she wanted something, when I spent my gap year back in Alberta trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, she up and left to Lord only knows where calling me once because needed me to mail a hoodie she forgot back home.

"Lighten up, Audrey," Alex groaned, I heard her take a sip of whatever she was drinking. "Not everyone can handle sitting in a classroom every day learning about boring things."

I played the show, turning down the volume and turned on the subtitles so I could continue watching. "Well, you're technically a teacher. Don't you still teach yoga?"

"Ugh, sis," I could hear my sister's eye roll. "Yoga is not your traditional classroom setting and it is certainly not boring."

"To me it is," I sighed, remembering when my sister tried to teach me yoga and I fell asleep during child's pose.

A small pause. "Anyway, I was just checking in. I can't stay on the phone long, the long-distance fees are friggin expensive. How's school? Did you dump your boring boyfriend yet? You should probably go for someone more exciting, in my opinion."

"School is good," I began, licking my suddenly dry lips, "And yes, Kieran and I broke up but-"

"Ugh, about time!" Alex nearly yelled into the phone. "Anyway, I heard you took your trust fund and your bony ass to Toronto now, maybe I'll come to visit sometime-" voices that didn't belong to my sister murmured on the other end and I heard Alex say a few things before she snapped her attention back to me. "-I gotta go, my date awaits."

I was about to respond when the line went dead. "What the actual hell?"

Darian finally finished his shower and was putting on his shirt when he walked into the living room and asked, "Who were you talking to?"

"My sister," I responded flatly, turning up the show so I didn't have to use subtitles anymore.

Samara walked in, wearing my black dress and pumps. "The yoga instructor?"

"Yep," I groaned. "Basically, was checking in, she currently is in New York."

My friend shook her head. "Man, how did she get so much money?"

"Well," I looked between my two friends, who both looked deeply intrigued, "When my parents died, it turned out they both them and my grandparents had a trust fund set up for my sister and me. Both my mom and my dad came from a long line of lawyers, so they made a stupid amount of money."

"How did they...?" Darian asked, sitting beside me, his expression more serious.

I paused, trying to figure out the best way to say it, "On my parent's wedding anniversary, they decided to go out for dinner. They barely got days off and it was a miracle that they had one, let alone on their anniversary," I shut off the television and sat up. "Anyway, on their way home, this teenager ran a red light. The guy wasn't even drunk, he and his friends were playing truth or dare and he was dared to run a red light. So, he did. I was sixteen, Alex was nineteen."

Darian and Samara both were looking at the floor, unsure what to say and I felt immediately guilty for bringing the excitement of tonight to a minimum. Trying to perk up, I said, "It's okay guys. I've made my peace with it, my sister is travelling the world, and I'm right where I want to be."

My friends looked unconvinced, but they let the subject drop.

After a few minutes of uneasy silence, Samara clapped her hands. "Well, I think it's time to get you ready for this party."

I exchanged a glance with Darian, then down to see my ripped black skinny jeans and a red cropped hoodie. "I thought I looked fine in what I'm wearing."

This time, Darian exchanged a challenging glance at Samara. "I think we can find something a little bit more fun."

"Ho-ly shit," I said, taken aback as I stood in front of the mirror.

Samara put a hand on my shoulder, looking utterly proud of the work she has accomplished. "You look amazing."

"Mhm," Darian nodded, on the other side of me. It felt like the two of them were the angel and the devil on my shoulders, but I couldn't figure out which one was which.

I blinked a few times, my eyelids feel heavy due to the smoky eyeshadow and winged eyeliner, making my green eyes pop with colour. My lips were a wine red and I was wearing a skin-tight strapless dress that was the same colour as my lips.

Samara suddenly started spraying hairspray on my meticulously straightened hair, breaking my trance. "You could be a model, girl."

"I doubt that," I turned to my friends, giving them both a big smile. "Thank you guys, I think tonight is going to be great."

They both gave me a hug in return, however, Darian pulled back saying, "Picture time, we'll show Kieran what he's missing."

Although the thought of showing off my new look on Instagram was tempting, I was worried that it would only incline Kieran to ignore me even more. Since he broke up with me, he hasn't texted or called. I thought for sure he'd come around in a few days, but he hasn't uttered a single word to me.

Shaking the thoughts of Kieran out of my head, Darian began taking a nice selfie of all three of us, then a goofy one. Afterwards, Darian decided he wanted to have a photo with just me. Then Samara wanted one with me and then one with Darian. In total, it felt like nearly a half-hour of solid picture taking. Who knew getting ready for some party would be such an endeavour?

"Alright, now are we done?" I asked, ready to get to the party and stop taking an absurd amount of photos.

"Patience," my roommate sighed as he clicked away on his phone, his blue eyes glued to the screen. A minute later he was finished, placing his phone in his pocket. "Alright my dudes, let's go."

***

"Hello and welcome to my not-so-humble abode," Darian's boyfriend boomed as he swung open the door to his gigantic house, his long black hair was tied into a half-up, half-down do that looked very fitting for his sharp facial structure.

"Hey, babe," Darian gave Justin a quick peck on the cheek. "This is my roommate, Audrey."

"Nice to meet you," I beamed, holding out my hand, glad to finally meet the famous Justin that Darian had been talking non-stop about since he called the night I met Nathan.

Justin ignored it and pulled me into a hug. "Nice to meet you too! Darian has told me so much about you."

"Good things I hope," I laughed as I pulled back from his hug.

He smiled, "All good things, I promise."

Justin turned his head in Samara's direction and pointed behind him. "Cameron is here, he's been asking about you."

"Obviously," Samara responded with a wink. "That boy has been hooked on me since day one."

Darian clapped his hands together, causing us to look in his direction, "Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's party people."

As soon as we entered Darian began dancing the night away with Justin in the living room and Samara was sitting outside with some other people by the fire pit. A guy with curly black locks would occasionally lean over to whisper things in Samara's ear, causing her to either laugh or blush, so I deduced that must be Cameron. Meanwhile, I decided to go to the kitchen to take a few shots.

When I entered, Nathan was standing behind the counter, a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand and a cigarette in the other. Once he caught sight of me, he lifted his arms up in an enthusiastic greeting. "Princess!"

Rolling my eyes, I walked over to him and crossed my arms. "What are you doing here?"

"Well," Nathan said before he inhaled from his smoke. "Justin invited me, seeing as I am Darian's older brother after all. Why? Disappointed to see me?"

I shook my head and took the bottle from Nathan's hand so I could take a sip. "No, just curious."

Nathan eyed me as I took more than a few sips from the bottle and his eyes widened as I continued to do so. "You sure you can handle that much?"

I waved my hand in dismissal and grinned. "I'm fine."

Nathan gently took the bottle from my hand and placed it on the counter. "Well, maybe you should wait a bit before you have more, or else it's going to hit you like a brick."

"Alright," I sighed, jumping up on the counter across from him. I dug through my purse and tried to locate my phone so I could get the time. It was only ten. Sighing, I dropped the phone onto the counter and when I looked up, I felt a rush of dizziness. The alcohol was definitely hitting me now.

Nathan took a final drag of his cigarette and put it out in the ashtray that was beside me. "What's on your mind?"

I thought to myself for a moment and grinned. "Pizza."

"Pizza?" Nathan let out a loud chuckle and I felt myself blush. He leaned on the counter across from the one I was sitting on, arching a brow. "What kind of pizza?"

"Meat lovers with ranch dip," I loosed a breath, my mouth watering at the thought of the pizza I was describing. "Extra cheese."

Nathan was about to respond to my pizza fantasy when my phone started to vibrate on the counter.

"Hello?" I drawled out loudly, hoping whoever is calling me can hear over the music.

"Where the hell are you?" A voice yelled angrily into their phone.

I hopped off the counter, Nathan cocked an eyebrow but said nothing. I weaved my way through the sweaty drunk bodies in the living room to go outside. Once I reached the door, I finally answered, "I am currently in the great outdoors."

"Bullshit!" the voice boomed. "You're at a party acting like a slut."

"Kieran?" I asked, suddenly realizing who was on the other end of the phone call. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Kieran let out a big, annoyed sigh. "I saw the pictures of you and your little city friends on Instagram."

"So?" I challenged as I kicked a pebble off the porch out of frustration. The cool air started to make me shiver and I was starting to get really impatient with my ex-boyfriend.

"So," Kieran began. "You're acting like someone you're not. Wearing a skimpy dress, five pounds of makeup, and partying with a bunch of strangers? What is wrong with you?"

My breath hitched in my throat and an angry heat rose from my toes to my legs, and all the way up to my chest, "You know what Kieran? I am so sick of your bullshit. You're mean and I don't like y-"

"And that's enough out of you," an amused voice said from behind me while grabbing my phone. "Don't take what she said to heart buddy, even though she probably means it. You sound like a complete dick, by the way," Kieran must have said something to Nathan because Nathan let out a laugh. "Yeah, okay. I'd like to see you try. Have a good night, asshole."

When Nathan finished talking, he clicked a button on my phone and slipped it into the pocket of his jeans, as he did so, I began to laugh. "You were mean."

Nathan shrugged his shoulders and smirked as he took out his own phone and started tapping on the screen. "He deserved it."

A breeze picked up and I felt myself shivering. I bring anything to cover my arms and goosebumps danced up my arms. Nathan stepped forward and I took a step back on the porch. "What are you doing?"

"Giving you my jacket, you're shivering," he answered, shimmying his leather jacket down his arms and then wrapped it around my shoulders.

His jacket enveloped me as he started to rub my arms to provide me with more warmth.

"Nathan," I began, feeling completely lightheaded. The world began to spin and my vision felt like it was out of focus. "I don't feel so good."

I leaned back, nearly falling over. Nathan immediately wrapped his arms around me to ensure I don't crumple to the ground. "Easy there, princess."

"I'm going to vomit," I groaned, letting myself completely embrace Nathan's hold because I could no longer feel my legs.

"I don't doubt it," he snorted. "You drank nearly the whole bottle."

Nathan tried to lead me into the house but I nearly fell into the bush beside the porch as a result of tripping over my own legs.

"Ow," I started to whine, feeling a piercing pain in my knee. "My life sucks."

"Shh," Nathan started to say. "It's alright. I'm going to take you home, okay?"

Ignoring what he said, I asked, "Where's my phone? I want to give Kieran a piece of my mind."

Darian's brother let out a chuckle. "Your phone is in my pocket and your idiot of an ex can feel your almighty wrath tomorrow when you're sober."

"Screw you, buddy," I slurred as he tried to walk me to the Uber he must've ordered after he hung up on Kieran.

Opening his passenger door and gently placing me inside, he said, "You'll thank me tomorrow."

***

A half-hour later, I felt a hand shaking my arm. "Audrey? Wake up, we're at the apartment."

I sighed as I opened my eyes. "I was having a good sleep you know."

"I know, princess but I think you'll have a better sleep in your bed," Nathan said in a hushed tone.

Trying to make my legs move but failed completely, I mumbled, "I think I'm dead. I can't move my legs."

"Fear not," Nathan said, unbuckling his seatbelt, he got out of the car and walked over to my door. "I'll just have to carry you."

"How chivalrous of you," I whispered so quietly I doubted he could actually hear me.

Darian's brother carried me all the way out the parking garage, in the elevator, and finally, into the apartment. I sincerely hoped I wouldn't remember this in the morning because I knew I'd likely die of embarrassment if I did.

When we reached the apartment and eventually my room, he placed me on my bed. He stared at me intently, his hazel eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "How are you feeling now?"

"Like a colossal ass," I mumbled into my pillow, closing my eyes tightly I sighed, picturing Nathan's concerned face when he had asked me how I felt. "You're pretty."

Nathan chuckled as he started taking off my shoes and then pulled up my bedsheets to keep me both comfortable and warm.

I started to drift off into an alcohol-induced slumber when the last thing I heard was Nathan whispering, "Have a good sleep, princess."