Chapter 4 The Party
four
The Party
*GWENDOLYN*
My heart beats faster as I think about the party with all those people I don’t know. Dad always encouraged me to go out, but I was always too scared of my high school peers from the pack. Now, however, I am an adult and am dating. I should be fine.
When I reach my destination – a private house of one of Brandon’s college friends, a human who has no idea what we are – I lock the bike up and decide to wait for Brandon. A glance at my phone tells me that I am a bit early, and Brandon left me a message saying he will be here on time.
“Hey. Are you coming to the party?”
I turn around to look at a guy who just came out of the house. “Yes.”
“I don’t know you,” he says with a bright smile. “I am Noah.”
“Oh, you are hosting the party, aren’t you?” I smile at him. “Sorry, I am waiting for my boyfriend. Brandon.”
“You are Brandon’s girl?” he sighs. “Such a pity.”
“Why?”
He grins. “Might have made a move myself.” He doesn’t sound creepy when he says it, just a tad teasing. I am amused at his flirty behavior, not sure if I truly buy it.
“You haven’t told me your name.”
“I’m Gwen.” When he stretches out his hand, and I shake it.
“Why don’t you wait inside?” he offers. “There are already plenty of other guests here.”
He is right. There are a number of girls currently sitting in his garden, and a whole group of guys and girls inside. It’s getting colder outside, so he has a point; it is better to wait inside. “Is it okay with you? I know I am not on your guest list.”
He laughs. “You are now, Gwen.”
I swiftly send a message to Brandon, telling him I am early and waiting inside, before I let Noah lead me inside. “This is Gwen, everyone,” he yells into the room.
I gaze at the group, to my relief, not spotting any pack members yet, though I am sure they will come; it’s all for pretense. A lot of them are friendly with the humans, and even hang out with them on occasions like these, to not appear too secluded or weird.
“Not even half an hour and you already got yourself a girlfriend?!” one of the guys remarks.
“She is Brandon’s girlfriend,” he clarifies, and I kind of like that he does.
“What a waste,” one of the girls mutters.
Another one elbows her. “Don’t be nasty.”
“It’s just… she looks so cool. How did Brandon get someone like her?”
Her words surprise me. Do they not like Brandon?
“Whatever.” The other girl makes a dismissive gesture with her hand. “Why don’t you join us, Gwen? Do you drink?”
“No,” I say. “I have a friend and her child staying with me currently.“
“Oh, I get it,” the girls both nod. “Noah has great non-alcoholic drinks.”
“True,” Noah says. “My sister is pregnant, but I want her to have something to drink as well. And one of our friends doesn’t drink either. You are not alone.”
I feel relief filling me. “I am so glad you don’t mind.”
“Why would I?” Noah asks before handing me a drink that looks like strawberry juice with sparkling water.
“How come you are holding such a big party?” I ask in return.
“I do it yearly,” he explains. “And invite my friends and anyone I know.”
“He has the money,” one of the girls explains, making me laugh.
“That explains it,” I tease.
The girls – Nina and Ava, as they introduce themselves – show me around, chat with me about their lives, and even exchange numbers with me.
One of them is in college, the other one isn’t.
Like me, she started to work after school for financial reasons, but wants to start some kind of education soon.
Her words actually give me some food for thought.
I don’t have much time on my hands, but I guess I could start an online course. There are plenty of those nowadays.
I don’t notice how much time passes until I feel my phone vibrating.
A message from Brandon that he’s arrived and is coming in now.
From my position in the second room, I can see the entrance door, noting how Brandon comes inside together with Josie and one of Maddox’s friends.
Soon after them, Maddox comes. too, but he doesn’t join them, instead he goes to someone else he knows.
Brandon eventually leaves the group and walks around to look for me - I’m hoping.
“Why are you not going to say hello to him?” Nina asks.
Ava peeks around us. “Oh, is that said Brandon?”
“Yes,” I say.
“So, why?” Nina pushes.
“I don’t like the people he arrived with,” I admit. “The girl and some of the guys used to bully me in school.”
Ava stares at me like I have lost my mind. “Why are you with a dude who hangs out with your bullies?”
“He doesn’t always have an option,” I mutter. “One of them is the son of… of his dad’s boss. He doesn’t want to upset him.”
“Hm.” Nina doesn’t sound convinced. “Still not okay.”
We don’t get to discuss it further because Brandon spots us and comes closer. He ignores the other two, takes my hand and stares at me, his mouth open. “Wow,” he says.
I feel heat crawling up my cheeks at his obvious admiration. He has never had such a reaction to me before.
Nina pushes past me. “I am Nina,” she says. “And that’s Ava. We are Gwen’s friends.”
Friends? Now that was fast. Not that I mind, though.
“Oh.” Brandon blinks before putting on his signature smile. “It’s nice to meet you.” He looks a bit like a player that way, though I have never seen him flirt with anyone, at least not with me around. But Nina and Ava don’t know him. I just hope they don’t get the wrong idea of Brandon.
Ava just nods at Brandon before turning towards me. “We’ll leave you two alone for a bit. You know where to find us, Gwen!”
“Sure, thank you for showing me around.”
I wait for them to leave before turning back to Brandon. He pouts. “Your friends don’t like me.”
His words surprise me. Not because it isn’t true, but because- “Your friends don’t like me either.”
“That’s not the same,” he says.
“Why not?”
“Because they aren’t my friends,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. “You know that, Gwen. Come on, let’s not argue.”
I didn’t think we were really arguing, but maybe he is right. I should probably let it go and enjoy the evening. One of Noah’s friends was hired as DJ and does the music. I lean in, kissing Brandon. “Come on, let’s dance.”
He looks hesitant for a moment, and I don’t quite understand why, as he is not a particularly shy guy.
I move towards the small dance floor where others are already dancing and start moving around.
I am not sure if I’m sexy or not, and I don’t care, but somehow it seems to work.
Noah and one of his friends join me, and so does Ava.
I feel warm arms wrapping around me – finally – as Brandon joins me.
He keeps his arms around me the whole time we are dancing.
It’s unusual for him because he doesn’t like to show his affection publicly.
Part of me thinks that he might be ashamed of me, another feels guilty because I am thinking like that.
There are people who just don’t like to walk around hand in hand or kiss in public.
Which is why it makes me so happy that he so readily joins me tonight.
He even kisses me. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Josie and one of her friends watching us, a frown on their faces. Maddox appears, too, talking briefly with them. Josie points at us, but Maddox just shrugs.
“I feel so hot,” Ava says, waving some air towards her face. “I think I need a break.”
“Me, too,” I agree before looking at Brandon. “Is that okay with you?”
“Of course,” he says. “I haven’t looked around much. I will do that while you have a break.”
I nod, following Ava into the kitchen to find some refreshments for us. “Noah always has some water in his fridge,” she explains.
“Exactly what I need. Oh-” I blink, as I almost bump into one of the human guys here.
“Careful,” he laughs. His smile reaches his eyes, lighting them up as he looks at me. “I have not seen you around before.”
“Oh, this is Gwen,” Ava introduces me. “Sebastian.”
“I am Noah’s brother,” he adds. “I am two years older.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t know he had a brother. He only mentioned a sister.”
“Yeah, she is around here, too,” Sebastian says.
“Sebastian studies in a different state,” Ava explains. “But he is one of the good ones.”
At her words, Sebastian chuckles. “I am?” He turns to me. “What about you, Gwen? Are you alone here?”
“No, I came with my boyfriend.”
Is it just me, or does he look a bit bummed?
This experience today is so out of my loop that I have difficulty understanding the social cues.
I know at these parties everyone is a little flirty, most of them probably looking for someone to make out with, but I have never been hit on as often as today.
Actually, no one ever truly hit on me. It’s weird, shifters don’t seem interested in me, but the humans are.
I am half human, too.
I could decide to date a human and settle down with him. It’s a thought that never struck me before, because I was so focused on the pack. But this is an option. Evelyn was right with what she said.
Not that I want to cheat on Brandon, but it’s nice to know that not everyone is turned off by me.