Chapter 5 NORA #3
Now my face is really on fire. Shaking my head, I step back, allowing myself a moment to take a breath.
My heart is pounding inside my chest, and I don’t know why.
This is just a casual conversation. Zayden probably flirts like this with everyone; I’m certainly not special. It’s nothing to get worked up over.
‘If you two are done gawking at each other, we have a game to play?’ Christian interjects, eyeing the both of us with a smirk on his face.
Running his tongue over his teeth, Zayden pushes off the table and moves to stand beside me, looking completely casual and unbothered.
I silently thank Christian for the interruption before I have the chance to make an idiot of myself.
As much as I was enjoying his attention, I certainly do not want to overthink anything or make out that something is happening when it isn’t.
I like Anya and spend a lot of time with her.
I don’t want to risk our friendship or have anything become awkward between Zayden and me.
The game continues and after another drink, I find myself relaxing.
I never would have thought hanging out with the football guys would be something I’d do on my own, but they’re a lot of fun and Zayden’s friends have made me feel welcome.
I’m sure Zayden is only being nice to me because I’m Anya’s friend, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
The night started out as a disaster, and this turn of events has lifted my spirits.
Zayden flicks the ball cleanly into the cup in front of us, securing our team the win. He steps back, a boyish grin on his face as he turns to me. Our fingers brush and he glances down, pulling my hand and slapping it to his in a high-five.
‘That’s how it’s done, baby,’ he smirks, wiggling his eyebrows.
Goddamn. I think I have a crush on my best friend’s brother. It feels juvenile to think that way. Is it normal to have ‘crushes’ at this age? I’m not sure if it is, but I certainly feel that way about him.
I jolt a little in surprise when I feel Zayden’s fingers on my elbow. My skin feels hot where he touches me as he guides me towards the kitchen.
‘Having a bit better of a time now?’ he asks, flashing me a grin, showing off his straight, white teeth. Both him and Anya have such beautiful features.
‘Much better, thank you,’ I say earnestly, enjoying that this room isn’t as crowded as the living room was.
Zayden plucks two plastic shot glasses from a pile and taps his fingers over the assortment of bottles before us. He stops at a bottle of Fireball, yanks it out and waves it in front of me.
‘Had this before?’
‘No,’ I reply, shaking my head.
‘That’s about to change.’
Pouring us one each, he hands it to me and clinks his glass against mine.
‘Fuck that dude,’ he says.
‘Fuck that dude,’ I echo, and throw it back.
It burns the entire way down my throat and my chest. I can’t help but make a face at the taste. Zayden grins in amusement.
‘Another?’ he smirks, once again doing that eyebrow thing that would look ridiculous on anyone else.
My face feels hot, and my body relaxed. My head is light and floaty. I like this feeling. I suddenly don’t feel anxious, or stressed, or paranoid about something.
‘Absolutely.’
‘Oh!’ Zayden suddenly says as he slams the glass down onto the bench. ‘I love this song.’
Taking my hand in his, he drags me towards the dance floor.
A few people glance at us as we walk past, and I let myself soak up their attention, since I’ve never had people stare at me like this before.
I’m guessing everyone knows who Zayden is, being on the football team and all.
He’s popular around here, all the boys on the team are.
Being on the team comes with a certain status.
Vibrations pulse up my body from the thrumming music, and I toss my long hair over my shoulders.
A few of the other guys turn to face us when we join the crowd on the dance floor, all cheering at Zayden’s arrival.
A few of the girls look over at me, some stare with kind and curious expressions, others are a little puzzled, but I don’t let my mind wander towards any insecure thoughts.
I’m going to assume that they just don’t know who I am, rather than that they’re judging Zayden for being with someone who looks like me.
My eyes drop to their tight, short dresses, before moving to my own outfit.
I went a little daring with a tight black denim skirt and a top tucked into it, matched with a pair of black boots.
I do feel like this outfit is serving me well at the party.
I’m trying not to let self-conscious thoughts rule my life, but it’s hard not to when insecurity is embedded in me, and has been from a very early age.
Peering back up at Zayden, a little zing of something inches down my spine when I find his eyes already on me. They travel slowly down, making the flush in my cheeks deepen impossibly more. The way he looks at me makes me squirm. When his eyes find mine, his cheek twitches.
‘You look good,’ Zayden comments. ‘Like, really good.’
My heart trips in my chest. Again, I try not to let this get to me, because I know Zayden has been a bit of a player since his break-up.
I’m assuming that I’ve captured his attention simply because I’m here, and that he’s just looking for a night of fun.
If he’s even considering that with me. I could be totally off and that would be even more embarrassing, but the way he’s looking at me now is undeniable.
I’ve noticed his eyes on me a few times when we’ve been at the same events.
Cami’s also pointed it out, making me wonder if there maybe is something more here.
‘You look good too, Zayden.’
Reaching towards me, he wraps a strand of my hair around his finger. He rubs it between his thumb and pointer finger, staring at it for a moment, before looking back at me.
‘I’m glad you came to the party with me.’ His voice is deep and a little hoarse. I lean closer to him, trying to hear him better over the loud, thumping music. His warm breath spills over my face, and goosebumps prickle across my skin at the feel of it.
‘Me too,’ I breathe.
Slowly, he lets go of my hair but remains close. Close enough for me to smell the alcohol on his breath. A reminder that neither of us is sober or thinking clearly. So close that I can see the light dusting of freckles across his cheeks.
There’s a crash and the sound of breaking glass, all the heads around us, including ours, whip to the side of the house where two boys are throwing punches at each other.
‘Fight!’ A deep voice bellows, and suddenly everyone is gravitating towards them, trying to get a better view of what’s happening. Zayden steps forward, placing his arm in front of me, as if worried I might get too close to the altercation.
I peer around Zayden’s shoulder, and the sounds of grunts and huffs grow louder as one of the guys tackles the other to the ground.
Zayden rushes forward and yanks the guy on top off the other with the back of his shirt, who I then recognise as Andy, a footy player on the team with Mason and Zayden.
Andy stumbles, hardly catching his footing in time to stop himself from tumbling over.
Someone else jumps in front of the other guy, who managed to leap to his feet faster than I thought he would be able to, considering the amount of blood on his face.
Zayden pushes Andy back and he shakes his head, walking away, not looking very impressed that the fight was interrupted, but he doesn’t make any attempts to continue it. He flexes his hand open and shut as he storms away, muttering under his breath.
The other guy winces, gingerly touching his face, blood streaming down his skin in ribbons of red.
Zayden wipes his hands on his legs as he strolls back towards me, not looking fazed that he just intervened in a fight that could have definitely ended the night on a sour note.
He doesn’t seem riled up at all, and he grins at the look on my face.
‘What?’ he asks.
I shake my head. ‘Good to know you’re calm in a crisis.’
‘I’ve been around a fight or two in my time. That was Andy and Maverick. Mav plays for Summit University.’
‘Can’t relate.’
‘That’s a good thing,’ he murmurs. He reaches out, touching the ends of my hair, and this time, I’m not sure he’s even aware of it as he looks deep in thought, studying me.
‘What?’ I ask, my brows pinching together. ‘Is there something on my face?’
He smiles softly, shaking his head, dropping his hand. ‘Nah. You’re good.’
Giving him an odd look, I brush off the moment and take a step back, needing to create a little distance between us.
He makes my head feel fuzzy when we’re in close proximity.
Or maybe it’s the alcohol. The two together could be a dangerous combination.
Especially if he keeps looking at me like that.
‘A drink?’ Zayden asks.
‘Sure.’
‘I’ll be right back.’ He disappears through the crowd and I stare after him a little awkwardly, seeing as I don’t know anyone else around me. I relax my shoulders and attempt to look casual as I wait. One of the girls shrugs out of the arm around her and wanders over to me.
‘Hey!’ she smiles. ‘I’m Avery.’ She touches her fingers to my top in a friendly manner. ‘Love this top!’
‘Oh,’ I murmur, cheeks reddening at the compliment. I’ve never been able to accept one without making it weird. ‘Thanks! I’m Nora.’
‘You’re here with Zayden?’ she asks, studying me carefully, making me wonder whether her kindness is an act or whether she’s just curious and interested in getting to know me.
I used to be someone who thought the best of people, undeservingly so, and it’s led to me being blindsided and betrayed.
Nowadays I question people’s true intentions.