Chp 9: I can explain, it's not what it seems like

"So are you going to come out of the room and show us your dress or not?", Brace shouted from the other room.

"No, I look like a hooker", it's not my fault that Naina wanted to buy something in which I look hot and sizzling.

The dress is amazing, even I am blushing to look at my reflection in the mirror, how am I going to face Tom? The dress is so short that it reaches up to my thighs and the strips are thin made up of metal rings, my curves are exposed, the metal belt on the waist pulls out the whole look. This was more than enough that the girl forced me to buy heels. It's not her fault, she wanted the best for me. Tom decided to take me to the hottest club Miami last and this last-minute change of plan had me stuck in my room looking over my reflection in the mirror, imagining all kinds of looks that Tom will give me after seeing me in this dress.

"Are you guys sure that I need to wear this?", I shout ask looking at my reflection for the millionth time.

"Well, come out and let the expert decide. Come on Princess show us your stunning look", Brace has great fashion sense, even being a guy he has great expertise in girl's outfits.

I was nervous when I stepped out of my room but the looks on their face..... Aleister was speechless for nearly the next two minutes, Naina nodded, Shyna and Brooke were dumbstruck. Brace gained his composure and stepped out of the shock quickly. Obviously, it's new for them to see their friend in some kind of dress which she never wears.

"You look stunning", Brace complimented.

"Thank you, I guess", I know I look sizzling but this is too much.

Before anyone can speak further, Shyna exclaimed,

"He's here", she said with great enthusiasm like it's her first birthday party today. Seriously, I feel jealous of Tom because for him a girl bought these clothes and nearly five people were working for her this hot look.

I'm so ready. Here goes everything.

When I came out in the living room- yes the room has a living room, he was already there and was looking damn sexy. He wore a black shirt, his perfume spread heavenly in the room.

"You look", shit we said it at the same time and it made me a little shy.

"You look different", he said hesitantly.

I knew that he will not like my dress and now he will probably think that I'm trying to get in his pants. He would never want to hang out with me again. Shit, I messed up the one thing I had with him- our friendship.

"No", he said looking at my expressions.

"I meant different in a way like sexier",

"You look great too", I don't know what to say as he's looking so damn hot.

"Well, now have a great night, go. Shoo.. the night's still young", I made mental note to thank Brace for this.

~~~~~

We went inside the club, it was crowded. Tom is holding my hand all the time- I wish something like this had happened since we are alone together but instead he's busy on his phone from the moment we sat on couches. God knows what he's doing. I wanted to peek so badly but I didn't as a saint inside me reminded me that he's not even close to my close friend so I shouldn't interfere. I wanted this night to pass smoothly but God knows what he's waiting for? A girl here is dying to dance with him. Finally after nearly what seems like a year, after twenty minutes, a random guy from the club came to ask me out for a dance when Tom when to fetch some drinks. I was about to answer when Tom suddenly appeared from nowhere without any drinks and replied for me to that stranger,

"No, she's with me. Man sorry, she's taken", he answered, resting his hands on my waist.

She's taken? He took me to the dance floor. I can see from the corner of my eye that that random guy seemed disappointed. Tom pulled me closer and we started moving together with the flow of the song, Perfect by Ed Sheeran,

"So about Aerial, she seems really nice", I asked anxiously,

"She is", I'm happy that he found someone but it hurts a little knowing that the one is not me.

"What if she comes to know that you are dancing with me in a club in Hawaii and did she goes to Bradment?", I sound so stupid and eager to know more about her,

"She's just near to my ideal type. Besides we are not dating, I'm not planning to date her too and yes, she goes to Bradment", he answer my question and as the song ended, he went away to fetch some drinks and came back with mojitos. What's with this guy and mojitos? I know we are underage but still, I didn't know that he would be drinking this.

"You are drinking mojitos and not real alcohol?", I asked.

"I really want to but I don't think it's good as if I'm drinking then you would be drinking too and like last time I don't want to have any cops drama", I almost choked remembering that day. It was so funny and embarrassing. His cheeks became red because he was holding his laughter.

"Alright, change the topic please, I'm getting embarrassed and you can see it", I said taking a sip of my drink.

"I don't feel uncomfortable seeing a sexy girl in front of me getting embarrassed and looking cute", Fuck! he's too much to handle.

"Dance with me", I asked him as my favorite song by Edwin McCain I'll be played.

"As if I'll ever deny", he complies with my request by resting his arms around my waist. His touch... To earth Jennie, my subconscious scolded me.

He matched every beat so flawlessly and I fit perfectly in his strong and comfortable arms.

"The tattoo--", saying this, he took my wrist in his hands, "--why you got it?", he asked. Why do I feel like Deja Vu?

"Because it reminds me to calm down and take one step at a time. For a girl like me, this reminder is important and besides this--", I almost told him about my tumor.

"This?", he asked.

"It's a story for another time", I repeated his words.

"For me--", saying this he pulled up sleeves of his shirt and removed skin? Did he just remove his skin?

"--these are tapes that hide tattoos", saying he revealed his wrist tattoo. It was Breathe, I gasped.

"We have the same tattoo at the same place. Wow. But why do you hide it?", I ask.

"That's a story for another time", he says laughing a little.

"For me, it reminds me of my mother. She passed away", he explains. I was searching for emotions in his eyes but they showed no color except for blue and grey.

"I'm sorry", I said as I didn't know what to say. I'm very bad at consoling people. I only know how to console my subconscious by faking some things, enough to keep me on track.

"It's been years since that so I'm fine", he says with a weak smile. It's not fine, I feel it.

"Jennie, the thing is--", before he could complete his sentence, his phone started vibrating. He gave me an apologetic look and answered his call,

"Hello", he says in annoyance to the person on another end,

"What? Tell me who are you?", Tom replied in anger. Before he can get an answer from another side, I guess that the other person ended the call.

"What was it about?", I ask anxiously,

"I don't know. Just some shitty person who said to check my phone. Saying that they sent me some very important pictures", he answered looking at his phone screen.

He scrolled vigorously and saw something on his phone that got him angry. I can tell by his looks that someone is going to get in trouble now. He was glaring AT ME!

"What the hell Meow?", he cursed under his breath, holding his phone at my face.

I can't believe that now we would be having this drama instead of dancing to my favorite song. Yes, it was none other than pictures of Aleister kissing me and in the picture, it seemed like I was kissing back too. But something was missing, where the hell is the picture of me pushing him back?

I don't know how am I going to explain it to him but wait, he's not my boyfriend that I owe him any explanation.

"Yes, it's--", I was about to answer something that would make him angrier but I just stopped in middle not completing the sentence. I was intimidated by his death glares and something else came out of my mouth,

"I can explain, it's not what it seems like", Tom just glared at me and was so angry that he threw his phone there, on the floor. I jumped a little. It was shattered in pieces and the music stopped as the noise was louder.

Now it is a big show for everyone to witness. I stood there still, not wanting to say anything stupid that would make him madder at me. I waited for him to say something but instead, he stormed outside. After coming back to reality, within five to six seconds and processing what just happened I followed him outside, ignoring the looks people were giving me.

Before I can reach him, he sat in a car that he rented for today,

"Tom wait", I shouted,

"Just leave me alone. Jennelina Emma Stockins', if you are dating Aleister then why come with me and give me hope? Are you playing with us both?", he shouts.

I can't believe that he would be hurt because of me. He started the car and drove away leaving me alone outside the club. He didn't listen to my explanation and judged me. I hate being judged. When did I give him hope? Am I Ariel?  No, I don't have time for this.

I know who did this and I need to confront that asshole. After reading the note that Aleister gave me, it was clear that it was her. She's the one. I called Uber and reached the hotel.

In the cab, all I could think was about why would she do this to me. After what felt like a year, I reached to hotel. I stormed to her room, without thinking about further consequences, I started knocking continuously at her door. After some seconds she appeared and was not shocked to see my furious face, hell she knew!

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