CHAPTER 24. MITCHEL

My body swayed with the music in dimly lit club. People were around us but some how with me dancing and Ivy infront of me, I could feel myself drifting to a relaxing state. Ryan and I had nothing going on except faki g it all but somehow we managed to make everyone believe we were together. Because Nate was around and watching our every move, he was now holding my waist and moving together with me. I was rubbing against him in a not so sexual way. I turned to look in the direction of the office and Nate was still looking down at us. Don was not besides him like he was a few minutes ago. Now Nate was all alone and just watching.

“I love going out and getting lost in the music.“ I say to Ivy over the music.

“Me too.“ She replies. “Do you think today we might stay alittle longer than the other days?“

“Yeah, I got security tonight, so we can stay for as long as you like. Just don't leave me like always.“ I say and we both burst out laughing.

“You know it's not always my fault.“ She explains.

“Yeah I know, but just don't abandone your bestie to get laid by your man.“ I say just in time to see Don.

“Hey ladies, mind if I join?“ He asks, snaking his hand on to Ivy's waist and pulling her against his chest.

“Not at all. She's all yours.“ I say moving backwards into Ryan's chest.

Ivy turns and together with Don start dancing while making out in the middle of the dance floor. I turn to Ryan and hook my hands around his neck.

“So Ryan,” I start trying to strike a conversation with 'my boyfriend '. “What's the main reason you don't have a girlfriend?“

Ryan laughs before looking at me,”really? Is that what has been bothering you all along?“

“What, I am just curious. I mean you are kinda hot.“ I say then laugh at the face he makes at the compliment.

“You think I am hot?“ He asks pulling me closer.

I am now flashed against him. “I said kinda hot, I didn't say hot. Know the difference.“ He laughs again.

Ryan is good-looking and everytime we are out some girl always approaches but he is never interested in anyone I have seen. I was curious to know what happened that he doesn't have anyone in his life.

“Well, I do like someone.“ He starts. “But we are in different levels of life. I wanna get a job so that I can afford her enough to provide everything for her.“

“Ooh a gentleman. I like that.“ I say.“ Does she know you like her?“ I ask. We are still on the dance floor dancing and loosing ourselves in the middle of the dance.

“Yeah she does, she said she would wait for me until I am ready and I feel comfortable.“ He replies.

“Wow, that's so nice.“ I say. “I wish I had a man who would give anything to have me.“ I say more jokingly than serious.

“You will, I mean you are still young and beautiful you will get your prince charming one day.“ Ryan says.

“I have a kid, I am more like old by years because of it.“ I say chuckling lightly.

“Whoever is ment for you, will love you for you and don't even think for once that you are old because you are not, you look like you just turned twenty two last year.“ Ryan says. I laugh at that.

“Don't flatter me so much.“ I say.

Just then I spot Nate, he is seated at the bar table with Britney. He isn't paying attention to her at all but seems like he is listening.

“I was in love once and I also felt like I was loved.“ I begin.

“What really happened you never told me the whole story.“ Ryan asks.

“Let's go sit down at a quite place and I'll tell you.“ I say close to his ear. I turn to look for ivy but she is nolonger close.He takes my hand and guides us through the crowd to a secluded area. With drinks in hand we sit at the designated sits and start taking our drinks.

“What happened?“ Ryan asks his voice sounding concerned.

“It was back in college, we met accidently in a cafe and we began talking and before we knew it we had fallen for each other. It was beautiful and unexpected.“ I start eyeing Ryan.

“We started dating after sometime and moved in together eventually. If I tell you we were in honeymoon face for almost two years you would think I am exaggerating but it's true. The love was pure, we never argued and if we did he listened to me and helped me through whatever I needed. He was my everything.“ I say in one breath.

“Then one day we were together but he seemed off. He never told me anything was a miss or if he was unwell nothing. But that night he treated me so well and I thought he was finally back and I remember I was so happy that I got my man back. I went to sleep happy that finally I could be his shoulder.“ I can feel emotions rising and my eyes stinging of tears. I had not cried because of the story in such a long time and now it felt odd crying infront of someone who wasn't Ivy or my parents. So I was quiet for a while and controlled them completely.

“Then I woke up the next day and ge was gone. Everything he owned and that reminded me of him was gone. No text no note nothing to explain what had happened. It was the end of the year so he was done with his four years and so I couldn't see him the following year. I tried searching for him during graduation but he never came. He had vanished.“ I explain feeling more composed now but still feeling the hurt. I hadn't talked about it for so long but I had decided to let it just be and worked out a way to not cry when I talk about it and it worked.

“Is Jason his child?“ Ryan asks.

“Yeah he is. I found out I was pregnant a few months later when I had gone back home to my parents. I was so scared they would disown me but just like me they loved him from the time the pink lines appeared.“ I say remembering my parents reactions. “They promised to help me with him and when I told ivy she even offered to be my lesbian partner and said we could tell people Jason was our child. She was there from the start and she still is.“ I explain looking at her on the dance floor with Don, the man who has been taking her out.

“You know I am here for you also right?“ Ryan says holding my head and turning it to face him.

“I do. And thank you for it.“ I say smiling.

“Of course anytime.“ He replies pulling me into his arms for a long, tight hug. I feel lighter now that I have talked about my problem with someone else.

“It will be just fine. I mean you have raised Jason for six years and he is already such a sweetheart, you are doing a good job.“ He says. “You deserve the world and everything in it.“ He comments.

I hug him tighter letting my self feel the warmth in his hug. I was getting comfortable in it when he pulled away.

“Well my parents helped for the first few years before they passed and now I am just scared I won't be able to hold on to everything they taught me with my job getting in the way.“ I explain.

“You will be just fine, believe me.“ Ryan assures.

We spend a few more minutes chatting away and getting to know each other on a deeper level so much that by the end of the night we are practically best friends.

Ryan understands me just like Ivy does and because of this we click.

After an hour of chatting and lots of laughter, we get back to the dance floor to get ivy so we can leave. But she is no where to be found. We ask around and find out that they had gone back to the room.

“ Wait for me ill go get her okay.“ I say to Ryan.

I walk up the stairs to the room, it's quite and dark but I manage to get to the bedroom side.

“Ivy.“ I call but no replie comes. “Ivy we are leaving are you here.“ I call again but no one is there.

“They are not here, they left a couple of minutes ago.“ A voice says. It's Nate, he is in the room now. He looks as organised as ever even though he has been drinking.

“Ooh okay thanks.“ I say and make my way to get out.

“Mitchel wait!“ Nate says holding my wrist and halting my movement. This is one of the reasons why I didn't like being in a room alone with him. My heart beat rises and I avoid turning around to look at him.

“Yes sir.“ I say trying to release my hand from his grasp. But he doesn't let go.

“Look at me Mitchel.“ He says.

I turn and look at him controlling myself enough not to give myself away. I wanna look pissed when he sees my face but I fail. He looks so handsome up close and I can't help it.

He pulls me closer to him and as much as I wanna pull away I can't find the strength to do so. He is looking at me in a way he hasn't looked at me before.

“Why him?“ He asks.

“Excuse me?“ I ask lost in him. He smells so good and he looks tasty too.

“Why did you choose him, he looks nothing like me. Have you gotten over me that fast?“ He asks. His breath smells like alcohol and I realize he is drunk but not too drunk not to get what is happening. My brains works fast needing to tell him that I didn't get over him that all this is to make him jealous but then I remember he also has a girlfriend.

“I don't know who you think I am or used to be sir, but I am not who you think I was. Ryan is my man and I love him and just like you have a girlfriend and I don't ask about her, you should try the same and not ask me about my man.“ I replie finally pulling my hand away from him.

“Leave him Mitchel, it's a warning.“ He calls.

“Or what? You will fire me for dating someone and having a happy private life?“ He asks.

He just looks at me and smirks, a small smirk that is dangerous. “No but I will make him regret having what was once mine.“