Chapter 12 Keep Dreaming
Gracie
I start the car. “What is the address?” I ask.
Ryland checks his cell and gives me the address. It is half an hour away. Ben stays in the more prominent part of town. His family are very wealthy. I put the address into my satnav because I am not familiar with that part of town. I focus on the road as Lola and Ryland talk. Lola seems to have taken an interest in Ben, curious if he is single. What a silly question. Of course, he is single. He isn’t the relationship type. He is the bad boy at our school. It makes sense that he and Ryland hit it off. They have a lot in common. Lola decides in the moment that she is setting her sights on Ben. Ben won’t have any complaints about the attention from her.
The journey takes a little longer than planned. We get lost because the stupid thing takes us down the wrong street. Forty-Five minutes later, we finally pull into the right street. You can hear the music clearly from outside. I am surprised the neighbours aren’t complaining. Hopefully, there won’t be too many people from school here because I don’t want to see any of them. I don’t want to end up alone tonight if Lola or Ryland gets too distracted.
Lola claps from the backseat. “I am so ready for this.” She shrieks, and Ryland nods in agreement.
I smile and nod my head. I don’t want to be here, but it is a little too late now. I can’t leave now since I will be their ride home when they end up drunk.
“Come on, browns eye, let’s get inside.” Ryland encourages.
Lola has already jumped out of the car and is making her way inside, ready to start partying. I don’t move.
“Are you okay, beautiful?” he asks.
I nod. “I am fine. We should go in before my best friend gets herself into trouble.”
Ryland climbs out first and waits for me. I lock the car, and we stroll inside. Ryland slips his arm around my waist, keeping me close. I shudder in the same ways I always do when he touches. Walking in with him makes me feel more at ease. There aren’t as many people as I thought. About thirty. I only recognise a small number of them. Ryland mentioned that Ben didn't invite too many people.
I search around for Lola. I laugh when my eyes fall on her. She is already talking and flirting with Ben. She works quickly, but Ben seems to be enjoying it.
Ryland chuckles. “She doesn’t waste any time, does she?”
“Nope. That is Lola for you. She knows what she wants and goes for it without a second thought.”
Lola doesn’t care about what people think of her. She is always herself. There is nothing fake about her. If people can’t accept that, then she tells them where to go. We stroll over to join them. Ben smiles when he sees us approach.
“I am glad you could both make it.”
Ben and Ryland share a bro hug. Once they part, Ben hugs me, too. After saying hello to us, he turns his attention back to me, Lola, standing by her side. Lola will get what she wants tonight.
Ben glances between us. “Drinks?”
“Yes, the strongest thing you have.” Ryland answers.
“Not for me. I don’t drink. I am also the designated driver for tonight.”
Ben nods and motions for us to follow him to get drinks. Lola takes a beer. Ryland and Ben take a couple of shots before taking a scotch each.
“If anyone is looking to hook up tonight, let me know. I am sure I can find the right person for you.” Ben laughs.
I hold my hands up, shaking my head. “No, thank you.”
Ryland shakes his head. I thought he would be up for it, hooking up with someone. A part of me is happy he doesn’t want to. Lola doesn’t say a word, instead, she smirks at Ben to answer him.
Ryland comes closer to me, his lips at my ear, and the warmth of his breath tickles my neck. “If you change your mind, let me know.” He whispers, only for me to hear.
I fling myself around to face him, glaring. “Keep dreaming because that will never happen.”
He smirks. “Mmm, we will see about that.”
I shake my head and turn away from him to talk to Lola. Is that what he thinks? I am going to hook up with him. It won’t happen because I don’t do those things. He can try all he wants, but nothing will change my mind, no matter how gorgeous he is. I can’t go there for so many reasons. I need to find someone to help distract his attention from me and onto them tonight. I need him to back off. I can’t let him close. If I do that, he will see everything I am trying to hide. He can seem to read me better than anyone, even Lola, and we have been best friends for years.