Chapter 55: Chapter 55

" Oh c'mon..it's gonna be fun ! ", Grace whined stomping her feet in front of me.

I sighed and crossed my hands. " I said I'm not c..coming."

" But why ? What are you gonna do sitting here ?", She asked annoyed.

It's sometime since she is nagging me to go to the party happening at Noah Franklin's house. I've already decided I am not going and I'm not changing my decision.

" I'll d..do something. I've homeworks.", I said.

" Oh C'mon Nate, tomorrow is goddamn SATURDAY ! ", Grace groaned. I can't understand why she want to drag me there when I don't really want to go.

"Grace, please...I don't want to g..go. I don't l..like parties. ", I said.

" You don't like parties ?", she left a sigh. " Or is it because Ethan would be there ?"

" No. Ethan has n..nothing to do about this. It is he who is ig..ignoring me. Not me.", I said.

" You told him not to come in front of you.", Grace said in a bit cold tone and walked in direction of her cupboard.

Today whole day Ethan has been ignoring me. I only got a glance of him at the opposite corridor when I walked out of my Biology class. I'm sure he also saw me. But he didn't look at me and hastily walked away.

He didn't join us on lunch. Gavin called him but he didn't answer the call. And he was nowhere in the canteen. Grace said he probably won't join us for lunch anymore. Gavin said I shouldn't have slapped him. I told them I'll have lunch alone from tomorrow so that they can sit along with Ethan. They both looked at each other and sighed. After that they didn't speak anything.

I know it's because of me. I shouldn't have told him not to come in front of me again. Seems like he took it seriously. I actually didn't mean it when I said that. I was just very angry at that time and couldn't control myself. Maybe like Grace said, he won't join us for lunch again. I don't know what to do now. I feel totally uneasy and regretful. Shall I have a talk with him ? But I don't think I can after what I said yesterday.

" I'm calling you for the last time. Get ready if you wanna come.", Grace said closing the cupboard doors a bit harshly. I didn't reply anything and sat still on the chair I was sitting, with my hands crossed over my chest.

" I can't understand what will happen if you come for a party. Will someone swallow you ? Don't like party ! Don't like anything ! Seriously, which girl is gonna like you ?", She muttered in annoyance as she walked towards the bathroom.

" I don't want anyone to l..like me.", I spat back.

" Yeah, no one is gonna like you ! You sit and burry your nose into your books full time.", She shouted back and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind harshly.

No girl is gonna like me ??

Yeah, she is right. Who is gonna like the stupid me ?

No ! Stop thinking like that. If Ethan liked me, then some girl also would like me.

I need to date a girl !

I stood up from my chair and barged towards my cupboard. Do I have any suitable clothes to wear for a party ?

I was still rummaging inside my cupboard and throwing my clothes to my bed when Grace stepped out of the bathroom.

" Hey..", she uttered in surprise and I turned my head a little to look at her. But soon I turned around fully as Grace was looking so beautiful in her black bodycon dress.

" What are you doing ? Why are you taking all these clothes out ?", She asked, looking at the huge bundle of clothes that was lying on my bed.

.

" I decided I'm c..coming. ", I replied.

" Oh woah ! Great ! ", She squealed. " Okay, I'll help you choose an outfit.", She said and cheerfully sprinted towards me.

" You look b..beautiful in this outfit.", I told her as she was helping me choose an outfit.

" Really ? ", She laughed a little. I nodded my head whilst smiling.

Grace soon picked a white collarless button up and a black skinny jeans for me. It was nothing but casual, although I don't wear that jean's often cause it's too tight for me.

" C'mon..c'mon now get ready fast.", she said and pushed the clothes to my hands. I nodded and walked to the bathroom.

When I stepped out, Grace was in front of the mirror putting mascara on her eyes. She has done her hair and she now looks absolutely stunning in that black dress and silver wedges.

" Oh..You already look good !", Grace said turning to me. " But I got something else for you.", she said and went to my bed, picking my black bomber jacket.

"Do I n..need to wear that ? I think th..this is enough.", I said. But she already rushed to me and was making me wear the jacket.

" Woah ! You look great in this ! ", She smiled gleefully before going back to her makeup. I went to the other mirror and started styling my hair. After that I wore my watch and my usual perfume.

We then walked out of the room and went to the parking where Gavin was waiting for us along with Milan near his car. Gavin smiled widely on seeing us.

" Where is Ethan ?", Grace asked as we reached near them.

Gavin sighed before glancing at me. " He isn't coming. I called him a lot of times."

" I wonder what's wrong with him.", Milan frowned.

" I think he isn't well. Or he isn't in a mood for party today.", Gavin said. " Okay, c'mon..let's go. Hop in."

I and Grace hopped into the back seat and the whole time I was thinking about Ethan. I was actually hoping to see Ethan along with them or at least at the party. But now he isn't coming. This is all because of me.

I can't literally stop thinking about Ethan. It's just one day since he didn't talk to me and it’s already suffocating me. I don't know what to do about this anymore.

We arrived at Noah's house in fifteen minutes. The party had then already started. We entered the living room and it was essentially dark with dim lights flickering. Loud music was blaring from the loud speakers. And people were already dancing and drinking like there's no tomorrow. Milan, Gavin and Grace soon joined the people dancing while I stood there at the side watching the madness.

" Hey Nate ! "

Someone called and I turned to see Andrea standing in front of me with a shy smile. She was wearing a knee length pink dress that exposed her shoulders and legs. She has done a little makeup on her face and has left her hair to fall free on her shoulders. She looked beautiful.

" I wasn't really sure you'd come. Glad you came. ", She said. I just smiled back at her.

" You look really handsome today.", she smiled.

" Well You l..look pretty yourself.", I replied. She smiled shyly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. " Between your best friend didn't come ?", She asked.

" You mean..Ethan ?", I asked.

" Yeah.." She nodded in reply. " He went home ?"

" No. He is at d..dorm I guess. Maybe not in a mood for p..party today.", I replied. There's also chance he actually headed home. But he had told me he isn't going this week.

" It's Strange. Ethan never misses parties. He and his gang has never missed any parties. Earlier, everyday single day they could be found partying somewhere. ", Andrea said.

" Maybe he..he was forced to g..go along with them.", I said.

" Yeah..I feel like that now.", She replied nodding. " Come, let's go sit there.", She then pointed at a table that was lying on the extreme corner of the room. I nodded and followed her. It's better to sit somewhere than simply standing in the middle of this crazy crowd.

We went and sat down at the table. We didn't talk cause the music was too loud for us to be audible to each other. We just sat and watched the people dance.

I noticed Grace and Gavin dancing together whilst smiling to each other. They looked so happy looking at each other's eyes. I think they are already a thing. But I haven't asked Grace about it yet. Actually there's no need of asking.

Milan was also close dancing with a red haired girl a little away from them. His hands were resting on the girl's waist as they danced slowly.

Only I'm the one simply sitting here. Why did I actually come here ? I don't know.

Andrea then cleared her throat, tilting her head to me. " Nate..do you wanna go get a cocktail ?", she asked.

" Ahm...no. I don't d..drink.", I replied.

" Oh..I also don't drink.", She smiled a little.

I nodded and averted my glance back at the people who were dancing or rather jumping like crazy. But I noticed Andrea was tilting her head and occassionally glancing at me. I was starting to feel like she has something for me. Actually I had a small feeling since a few days. Anyway I sat pretending not to notice her glances and instead sat like I was so amused watching the people's weird dance moves.

" Nate..", Andrea finally called. I tilted my face to her. " Uhm..would you like to dance with me ?", She asked hesitantly, fiddling with her dress.

Now I'm sure she has a little crush on me. Or why would she sit with me and then ask me to dance with her when there are a lot of guys here ?

I'm not too bad at dancing. I've actually took dance lessons while I was in middle school. Also during the first few months of freshman year in high school. But I stopped after Alex's death. I was traumatized during that time and I literally didn't do anything for months.

"Ahmm..it's okay if you don't want to.", Andrea said as I didn't give her a reply even after a few seconds.

It won't become too awkward if I dance with her. She is a nice girl. And beautiful. Maybe I should say Yes.

" Okay..", I nodded. She smiled brightly and stood up from her chair. I followed her, moving a little away from the corner.

But I stopped in place as suddenly someone walked in through the main doors. My eyes widened. It was none else than Ethan. He was wearing a black button up that was tucked into his fitting black jeans. Unlike usual, he had his hair straightened and parted to the side. He looked extremely handsome in that outfit.

But he said he isn't coming. Then why is he here?

" Oh ! Ethan is here. Didn't I say he won't miss parties ?", Andrea said as she also noticed him.

Ethan looked around in the hall and soon his eyes met mine. His eyes scanned my body from head to toe and my heart thudded loudly. He then averted his gaze from me to Andrea. He stared intently at her for a second and clicked his tongue on his cheeks before he went and joined the group of people who were dancing in the center. It was clear he was pissed.

Andrea tilted her face to me. " Ahmm..Nate, does Ethan has some problem with me ? I feel like he don't like me."

" Oh..no. There's n..nothing like that. Now It's j..just we..we both had a small fight e..earlier. He is a bit mad at me.", I said looking in Ethan's direction where girls had already swarmed around him like bees.

" Oh ! Anything serious ?", Andrea asked.

" No..it's okay. Just s..small fight. It will be alright soon.", I said. Ethan was now dancing along with the girls, facing in our direction.

Andrea nodded to me. " Ahmm...let's dance ?", She asked and stretched her hands. Through my side eyes I felt Ethan staring at me and I quickly glanced to see he was indeed looking at me.