CHAPTER 41: A GIFT

"Dude! That party's da bomb!" one drunk Aiden stumbled and slurred, flapping his hands, talking to no one in particular. I roll my eyes, pushing him away. Who says 'da bomb' anymore anyway? But it's nice seeing my friends enjoying themselves.

This party, my surprise party, has been going on for more than two hours now. It's already past midnight but the music is still blaring from the speaker (which Jordan managed to borrow from the music department) and the booze keeps flowing into their cups (I don't know who's in charge of that but it looks like they won't run out soon. Must have cost a lot).

Now I'm sighing again. A lot.

I feel like a frickin eight years old with a party thrown by embarrassing parents (though I doubt no eight year old boy will have a party with overflowing booze and people making out everywhere). But they have frickin balloons, for God's sake! And not just any, round, colorful, boring balloons at that. They have all these characters balloons and even animal shaped balloons I mean, c'mon!

Other than that, though, it's pretty awesome. They have bowls of candies. A long table with presents. I like presents. Heh heh heh. I feel so spoiled.

My friends are all here. Even passing acquaintances are here, celebrating with me. I like these people here. Most of them are my source of income anyway. Heheheh.

"Hey," I see Allen come up to me before leaning himself against the tree, inches away from me. We are a good distance away from the center of my party and the atmosphere is so good. I feel good.

"Hey," I say back to him. Not looking at him. The events from earlier come flooding my mind once again and I can't help feeling restless.

"Here," I look down at his hand as he stretches it towards me, palm close. He opens his palm, revealing what he's holding. It is a small black box with a purple ribbon. "Happy birthday," He says. I hesitantly take the box, trying so hard to not look at him. I open it carefully, letting the ribbon fall gently to the ground.

I think I let out a small gasp when I see what's inside.

Three beautiful ear studs with three different colored stones.

"It's… beautiful," I manage to choke out those words after probably a lifetime of me staring at them in awe. I finally turn to him, staring at him in the eyes and feel my face burning as I find him staring back at me, smiling that gorgeous smile of his that can make me lose all reason and all will.

"Put it on?" he asks softly, taking the box from me. I hesitantly take my ear studs off, placing them on Allen's hand and put on the new ones he just gave me.

Allen put my old ones in the box and handed it back to me. He smiles at me. I manage to form one (I hope) in return as he reaches out his big hand to caress the studs. He brushes away my long hair (haircut!) and I can feel every bit of my soul screaming and my whole body vibrating.

"They look good on you," He says, his hand now on my cheek. I'm pretty sure he can feel the warmth of it. I sure as hell can. I tear my gaze from him, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"Thank you," I somehow manage to mutter. His hand is still on my cheek, caressing it ever so gently. I grit my teeth, grabbing his hand and bringing it down as gently as I can.

Not that I hate him doing that. But I also hate him doing that. It's not fair. And definitely not a good thing to do. Especially in public. Where everybody can see.

"Don't," my voice sounds a little too choked up for my liking but like it can be helped. It's Allen. Him and his big, magnificent hand. Damn you.

Allen squeezes my hand, slowly inching closer to me and discreetly places his other hand on my hip. I glare at him, of course. Although I'm sure my face is as red as tomato and as hot as a boiled egg. "If Chuck sees…" I grab the one hand that's on my waist, "he'll kill you," I tell him, not trying to threaten him.

But also not really, cause I think Chuck can and actually will kill him (and me afterward) if he knows what we're doing.

He stares at me now. Hand still on my waist. The other one gripping my hand. He is still smiling, but his eyes flashes as a frown comes decorating his perfectly sculpted face. And I start to get even more nervous and jittery and my whole body can't stop vibrating mostly because of fear and not excitement as it usually is.

"What's he to you?" he asks slowly. Voice unchanging from the usual gentleness, but the hand on my hip grips me ever so tightly. I almost wince at that but I hold myself back. Don't wanna be seen as being too weak, of course. That would be embarrassing.

"What's it to you?" I ask back, almost snapping at him. He opens his mouth in surprise before shutting it again. He stares at me and I can't really tell what's he thinking. He has on that usual small smile of his and just stares at me.

We keep on staring at each other for some time and I can feel my heart beat grows faster and I become even more annoyed, mostly at myself.

I scoff and chuckle. Bitter is a taste I'm very used to now.

"That's what I thought," I straighten my back and free myself from Allen and go back to my own party to (try) have a little fun.

I feel bad for leaving Allen like that. And for almost snapping at him. But everything hurt too much right now. Everything he does. Every time he touches me. Everything hurt. I can bear the pain, mind you. The guilt is the one that will break me. Sooner or later.