Chapter 10

Just like I predicted, because no one has ever been good at staring in the eye of someone who you are guilty of doing wrong to, Tristan breaks the contact.

He looks down, straightens his shirt, and then wipes the tears that came out during the long-lasting staring competition, using his handkerchief.

He looks up and without looking me in the eye hands me the handkerchief. I take it gratefully, as otherwise my light makeup will smear all over my face, and slowly dab my eyes to get rid of the tears.

"I hate to admit it but, you won. And yes, I am sorry. I really missed you, chipmunk," Trist says, taking the handkerchief back when I hand it to him.

"I am sorry too. And I really really missed you and everyone a lot, gorilla," I say, laughing as I see his face scrunching up.

"Ugh. Don't call me that," Trist says and we laugh together at this silliness.

"Let's just go in. We still have to make time for the drinks," Trist continues after both of us are a little calmed.

"Alright. Let's go," I say and start walking towards the elevator door to reach Megan's penthouse.

A couple minutes later, Tristan and I are standing in front of basically all my high school friends, except Morgana and Arthur, and it's unbelievable how long a road we have managed to pass together.

Who would've thought that these high school friends of mine would still last even after a separation of 5 years.

Rory giggles at Kev from his arms and throws his arm around his neck.

Nick is still a little shy, but he seems to be getting a little acquainted with Megan. He liked her so fast that I was a little stunned.

If she can befriend Nick in this 15-20 minutes, I can just say that Megan will be a great mother.

"Shouldn't we like, go?" Kev asks as he checks the time on his watch.

It's probably sometime around 7, but I have no correct idea. From being with Damon during and after his panic attack, and lecturing Kyle after my kids' father's revelation, I have lost clue of the time passing or going.

It was a really long day.

"You okay?" Hunt asks, his hand touching my shoulder lightly.

"Yeah. Just thinking how many obstacles we have all passed without being each other's support, yet look at us now. No one would think that we haven't been friends for decades," I say, my eyes looking back and forth on all my friends.

Tristan and Kevin are instructing the maids and the other staff about what to feed my kids and when to put them in bed and if anything happens, to call us right away. Summer is playing with the kids and Megan is calling the babysitter, asking her to hurry up.

I smile at all of them. Even though they have only known my kids for just a few hours, look at them fussing over them. They are treating Rory and Nick like a blessing or reward and now I can never say that I didn't have loving and supporting friends.

After almost half an hour, my friends are all ready and have sorted out everything best for Nick and Rory.

Kev offers Summer his right arm and like a gentleman kneels down a little just to say, "M'lady." Tristan follows suit and since Hunt or I have no one as a plus one, he offers me his arm in suit.

Right now if someone would see us, they might think we are a group of people, three couples, who have very little in common, and yet look so happy that anyone within an eye's range of us can see the glow on each of our faces.

It takes us an hour to reach Tristan's chosen club, Darkway Club. I look at the length of the line we would have to wait through to get inside, and almost faint right there and then.

We all get down, others calm while I am worried, and make our way to the bouncers. They look at Tristan for a moment and then nod at him and move the ring to let us through.

"How?" I ask, grasping Tristan's shoulders while laughing surprisingly.

"Honey, I am on my way to become the biggest business tycoon in New York city, and this is my club in partnership with a friend of mine.

I pat him on the back encouragingly, and keep that wide, proud, smile on my face as we enter. Everyone is now laughing and swaying in the music.

"Do you guys wanna go to the VIP lounge?" Tristan asks, his fingers pointing to the door marked VIP and guarded with another couple of bouncers.

"VIP lounges are for when you are with your plus one to enjoy alone quality time. For groups of friends like us, it's best we stay in the general area," Kev says, and drags us to the bar with him.

We sit in there a while, drinking, laughing, chatting, and in general having a good time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Hunt's eyes follow someone around the whole club, and I can't help but smile.

I discreetly grab Summer's and gesture her towards Hunt with my eyes.

She looks at him, and notices him looking at the blue streaked blonde and following her every movement like he is mesmerised by her presence.

Summer and I stifle a laugh, looking at our lovestruck friend.

In the 10 years I had known Hunter Morningstar, he had numerous girls over at his house, but, after his last actual official girlfriend, he had none serious. I dare not speak her name in front of him, but you could see how she had shattered his heart right in his eyes.

And now, for the first time in 5 years, I have hope that he might finally get over his ex. The look with which he is following that girl around is none like I have ever seen before. It's affectionate, it's adoration, it's so much more than just attraction like the ones he usually has in his eyes.

Megan and I follow that girl with our eyes as well, admiring the way she kindly interacts with people.

"Hunt? Who are you looking at, mate?" Trist says suddenly out of nowhere, slapping a hand on Hunt's shoulder.

Hunt chuckles nervously and that makes Megan and I smile at each other.

"It's the new actress, Gabrielle Holsi, that I am supposed to work with if I were to sign the contract," Hunt says, taking a sip of his drink but never moving his eyes from her.

"Well. You know her! Go talk to her rather than staring at her like a creepy stalker," Megan exclaims, pushing Hunt out of his seat and towards her direction.

"I am so not staring at her like a creepy stalker," Hunt shakes his head in complete denial.

We all give him 'the look'. Kev pats an encouraging hand on Hunt's back.

"See? Everyone is asking you to go get it," I say, smiling and pushing him again.

"Alright alright. I am going," Hunt says, raising his hands in surrender, rolling his eyes.

But I can see the smile he has on his face as he turns away from the rest of us to walk towards her.

Kev and Trist cheer for him, just like old times and for once in a very long time, I feel not so alone.

—•—

It's been an hour or so since we came in and we are having a pretty good time. Megan and Tristan were at the dance floor, swaying with each other and Kev looks he'll pass out if Summer asks him to dance one more time.

I look at Summer and instantly know that she wants to go dance at the upbeat song that just came on. I laugh and wink at Summer as I take her hand and go to the dance floor.

Megan, Morgana, Summer and I were all part of the Dance Team in our high school. I remember when we used to let loose in parties and dance like no one was watching us when every eye used to be on us.

"For old time's sake," I whisper at Summer as she stands with me.

'DJ Turn It Up' music starts playing and the guys on the floor seem to simultaneously leave the dance floor, like they know it's our song.

Megan looks at me and raises an eyebrow to which I answer with a nod, smiling.

We three chuckle before falling back in our dancing routines. All three of us miraculously remember perfectly how to work in pace with each other.

Megan goes in the middle first, us copying her moves from back, cheers erupt from every side of the club and our laughs can be heard everywhere. As soon as Megan falls back on line to give Summer the lead, our routine changes. Kevin looks mesmerised, most probably having not seen her like that in a long time.

After a good 1 min something, I take the lead. The DJ seems to be extending the music so that everyone can enjoy us dancing and I take full advantage of that.

When the music ends, Megan, Summer and I are all breathless, not having done that for a while. Everyone cheers us and it is all so contagious that I can't stop the smile on my face.

I look at my friends. Megan and Summer are both in the arms of their love and Hunt smiles at me from the other side of the room where he is sitting with Gabrielle. I am about to go back to the bar to order a drink when I notice a pair of brown eyes staring intensely at me.

A shiver runs through my spine and I gulp.

Shit.