31. The Birthday Surprise

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retrouvaille [ french ]

(n.) the joy of meeting or finding someone again after a long separation; rediscovery.

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WARNING: This chapter contains strong language.

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I never would have thought that being around a lot of people would feel good. 

But it really did; it felt normal. I could pretend, just for the night, that I was just a seventeen-year-old girl who was trying to enjoy the party and have fun. I decided that this night I would loosen up and eat, drink and dance more than I ever had. Especially since I had a perfect reason for it: it was Hayden's 18th birthday.

Nichole's words had kept me up that night. It was indeed Gabrielle's handwriting on the note, but the detective thought that someone made her write it, or she had an accomplice.  All for one reason: one of her earrings was missing, just like Avery's and Monica's were. Was it just a mere coincidence? Could it have fallen in the lake, could she have lost it? Certainly.

But there was also another possibility. A grim one: her accomplice followed us to the Belfort lake house, pushed her into the lake and drowned her.

"That hard of a question, huh?"

I jumped slightly, Devon's whimsical voice bringing me back to reality. I snapped out of my puzzling thoughts and gave him a sweet smile.

"You didn't even hear the question, did you?"

"I didn't. Sorry. Say it again?" I asked with an apologetic, innocent look, while playing with the ruffled long sleeves of my pink playsuit. 

"What do you want to drink? You're going to need some audacity to get through the night."

"You pick. You're well-versed in alcohol." I teased him. "Wait. Why would I need that?"

"I'm well-versed in many things." he smirked, and I rolled my eyes, poking him in the ribs. "Ouch. Things are going to get pretty heated. You'll see." 

 He poured multiple beverages into my glass and handed it to me.

I took it and scanned his face suspiciously. He was definitely up to something.

I sipped at my drink and let the alcohol glide down my throat, the familiar burning sensation coming round right away. It was good; Devon really had a natural aptitude for making good cocktails. 

We walked to the relatively small circle of eight students and sat down next to each other on the fluffy beige carpet, around the square glass table. Hayden was amongst them, with a birthday boy hat on his head, and so was Joseph.

Just like his brother, he was always standing out from the rest, looking a little bit alien, like he belonged in a painting, and not around tipsy teenagers. He was definitely out of his comfort zone. He was between two girls, and one of them, Amanda (I recognized her from the Christmas party), seemed extremely content to be near him. I gave him a racy smile, and he offered me a crooked one in return. I stirred slightly; in that exact moment, he looked just like Damian.

"Nice of you to join, my Cappuccino monkeys. Are you players or watchers?" Hayden jested, making everyone laugh lightly. It had become his nickname for both Devon and me, but we didn't really mind. It was actually quite ironic since Devon's stature was much, much greater than that of a capuchin.

"Players, for sure." I answered. "But what are we playing, exactly?"

"Hehe." Hayden rubbed his palms together mischievously. "We're playing Would You Rather. But with a twist. Be warned though, once you get in the game, you can't chicken out and not do what you're supposed to do."

"Don't worry. We're not quitters." Devon chimed in friskily, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, to my surprise. I thought about pushing it off me for a second, but that would have been considered rude. 

Besides, he was only doing that in a friendly manner, right? It wasn't a big deal.

"So, you're going to be my fourth victim today, Rosabel." the birthday boy grinned.

There was something unsettling about that grin.

"Would you rather make out with Devon in front of everyone or give Joe here a love bite on his neck in private?"

I goggled at him in disbelief.

 What the hell was I supposed to answer to that? One question, that's all it took to unnerve me. I took a sip from my drink. No matter what, I couldn't choose the second option. Joseph was Damian's brother, and that would have been wrong on so many levels. Aside from that, I had had a crush on Devon for as long as I could remember. 

I caught Joseph's brown eyes. He was scrutinizing me quite openly, intently, which was very unlike him, and very much like...Damian.

And suddenly the thought of giving Joseph a hickey seemed very appealing. I could easily trick myself into believing that he was his twin brother, and start kissing his neck...

No, no. Stop it, brain. Stop making inappropriate scenarios!

Choosing to make out with Devon was the right thing to do. 

Sort of.

"I'd rather make out with Devon." I mumbled, keeping my sight and head down.

"Sorry, what was that?" Hayden teased me with a brazen smirk.

"Make out with Devon." I enunciated, glancing at Devon for a second. He gave me a satisfied, flirtatious smile, making my eyes fall to his plump lips without meaning to.

The birthday boy whistled, shifting his gaze to Joseph.

"Daaamn. You just got friend-zoned."

He gave a wry smile, shrugging his shoulders. His eyes never left my figure as he spoke calmly:

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

I examined his posture and facial expression, trying to decipher his thoughts. But no matter how many psychological facts and tricks I had studied, I still couldn't read him. 

I was glad that he only saw me as a friend. Truly. Otherwise, things would have gotten really awkward.

"So, what are you waiting for?" Hayden drew my attention.

"Sorry?"

"I told you the game has a twist. And the twist is that whatever you choose between the two, you have to do it."

"Yeah, right." I sniggered.

"He's not joking, Ingold." a familiar voice chimed in. It was Paul, whom I didn't even notice. It was unusual for him to be so quiet. He had lost some weight since the last time I saw him; the usual malice that was always plastered on his face had faded and turned into dull apathy. "You chose to make out with our golden boy in front of everyone, so that's what you have to do."

I parted my lips to protest, but all of the words perished on my tongue when I heard a distinct voice among others, coming from the entryway. Soon heads turned towards the direction of the noise: someone else had just entered the house. The sound of heels clicking against the floor echoed in the living room.

The girl had straight jet black hair, approximately the same length as mine, and almond-shaped hazel eyes. She was wearing a black outfit, which consisted of a crop top and tight leggings that embraced every curve of her voluptuous silhouette.

"Sorry we're late." she excused herself with a sugary voice, her eyes fixating on me. If she was trying to intimidate me...she was certainly succeeding. But I didn't let it show. I returned the look without even blinking.

Wait. We?

I held my breath as another figure made its way towards as. A lithe figure, also dressed in black from head to toe, causing a shocked chain of whispers to waft in the air. If Devon's arm wasn't draped around my shoulders, I would have probably lost balance because of the powerful emotions that ravaged me. I felt all the blood leaving my face as she wrapped her arm around his waist. They made a beautiful combination, with their dark hair and beguiling appearance, fascinating and drawing you in like a lethal swirl.

Damian was here, actually here; not in Paris, but right in front of me. And three months weren't officially over yet.

I stifled the violent urge to slap the simper of the girl's face and jump in his arms, to touch his face, to trace every muscle on his sculpted arms, to hear his heartbeat frenziedly against mine. I had dreamt about this moment every day, created thousands of scenarios inside my head, but none of them was like this.

But what was I expecting? I had pushed him away and had never told him how I felt about him. How I still felt about him. He was strikingly good-looking; of course girls would throw themselves at him. Of course he'd replace me with one of them. He already had.

Our eyes met, and I desperately searched for any trace of love, of recognition behind those dark, cold hues. I couldn't find any. 

I exhaled sharply, just as he languorously averted his gaze from me. He used to look at me as if I was his light, his whole universe, but now, he didn't even seem to acknowledge my presence.

"Happy birthday, Hayden. Here's your gift. I hope you like it, Damian and I picked it together." she said, holding a bag out to him.

Damian and I picked it together. Even hearing that stung.

Hayden leapt to his feet swiftly from the carpet and took it, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm sure I will, Jasmine. Fancy seeing you both here."

I rolled my eyes. Of course she'd have a pretty name, the same as a Disney princess. Why couldn't her name have been...Gothel or Ursula? It'd be much easier to hate her that way.

Hayden shook hands with Damian, and then turned towards me with a roguish grin.

"You have great timing, by the way." he told them. "Make yourselves comfortable, you're about to witness something truly spectacular."

I wanted to dig a hole into the floor and hide there. Literally. 

An uncomfortable sensation took over me.

"And what exactly is that?" Jasmine asked with an annoying voice (her voice wasn't actually annoying. It was deep and pleasant, but as long as she was going to have her arm wrapped around Damian, it was going to be annoying for me).

I took a deep breath. Was this actually happening? Oh, to hell with it. Damian had clearly moved on from me in the span of only two months; his so-called love evaporated into thin air. I could kiss whoever I wanted. Even in front of him...

Right?

 He showed up here with his girlfriend without caring about me and my feelings. And now I was going to show him that I didn't care either.

I didn't think twice about it. I turned towards Devon. We both raised to our knees and leant closer slowly. He offered me his conqueror smile, his golden hair catching the light, his grey eyes scintillating. 

How ironic: I used to dream about this moment for ages, and now, when it was finally about to happen, I wished there was someone else in his place. He snaked his arms around my waist, closing off the space between us. I placed my hands on the base of his neck and kissed him firmly. He responded a second later, parting my lips eagerly with his and slipping his tongue into my mouth. I had to admit, he was a very good kisser. I actually found myself enjoying it, and forgetting, just for a moment, that we were watched by dozens of people, including Damian. And Joseph.

His hands lowered to my hips, pressing them into his. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, and from there, spreading through my whole body, but I didn't stop, and neither did he.

But someone's enraged, menacing voice did:

"Take your filthy hands off her, you arsehole, or I'll break your fucking neck."

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Author's Note: Can you feel that? It's the enticing scent of...drama! 

Take care of yourselves and remember to drink lots of water :)


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