•| CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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. . . . .
'MOM! I'M A RICH MAN!'

𖤐

THE CUP FROM MY HAND was taken from me when Stephanie playfully nipped at my ear. "Come on, Theo," she whispered seductively, almost sitting on my lap. "You know you want to come upstairs with me."

She had been trying to persuade me for a good thirty minutes, trying all sort of different techniques and ways to lure me in. If it was any other night when I was in the mood, I'd totally be down for it, but now, surrounded by masses of drunk, intoxicated underage kids, the idea of partying was getting a little tedious. Especially when I had barely had a wink of sleep.

I gently pushed her away, feeling a mix of annoyance and frustration pulse inside of me. "Not tonight, Stephanie," I replied, my voice tinged with exhaustion.

Stephanie's eyes darkened with disappointment, and she stumbled back a little, clearly intoxicated. "But I thought you liked me," she pouted, her words slurring slightly.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words to convey my feelings without hurting her. "Stephanie, it's not about whether I like you or not," I explained gently. "I'm just not in the mood right now. It's been a long day, and I want to relax a bit before tomorrow." I had been practicing every day after school for the tryouts, shaping myself into hopefully being good-enough.

She scowled, her lips pouting in frustration. "You're always like this, Theo," she muttered, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Never wanting to have fun or do anything exciting."

That was a flat out lie; I came up with the word fun.

I sighed, biting my tongue in order to rein in the frustration that was suddenly starting to bubble up in the bit of my stomach. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, of course. but I also didn't want to compromise my own well-being. "It's not about not wanting to have fun, Stephanie," I said, my tone softening but my knuckles hardening. "I just need some time to myself tonight." I made the gesture for her to untangle herself from me so she could get the hint, but she only became needier— and flimsy.

What couldn't she get? She was sprawled all over me like she was unable to hold herself upright.

Hey..." I put my hands on her shoulders and leaned away; she frowned and I could see in her eyes how glazed they were. "How drunk are you?"

Her eyes darkened at my question and she removed herself from my lap with a huff, her arms crossed over her chest. "I'm not drunk, I just like you, Theo."

She may not be super drunk right now, but I could smell the alcohol on her breath and the way her body was swaying from side to side was a big enough indication that she was a drink away from being totally brain fucked. "I like you too, Steph."

As much as a pair of fuck buddies could.

"But not enough to fuck me." Ashe slurred, her eyes glossy with the alcohol in her system.

For fuck sake. I thought.

I leaned back against the couch, cussing at myself. My head hurt, ached, and throbbed. I needed to get out of this room, off this dark couch that I was sinking into, and far away from this drum n base music that was spilling from the speakers.

Craning my head back, I could see Marcus and the rest of the guys sitting around the pool, the city lights pulsating behind them. The sky was dark blue, twinkling stars glistening.

Feeling a hand dragging up further on my thigh, I turned back to Stephanie, an indication that she wasn't going to stop anytime. Just as I went to move, she pushed herself at me, her lips skimming mine.

I pushed her back again, earning a deep scowl. "Why don't you like me like that?"

I swallowed and sat up, cautious of the eyes around now staring.

"Stephanie.." She huffed louder, and I watched as her eyes narrowed.

"Is it because I'm not good enough?" She tilted her head and I made a point of shaking my head but that wasn't enough for her.

My patience was wearing thin.

"No. You are good enough. It's just that I'm not in the mood right now." I said with annoyance, but she ignored that and kicked a leg over my waist, and straddled my lap once again. I groaned mentally. What part of, 'I wasn't in the mood', did she not understand?

"But I can make you in the mood." Her fingers dragged along my collar and I sighed. "Are you in the mood now?" She whispered in my ear and I looked down at the cup in my hand. I couldn't drink anymore, Father would be pissed — already more pissed than he was earlier when I told him I was going out. We usually had a little tiff because we cannot stand the sight of each other. I'd always end up doing something wrong and he'd be disappointed. It was hard to make things right and for him to be proud of me. My Mother was different, she was proud of me, but she was barely around to show it. I only had myself to rely on and the fact that everytime I was alone with my friends I had the sudden urge to tell them everything just because I couldn't keep it inside any longer, I'd snap back into reality and get myself together again.

A lapse in judgement. I had my therapist for this.

I couldn't find the amount of fucks inside of me to give anymore. My Father was a pompous motherfucker.

Fuck him and his fancy ass suits.

I downed the rest of my drink and dragged my finger along my mouth to catch the excess alcohol. "No," I said firmly, pushing her off my lap and tossing the now-crumpled cup aside. I stood up and so did she, clinging to my side like an animal waiting for its food.

Stephanie's grip on my wrist tightened, desperation in her eyes. "Why the rejection?" I pulled away, navigating through the lively crowd, aiming for the escape of the yard. The echo of her heels pursued me, hastening as I approached the patio door. Her grasp on my arm intensified, halting my escape. Her flushed face and narrowed eyes radiated a potent mix of anger and frustration.

As if glares could maim.

"What, leaving me like this?" She gestured to herself, her chest heaving, eyes slightly glossy. On any other night, I might have accepted her invitation for a good time, but tonight, my mind was confined to a storm of negative thoughts, rendering me disinterested. The weight of my own struggles loomed heavily, and seeking solace in physical intimacy wasn't a remedy.

Surprisingly, I even made it to this party. I forced myself to socialize, to drink away my regrets, drowning in contemplation about irreparable mistakes. The present offered little joy.

I felt so—fuck!

"Not tonight, Steph," I muttered, rubbing my jaw, witnessing disappointment and desire flicker in her eyes. I urged myself to turn around and exit that door, but an unseen force rooted me to the spot. My mouth opened, words ready to cut the ties, but my body resisted, adhesive to the floor.

As my eyes roamed the room, searching for certainty, there she was—a vision of Willow, her blonde hair catching the vibrant glow of LED lights. It was as if time had momentarily stood still, encapsulating the ethereal beauty that made her unmistakable. A flicker of disbelief played in my mind.

In that brief moment when our eyes may have met across the room, a blink—a heartbeat—and she vanished, leaving me questioning reality. The ache of longing mingled with the confusion of her abrupt disappearance. Willow had always held a unique place in my thoughts, an indescribable specialness that eluded definition. It wasn't just her external beauty; it was something deeper, an elusive quality that drew me in without clear explanation. But I couldn't pinpoint why, exactly. I barely knew her.

The clearing of a throat snapped me back to Stephanie's fury. Her fists clenched, an invisible steam escaping her ears. "Who are you looking at, Theo? Huh?" She advanced, her narrowed eyes judging me. Instead of anger, her perception left me with a lingering sense of sadness. But if I ever said that out loud, God forbid I ever got to that stage, I wouldn't know what people would think of me. Would they still think I was the name guy? The same guy that loved football and staying up till late so I could watch the stars glisten, knowing that somewhere out there, my future was secured in the heavens.

Cryptic, sure. But it was also rather comforting to believe such nonsense.

Ignoring her question, she stepped forward, her sharp fingernails digging into my bicep as she tried to pull my towards her — which was probably more embarrassing than just walking away and letting her catty behaviour get the better of me.

"So, this is how it's gonna be? You just walk away?" She asked, her voice rising. Heads turned. Eyes pierced my skin. Gossip and chatter stopped altogether.

"Steph, let's not do this here," I said, not having to glance around the packed room to see how many people were staring. "It's a party, supposed to be fun, right?"

"Fun? Oh, you're having fun by ignoring me, Theo?"

I let out a rushed breath and stopped myself from tearing my own skin off my face. "I'm not ignoring you. I just need some air, okay?"

Taking a deep breath, I made my way through the crowd, Steph's eyes drilling into my back like fiery daggers. As I reached the patio, the night air offered a momentary reprieve.

"Why are you acting like this, Steph? We agreed, no strings attached. Just fun." My voice rang in my own ears, and the way her eyes softened then hardened as if she remembered what this thing was between us. Like I had reminded her that we were nothing more.

"Fun?" She tightened her hand around my bicep. "Is that what you call it? You can't just turn me off when you're done." Her voice cracked, and it teared me apart. But not for the reason it should've. But because I had failed, broken the trust of, and ruined something that was good. Again. I had done this way too many times but no matter what, it still hurt me. Time and time again.

"I'm not turning you off. I just can't deal with all this clinginess." I said, voice void of any emotion.

The way her shoulders tensed, as if I had burned her, it made me feel so very stupid. I hadn't had a proper conversation with her since we started this thing. I didn't even know what her middle name was, let alone what she liked or disliked. But then again, we were nothing but people who loved intimacy, and there was nothing wrong with that, only she clearly forgot we were nothing more.

With a swirl of emotions, I decided to escape the verbal sparring and headed towards the pool where my friends were gathered. Laughter and the flickering glow from the bonfire enveloped the scene.

Marcus was the first to spot me and flag me down, and I took the invitation without any hesitation. Nor did I decline the can of beer that was being shoved against my chest.

Joining the circle, Stephanie's voice echoed in my mind, and it was just ironic that she had stormed out to the yard, making her rather itchy attitude be known to the rest of the guys as she glared and burst through the gate. She fled before any one could ask if she was okay, though if I ever did that, she'd always shut me down with a kiss to my lips. I guess I wasn't the only
one who wasn't eager to open up and share all of my feelings, and I never once forced her to, either.

"Trouble in paradise?" Marcus nudged my arm.

I snickered, rubbing a hand down my face. "More like a storm."

Marcus stared at me for a couple of seconds before looking away, staring into the fire. It was a scene bathed in the soft glow of a bonfire by the water. The rhythmic crackling of the flames echoed against the night sky, creating a mesmerizing soundtrack to the gathering of people who were surrounding it. The air was filled with the scent of burning wood, mingling with the subtle aroma of the lake.

"Did you want to talk about it?" He asked, his stare focused on the fire. There was a dance of shadows playing on the faces of my friends, their laughter punctuating the night.

I cleared my throat. "Maybe later." I whispered, my vision becoming hazy as I stared into the depths of the crackling fire. Embers flickered and floated upward, disappearing into the starlit sky. The heat from the fire contrasted with the cool breeze from the lake, creating a perfect balance that wrapped the gathering in a comforting cocoon.

Around the bonfire, people were sprawled out on the various outdoor seating, their faces reflecting the glow of the flames.

"Of course, man. Take your time." His words were slightly slurred, and considering there were a fair amount of empty bottles scattered across the grass had me thinking he had consumed every little bit of them.

Patting Marcus's back, I found my way back into the conversation the other boys were having, which seemed to be about the lake house we were at.

"Marcus, this place is unreal. How did you manage to snag it for the night?" Josh asked, holding his head up before dropping it back down to his position on the floor.

Marcus lifted a half empty bottle of vodka to his lips, and pointed to the house. "Connections, my friend. You know I've got a knack for sweet deals. Plus, it's my cousin's place. Family perks!"

All of the group nodded in understanding. This place was damn luxury. I had seen many fancy-looking places in my lifetime, but nothing like this.

"This place is swanky." __ said, sliding closer towards the bonfire, extending his hands out to warm up his hands. The air was nice and mild, enveloping us all in the comfort of the party. People were everywhere, some more fortunate than others.

Many of the people were head-deep in bushes, hands on knees as they emptied out their guts. Some had done the better thing, and either left the estate altogether when they had noticed they have had a little too much to drink or even gone to the bathroom. I tried taking a leak just a couple hours ago to find the whole bathroom in a wreck. Toilet seat was up, there was sick all up the walls, missing the toilet as if they were playing some stupid game.

I wondered what Marcus's cousin thought about this party— or if he knew at all.

"Your turn," I heard, just as a phone was being pushed into my chest. I caught it just in time before the mysterious person pulled their hand away. I looked at Cody in confusion. "To play the music." He answered my unheard question.

I stared down at the phone, seeing his Spotify account pulled up. With a smirk, I typed __ into the search bar and clicked play, hearing the melody of the song start up on the outdoor speaker.

"So, Theo, heard you're trying out for the football team. Ready to show some moves out there for all of us to see?" Amelia, Josh's current girlfriend asked, her long dark red hair sloshing around in the pool she was in.

"You're going to be watching are you?" I asked, seeing her smile.

"We're all coming to cheer you on, Theo!" Laura shouted from all the way across the yard, a lollipop stuck in her mouth. "That's what friends do for each other."

I smile made its way onto my face, one I couldn't hide.

"He's gone all mushy for us now." Marcus laughed, pointing to my beetroot red face. "Look at him."

"Well," Amelia said, wrapping her arms around Josh, who looked like he could drop to sleep any second, "I'm expecting some serious dance moves. Can't have football without a victory dance."

With a surge of confidence, I spoke. "Oh, you have no idea. Victory dance, touchdown shimmy – I'm the whole package."

Laughter rippled through the group, accompanied by the upbeat rhythm of the music emanating from the speakers. The song I had played had soon gone and __ was now streaming though the yard. It seemed to be alright for the people here, though I think they were too wasted to appreciate such good music taste.

Laura snickered, and grabbed her phone, slipping into one of the chairs and kicking her legs up onto the glass table. "Talking about packages, we should order pizza. That's the real MVP."

As on cue, Marcus jumped up, holding onto his girlfriend to stabilise himself. He soon got rid of the now empty vodka bottle and took a bottle of cold water from the cooler, downing most of the thing within seconds. Some of the guys were drunk, some were lying across the grass passed out for the count. God knows how Marcus was going to get them to leave — they most likely forgot where their homes were, let alone how to get there.

"I think I saw some menus inside." He said, turning around and beckoning me to follow. With a long breath out, I followed after him back inside. My eyes right away darted around the room in search of her. Willow. I swear I did see her earlier on. I had to.

Maybe, I was going mad?

"Is everything alright, Theo?" Marcus asked, grabbing the menus that were on the side, tattered and ripped.

"Is this thing still useable?" I asked, trying to piece together the paper. It was dated to only a couple months ago, and the pizza parlour looked to be a new one that had opened up.

Marcus picked up his phone and dialled the number, bringing it to his ear, it rang out a couple of times before someone picked up and he was flagging me down to agree with his choice of food. A dozen pizza's and cola's. That should be more than enough for everyone, though I don't think anyone here was sober enough to know what they were putting into their bodies.

He ordered the food and announced it to everyone, and a range of cheers erupted, before everyone got back to dancing. Before we headed back out, with the sway of our bodies, Marcus pulled me down a hallway, facing nothing but expensive architectural structures and fancy paintings.

Marcus released his hold on me, his blood-shot eyes piercing mine. Then his brows lifted as if to say, "Go on then."

"What are we doing down here?" I asked, stepped back until I hit the cold wall behind me. But then moved aside when I could feel a frame nudge my shoulder, and I knew I was seconds from accidentally knocking the thing on the floor.

Marcus stared at me blankly, like he had forgotten what he took me down here for.

I waved my hand in his face. "Hello? Anyone home?"

March's jumped back in a fright, his eyes blinking continuously as he gathered his bearings.

"What?" He asked, making me chuckle.

"What did you want to say?" I asked, urging him on.

"Oh, yes. Right," He rubbed his face, waking himself
up from whatever trance he was in. "Feelings."

"Feelings?" I asked, confused.

He nodded. "There's this thing called feelings that—"

"I know what they are, Marcus," I stopped him. "Just, what is the context here? Why are we down here?"

Marcus nodded three times, his eyes darting around the place. "I'm here if you want to talk. Because that's what friends do, right. We comfort one another in the hopes it'll help."

I nodded, letting him continue on. I didn't have the heart to tell him to continue, not when it looked like he was really trying to start something up, something that involved everything that was forbidden for a guy.

Feelings. Emotions. Those things were dangerous territory that

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