After a long day of schooling, lessons and an assembly where we were given more information on the ball that, in Lina's words, is the 'most fucking stupidest shit she's ever heard of in all her life', all I want to do is rest.

But nope. Rhiannon has dragged some of the group to a shop full of fancy dresses and tuxedos because 'we all need to look our best'. She's gone from baby baby baby to baby ball baby, and it's tiring for everyone involved.

"Do I look fat? I better not. I need to make the most of my figure before bubs is born." She says to Brandon as she twirls in front of him.

Lina, who brought her dress within ten minutes of being here and is now sitting on the floor, scoffs.

"Bubs? Your poor child is going to get bullied."

I laugh, and Rhiannon and Brandon glare at me.

"She's the one who said it!"

Arianna is in the changing rooms with Delilah, god knows what they're doing in there. Jagger and me have brought our stupid suits, so we're also sitting on the floor with Lina, waiting for the rest.

After this, I have the pleasure of going to work, yay yay.

"Little red, do you reckon they're changing or fucking in there?" I whisper, and Lina turns around, her eyebrows raised.

"Definitely the latter."

I chuckle and she grins, before turning back and facing the other way. Jagger winks at me and I roll my eyes, he is so childish.

Arianna and Delilah finally come out, and I pretend not to notice the smudged lipstick to save Delilah from embarrassment as she is a meek little thing, however make a mental note to piss Arianna off in future days.

We leave the shopping area, all heading our separate ways, mine being to work.

Once I arrive, I am welcomed by a rather proud looking Zachary.

"I woke up, Sin, and this girl was on me. Like she was laying on me, and when I woke up she got down on me. How fucking great is that, mate? Bet your old self would be fucking proud."

My old self.

I shudder, remembering how much of a dick I was (and still am, but I'm working on it).

"Was she peng?" I ask as I get into uniform whilst he waits outside the toilet.

As I leave the toilet, he grins. "The lengest, bro, you wouldn't even believe it. Although not quite as pretty from your little chick the other day, she was next level hot."

For some unknown reason, I feel myself flinching and desperate to defend.

"Lina ain't just some eye candy, bro. She's a human being."

He raises his eyebrows and nods. "Course, bro. Human being or human fuck buddy?"

I elbow him, then start my long shift, which around midnight will become boring as that's when Zach finishes, whereas I finish at 3 tonight.

Ever since he mentioned my roommate being my fuck buddy, I can't stop thinking about her in that way for some peculiar reason.

Her curls when it's up in the bun, the way she bites her lips whenever she feels, well, anything. Her long eyelashes when she looks up at me because she's too much smaller, and the way she crosses her arms and pouts when she's in a mood. And god, that time when her boob popped out to say hello-

"Earth to Sin? Eye candy, seven o clock."

Zachary tells me and I look in that direction, to see a group of adults, I'd say around 27ish, who were somehow all gorgeous.

"I'm waiting that table. You coming?" He looks at me, and I shake my head.

He sighs. "Your going soft, Sin."

My jaw tenses. Soft? I scoff, but stick with my decision, it would be wrong to go over there to prove something so petty.

Work drags on, and by the end of the night, I am ready to go to bed and collapse.

********
January 10th. - (a few days later)

Tonight is that bloody ball, and I'm standing in the mirror with Jagger. This is the third time I've worn a tuxedo, the first time being Jagger's parents wedding, the second being prom. Although, I got escorted out of prom for alcoholism, but oh well.

I don't know how a ball works. That's like, proper music and proper dancing, which I do have experience with (I went to dance when I was younger, it was part of a programme one of my care-homes offered), but not with other people, and I swear to god balls are an American thing, not an England thing.

Maybe in the 1600's but not now.

I comb my hair one more time, my curtains falling on my face. My tuxedo is just black, with a red tie.

When we walk through the hall, there is cameras set up in the corner. They are advertising our college, hence why they are doing this ball- to attract those of higher status, as that is what Evergreen searches and yearns for.

We head over to Arianna and Delilah, who are wearing matching dresses, with their hair in some bun thing.

"Hey, Sin. Jagger." Arianna grins.

I grunt, "Hey Arianna. Delilah."

Delilah smiles delicately then looks down, I can tell she feels uncomfortable so I step back in case I'm too close or something.

Rhiannon and Brandon then arrive, and come over to us. Rhiannon welcomes me with a hug in which I return, Brandon with a fist bump.

"You good?" He asks, and I nod, searching the room for something.

"Where's the rest of the gang?" I ask Rhiannon, my eyes scanning the room for the sight of a specific red head.

She grins at me. "Do you mean Cat, by any chance? I remember you told me about your go ape and pub date."

"Oh, shut up you preggo bish."

Rhiannon giggles. "Bish?"

"Oh, so you want me to swear around your kid?"

She laughs before pointing towards a door, where Lina is entering with the cokehead-prick-dickhead Patrick, laughing.

Laughing with him.

My jaw tenses and I speed walk to her, who knows what Patrick is doing.

My eyes can't help but scan her body, I'm a guy it's natural. She's wearing a beautiful, sexy but elegant gown: the black at the top reveals some of her plump breasts, and the bottom sticks out, it's red and it is so  well.. suited for her.

"My eyes are up here, Sin." Lina says confidently, and I feel my jaw tense again as I look up into those devilish green eyes.

Patrick stands next to her, his arm snakes around her waist. I see her flinch, but she doesn't choose to comment, and I almost open my mouth, but decide against it.

"You've got a bit of drool, mate. Although I guess I should be careful, don't wanna get punched again."

I send daggers to him with my eyes, I don't want Lina to know it was him who I punched or the reason why.

My eyes go back to her waist, where his hand rests.

"Lina, care to dance?"

She smiles gently, knowing what I'm doing, then takes up on my offer.

Patrick sighs and removes his arm, before heading over to his real girlfriend Paige. I link arms with Lina and take her onto the dance floor.

"We're actually dancing?" She says, surprised.

"Nah, I thought we'd just stand here."

Lina crosses her arms. "Watch it, mister. I'll dance with someone else. Not that I can dance..."

"What? You can be sarcastic and I can't?" I grin, before gently putting one of her hands on my shoulder and the other on my waist, making a mental note to write a letter to that care-home thanking them for their dance programme.

She rolls her eyes. "Exactly that. Now, what am I doing? Where do I put my feet? Oh god, I'm meant to be good at this."

I laugh at this small sign of weakness- Lina has a tendency to hide any hints of humanity, and when she finally shows her inner self, it's surprising.

There's plenty of beautiful girls at Evergreen, but the one I'm dancing with is by far the prettiest.

(press play on the song at the top)

The song The Night We Met plays, and I feel my eyes light up, yet hers dim.

"Are you okay?" I whisper, as we dance slowly, due to her confusion with the footwork.

She nods, not breaking eye contact, a trait I find impressive as most people shy away from outright staring.

"This was at my parents wedding."

I tuck the strand of hair that always falls out behind her ear.

"Replace the memory, little red."

Before the words start, I spin her round, and we return to our original dancing position. I let go of her hand and put both my hands on her waist, and she leans in and rests her head on my chest.

I wonder if her heart is beating as fast as mine.

The warmth I feel is undeniable, but something I want to avoid. Something I'm afraid of.

I hold her hand once more and we take three more steps in a circular motion, before I hold her hand and spin her once more.

The cameras, the people around me, they mean nothing.

All I can see is her.

She leans into my chest again, this time looking to the side, at what I'm unsure of. My hand rests on her back, where my left hand rests on her waist.

This is the closest I've ever felt with her- yes, things happened but we were both intoxicated and this time, at least one of us is sober.

The music plays in the background, and as we step and turn I feel another emotion: fear.

Her eyes seem to water, but she blinks it away, I know she is too strong to cry. This song must mean a lot to her, as this is another sight of weakness I have never once seen in Lina.

I hold her hand and spin her once more, she regains her posture and pretence confidence, creating eye contact with me once more.

"You look beautiful, little red." I whisper.

She grins, biting her lip.

"Don't flatter me, Sin, else I might have to step on your toes."

I roll my eyes and spin her again, before pulling her into me by her waist. She holds my arms with her hands, and I feel an invisible force pulling me in.

Looking down at her red and plump lips, I can't control myself. I lean down and feel her hands on my neck, pulling me in.

But just before our lips connect, she lets go and turns away.

The coldness returns to her eyes, and she steps back.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what that was," I cough awkwardly, I've kissed girls plenty of times but not once has one stepped back from me, "it was just the um, moment thing. I don't like, like you, or anything."

She lets out a chuckle. "That's good, because I definitely don't like you."

I feel a pang in my chest as I nod.

"Yeah. Well. Um. Nice dance, yeah? See you later."

Lina raises her head. "Yeah yeah, in a bit."

Then she elegantly walks off the dance floor towards Patrick, presumably to get some drugs like the addict the whole college knows she is.

Sorry, that was mean, I'm being salty.

I see Rhiannon and head over to her.

"I saw you dancing with Cat. Why did she walk off? You guys seemed so cute, there's definitely chemistry."

My cheeks must tinge rosy as Rhiannon smacks my arm.

"No fricking way! You like her, don't you? Oh, Sin, I'm so happy for you! You actually like someone? And it's Cat!!! Yes!" She smiles and I chuckle.

"I don't like her."

She nods. "Yeah, definitely."

My eyes scan the room until I find her again, talking to some teacher, actually looking really interested in the conversation.

I don't like her.

Do I?

************
Hey!

Thank you for reading Numb Addiction so far, I hope you love it!

Any ships??

Anyone else love how Rhiannon feels so calm about her baby now? Like she's making jokes blablabla cause now she knows she has Brandon! I love them.

What's your favourite friendship so far?

Lots of love,

anonymous a <3 xoxo