Chapter 5: 4-What is the name of her friend?

ETHAN'S POINT OF VIEW

I leave my room after taking a hot shower and wearing something more presentable than my usual black jeans and t-shirts.

My locks are slightly wet, but Ian has been waiting for me in the car for over half an hour now, and it becomes unbearable when he complains about wanting to be on time even at a party.

I shake my head mentally, wondering how he became my best friend, but instead of pleasing him I can't help but slow down and glance at the sofa, where Valerie is sitting cross-legged and with a grimace of fear in the face, while staring at the screen bringing popcorn to the height of her lips.

My jaw slowly relaxes when I notice that she is wearing a ridiculous floral jumpsuit and short-sleeved shirt, making me notice how thin her arms are.

I frown as my eyes land on the pale skin of her cheeks, noticing that her face is not covered in crap as usual, while her hair is pulled back into a strange messy, lumpy ponytail.

She's so different that for a moment I'm afraid I've turned to the wrong woman.

I slightly part my lips as I pass by the sofa, staring at her concentrated expression: she seems almost terrified by the film, while she blinks several times and looks down at the fries she squeezes on her lap.

She is so scared that she sticks out her lower lip like a child, puffing out her cheeks when a scream comes from the television.

I stop instantly, taking advantage of the presence of the two kids and the friend at his side, then I slowly approach the two women, sitting side by side, so close that their shoulders touch.

Just when Valerie is about to rest her forehead on her friend's shoulder, I approach them behind them and place both hands on the sofa, lowering myself to their height and specially bringing her to the root of Valerie's neck, before she notices it.

Fuck, Valerie! You must stop using this perfume!

It's so fucking good!

"See you later, princess." - I whisper, making the woman next to me straighten her back, while Valerie shudders to feel my sigh on her skin, and then spring to her feet as soon as she notices my presence, pointing her index finger at me :

"Don't ... Don't" - she begins to stammer when she crosses my eyes, while she quickly passes her clear eyes all over my body, and then brings them back to my pupils:

"call me by these nicknames!" - she raises her chin to appear the more threatening and confident as possible, but she is more than ridiculous in her pajamas and with the popcorn that she holds on to her chest, but I pretend a confused and annoyed expression at the same time, only to sigh:

"I wasn't talking to you." - I say in a cold tone, bringing my eyes to the brunette next to me, whose name I don't even remember, while she dilates her dark pupils slightly, without finding the courage to breathe.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Valerie bring her eyes several times between me and her friend, assuming a puzzled and confused grimace at the same time, but before giving her the satisfaction of objecting, I wink at the shy brunette two millimeters from her face, then glare at Valerie and turn away from her, leaving her pensive in the middle of the living room with the tip of her nose very red.

I hold back a satisfied smile when I slam the door behind me, but not before I listen to her scream:

"Perfect, go away!" - which does nothing but widen my smile.

Spoiled bitch!

The smile dies on my lips and gives way to a serious expression when I get into the car:

"You have serious problems with punctuality." - he says between his teeth, trying to hold back visibly, but I don't listen to his words and I hasten to ask him:

"What's her friend's name?" - I look out the window:

"Why?" - he hastens to ask, starting the car and making me roll my eyes at his insistence:

«Meredith.» - he says a couple of seconds later, almost giving up and already knowing the answer:

"You want them all for yourself." - he whispers immediately after, while a mischievous smile makes room on my face.

«Meredith.» - I repeat to myself in a low tone, running my tongue between my lips, almost imagining I can taste her taste on my mouth.

"Don't bullshit." - his voice is more detached than usual, as I watch him lower his eyebrows several times, but I still don't listen to him and release to continue:

«It's Valerie you have to fuck, not her.» - he admonishes me, making me roll my eyes and stiffen my jaw.

I tilt my head towards his side:

"I hate that woman." - I whisper between my teeth, continuing immediately:

"I imagined her shy." - I admit, running my fingers through my hair to bring it back, and then bring my eyes out the window.

"I understand you." - he sighs loudly, looking around for a free parking space:

"But you have to make her believe that you are interested." - he adds at the exact moment when I open the door and get out of the car, enjoying the sound of the ball music that can already be heard in the distance.

I know he cares about me, but he never agreed with my plan. He is one of those men who respect women and never had the courage to cheat on a girlfriend.

He feels sorry for Valerie and can't wait for this whole nightmare to end, I understood it from the way he looks at her only in passing, never looking into her eyes or trying to become her friend as he immediately did with my exes , even if we have been living in that house for not even two days.

«Now I don't want to think about anything.» - I give him a pat on the back when he goes around the car to join me, as we begin to approach the villa of Ian's cousin.

I look around like it's the first time I've come here, noticing that nothing has changed, not even Jack's stupidity:

"Here you are! You missed a fight between two blondes! »- he comes towards us with a glass full of the liquid I need right now.

I just lift one corner of my mouth and roll my eyes as the stink of alcohol and drugs enters my nostrils as he continues to scream to be heard by the music.

The only reason I come to his parties are the women he invites, so sophisticated and expert that I don't understand what they do at this stoned party's parties.

I just follow him, casting a quick glance at Ian beside me, who just shrugs surrendered.

My expression relaxes when he directs us to a table surrounded by a small enthusiastic crowd, but I understand the reason for the screams and whistles only when my eyes fall on the girl lying on the table, as an old man who will have passed fifty years old approaches her lips wrinkled to her belly to grab a slice of limoncello.

When my eyes land on the girl's pale skin and the image of Valerie's pale arms is repeated in my head, I immediately take my eyes off the scene and refrain from pushing this bastard away from the girl, perhaps a minor.

I turn my back to the table and take a step back to attract the attention of the waiter on the other side of the counter, raising two fingers in the air.

«Rum cooler.» - I order and wait for the glass to slide next to my hand on the counter, and then turn to the crowd dancing carefree.

I lean my back to the pillar near the counter as I bring the glass to my lips, squeezing it tightly between my fingers as I throw my head back.

I go looking with the eyes of a woman of my age who can answer my needs tonight, and I straighten my back when I am observed by a tall and slender brunette a few meters away, but I change my mind when I notice that her hair they are curly like Valerie's.

God! That woman is everywhere!

I detach myself from the rough wall, after having banged the bottom of the glass on the marble of the counter, and I go towards the crowd, with the intention of grabbing the arm of the first woman who appears and who does not look at all like her, and it seems to me that I having made the best choice when I see a blonde slowly turn around, her smile widening as my fingers encircle her elbow.

I look at her from head to toe and am satisfied when I realize that she is as tall as I like and with the curves in the right place, covered by the thin fabric of a black dress.

And I've always had a soft spot for black.

***

"Where are you?" - I ask calmly, waiting for him to answer sooner or later, but on the third ring I give up and turn off the phone, turning to a very high drugged Jack.

"I'll take you home!" - he suddenly bursts out laughing, making me roll my eyes, but I nod at his words, since it's not the first time I've come home alone.

Ian also pretends to love parties, but can't stay in a crowded place for more than half an hour.

'I hate the stench of sweat' - he tries to justify himself every time I make fun of him, but tonight I have to consider myself lucky as I haven't been drinking.

I make sure I've brought my wallet and driver's license, then nod to Jack, who at this moment doesn't even know who he's talking to, and then direct me to the parked car.

I take advantage of Ian's absence to light a cigarette as soon as I start the car with the spare keys: I let the smoke from the cigarette go through my pharynx and start to cause a slight sting.

If she were still alive she would be deeply disappointed with the life I am leading.

I haven't seen my parents for three years, and for three years I prefer to forget how disgusting my life is by going to fucking parties and becoming a fucking alcoholic.

I sigh and lean my head back in the seat when I stop the car in front of that annoying woman's villa.

The light coming out of the window tells me she's still awake, which means I have to hear her complain again.

She always finds a reason to annoy me and I don't know how I'm going to seduce her because of her shitty temper.

I slam the door behind me and take a deep breath as I walk towards the entrance and prepare to face her, but I frown when I move to open the door and listen a laughter coming from inside.

I've never heard Valerie laugh, but I can bet it's her laugh, which speeds up my heartbeat and prompts me to open the door, as if I want to watch her smile at all costs, although as soon as I walk in she stops laughing instantly.

I lower my eyebrows and take a confused expression when I meet her eyes from afar: the smile dies on her lips and the usual annoyed grimace returns to her face when she notices my presence, but it is not her attitude that confuses me, but Ian who is sitting across from her on the sofa, while his hand rests on Valerie's shoulder.

I slam the door harder than I would have to get my friend's attention, shifting my eyes several times between Valerie and Ian with my jaw set.

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