"I can't remember the last time I've been to a party." "Really? Don't get out in Edinburgh much, huh?" "I used to go out all the time. I think I spent more on food from the age nineteen to twenty-one than the rest of my whole life." Peter chuckled. "I hear that. So what happened?" I sucked in a deep breath with my eyes locked on my clasped hands on my lap. Don't think about it, Aerity; don't remember…. "I changed," I answered honestly; he didn't need any context right now- not before a party. "I became a very different person when I was twenty-two." "Oh…." This was followed by a brief but intense pause. Peter peered over to me from the corner of his eye. "Do you…. want to talk about it?" My head instantly shook. "No. I mean we will, someday. But now's not the time." Another pause. "Are you alright going to the party tonight, Covey? Is this…. going to be hard for you?" I looked at him and grinned lightly. "No, I'll be fine. So long as you're there, I'll be fine."
Peter's friend lived in a very big house; a mansion some might say. We arrived at the massive maple wood doorway and looked at each other. "Shall we?" Peter held out his arm in a gentleman fashion. Smiling, my arm wrapped around his. "We shall." And with that, we entered the house, going straight to the main party area. Now I wasn't lying when I said I hadn't been to a college party in years; I avoided them now like the plague. I would never, ever come to something like this. It sounds super old fashion and needy, but I needed an escort to go anywhere like here. Josh and Margot usually served as my companions out in society, but Peter was a lovely substitute. I didn't plan on leaving his sight for the whole night, or at least until I was more comfortable with the surroundings. If any suspicious men looked at me with the slightest hint of lust in their eyes….. Yeah, there's a reason I don't go to parties alone anymore.
Peter always held onto my arm or hand as we maneuvered our way through the crowd. He said hi to people I didn't recognize; I think one or two went to high school with us but I couldn't be sure. Peter only let go of my hand after a silent check back with me to see if I was alright with it. I nodded, his hand released mine, and he high-fived this other man I didn't know. "Hey, Kavinsky! Glad you could make it!" He chimed. "Me too! Happy birthday, man." I guess he was the host, I thought quietly staying in the background. It felt a little awkward in that moment to be honest. The only one I knew here so far was Peter, and he couldn't be glued to my side the whole night. Well, he could but I'd never ask him to do that.
After giving each other a "bro-hug", I mildly flinched in surprise to find them both turning to me. "Who's the babe?" The host asked. I immediately frowned. Babe? "This is Aerity Covey," Peter's hand touched my back protectively, but he was smiling merrily. "Aerity? Cool name. Where'd you find her?" "Excuse me?" My arms folded. I know I'm talking to Americans but did this guy have any semblance of class? "She's a friend from high school. She just got back from Edinburgh actually." "Ah, European," he grinned- a grin I didn't like. Maybe I was a little too cautious but still. "Very nice. She's fiiiiiiiiine, Peter; you lucky dog," he gave my fake-boyfriend a playful whack on the chest.
Seeing my disgusted and slightly disturbed expression, Peter intervened without looking like he was. "Here, why don't you go sit down?" He motioned to the couch where a bunch of girls were lounging. "I'll go get you something to drink." "Thanks, Peter," I grinned, a little pleased to get away from Mr. Host. "Nothing acholic," I quickly tacked on. "Virgin orange juice it is!" Snapping his fingers, Peter then disappeared off somewhere and I went over to the couch with the other women. They blinked over at me puzzled, I think.
"Hi," the black haired one finally greeted me. "Hi," I sat down on the couch beside hers. "I haven't seen you around before. Who are you?" Cutting straight to the chase, huh? "I'm….." "Aerity!" A welcomed voice snuck up behind me. Before I could look, two arms were wrapped tightly around my neck. "Ack! H-hi, Chris," I managed to choke out. "Peter said you'd be coming," she retracted her arms, hopping over the couch and landing beside me. "Peter Kavinsky?" The girl's eyebrow raised. "Isn't he here with Gen?" "Uh no," Chris answered for me, draping her arm over my shoulder. "Didn't you see her enter with Peter? Gen and Peter are history." "Oh," her eyes grew in surprise. I guess the news of the big "breakup" hadn't circulated around yet.
Feeling a tension rising, I opened my mouth to say something but was interrupted. "Here you go," Peter arrived, handing me a red plastic beer cup full of orange juice. I smiled at him. "Thank you." "No problem. Hey, Chris," he then nodded to her. "Hey, Kavinsky. You see my cousin yet?" "No, not yet. But I'm not actively looking." "Good," Chris's face turned to me as she smiled. Peter came over to sit on my other side, draping his arm over my shoulder casually. "So," I turned to him curiously. "How do you know Mr. Host?" "Oh, Paul? He's on Princeton's lacrosse team. We met at one of our games in first year." "I see," my head nodded, and he brushed some hairs behind my ear, smiling contently. "What?" I mirrored his pleasing expression. "Nothing, just admiring you." "Oh Peter," my cheeks sizzled a little. "I'm serious! Sometimes I'm just awestruck by your beauty."
"Ok, you two," Chris interrupted us before I could reply. "I get it- romance, lovey-dovey, 1930s French songs, and all that." "You say something over there, Chris?" Peter eyed her playfully from over me. She laughed. "Try not to look too happy. You'll make people jealous." "Oh yeah? Like who?" I was half expecting her to say "Josh" in that moment, but she motioned over to the other side of the room. We all looked to see a very stunned and fuming Gen standing behind the other couch. She eyes were throwing daggers right at us, or rather me. Chris's smirk grew while Peter's disappeared. As for me….. I thought for a second that she might cross the room and snatch him up. But she didn't; she just remained there for another minute before suddenly spinning around and stomping off in the other direction. Chris looked at me, then we both looked at Peter. He was still staring off to where Gen left. "Well, guess we have that to deal with now," he let out a small sign and we all nodded understandingly.
Despite the whole Gen incident, we still had fun that night. Peter played beer pong with his friends while Chris and I hung out. Very occasionally, my fake boyfriend would run over to check on us- or me- and see if we wanted anything; I didn't have to get up for a drink or food once. He'd return to his friends, keeping us in his line of sight; we'd wave at each other often. Meanwhile, Chris and I talked about everything under the sun- from school to past memories. We were in the middle of talking about Lush, of all things, when I realized that Peter had left the room. Huh, he must have gone to the bathroom or kitchen. He'd be back quickly I'm sure. But when Chris noticed his absence…
"Hey, where's Peter?" She scanned around the room. "I want him to grab me another coke." "He'll be back soon," I grinned, shaking my head softly. "You know, you could just go get your own drink." "Uh, hi? Do you notice anything else weird about the room either, Aerity?" Huh? I did a quick check around. "No? Why? What's wrong?" "Gen's missing too," Chris moved her head so to face me straight on. My eyes grew but I didn't say anything. What should I say? I trusted Peter; it was in the contract that he'd tell me if he spoke to Gen. But then again, we were in a sham relationship….. That's means that I have no right to pull Peter away from her if that's where he is. Still….. a weird, fizzling feeling started to rise up in my stomach.
This didn't stop me from blinking in surprise at Chris spontaneously get up. Her hand took hold of mine, yanking me up as well. "What are you doing?" I asked confused. "Come on, let's go find your boyfriend." "W-wait, Chris! This is unnecessary; Peter's probably in the bathroom. And even if he's not, we should leave him alone. He'll come back when he's ready." "Said no girlfriend ever," she shot me an unimpressed look. "Look, there's trust and then there's naivety. You can't just let him do whatever he wants." "Uh, that's exactly what I can do, and should do," I retorted like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I was Peter's fake girlfriend, not his warden. Chris gazed at me for a second before rolling her eyes. "Clearly, you're new to this whole dating thing." "Can't I be a feminist and ahem, girlfriend at the same time?" I asked as she pulled me out of the room. "Sure, you can; once we find your boyfriend."
I don't get why Chris was acting this way. Was she that worried that Peter and Gen were off somewhere? I guess she was cause once we reached the hallway, her feet came to an unexpected halt. She held me back, keeping me from walking further. "What?" I blinked to her startled. Chris didn't answer, instead pointing her gaze at the bathroom door. I looked to see none other than Peter and Gen come out together. Gen was smiling; Peter wasn't. In that very instant, I felt my stomach drop out of me. It felt like someone had punched me right in the gut, though I didn't know why. I knew that he still had feelings for her; he told me himself. I knew….. I knew…
Chris's head turned to me to reveal a concerned, slighted enraged face. "Do you want me to go over there?" Her voice was low but serious. "I….." My mouth opened but I was unable to finish my sentence. I knew that this might happen; would it be right to interrupt them? My eyes stayed glued on the two as they conversed quickly to each other. Peter didn't seem happy from where I was standing, but he didn't leave her side either. Why….. My eyes lowered on the pair. Why does this bother me? It shouldn't, should it? It's not like Peter and I are in a real relationship. Peter still loves Gen….. he still loves her….. "Aerity?" Chris blinked at me. My open mouth sucked in a long breath, but still no words came out. Should I be mad? Should I….? "Look, I'm gonna level with you. I still like Gen; that's probably not going to change anytime soon." That's right, Peter's been honest with me this whole time; he told me upfront. I'm the one who still chose to get in this fake relationship despite that.
My mouth closed and I turned to face Chris with a sad, soft smile. "No, leave them alone." "No? What do you mean "no"? That's your man over there," she sounded slightly gobsmacked. My head shook gently. "No, I trust Peter." "You do?! After seeing that?" "I trust him to be honest with me. If he wants to get back with Gen, I'm sure he'll tell me; he's been transparent about his feelings so far." "You really….." my dear friend stared down at me in absolute astonishment. "You really don't mind?" "No. Peter's not my property; he has every right to choose whoever he wants to be with….. just like I do," my eyes scrolled down at the last part.
Chris observed me a brief moment before reaching over to pat my shoulder. This was followed by her pulling me in for a tight hug. While embracing me, she whispered into my ear: don't worry, I'm sure Peter will feel the same if you choose Josh. I pulled back to face her a tad puzzled. Where was this coming from? But she merely smiled at me; a soft, knowing smile. "You still carry his bracelet everywhere you go." "Of course, he's my best friend." "For now. You might see things differently when he returns next week."