Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story except the ones I make up.
Chapter 24
Kagome's P.O.V.
His hand goes to her cheek to stroke it softly. With each caress my heart breaks a little more. I sit back into my seat but keep my eyes on the couple. I grab the coffee and bring it to my lips. The steaming hot liquid runs down my throat warming my entire body up from head to toe. The brunette next to Allen dares to put a lingering kiss on my man's lips. That's right, I said he's my man. I'm going to get him back and no one can stop me. I take another sip of the coffee. Suddenly Allen's gaze snaps to mine and my eyes go wide as I've been caught staring. I give him an awkward smile and the gesture is returned with a small wave. The brunette looks at me wondering whom he waved to. I stand up with my coffee in hand and slowly walk to exit knowing I can't take anymore of them being all lovey-dovey.
"Kagome! Wait." Allen calls out. I stop in my tracks and turn around swiftly to see him saying a few words to whom I presume is his girlfriend before standing and making his way towards me.
"Hey Allen." I greet weakly, still shaken from Max's actions. I notice that he must have grown in the few months as he towers over my small frame.
"Hey Kagome… I was wondering if you wanted to come to this party tomorrow?" He asks me.
Am I hearing right? Is he actually asking me: his former girlfriend that most likely broke his heart to a party?
"Uhmm, why?" I ask, not meaning for it to come out so rude. His smile falters a little with my words.
"Oh, my room mate, he's throwing a party and told me to invite someone, so I thought I would invite you…" He trails off. My eyes flicker over to the brunette sitting on her own now and looking a little annoyed that Allen came over to me. Maybe he told her about us?
"Wouldn't you want to invite your girlfriend instead?" I ask. Why am I ruining this opportunity to get Allen back? Isn't this what I've been waiting for?
"My girlfriend?" He says confused.
"The one you were sitting with before, yeah…"
"Oh, she's not my girlfriend. She's just my… friend." He says.
"You looked pretty cuddly over there, well never mind, I would love to come to your party." I beam at him.
"Great! How about I pick you up at say," He smiles, "six pm?"
"Sure." I say, "Wait, do you remember where I live?"
He nods, "Unless you moved houses, I know exactly where you live."
"Okay, see you then."
With a big smile on my face I walk out of the shop and back home.
"Hey mum, can I go to a party tonight?" I ask her as she puts the kettle on for her morning tea.
"Don't you have school tomorrow?" She turns around with a frown on her face. I can't loose this chance to win Allen back; she has to let me go.
"No, it's the holidays now, remember?"
"Yes, that's right." She mutters to herself.
"Old age getting to you, huh?' I say cheekily while smirking.
"Hey! I just woke up, what more do you expect?" She says with a toothy grin.
"It's 12 O'clock now but anyway the party?" I remind her while leaning up against the doorframe with my arms folded.
"Who are you going with and where is it?' She asks cautiously.
"Allen invited me and he's going pick me up too." I say quietly. Mum knows all about what happened with Allen and I. She was the first person I went to after the abrupt break up so I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't too keen on my going.
"Are you sure sweetie? Are you ready to face Allen after you know… the break up?" She asks concerned.
"I, mum, I really want him back and I think that going to this party will help me with that. I just, I think I love him mum." I confess.
"Oh honey, well, if it means that much to you then I guess you can go." She says.
I jump up and run to give her a hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"
She laughs at my giddiness.
"You have to be back by 11 and no later okay?"
"You got it!" I agree enthusiastically.
I rush up to my room so I'm ready to go when Allen picks me up. I walk through the door and straight to my wardrobe flicking the clothes to the side after each one leaves me unsatisfied. My hand grabs the last coat hanger and I see a red dress. It's tight around my upper half and then kind of puffs out to mid-thigh. It's perfect.
I slip it off of the coat hanger and onto myself. While zipping it up at the back I sneak a glance in the mirror hanging on the inside of my bedroom door and when I get a look at the girl staring right back at me, for once in my life I can say I look stunning. It shows off my curves, looks cute (and sexy) and to top it all off: I don't look like a slut. A little twirl is definitely needed. I bend down to floor of the wardrobe and shuffle through the messy clump of shoes until I find a matching red pair of high heels. Quickly I slip them on and then take another look in the mirror.
Now for hair and make up.
I walk over to my dresser and flip on the switch so my straightener can heat up. While I wait for it to heat up I put on a little deodorant and then my mascara. As my eyelashes are getting prodded and smothered in the black substance I notice from the corner of my eye a t-shirt crumpled up on the floor. Now you wouldn't think that a t-shirt would be a big deal but I know that t-shirt isn't mine. I finish my eyes and then turn my attention to the unwelcome shirt lying on the grey carpet.
The black shirt seems familiar, rings a bell somewhere deep in my thought cluttered mind. I pick it up in-between my index finger and thumb inspecting it. A gasp leaves my mouth when I realise that it's Max's. The memories from yesterday flash through my mind like strikes of lightning. His fingers grazing my thigh, the harsh grip on my arm, those dark and lustful eyes. I shake my head to rid of the images imprinted in my mind. Quickly I walk over to my door where my bin sits beside and chuck the shirt in. With that gone I continue my work with my face. I suddenly remember my straightener and get onto that.
After I've done prettying myself up I just wait around in my room reading my book, flicking through pages of photos, and going to the kitchen for the occasional snack. Finally the big hand on the clock moves from 5:59 to 6:00 and I get myself up from my bed and go downstairs and wait by the couch. I hear a knock on the door so I stop fiddling with the hem of my dress and walk to the front door after yelling to mum that I'm going to the party now.
Opening the door I see Allen facing away from me so I get a great view of his back. As soon I felt the cold air whip my hair around Allen turns around rather quickly. His eyes do a fast look from head to toe then returning to my eyes. Well he just shamelessly checked me out.
"Hey," He says awkwardly, "you look beautiful by the way." I smile at his comment and a blush creeps its way up to my cheeks.
"Thank you, should we get going?" He nods and I walk out to his car with him.
The tap-tap-tap of my heels hitting the brick is all I can hear until Allen decides to speak up.
"So, how are you?"
"Great, what about you?"
"I've been better. Look Kagome, about all the stuff that's happened between us… how about we just forget about it and be friends?" He asks. Friends. That's what he wants. To just be friends. Friend. Oh if he knew how I really felt. Even after all these months.
"Friends." I say weakly.
We arrive at the party and the second we walk through the apartment door there are drinks in our hand. I bring the cup up to my lips and take a small sip. It's definitely alcohol. I take another sip of the drink deciding that I quite like it. I turn to Allen to say something but I see that he's already disappeared into the mass of people cramped into this tiny apartment.
Slowly, I start to make my way through the crowd hoping maybe I'll see anyone that I recognise. Red hair flickers in the corner of my eyesight. It stands out in the sea of mostly black and brown hair. I turn to see who acquires the hair but when I see whom it belongs to I wish I never saw.
Max.
He can't leave me alone can he? He floods my mind with his bright red hair and his rough hands. I quickly try to make my way back and disguise myself in the crowd of people dancing but it's too late. He saw me.