(a/n) sorry this chapter is so late. Thanks to the little Nonny who reviewed and encouraged me to write again. I already had this chapter waiting, but I will be working on the final chapter now. :)
The party seemed to be just like every other I had ever thrown - except, instead of dancing and mingling like I usually would have, I paced in the back room, engulfed by nerves.
"Have a drink, Johnny," Chet insisted, attempting to console me.
"I don't want one," I replied angrily, "now stop asking."
"Well thtop worrying. Doeth it really matter if thee doethn't come? There are plenty of other pretty monthterth here."
I stopped pacing for a moment. What did he just say? Other monsters? I didn't want other monsters, I hadn't been waiting for years for a chance with other monsters. I'd been waiting for her.
I turned to face him with a growl building in my chest like thunder, allowing only a rumble to escape me. "Yes, it does matter," I said through clenched teeth, "now get out! Go keep watch! Tell me when she gets here!" I roared as he scuttled away.
A let out a sigh as the door clicked behind him. My fur was standing on end, my face contorted into what seemed like a permanent snarl. Perhaps I did need that drink?
I resorted back to pacing, keeping the thunder in my chest contained by walking back and forth on the red carpet, looking at the photos on the wall, anything to keep self-doubt at bay.
Everything I did seemed to be in question. Should I have worn the sweater? Is my fur groomed properly? What should I say? Will she even turn up? The whole night could go on without an appearance.
I didn't think I would be able to take I if she didn't show.
With that thought, Javier entered the room. "She's here, Johnny," he said seriously, understanding the importance it held.
I brushed past him without another word. "Front door," he called after me.
I pushed past other attendees, morphing into my calmer self despite the tornado that threw my thoughts around in my head like shrapnel.
Suddenly there she was; pushing through the crowd as they took no notice of her. Her ears hung over the scarf that was draped around her neck, lacking the ribbons she usually wore. Her tail twitched nervously as her sunset eyes searched the crowd. Was she looking for me?
Randy appeared next to me - having been my invisible look-out for the past hour - and gave me a slight push. "Go get her, Johnny," he whispered, disappearing before I could swipe at him.
I took a deep breath and flipped up my collar, setting off into the crowd with determination. I crept up behind her and opened my mouth to speak, but she sucked in a quick breath and turned before I got the chance.
It made me grin to see her eyes light up as she saw me. "Johnny," she said sweetly, the tension in her shoulders melting.
"Hey Cuddler," I purred, feeling my confidence return as I saw the girl from the night in the school halls in front of me. I smiled, and she tried to contain a giggle.
"I thought I'd never find you with all these people here," she said, her eyes flicking between the faces in the crowd as if she were scared of them.
"I thought you'd never show up," I admitted, only half teasing.
"Neither did I. It was a last minute decision."
"Im glad ya did." Silence lingered between us, the sound of the ongoing party hardly drowning out its screams. "I, uh, like your scarf," I said, forcing a smile as I concentrated on keeping my voice steady - I would not stutter this time. Worthingtons don't stutter.
"Thank you," she replied, fiddling with with knotted ends of the fabric, "it's freezing out there."
I laughed. Of course she was cold. A tiny thing like her mustn't have had much on her to protect her from the cold - except a thin black scarf.
"Need someone to keep you warm?"
"Smooth, but not quite, Johnny," she bantered, the mischievous grin that appeared on her lips making my knees weak.
"At least let me get you a drink, I can't have you shivering at my party, and that'll warm you up a little at least," I suggested, praying to higher power that she'd let me offer even the smallest but of kindness.
"Sure," she agreed, "but just a coke. I'm not drinking tonight. I don't wanna do something stupid."
I chuckled nervously. If only something stupid had have been me.
Gingerly, I took her hand, hoping that she wouldn't pull away.
For a second I felt her tense, and I felt her hand slip from mine. My heart skipped a beat as I thought I'd lost her, but then our finger entwined.
"Come on," I said as a tugged her hand, leading her through the crowd.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't level my breathing. Just having her near - holding her hand - made my heart beat fast. Heat pooled in my cheeks and I was glad she couldn't see my face, because I knew it would have been red.
"Ow!" She squeaked from behind me. I turned quickly, brows furrowed and ready to tear apart anyone that had hurt her.
"Bitch! Step off!" One Pink yelled at another, her eyes red and glowing.
The crazy eyed monster that stood in the middle of them tried to defend himself.
One girl was his girlfriend, and the other, a look a like who was happy to pretend.
As the argument escalated, Illamay stepped from her position of observation at the side line into me, taking my hand. As she brushed past, her perfume caught me and I was trapped like a rabbit in a snare.
"Damn, you're parties are eventful," she whispered as she pulled me away.
"I know somewhere we can go that's quieter?" I purred, taking the lead.
She laughed. "Yeah? Are you gonna lead me off to your room now? Eh, Johnny?"
Her laugh was the one I had missed, and the twinkle in her eye brought back memories of Autumn. "I know somewhere quieter."
To my surprise, Illamay kept a firm grip on my hand as she allowed me to lead her away from the party.