TRISTEN

"Just a couple more hours." Wilder held my hands and let his magical blue twinkly eyes do the trick. "Please."

Goddamnit. I couldn't say no to that face. So, I reluctantly agreed to Wilder's plan. Mainly because I felt sorry for him after the way he begged me.

"You need a new girlfriend, and..." He grinned. "I'm planning to get laid tonight."

And just like that, the magic disappeared.

"Ugh." I shuddered and pulled my hands away. "Why do you have to be so vocal about it?"

"Because that's what this party is all about." And that's why you were so excited about it, you horny bastard. "We get to meet new people, hang out, and potentially find our soulmates." Here we go again with the whole soulmates thing. "And how else are we going to make sure they're our soulmates if we didn't have sex first?"

Wilder really believed that sex is the answer to everything.

I never believed in soulmates, but Wilder had always been a hopeless romantic. He would go the extra mile with all his dates. Then they'd break his heart. He'd cry, then try again. Sometimes I wished I was like him, but I couldn't bounce back as fast as he did. My heart needed time to heal.

While we were having this talk, Rick, the gentleman with the blonde beard, came out of nowhere and interrupted us.

"Well, what do we have here?"

I didn't like the way he said it. He was implying something with his eyes, raising an eyebrow and scanning me from head to toe.

For some reason, Wilder lifted my hand to show my wedding ring and declared, "He's married."

I was embarrassed at first, then came the shock; if Wilder felt the need to say that, then this man must be checking me out! I was new to the whole gay flirting thing. Now that I realized it, I started sweating, hot flashes washed over every inch of my skin.

First, the bouncer. Then, the two guys at the bar. Now, the motherfucking host himself!

I raised my index finger and added in a trembling voice, "Happily married, actually."

Wilder poked my side as if telling me not to overdo it.

"Oh, that's a shame." Rick's voice came out smooth as fuck. "He's a lucky man to have you."

Man? Why did he assume I'm gay? I could be bi. I could totally pull off a bisexual dude.

What the hell am I saying? I'm straight, for God's sake!

I bit my tongue. I had to play along so I wouldn't get caught and then be the joke of this entire event. Maybe even kicked out. How embarrassing.

This was all Wilder's fault!

"Yeah," said Wilder, looking at me with a shady glint in his eyes. "Too bad. He's already taken."

Bitch, you flirting with me too? Nah, I think I'm being paranoid by now.

Wilder was definitely acting in front of Rick to keep my cover from being blown. That or he was too drunk to even recognize his best friend anymore.

"On the other hand." Rick chuckled while pulling a card out and sliding it between my fingers. "That hasn't stopped anyone before."

He raised a flirtatious eyebrow at me and flashed the most seductive smirk I've ever seen. Damn. He had that mysterious charm that no one could say no to.

"Even happy marriages fall apart eventually," Rick added. "Simply keep me in mind if yours didn't work out."

He did not just say that! But I love my imaginary husband. How rude!

I didn't get a hold of the card until Wilder whispered behind a pearly grin, "Just take it."

His lips didn't even move. His eyes were fixated on Rick as if scared of his reaction if I rejected him. I suddenly felt scared too, so I took the card.

As soon as I did, Wilder put his arm around Rick's shoulders and walked with him, talking about anything that would keep this charmer away from me. Phew. I was glad that the awkward interaction was finally over.

Wait. I gulped. If this ring didn't stop Rick from flirting with me, would it work on the others? Maybe Rick was an exception. I sure the hell hoped so.

So, I found an empty stool by the bar. For the next fifteen minutes, I was sitting there with a drink in my hand and my phone in the other. The happiness I felt earlier left long ago. Now, I was checking my last messages with Stacie, the ex-love of my life.

- Stop calling me, Tristen. It's over.

Stacie, please. I just want to talk. -

- I don't want you in my life anymore.

But why? Did I do something wrong? -

- Goodbye.

Stacie, wait! -

I love you ❤ -

Stacie, please, talk to me. -

ᴺᵒᵗ ᴰᵉˡᶦᵛᵉʳᵉᵈ

It didn't make any sense. We were happy together. Why did she leave me like this?

I took a sip from my drink and that was when I noticed a good-looking guy sitting next to me, slightly turning his body towards me.

Oh, shit. Here we go again.

He was so full of himself, too. I could tell from that smug smile on his pretty face.

As soon as he opened his mouth, I flipped my wedding finger at him and said, "I'm married."

He raised his palms and backed away.

Yeah, you better. Or my Stevie will kick your ass!

Stevie was my imaginary husband's name. I thought I should give him a name since he was the only thing standing between me and those flirty unwanted people.

While I was thinking about of what my Stevie would look like, I thought I saw a familiar face through the crowd. I squinted my eyes at a smoker wearing a ripped denim jacket by one of the fruit trees. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I realized it was Sean, one of my classmates.

Goddamnit!

I put my hand over my face and turned away.

I hoped he didn't see me, but when I glanced, I saw him smirk my way.

Shit, shit, shit. This is bad. Please, don't let him see me here.

What would he think of me? What would he tell the class? My conservative parents? The whole fucking art school! They loved to gossip about stuff like that.

I'm doomed.

I could smell the cigarette odor getting heavier in the air. I heard approaching footsteps slamming the tiles. I knew it was him heading my way. He always walked with a swagger. A walk that showed trouble coming from a mile ahead. That's why no one talked to him at school except for the professors. People feared him.

Suddenly, a thud sounded on the seat next to me.

"Sup, Tris?"

No point in hiding my face anymore. I removed my hand and sighed.

"Hey, Sean. Nice to see you here," I lied.

He sat backward at the bar, elbows on the counter, puffing that cancerous thing between his fingers with no regard to how that made me feel—no regard to how anyone felt with him smoking indoors.

"I'm sure glad to see you, too." He leaned to the side, and I knew he was about to ask questions. "I wonder what brings you here, though? I mean, I get why Wilder is here, but you? Really?"

My stomach was in knots after that. I didn't know what to say. Should I tell the truth and get kicked out? Should I say I'm married? Nah. He knew that I'm not. Should I say I'm queer and that's why I'm here? No, no, and no. Too much gossip material.

Suddenly, I knew exactly what to say.

"What about you?" My voice rose in triumph. "What brings you here?"

I finally faced him, and I wish I hadn't. The blank stare behind his amber eyes sent chills down my spine. If I thought Rick's attitude was creepy, then Sean's was a whole new level of creepy. It was like he killed someone and avoided prison by pleading "not guilty" for reasons of insanity. Now that I thought about it, he definitely wasn't right in the head, always causing trouble wherever he went. From the looks of it, he didn't even have any friends.

Sean chuckled, more like cackled like a crazy witch, and wiped his reddening nose with a sniff.

"I like you, Tris." He pointed a boney finger, waving it at me in admiration. "You're-you're trying to avoid the question, and that's clever."

Oh, shit. He's on to me. Wait! Did he say he likes me? As in likes me likes me?? Ew.

Bile rose up my throat. I suppressed it with a gulp, but I wasn't sure I could hold it in for long.

"I'll tell you why I'm here, but first." He turned to the bartender and yelled, " Hey you! Two glasses of Purple Juice for me and mah boi, Tris."

I'm not your boy. I gritted my teeth.

He turned to me again and bent closer. I leaned away from him and his foul stench. He didn't just smoke; he drank heavily, and from the color of his eyes, he had drugs flowing through his veins as we speak.

"I'm a top."

What the fuck does that even mean? What's a top? You're either gay, bi, or straight.

I knew there were more sexual orientations than that, but my religious-ass family brainwashed me into believing that reading about this community was a sin. So, I stayed oblivious, up until Wilder came out to me and his family at thanksgiving in our freshman year of college. It was a holiday I would never forget. A lot of dishes had been thrown. Poor wilder still has a scar above his eyebrow from that fight. His family eventually came along and accepted him.

Wait. Why am I feeling sorry for Wilder? He's the reason I'm in this sticky situation with stinky Sean.

Sean stared up and down at me before he added, "And I bet you're a bottom."

Excuse me?! My eyes opened wide. Top and bottom? Is he talking about— 

My heart sank. I felt helplessly weak in front of him. He was the top. I was the bottom. That was probably how all the guys here saw me. I gave a bottom vibe.

"Whaddaya say we get out of here and—"

"OK. That's it! Stop it! Just stop it, Sean!" I snapped, causing him to back away in shock. "Read the room, for God's sake. I'm not interested!"

The bartender stood frozen for a second. Then he sat our drinks and left us alone.

Sean was too shocked by my sudden hostility that he started to stammer. I kinda felt bad for him. I didn't mean to snap at him in particular. I was annoyed by this whole situation Wilder got me in. And Sean happened to be the last straw.

"Oh, OK. OK." He put his hands up. "No need to get all riled up like that. I'll leave you alone."

He lowered his head in shame. I didn't expect him to be the kind that gives up so easily. Maybe because there were people around. I hated to think about what he could do to me if we were alone.

He met my gaze with a sad smile and said, "But let me say this."

He put his hands inside his pockets, and with that, his bad-boy demeanor came back. That sad smile soon turned perverted. It made me sick.

"Wilder is one lucky son of a bitch."

Did he just-— He assumed we're together?

"Get the hell out of my face!"

He chuckled then shook his head before strolling away with that same swagger.

I clutched my head. God. This can't be happening. I was in dire need of a drink. Something heavy. I didn't care if it would knock me out cold. I needed it.

My eyes landed on that strange purple drink Sean ordered for us. It was sparkly and so bubbly. I just had to try it.

I took a sip and, man, it was good! It left this tingly feeling on my tongue, and the taste wasn't bad at all. Without even realizing it, I had drunk it all and was craving another glass.

So, I started drinking Sean's Purple Juice. Don't judge me. He left it, so it's technically mine now.

"Stop!"

A hand snatched the drink from my grip.

"Jesus!" I flinched. "What the fuck?"

I looked up and found Wilder, panting. He must have run across the entire hall to get to me this quickly.

"Don't drink that," he said, breathlessly.

"But..." I said while fanning my shirt, feeling a bit feverish. "I already drank one... and a half."

Wilder gasped and held his head with both hands. The look on his face scared the hell out of me.

Am I going to die?

Goddamnit Wilder!!

Why didn't you say something before? 😣

He's the worst friend ever, isn't he?

NEXT CHAPTER: Painful Boner >