2. Twenty- five

If I had assumed that slowly talking to Ethan would ease him back into our friendship, then I was wrong. We hadn't gone back to being friends and honestly, I just think that he was being a drama queen.

He had no reason to ignore me and treat me like he was treating me like I didn't exist. So, I had planned to confront him.

I knew through Emily that Ethan had broken up with Cecelia. She wanted things to become serious between her and Ethan, after seven months of dating, which seemed pretty normal to me. He wasn't ready though, which caused a rift between them and the situation became completely awkward. To get back at him, or I don't know, to get his attention, Cecelia slept with someone else. I was not a relationship expert and hated judging people, but even I had to agree, it was a pretty bitch move. Word got round to Ethan and he dropped her like a hot potato, not that I blame him.

I eyed my dark red, deep-neck top, a figure-hugging black skirt, paired with my black ankle boots, and concluded I looked good. I looked party-worthy and that was exactly the kind of look I was going for.

The way Ethan was treating me wasn't funny anymore. He seemed more like a five-year-old child who was throwing a tantrum, instead of the twenty-one-year-old man he was. It was time I gave him a piece of my mind because he couldn't switch his moods and treat me like shit. I deserved respect and that was exactly what he needed to hear from me. He was taking me for granted and I was offended. Someone needed to slap his face and bring him back to reality. Lucky for him, that someone was going to be me.

He had managed to evade me this past week but I would make sure that he gets an earful from me at Jennie's party. He deserved it and should have seen it coming from a mile away.

Well, it was my turn to scream and get all of my frustration out at Ethan and if he still didn't get his head out of his ass, then I was done with him. I would find another damn friend for the duration of my stay here.

"Let's go, Zara," Emily called out from the living room, where she was packing Jennie's birthday gift. Jennie was Emily's batch mate and was in the same group of people as Adam and Ethan. I have seen her a couple of times at this apartment in my almost two-month stay here. She was super gorgeous and kind enough to invite me to her party, even though she didn't know me that well. Perks of having a big sister.

I was determined to not make this night about Ethan or any other boy. I was going to enjoy and unwind my tense shoulders by dancing as much as I could and swallowing all the hard liquor, I would be able to. Sounds like a good plan!

I grabbed my sling bag and walked out of my room after checking that I had the necessary items in it. Wouldn't it be so much easier if my skirt had pockets big enough to carry my phone and wads of cash?

Emily and Adam were both dressed up and looked like a good couple. She held the gift in her hands while he was playing with his car keys. After they doled out strict instructions to me, we set off for the party which was going to be held at a club. Which means I'll probably not be able to get booze. Yay me! This Saturday night is looking great.

We soon reached the venue and entered the club which was filled to the brim with people. It was so much classier than a high school party.

There were people everywhere. Like literally, every-damn-where. How did Jennie even know this many people? If I had a birthday party and wanted to invite people, only five people come to my mind. She was way too popular for a normal person.

The club's strobe lights and dim lighting were a mood of its own, the mood being sexual energy. Which was practically ubiquitous. 

People were dancing, drinking, and hooking up with each other like nobody's business and I knew that I would enjoy myself tonight too. No matter what happens.

The three of us made our way to Jennie who was standing by the bar, wrapped around her girlfriend. Yep, she was super gay.

We wished her and after a short conversation, she went off to have a good time with her girlfriend. Can't blame her. Not deciding to be a third wheel to my sister and her mate, I decided to sit on one of the bar stools instead of accepting their invitation to dance.

I ordered a vodka martini and to pass the time, observed the people on the dance floor. The club seemed to be dominated by couples. Couples, couples everywhere. I knew that the majority of them wouldn't ever see their partners after tomorrow, after having one-night stands but what mattered right now, at this moment was the fact that they had someone who wanted them and wanted to be with them, however momentary the attraction was.

At least, it was way better than sitting in some dark corner of the venue like me, wondering and analyzing everything and everyone. 

Suddenly, my mind moved to Harper and the fun we could have had at a party like this. Even though I didn't admit it, I missed him. It was funny how I had only loved him for months but he had left a deep imprint on me. I loved him still and there was no doubt about it, even though I didn't want to. Even though I shouldn't. Sometimes, late at night, I wondered if the only thing connecting me and Harper was the bond between us. Sometimes, I wanted this thought to be true, because it would make it easier to get over him and sometimes, I wished that it didn't, because that way, I wouldn't ever have to get over him and we would be together just like how two mates were supposed to be.

I couldn't help but think what would we have done if Harper was here, with me, and everything was good between us. We would have danced all night, or till our feet hurt. Well, I would have danced, Harper would have just stopped still like a pole, watching me dance circles around him. We would have drunk a lot, already warning each other of the impending hangover we would have the next morning. We would experiment with a lot of drinks and because of his crazy werewolf genes, he would still be sober enough to take care of me and hold my hair back as I would puke my guys into the toilet. We would have made a lot of memories, tossing our inside jokes and people around would have found us weird. He would have glared at every male or female who would have looked at me the wrong way and I would stake my claim on him to keep all the girls away from my man.

Thinking about Harper plummeted my mood, I missed him. I knew that what he did was bad and toxic, I wouldn't have been sitting here if I didn't know that but that didn't mean that I didn't miss him like crazy. In a perfect world, people could argue based on all the facts of my story but they didn't go through what I went through.  Their feelings weren't involved, mine were. Nobody had a right to tell me how I should feel, it wasn't that simple.

It's funny how it takes a greater amount of time to fall out of love with a person than it does to fall in love.

I bit my lip and closed my eyes to prevent the tears from rolling down my cheeks. Whenever I thought about Harper, my emotions came to the surface and I had no plans to bawl my eyes out right now. I swallowed my remaining drink so that I could concentrate on the burn in my throat rather than the sting in my eyes.

I asked for another shot of the bartender when my eyes landed on Ethan. He was making his way to the bar, on my opposite side, after dancing with a girl. 

My eyes narrowed as I took him in. He had time to dance with other people but didn't have the decency to acknowledge me. 

I didn't want to hurt Harper, at least not tonight. So, I subconsciously converted all my hurt into anger over Ethan's attitude.

I got off my bar stool and took long, purposeful steps towards him. He hadn't noticed me yet so I had the advantage of a surprise attack. He was hunched over the bar and was nursing his drink when I reached from behind and slapped his shoulder as hard as I could. Which barely affected him because of his strong and muscular werewolf body but it worked in getting his attention.

He turned around, his features tense at being treated this way but somewhat, relaxed when he realized that it was just me. He crossed his broad arms over his chest and raised one of his eyebrows as his eyes roamed over my body. If this had been any other time, I would have blushed and acted like the high school girl I was but I was on a feelings overload and I was going to get this thing out of my way.

"Hey Zara?" His voice came out so sure that I hesitated before saying anything but then I clenched my fists and imagined bashing his skull to the wall.

"Stop. Just stop talking." I raised my hand to tell him that I meant what I said. The music in the club was loud but I knew he would be able to hear me because of his stupid werewolf hearing. "You've had the choice to talk to me for weeks but you have acted all fine and mighty and acted like an adult by ignoring me and acting like I didn't exist."

He opened his mouth to say something but I beat him to it. "You switch moods so much it gives me a damn whiplash. One minute, you are all rainbow and sunshine and then another you are the goth kid who can't get his head out of his ass. I'm not going to put up with your mood swings and I shouldn't have to."

He uncrossed his arms, clearly in shock by my outburst and I was happy to see that expression on his face. "I am a person and a good one at that. I don't deserve the way you have been treating me these past few weeks and I'm not going to. I'm not one of your groupies who are dying to get together with you."

I jabbed my finger into his hard chest to emphasize my point and to show him that I was very serious. "I thought you were my friend, that we could be friends. But clearly, we are not on the same page and I'm telling you that I don't care anymore. I'm not going to take all this shit you're handing out to me and I'm done with you. Ignore me all you want now."

With that, I turned around and walked away from him. I kept walking unaware of the direction I was going in and where it might lead to, but I was glad when I found the door to the back exit.

The back of the club opened in an alley and I saw some guys smoking and laughing in the distance.

Overwhelmed with emotions and the reality of what I did, I leaned back against the wall of the club and closed my eyes in an attempt to drown out my surroundings. 

A few minutes later, a big and warm hand enveloped my elbow. I opened my eyes and turned around to face who it was.