While watching her walk away, I suddenly have the uneasy sense that someone is watching me, and I cover the tops of my arms with my palms when shivers spread across the surface of my skin, the feeling all too familiar.He can't be here. There's no way.When I check behind me to make sure no one is there, I notice the guy from the kitchen that I briefly made eye contact with approaching. He offers a big smile before coming to a stop in front of me.
“What are you doing here, all alone?”
As I lock eyes with him, a sense of unease grips me, the thought lingering in my mind that I could be talking to my stalker for the first time. I remain silent like a fool, my discomfort visible and his expression starts to fade into one of confusion as he looks down at me.
“Sorry, did I—"
I shake my head again, clearing away the doubts that are invading my mind.
“I'm sorry, you just caught me off guard, that’s all. I am here with a friend, but she is just getting me another drink.”
He smiles once more, his white, straight teeth gleaming, then extends his hand in front of me.
“I'm Justin, and you are?”
I take his hand with caution after glancing down at it.
“Charley.”
“Such a beautiful name. Maybe I can stay with you until your friend returns; there are too many monsters in this house.”
I draw a deep breath in response to his remark before glancing over my shoulder, my long, dark hair cascading down my back.
“I mean, she will be back any minute now.”
When I return my gaze to him, I continue.
“You don't need to look after me; I'm okay. Don't you have your friends here?”
He looks around briefly with his hands out before returning his eyes to mine, a mischievous smirk on his lips.
“It appears that I, too, have lost mine.”
I suppress a laugh, and we stand there for some time, chatting about music and other things until Lucy finally returns.
“Here's your drink, Char; sorry for the wait; it's hectic in there right now.”
She glances at Justin as I take the cup from her hand before she addresses him bluntly.
“And who are you?”
He extends his hand, and she accepts it gracefully as he responds.
“Justin.”
She gives him a suspicious stare, but before anything else can be said between them, a group of girls call her name from a distance, and with a shriek, she dashes off towards them, leaving us alone once more. Justin returns his eyes to mine, and I smile against my cup.
“It looks like it's just me and you again, Charley, so shall we take a seat?”
I nod at him, and we walk together to an unoccupied sun lounger, taking a seat beside each other. We talk for what feels like forever about everything we can think of, and he comes across as a genuinely decent guy.
“So, parties aren’t your thing, huh?”
I shake my dizzy head, the potent alcohol now clouding my thoughts and my words become slurred.
“Would you believe this is my very first house party?”
His eyebrows rise in surprise and his gaze falls upon my lips.
