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Noah drivesthrough town while I sit in the passenger seat, doing my makeup in the mirror. I swear, it's not a normal day for me if I'm not late for something. I probably would have slept through my shift if it wasn't for my trusty Uber friend calling me five times to wake me up. What can I say? I like naps.
Over the last couple weeks, he has become the friend I didn't even know I needed. He's like my partner in crime, even if he judges almost everything I do. He may have forced his way into my life, giving me no choice but to like him, but I have to admit, he's not the worst.
We pull up to Hypnotic, and Noah parks the car. When he pulls his key from the ignition, I turn to look at him. My brows furrow, but before I can even open my mouth, he's already shaking his head.
"No," he demands. "Absolutely not. You already kept me from what looked like a kick-ass party. You can't keep me from getting a drink at the bar, too."
I chuckle softly. "I think you're just stalking me."
"But is it stalking when you call me?" he quips.
"Yeah, yeah." I wave him off. "Let's go, Ted Bundy."
As we get inside, Noah takes a seat at the bar while I go in the back to clock in. Kennedy and Amelia are both already here. By the time I get back out there, Kennedy has already given Noah a beer, while Amelia seems to be keeping her distance, as she has ever since that day at her house. It's not my ideal situation, but it is what it is. You'll never catch me begging someone to be my friend.
AN HOUR INTO MYshift, it's finally starting to pick up. Men fill the seats at the bar with others coming up to get a drink. Kennedy, Amelia, and I all try to navigate around each other, and while Kennedy and I do it without issue, Amelia is another story. She isn't exactly trying to get in my way, but she isn't trying not to, either. She's just not acknowledging me at all.
By the third time we bump into each other, I serve the customer his drink and go back over to Noah to take a breather. He watches me intently as I lean forward against the bar.
"Everything good?" he asks. "Things seem a little tense between you two."
I glance over at Amelia. "It's fine. She just doesn't like me."
"Doesn't like you?" he says, placing a hand on his chest in mock offense. "I can't understand why. You're such a peach."
Smiling sweetly, I stick my middle finger up at him, and he laughs. Meanwhile, the exact person I don't want to see right now passes by. Carter eyes me as he and Zayn go grab a couple seats on the other side of the bar. I know the only reason he's here is to get a rise out of me, but fuck if it's not working.
Kennedy went somewhere in the back a few minutes ago, and it looks like it's starting to get busy over by Amelia, so it's no surprise when she starts coming my way.
"I, uh...I need some help down there."
She's clearly uncomfortable asking, but if there's one thing I've learned about Amelia, it's that she isn't a big fan of confrontation. At least not when it comes to me. I don't know if she's afraid of what I'll do, or if she'd rather just not talk to me at all. Regardless, this is the most she's spoken to me all night.
"Sure," I answer calmly, and the two of us head down toward where Carter and Zayn are sitting.
It's another ten minutes before Kennedy comes back out. Amelia and I are just getting a handle on the customers that seemed to have flooded the bar.
Nice timing, Ken.
The second she sees Zayn, she perks up, but as she looks around him, the smile drops off her face.
"Hey Z," she greets him. "Is Easton with you?"
He shakes his head. "No. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen him since this morning."
Kennedy fakes a smile and nods, trying to play it off, but I can see that it's bothering her. As she goes to get a customer a beer, I slip beside her and pretend to do the same.
"Are you okay?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. He's just been distant. I mean, he used to come here with Zayn all the time, and now it's rare that he ever goes out of his way to see me."
This is the prime example of why I'll never let someone in enough to be in a relationship. All you're doing is setting yourself up to get hurt. Kennedy is an amazing person, and I can see how much she cares for Easton, but if he doesn't grow a pair and start acting like a boyfriend, he's going to lose her.
"Do you want me to hit him?" I suggest, making her smile. "I mean, I can hit him. I may be little, but I know how to fight."
She rolls her eyes playfully. "I don't know. You look pretty weak."
"Oh, ouch," I feign offense.
