Chapter 60

Derek POV

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and fiddled with it, indecisive about calling Clara.

It was after hours, and she probably didn't want to be bothered. I tossed back and forth, deciding whether to call her. I couldn't let this urge get to me. I wasn't always going to be able to see her all the time.

"Hi, guys. This was the guy I was telling you about." I heard a loud voice behind me.

It was the woman from earlier. She had now brought along her herd of friends. "Some guy just asked me out, and he is that first guy I'll be going out with who doesn't live in his parent's basement." She added.

The girls stared at me; their eyes were filled with excitement.

Before I could respond, stools were already dragged toward my table as they gathered around me.

What did I get myself into?

"I have so much to ask you," the girl beside me began.

I drank the remainder of the liquor in the glass in one shot and listened with as much attention as possible to her story.

I needed to move away from this madness.

Nearly an hour must have passed by. It felt that long. At that point, I was emotionally numb just listening to them.

It was much easier to slip away without being noticed when the girls were arguing back and forth, each claiming to have the world's greatest dating advice.

I stepped away, taking the chance to breathe.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you are an a-hole? I just lost three girls because of you." Vincent commented, slapping me on the shoulder. "I was happy just trying to ignore them till you came along." He laughed.

"Maybe they are finally smart enough to realise there is nothing in that big head of yours," I answered.

"On that note, I think I'll visit a special someone tomorrow. I know you know who I'm talking about. She said she worked for you. How is she anyway?" He asked.

He was trying to get to me. "I'd forget that idea if I were you. I know you love that face of yours. Accidents might happen." I answered.

Vincent chuckled, ignoring me as he finished the rest of his drink.

I found my gaze slipping away and into the crowd.

Among the crowd, I might have seen Clara slipping into the group and heading to the exit.

The hair and facial features were the same. I was almost tempted to run over to her.

"Are you okay? You don't look too well." Vincent asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I don't know, I think I saw Clara," I answered hesitantly. I was still staring at the crowd.

"You are being delusional. Why would she be in a place like this?" He answered.

I looked away from the crowd.

He was right. Clara would never step foot in a place like this. I am hallucinating now. Maybe it was time for me to go home.

I pushed away the thought as I shot my last drink.

*****

I woke up with my head pounding from the hangover. I fumbled for the painkillers in my drawer right next to my bed. Despite knowing my limits, why do I always make the stupid decision to drink?

My phone buzzed repeatedly next to me, one message following the other.

After swallowing the two pills, I unlocked my phone reading the messages from Vincent. He sent several pictures and videos along with it. I can't believe this was the way I was starting my morning.

'Last night was fun. I can't believe I took on that drinking challenge,' his message read.

I proceeded to watch the videos that followed.

There had been a person recording while Vincent drank uncontrollably, probably Aaron since he wasn't in any of the shots. I watched the videos, my eyes barely able to stay open while losing a brain cell as the seconds slipped by.

Nevertheless, something in the background caught my attention. It was a certain someone who almost slipped unnoticed.

My brain was in a panic. I rewatched the clip and then focused on the remainder of the videos and pictures Vincent had sent me.

It was her, clear as day. Clara was in the background, clearly pouring liquor into a glass before taking the shot. I watched the videos terrified. It wasn't just one drink because Vincent had sent several clips, all with different timestamps, and there she was, clearly drinking. I hadn't paid much attention to it yesterday because I was drunk. I thought I was hallucinating.

She was wearing the same clothes I'd seen her in earlier yesterday.

My brain froze. I still couldn't believe that this had happened. How could she?

I wanted to believe the bottle was filled with water, but the evidence was clear.

I can't believe she dared to.