Chapter 6- Party Pooper

I plopped down on my bed after hours of cleaning my whole house. I'm a stress cleaner, so anytime I needed to think, I just grabbed a broom.

However unlike all the other times, this time I haven't gotten far with my thinking. There was no doubt about it that I had feelings for Tristan, but to what extent?

Deep down I knew I wanted more of him, and not just in an intimate way. I just couldn't shake the fact that it might be too soon for dating again. After all, my ex-boyfriend was just murdered by his secret fiancé.

Maybe it should become something slow. Easy going and secret until everything is over. By then I'd know for sure what I want from this 'relationship'.

Deciding I've done enough, I closed my eyes to let the sleep take over. I focused on puppies on muffins, a combination that always relaxed me.

Perhaps, after a good night's rest I'd be able to know for sure. After all, I was sure that Tristan would be looking for an answer soon enough.

However, an hour passed and yet no sleep came. Another hour passed, and I was met with the same fate. Then another, and I decided that it was enough.

Giving up, I grabbed my phone to call someone but realized I only had three friends--my dad, my best friend Emily and Tristan. Of course, I had other acquaintances, but they weren't the 'friends' that I could just call.

Since I didn't want to have a conversation like this with my dad and Tristan was definitely out, I decided to call Emily.

She was away at college, at Stanford University. We met in our freshman year after we both decided to skip a class. I was never really a rebel, but she was and still is. We clicked after that and never went back.

The only reason why she didn't graduate with me last year was because she took a gap year. So now when I needed her the most, she was miles away.

I could always drive down to see her, since we were both in San Francisco, but it was still quite a drive.

I called two times and received no answer from her. It was Saturday night so I knew damn well she wasn't sleeping. I tried another time, listening as it rang away. I was about to reach the peak of my annoyance, but she answered at the last ring.

"Hello?!" She bellowed over very loud music. Of course I should've known that she was at a party. She never let the parties die.

"Em I need to talk to you" I said, feeling very much flustered.

"Huh?!" She shouted, causing me to pull the phone away from my ear with a wince. "Hold on let me step outside a bit"

I heard shuffling and a lot of 'move doofus' before there was much more clarity and quietness. I sighed in delight when my ears found peace.

"What's up babe? You haven't called since Sheldon di- I mean..."

"It's okay Emily you can say it. It's okay" I chuckled.

"You sure?"

"Yep but that's not what I called about... There's um-there's this guy" I pulled the phone away just in time for her squeal. Even at twenty-two years old she still had a fifteen year old scream.

I rolled my eyes at her excitement. "Relax I only just met him. He's the detective for Sheldon's case "

"You naughty girl." She gasped dramatically. "The detective? "

"A hot one too" I added sheepishly. "But I didn't call to brag or anything. I couldn't sleep because too much was on my mind"

"Did you clean?"

"Yes I cleaned!" I replied exasperated.

She sighed deeply before speaking again. "Tell you what. Why don't you come down here, join the party and maybe that'll help a bit. Then you can tell me all about it and I'll make it all better okay? "

"Okay" I mumbled lightly.

We ended the call and I quickly ran to the bathroom to get ready. It was already 9 pm so I quickly grabbed an overnight bag, since I'd most likely stay till tomorrow evening. My phone lit up with a notification, and I saw that it was a message from Emily with the address.

I was relieved to see that whoever house the party was being held at wasn't too far from here. If it was closer to Campus it would be quite a drive, two hours max.

Maybe a party wasn't such a bad idea. After all, Emily will be there.

***

"You're here! "

I braced for impact as Emily launched herself at me. The blaring music in my ears made me realize that I had my fair share of university parties before I graduated.

But how bad can one night be?

"I missed you too Em. You don't come home regular enough " I told her as I returned her hug. "How haven't the cops crashed this thing as yet? " I winced as my ears rang as we got closer.

She simply shrugged and pulled me inside. For some reason I felt way too old for these things. I now go to clubs and bars, not college frat parties.

However, I forgot for once that I was a working woman and joined in on the 18-20 adolescents' joy. I needed a drink or two of liquor anyway.

"Excuse me" A very drunk blonde mumbled as she moved bounced me.

"That's oka-" She was gone before I could finish, so I simply shrugged it off.

After refusing a few red cups and pushing drunk men away from me, Emily and I finally found the kitchen. Instead of grabbing a red cup like everyone else, I casually grabbed a glass from the cabinet and poured myself some vodka. I caught Emily's eyes on me, giving me a weird look.

"What? " I asked in confusion.

She simply shook her head and mumbled 'You're such an adult' over the mouth of her cup.

I didn't drink enough to get drunk, but just enough to lighten my head to have fun. Once that was done, Emily and I found a not so crowded part of the huge living room to dance. The house was too big for its own good.

At first, we just rocked with each other, shouting over the music to talk about random stuff. Eventually, things got more heated leading up to midnight.

The music was loud, bottles and cups littered the floors and oddly there was a boy hanging from the chandelier, but somehow it was all so fun.

If I was ever stressed before, this really helped.

"Having fun yet?! " Emily shouted over the music with a beaming smile on her face.

"Yea I am" I nodded frantically as I swung my hips from side to side.

But it wasn't until my favourite song came on that I got crazy. I felt like 18 again, even though it wasn't that far away from my age. Just being in a stranger's gigantic house dancing to my favourite song with my best friend and a little high on vodka really did the trick.

My laughter seemed to drown the music in the room, and all I felt was comfortable ecstasy. Emily looked happy too, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if Tristan were here. But then again, he's a cop, so him and a party with music above regulated level and underage drinking maybe wouldn't be the best idea.

Sadly, my song came to an end and I was exhausted from all the dancing. I decided to take a five, but not in a dancing mob of young adults.

"I'll be back okay? " I told Emily as I made my way out of the crowd. It was way too cold to go outside and I didn't have a coat, so I stood on the balcony above the living room where it was empty.

I leaned against the rail, taking in the fresh air that wasn't stained with beer and sweat. The music was still deafening, but it was somewhat more peaceful up here than down there.

I spotted Emily in the crowd looking around as if looking for me. I rolled my eyes, realising that she might've never heard me. I waved a few times, trying to get her attention. I got the attention of quite a lot of people in the crowd but not her.

I huffed in annoyance and decided to head back down, but before I could move, a deafening explosion echoed through the room, and I was being shoved away from what could've been my death.

"Look out! " A girl shouted as she pushed me out of the way, and I watched as her eyes widened in surprise before tumbling to the ground.