Different

43.

The night continues just like that, Bree and I watch two movies, occasionally chatting over the plot or screaming at jump scares. Horror movies make my anxiety rise, yet I have no idea why I enjoy them so much. I always want to know what happens, but get scared for days. I hope I won't have to spend nights alone this next week, at least now I have an excuse not to do so. The bottle of red wine is empty after the second movie.

"Alright, I think a need a horror break" Bree chuckles, when the end credits start rolling.

"Yeah, tell me about it" I say, laughing along with her. 

I was able to distract myself pretty well so far, but when I shut the TV off and the silence hits the room, the dark thoughts return to my mind. Or maybe it's the wine heightening my emotions once again. Nevertheless, I put on some music and hope that the thoughts will fade away again.

"I wonder what the boys are up to" Bree says, not really helping my attempt to forget about them.

"Me too" I sigh, placing my now empty wine glass on the coffee table. "Can I ask you something?" 

Might as well get my thoughts off of my chest, without actually explaining what happened with Jace and Jessica.

"Of course" Bree squeaks.

"Do you trust Austin to one hundred percent?" I want to know. 

Bree and Austin have known each other as long as Jace and I have, but I don't think they already had to overcome an obstacle like ours.

"Hmm" Bree says, thinking about it herself. "I think so. Obviously we haven't known each other for too long, but he hasn't given me a reason not to" she explains to me. "Why do you ask? Something's been up all evening, I can tell" she adds, turning her full attention towards me.

I let out another long sigh. Why can everybody read me so well? 

"When Jace told me he was going out with Austin tonight I couldn't help but think of all the girls in their skimpy clothes that will cross their path. It's Halloween after all" I try to explain as best as I can. "I guess I'm scared that he'll find someone better than me" I finish, the wine getting into my head.

"Oh Mila, you can't think that way. You're so beautiful and you don't even see it" Bree says, laying her hand on my arm gently. "Don't worry, I've seen the way Jace looks at you. There's no way he'd ever think about someone else."

"You're really sweet. I could overthink for hours, there's always something new popping into my head."

"Well, I'm here to talk you out of it" she smiles at me, and I'm grateful that she indeed is here with me tonight.

"Thank you, I appreciate that" I smile back. "So, you don't think he'd give a random girl his number to hook up with her later?" I add with my insecure self.

"I highly doubt that. Besides, I think Austin would kick his ass if Jace even looks at another girl. He thinks very highly of you" Bree answers once again.

"Really?" I ask her, flattered by her response.

She nods her head at me. "Absolutely. Can I ask you something in return?"

I nod my head at her. "Sure" I answer.

"What's the deal with Derek? Jace seemed really concerned about him at dinner and Austin won't tell me anything about him. Did something happen in our dorm that I don't know of?" she asks me.

"No, nothing happened. Derek was being a douchebag, but then he left. Jace won't tell me anything either, I wish I knew what the deal between them is."

"Hmm, okay" Bree answers. "I guess there are some things we don't have to know about" she adds, shrugging her shoulders.

"Yeah, sometimes I think it's for the best" I agree with her. "Anyway, can I get you anything else to drink?" I ask her, but the key twisting in the door interrupts our conversation. 

I look at my phone to check the time. 11:31pm. Why on earth are they back so early? Bree looks at me with the same confused look I have on my face.

"Austin?" Bree says, looking at him come through the door. 

He has his arm around Jace, whose face is looking happier than usually. There's something so different about him, I can tell right away.

"Hey" Austin answers, looking a little stressed. 

What on earth is going on? I leave my spot on the couch to move closer to Jace.

"Hey babe" he says, grinning at me.

"Hey" I answer unsure of how to react. 

It's like Jace is looking at me, but he isn't. Something's different about his eyes. He plants a sloppy kiss on my lips and lets himself fall onto the couch. 

"What happened? Is he drunk?" I say shocked, directed towards Austin this time. 

I'm confused, because Jace told me that he doesn't drink. Austin is silent, with a slightly scared look on his face.

"What's going on, baby?" Bree chimes in, just as confused and curious as me.

My body starts shaking as my anxiety is about to go through the roof.

"Baby, can you give Mila and me a second? I have to explain some things to her" he says, with a worried look still visible on his face.

"Of course" Bree says understandingly, placing a kiss on the lips of her clearly stressed boyfriend. 

Austin nods his head back at her and places his hands on my waist to pull me outside to the hallway.

"You're shaking" he remarks, as we come to a halt in front of the door.

"Yeah" I drag out awkwardly. "I'm sure Jace told you about my panic disorder?" I add, avoiding his stare.

"He hasn't" he answers to my surprise, placing his hand on my arm with empathy.

"Oh..." I say, not sure how to react. "So, what's going on? Please, I want to know already" I add, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Okay" Austin nods his head once again. "Look, at the party we ran into some of Jace's... people. Derek and his friends. They were pretty full of drugs and had this idea to..." he starts, but I interrupt him, holding up my hand.

Austin's worry and Jace's weird behavior. I recall his face, trying to figure out what was different about him. His unusual grin, his obviously dilated pupils. 

"He's high" I state with a blank expression, about to lose my mind.

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