"IS IT JUST me or do you guys look like baby prostitutes?"
Tric Suansune crossed his arms and leaned back into two of my various comfortable pillows, grinning like he was having the time of his life.
Within the week I found the principal's son to be refreshing company, though he did have one too many quarrels with Annalise. They bickered back and forth, but I could tell they were forming a bond - no matter how sarcastic it was.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Annalise scoffed, twirling around in her mini skirt. The preparation for Anubis Mohandas' birthday bash condemned my room to a rollercoaster of clothes, makeup products, and strangely flaming hot Cheetos.
"Well, in my country it's unacceptable."
"I'm pretty sure it's unacceptable globally," I pipped up once Tric grimaced at the dress I was wearing. "Yeah, you're definitely right. I look like I cost 10 bucks."
Annalise scowled deeply, narrowing her eyes at how utterly ridiculous Tric seemed.
"Speaking as a fellow male of the homo sapien race, girls that dress well are easy on the eyes," Tric whispered, betrothing the secret to a skeptical Annalise Benjamin.
Tric grabbed one of my mother's gala dresses and screamed, "A-ha!" He proceeded to compare the sleeves with Annalise's own arm, grunting in appreciation at the perfect fit.
"I really fail to see how this is going to help me - no offense Victoria - jump someone tonight," Analise smirked at Tric, believing she had the upper hand in this trivial debate.
"None taken," I chuckled.
Tric frowned, his eyebrows rising sky high once he opened his mouth to respond, "That explains it."
"Explains what exactly, thai boy?"
"You should wear that horrendous skirt. You'll definitely bone some poor soul tonight, farang girl."
After a few huffs and puffs from Analise, we ascended into Tric's massive Range Rover and sped to Anubis Mohammad house. I had grabbed my present for the annoying twat seconds before Analise threatened to stab it, saying that my presence alone was the best gift Anubis Mohandas could dream off.
"Alrighty ladies, we've arrived!" Tric piped up suddenly, swerving elegantly into a tiny parking space.
"Nice skills," I patted his back once we were outside, vulnerable to the blaring music and stench of alcohol.
"Why don't you wish the birthday boy a happy year, eh? Don't worry about Ana, I'll take care of her. " Tric suggested as he caught onto my trepidating and worried glances.
I stared at the spot over Tric's shoulder, where Analise was supposed to be waiting patiently, but predictably the wild black-haired beauty was nowhere to be seen. "I'm quite reluctant, seeing how she's gone," I stifled my giggles when Tric spun around frantically, searching for the one girl who was supposed to be his enemy.
"Call me if you need anything!" The Thai boy yelled over his shoulder as he pushed through groups of teenagers. I chuckled and crossed my arms, watching Tric get smaller and smaller as he disappeared among the dancers.
"What's got Suansune running all over the place?"
I released a heavy sigh, clutching the present in my hands, "Analise Benjamin."
"Well, I don't blame him," Anubis shrugged grabbing a drink from the bar counter, "I would do the same for you."
I narrowed my eyes at his hazy eyes and honest words, shifting on my foot every few seconds.
"Aren't you only 16? How many tequila shots did you down?"
Anubis cracked his knuckles and his neck, taking his sweet time to answer my question. "You sound like my housekeeper."
I blanched, confusion written all over my face.
He smirked, "And I'm 17, or did you forget that this is my birthday party."
My hands itched to twirl a lock of blonde hair, but I suppressed the urge and instead shoved the gift into his chest.
"For me?" He spluttered, surprise etched all over his expression.
"Yeah," I frowned, stepping closer so he could hear me. "Don't you want to open it?"
Anubis Mohandas sobered up immediately, a grim smile on his lips. "What's the matter?" I found myself blurting out, the curiosity bubbling uncontrollably.
"Would you believe me if I said I've never gotten a present?"
Anubis laughed at my barely contained composure, the smile I had plastered on my face loosing shape.
"What about your friends?" I inquired, catching sight of the football team chugging vodka straight from the bottle.
Anubis scoffed as he gestured for another shot. "Fake friends. And even if they were genuine, bros don't give each other gifts."
I pulled a stool out, finding my feet hurting a bit from my custom made heels. "What about your fan base?" I hummed thoughtfully, turning the conversation into a questionnaire.
Anubis' unfocused eyes fell on my fingers tapping on the bar table, "Do texts that describe how a random girl is going to lick your abs count?"
I grimaced, shaking my head at how creepy and desperate that sounded. Turning my head to avoid his penetrating gaze, my eyes found the bartender's and I mimed my favorite drink.
The bartender nodded and got right to work as Anubis whined, "Stop giving him those smexy eyes."
"What the hell does smexy mean?"
Anubis shrugged and grinned, seemingly unbothered with the topic of his non existent presents and happy he had regained my attention.
"I thought you wouldn't show up, you know," He confessed after a few moments of silence, "I thought you'd stand me up 'cause you're too good for me."
A lump formed in my throat, his little words having hit my heart right where it was weakest. But before I could answer, a firm hand had clamped down on my shoulder, scaring me into a squeak and a jump. Anubis' gaze soured like he had eaten a lime, and he squared his shoulders.
"Anubis, Victoria," His gravely voice greeted.
"Mr. Mohandas!" I shouted, internally cringing at how high pitched my voice became.
"Yes, me." He grinned crookedly, capturing a million beating hearts and sighs in that moment.
"I- uh, a lovely party isn't it, lovely party," I miserably mumbled, furrowing my eyebrows at how unintelligible my conversation starter was.
"Bourbon please." Mr. Mohandas situated himself into the seat next to mine. Anubis' gaze only narrowed further when he noticed Mr. Mohandas' choice to sit beside me.
"What, your flat got too lonely?" Anubis spit, resting his droopy eyes on my fingers subconsciously combing through the ends of my blonde hair.
"Absolutely," Mr. Mohandas answered easily. "Victoria I have a meeting this Monday, but right after we need to discuss the TPP. Actually," He hummed, taking off his suit and rolling up his sleeves,"while we're at it let's grade the other pretest I gave to your grade."
I could only numbly nod as my eyes zeroed in on his biceps and his white shirt sleeves.
That is literally the sexiest thing a man could do.
"Great," Mr. Mohandas grinned, leaving the rest of his unfinished bourbon, "I'll see you around Vic."
He quickly dusted off the invisible lint on his expensive pants, and threw his suit over his shoulder so they rested on him without him actually needing to slide his hands through.
The sea of drunk students actually parted. I almost chuckled, had it not been for Anubis' incredibly pissed expression and a pressing little situation I needed to take care of concerning a very drunk Analise.
Yes, from what I could tell being about 15 feet away, Tric Suansune seemed to have given up as he sat on the floor, beer in hand and hair tousled. Analise was chugging some alcohol, I really couldn't tell with the lights that low, and dancing widely on a table to the bass, eyes alight with adrenaline. I shot Tric a look to which he shrugged, clearly tired from keeping Analise on a leash.
"What the hell, Tric?" I yelled over the music, grabbing the sleeve of his leather jacket and hoisting his heavy body up.
"Fuck it, let that beast be. She clawed my eyes out when I told her to minimize the drinking."
Even with the horrible lighting I could make out a relatively deep gash on Tric Suansune's smooth and tan skin near his left eye. He winced as I instinctively touched it. "I should've told you about her violent tendencies when drunk."
"What are you talking about?" He scoffed loudly. "The woman is already ready to kill everyone in a five mile radius sober."
I grinned weakly, jerking my head back as I heard Analise screaming. "WHO WANTS TO SEE MY TITS?" She was already tugging at the hemline of her crop top.
Tric and I both shared a horrified glance before racing towards her, dodging people and furniture.
"ANALISE, I SWEAR TO GOD!" Tric bellowed just as loudly when she had managed to throw her shirt off. My best friend just stuck her middle finger in response.
Classic Analise.