"So how's the culture shock?" Aidan asks me, promptly biting into his pizza after. I think about it for a second.
"It's very different, a little odd. Especially the driving on the wrong side of the road, although I suppose it would be the wrong side for you in London." I answer, sitting on the countertop with my sock-clad feet swinging back and forth. "The food is also very different and I'm still trying to get used to everyone calling crisps 'chips' and chips 'fries'." I say, scrunching my face up. Aidan nods in understanding. I can't help but smile at Maddox as he passes me to get a cup, but he simply walks past me without sparing a glance. Trying not to let my disappointment show on my face, I make up excuses for his now aloof behavior towards me. Maybe he was just being nice because we were alone. Maybe he's only nice in front of Chase because he feels like he has to be.
Stopping myself from overthinking, I wave to Eric and Aidan and walk back to Maddox's room, making myself busy. As I write my paper, I circle the parts of my textbook that I need help with or clarification on and move on, effectively distracting myself to the point that I'm oblivious to my surroundings. Except when it comes to Maddox. He's impossible to not notice. "May I ask you something?" The words spill out of my mouth as I stare at his dark profile. He's all sharp lines and dark features, and I can't help but stare.
"I guess," He grumbles, holding my gaze as he looks into my eyes. I feel exposed as he stares at me and waits but the words pour out of my mouth again, and this time there's no filter to my curiosity.
"Do you have sex a lot?" I blurt and immediately close my eyes. "I just, I heard some things, and then that one night when I...well you know the rest. I guess I'm just wondering," I rush out, progressively getting shyer towards the end of my sentence but his eyes stay on me and his eyebrows furrow as he looks back to the page. I watch the way his jaw flexes when he grits his teeth and I wait patiently for his answer.
"Usually, yeah. But I didn't have sex with that girl you saw." My heart feels like it's been put on a roller coaster as it drops with his first answer and jumps with relief from his second one. I'm so deep in thought now that I jump when I hear Maddox say "You know that there's a party here tomorrow night?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?" I ask cautiously, raising my head to look up at him, towering above me.
"Asking I guess."
"Well no, I wasn't aware." I shrug, Chase probably would've mentioned it eventually.
"You should probably find something to do instead, they get pretty crazy." He says and I feel like he's trying to change the subject. His words register in my mind and my mood plummets. I wince like a kicked-puppy and look at him.
"And why would I do that? Maybe I planned on going. I do live here after all." I say defensively, crossing my arms across my chest. I really didn't plan on going, as I've never been to one before.
"I just meant that it's not your scene." He says calmly as if he didn't just hurt my feelings even more. I glare at him. Does he not want me to go?
"Thank you for informing me of my supposed scene, Maddox. See you there mate." I say sarcastically and get into a kneeling position to collect my books and supplies. Hastily standing, I leave his room without a glance back.
"Prat," I mutter under my breath.
"A party? Hells yes!" Kiki shouts excitedly as we exit the dance studio the following day.
"Of course. If you'd like, you can come over now and we can get ready together. Reece told me that people start to show up around ten but since we'll already be there, we can just chat!" I say excitedly. This is admittedly my first ever party, and I don't know whether to feel happy, nervous, or frightened.
"I'll just meet you there! I need to get changed first." She says. I nod and walk off to find Reece, spotting him leaning against his Jeep in the usual area of the parking lot. Walking over to him, he presses off of the vehicle and gives me a friendly hug. I wave goodbye to Kiki and climb in to the right side before we drive off, pulling up to the house a few minutes later.
"Cheers!" I thank Reece for the ride and wait in the kitchen. Some of the guys talk to me as they make trips from the door to the kitchen with big steel drums and boxes full of various kinds of alcohol. A familiar voice calls out from the foyer and I go to meet Kiki before anyone else does. "Hello! I'll give you a tour in a bit, let's just go put our things in my room first." She nods, looking around with wide brown eyes as she follows me up the stairs and down the hallway. I open the door to my room and lead Kiki inside. She looks around interestedly and walks to the large window, gasping at the pool.
"I know, isn't it lovely? Hey, while you're here, would you possibly help pick me an outfit? I've never been to a party before and I'm not sure that what I usually wear is going to work." I say, gesturing down to my high socks, skirt, and white top.
She nods excitedly and disappears into my closet. "Do you own anything that isn't white or pink?" She asks exasperatedly and I walk to the door only to see that she has pretty much trashed my closet. My clothes are strewn all over the ground and I immediately start to pick everything up and put them back into their designated places. "Got it!" She pulls out two black items, and I honestly don't know what they are, seeing as I've definitely never worn them. She walks out and displays them on my bed and I finish up with the mess in the closet before walking out to see what she's picked.
A low-cut, black bodysuit and ripped black skinny jeans seem to be my outfit for the night but I'm slightly hesitant. "Are you sure?" I ask.
"Absolutely, black is hot. If you're not comfortable with it though, we can make it a little more...you."
I shake my head. "I'll take your word for it," I say before taking the clothes into my closet to change and closing the door behind me. The bodysuit feels exactly the same as a leotard, if not better and I find myself feeling more comfortable with the outfit because of it.
"Don't wear a bra! It'll ruin the look and your boobs are tiny anyway!" Kiki yells through the door and I giggle.
"Please yell that louder, I don't think the other eight people in the house heard you!" I raise my voice as I slide the black belt through the loops of the jeans. Digging through my drawers for a pair of socks, I exit the closet just as Kiki opens her mouth wide and I cover it with my hand, laughing at her.
"Are you sure you don't want to wear heels?" She asks, gesturing to my trainers and I shake my head. Kiki may have more experience than I do, but I don't want to walk around in heels, the marble floors are slippery enough.
Plus, modesty doesn't seem like a trend here.
Kiki is already in her outfit consisting of a short, black strapless dress that hugs her slim figure and makes it look like she has more curves than she does. Her tight, voluminous curls are down and I have to stop myself from playing with them. I'm completely fascinated by her hair that is the polar opposite of my own.
"Wanna watch a movie while we wait?" She asks, flopping down onto my bed and making herself at home.
"Sure. Are you hungry?" I ask, but she shakes her head so I settle in beside her and turn on the tv that I had yet to use. By the time that the music starts to play, I'm comfortable and would rather not leave, but Kiki entire self perks up excitedly and I can't take that moment away from her.
"Let's go." I smile and Kiki interlocks our hands after slipping on her heels. Towering over me now, Kiki and I walk together down the stairs to be greeted by the sight of a house half-full of people. Immediately, I'm overwhelmed but I take careful measure not to show it, determined to stick this out for a bit for Kiki's sake. Stepping out of my comfort zone won't kill me.