NovelEnglishCHAPTER 81 LUKE Prom night. The pinnacle of teenage dreams. The night everyone looked forward to-the night everyone was supposed to remember for the rest of their lives.
"What a fucking waste of my time," I grumbled, hiding behind a goddamn pillar, bored out of my skull. At the stime, Tiffany huntedlike sover-enthusiastic predator to dragonto the dance floor.
I took another swig from the flask, letting the whiskey burn its way down my throat, then tucked it away before someone saw it. I pulled at the tie to breathe better, and this fucking suit wasn't helping either.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtJosh leaned against the pillar next to me, his shoulders slumped, looking as defeated as ever. Laura hadn't shown up, and Jess...well, I hadn't expected her to come. At least, that's what I told myself. But there was that tiny, nagging part ofthat hoped she'd walk through those doors, look around, and find me.
Stupid.
"Fucking hell, this night sucks balls," Josh muttered, his words slightly slurred. He glanced over at me, his eyes bleary but determined, as if he'd reached skind of epiphany. He grabbed my shoulder, his grip surprisingly strong, and turnedto face him. "You know, man-I don't want you to feel like CHAPTER 81 this. If you love her, go get her. I sure as hell tried-failed-but at least I tried." I stared at him, trying to process his words. Love? Why the fuck was Josh talking about Love? Did he love Laura? Do I love Jess? I almost snorted at the idea. He said it like it was simple.
If I start something with Jess, all I will be doing in reality is setting off a ticking tbomb, waiting to blow up both our lives. A wouldn't do that to her.
"You know I can't, man." My voice was low. "I'm bad for her. Look at my father-what if..." Josh cutoff, his expression turning serious as he stareddown, his eyes sharp despite the alcohol. "You will never be your father." I appreciated Josh saying that, but I was his son, wasn't I? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I'm destined to be just like him, to ruin everything I touched. Hell, I've already done that.
"You're not him," Josh said again with more resolve. "You're better than that. Better than him. Jess...she deserves someone who's gonna fight for her. Someone who won't give up before the fight's even started." Since when was Josh the soft, love-wins, happy-ending type of guy? I took the flask away from him, "Okay, no more whisky for you. You sound like a teenage girl, Love conquers all bullshit." I joked, trying to get rid of the tension. 27 221 11 238 Movers I wanted to believe I wasn't doomed to repeat my father's mistakes. But the fear was always there, lurking in the back of my mind, whispering that I wasn't good enough for her. That I'd only end up hurting her. "I can't," I said again, but the words felt hollow now.
Josh sighed, leaning back against the pillar and taking another swig from the flask. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but don't lie to me. I see the way you look at her, man. Just... don't wait until it's too late." I didn't respond; I just stared out at the dance floor where couples were swaying under the dim lights, lost in their own little worlds. Tiffany was somewhere out there, probably looking for me.
My mind was on Jess-how her cheeks warmed when I ... Those tiny breaths that hitch in her throat when she reaches her... Fuck.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe music droned on, and I was about to suggest we ditch this whole scene when suddenly, the double doors to the ballroom burst open. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall, cutting through the noise of the crowd. Josh and I both leaned out from behind the pillar, trying to get a look at what was causing the commotion. Through the sea of sequined dresses and sharp suits, I caught sight of Sam. Her face was twisted in panic, her eyes wide with fear. She was pushing through the crowd, her steps frantic, barely noticing the stares and whispers that followed her.
My grip tightened on the flask as I watched her. Something wasom wrong-very wrong! Josh seemed to sense it too because he CHAPTER BI straightened up, all the drunkenness from earlier gone.
Sam's gaze darted around the room, searching until it finally locked onto us. She sprinted toward us, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. By the tshe reached us, she was nearly doubled over, gasping for air.
"You," Sam gasped and grabbed the pillar to steady herself, "He If herself Help, she managed to choke out. "You have to help. It's Laura and Jess... My heart stopped cold.
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