Page 8 of The List of Things

She’s taller than me by a few inches. She’s wearing a baby tee that’s tight on her body and tight jeans. She’s certifiably hot.

“Like you could conquer the world.”

She nods once swiftly before brushing past me toward the lean football player.

He’s got a bright smile on his face. He’s with Griff, and I think Griff’s girlfriend. Her name is Jade if I’m not mistaken.

Lawson’s blondish brown hair is parted to the side and it’s long, reaching right at his eyes. He has a single strand that hangs in the front. He’s hot. She’s got good taste, to say the least. I smirk as Sienna approaches him and all the attention turns to her. I don’t miss the look he gives her, his eyes bright as he watches the pretty girl in front of him. He immediately engages in conversation, Griff and Jade seemingly disappearing into thin air.

My job is done, not that I really did anything. I walk through the crowded space, greeted by plenty of familiar faces. I engage in some small talk, despite trying to avoid it. The truth of it is, Sienna is the only true friend I have here. I have acquaintances. Bellamy is one of them, same with his roommates. There are familiar faces everywhere I turn, but no one knows me like Sienna.

Honestly, I prefer it that way. My mom was my best friend growing up, and she still is despite the hours between us now that I’m in college. She always told me to keep my circle small. To be nice to everyone, but not to trust all of them. Sienna and I aren’t the type of people to go out of our way to make friends, I guess that’s why we gravitated toward each other freshman year. I remember it like it was yesterday, I was helping out on the sidelines, wanting to be a part of any team that would take me, and she was yelling at the captain of the team calling her choice of play idiotic. She was right too, Sienna became team captain the next year.

I scan the party and I see Jayden. Images of last night begin replaying in my head. I ignore him at all costs. Not that I’m opposed to speaking to people I hook up with. I’m mostly avoiding him because I don’t want to go through the awkward conversation about me wearing the man’s pants to a party he’s attending. He was also subpar in bed, and I’ve never been the type to spare a man’s ego. If he suggests another hookup it’s going to be shot down right away.

I continue to scan the crowd, and my eyes catch on pretty light eyes. I notice they belong to Bellamy right away. He’s wearing a Van Halen shirt, cut into a muscle tank to show off his arms. He has on black pants again, and high top Converse. A normal outfit for Bellamy. My eyes slowly move over his arms, and my mouth starts to water. The most infuriating part about Bellamy is that he knows just how good he looks. Everyone does.

I feel his gaze, and I see it too. I raise my eyebrows at him. I raise my drink, and his lips pull into a smirk, that devilish dimple noticeable even when it’s dark. There’s a deep warmth that erupts in my lower abdomen when I see a smile as attractive as Bellamy’s. It’s a shock that my cheeks aren’t flame red as we stare at each other.

I sip my drink, and out of nowhere, I see a soft slap connect to Bellamy’s chest. I can’t tell if it’s playful or not, but I watch the scene play out in front of me from afar. Bellamy’s brows furrow as he looks at the culprit of the slap. I see Leah Ashley say something to him, seemingly unhappy. I narrow my eyes at the two of them. He argues with her, and she shoots me small looks as she gets angry. I scrunch my nose and move away.

I’ve never been this annoyed at a conversation I’m not a part of, but there’s a first time for everything.

That’s something about Bellamy. He’s definitely the dating type. Anyone can see that. I know the two of them dated but I’m almost positive they broke up months ago. The nosy part of me wonders why he still comes around her, but the other side of me knows it’s not my business. Maybe there’s still something there. Maybe they’re trying to work through it. Who knows.

I walk back toward the front of the apartment and see someone I wish I hadn’t. I try to turn before he makes eye contact, but it feels like slow motion as he looks directly at me. I’ve never wanted to vanish into thin air more than I do right now. I regret every choice I’ve ever made to lead up to this. I’ve never wished I wasn’t born, but at this moment I do. That way I could have never met Dylan Brody.

“Kamryn!” Dylan yells over the music and chatter.

The only boyfriend I have ever had in my life that I would actually count. I should also add the ”biggest regret” to that list. We broke up a little under a year ago. I don’t miss him in the slightest.

“No,” I shake my head, but he steps up to the plate despite my initial disgust with the thought of a conversation.

“Oh come on, it’s been a while. We can catch up, let bygones be bygones.”

I shake my head dramatically in his direction, “I would agree, but I hate you. So I would rather grab a blanket and pillow and take a nap on the freeway than talk to you right now… If I’m being honest.”

I watch his smile turn to a frown.

“You’re being dramatic. You know I love you, and I know you care about me. I hate that you have to lie in such graphic detail to convince yourself-”

“You’re boring me… And I don’t love you. I actually never loved you, at all. You were horrible in bed… And you also cheated on me. So I’m not sure where the love you’re talking about is coming from,” We’ve had this conversation before.

I wonder if he somehow forgot it from the last three times.

“I never cheated on you... She was like my work wife…”

I choke on laughter, and lies, my eyes wide as I glare at him, “Do you let all your work wives give you head or just her?”

“She didn’t give me head.”

“Why are you telling me a story I already know?” I question.

“Because you never let me tell it,” He raises his voice over the music.

I don’t let him tell me because I have proof. Vivid, camera footage proof. Sienna and I might have hacked into the security footage when I was speculating that he was cheating. I won’t incriminate myself because that was in fact very illegal. But I know he cheated.

“Yes, because I like my version better… Because it’s the truth. Because I’m truthful, and you are a lying piece of shit that wasted my time,” I can tell the insults dig in deep.

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