Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 13

EVA.

"Where's your roommate?" Aliya asks as she peeps behind me and I roll my eyes, leaving her by the door to walk inside the house, the sound of her chuckle trailing behind me.

"Are you ready?" She asks and I nod. "Yeah, I just need to grab my phone. " I motion for her to sit on the couch while I walk to my room.

I throw my phone in my clutch and shut my door behind me, stopping at the sight of his.

I shake the thought off my mind before it grows out of control and strides back to the living room to see Aliya settled on the couch.

"I'm ready. " I tell her and she raises her head, her eyes moving across my body.

A smile climbs on her face as she moves from the couch and stalks towards me in tiny steps. "Can I see your room before we—"

"No. Out. Now. " I point to the door and she huffs before heading towards the door with me trailing behind her.

"That was so disrespectful of you. " Aliya complains as I lock the door and I chuckle at the look on her face when I meet her eyes.

"How are we getting there?" I ask her, and she says nothing but grab my wrist, dragging me along.

"The same way we get to wherever we go. " She clarifies and I groan in annoyance. I think it's time to take up mom's advice and get a car. The suffering that comes with not having one is bigger than I thought it would be.

"Oh, I'm excited! Our first college party. I'm curious to see what they have in store for me. " When her lips turn up in a smirk, I giggle and say. "I'll take it as you've gotten over your mystery girl?"

She raises her shoulder dismissively. "She felt different, yes but I won't stop living my life just because of her. "

My lips stretch into a smile and I slide a hand over her shoulder, holding her head under my arm to ruffle her hair.

"God, what are you? Fucking five?" Aliya snaps in irritation as she slips from my grip and I laugh in response before we cross the street.

~

The room is crowded with people. So many unfamiliar faces with bodies gliding against each other to the tune of the music booming across the room.

"A fucking party!" Aliya screams next to me and I shake my head, a small smile climbing on my face at the sight before me.

No sneaking in and out. No parents to keep me in my room. This is freedom. This is what fucking freedom feels like.

"Come on, let's get you a drink. " Aliya says, dragging me to the other side of the room.

There are red cups lined across the table in front of us and Aliya looks back at me with a disgusted face; the sight making me laugh.

"Those have been used. " I tell her and she nods, hauling us away from there.

We manage to get our cups and stand by a corner, watching the loud disarray across the room. Noises fill every single corner and it's almost as exciting as it looks.

"Hey, I'll be back. I think I—" she pauses and furrows her brows, staring ahead of her. I move closer to her side to catch what's she gaping at, but end up with nothing.

"What's wrong?" I ask her and she meets my eyes, a frown stretched on her face before she shakes her head. "Nothing. I'll be back. I think I need to pee. "

"Don't keep me waiting, " I shout near her ear and she laughs, moving near mine to speak. "Blend in, bitch. " It's the only response she gives before she pushes the cup to my chest and I snort as I watch her find her way amidst the bodies.

I lean against the wall, and take a sip of the content in my red cup. It tastes like tequila mixed with orange juice. The taste is odd at first touch with the tongue, but there's that familiar rush after a few seconds.

I nod my head as the tune of the song changes from fast to slightly faster and my gaze moves across the room, landing on none other than the last person I want to see.

Emerson is standing in his circle of friends. There are more with them from the ones who were at my place earlier and I can easily spot the redhead who stands beside him with her hand roaming across his chest and a wide smile on her face as Emerson throws the ball. It ends in one of the cups of beer in the other end and before he can lift his head in excitement, redhead yanks him towards her and press her lips to his.

I look away from the spot just before Emerson raises his head. The last thing I need is to fuel his already fucking big, annoying Ego.

"A sight it is, isn't it?" I flinch in surprise at the voice beside me and twist my head to meet Sage's amused eyes.

"Hey. How long have you been standing there?" I chuckle and she nods her head to the other end. "Long enough to watch you watch them. "

"Oh, I wasn't watching them. " Sage narrows her eyes at me. "I wasn't. I was just curious about the game. " I insist and she nods, a soft smile crossing her face.

"Do you want to join in? I'm sure they won't mind. " She suggests and I dismiss it with a wave of my hand. "I'll pass. "

She nods, and presses her back to the wall next to me. "Did you come alone?"

"No, " I tell her and angle my head to the side, in a quick search for a dark blue head. When there's no sight of Aliya, I look back at Sage and say, "I came with my friend. She had to use the restroom. "

"Eager to meet her. " She winks and I laugh, using the silence that stretches between us —except for the loud music and noises around us— to take in her appearance. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a bun, and she has ripped jean shorts complemented with a cropped tank on. Her look right here is entirely different from the one she had earlier. Girl went from cute to complete badass and I'm amazed.

"It seemed perfect for tonight. " Sage says when she catches the notice of my stare and I nod awkwardly.

"The nose ring, I mean. " She laughs and I raise my brows as I take note of the tiny nose stud.

"Oh, I didn't see that. "

"Then what else were you staring at?" She asks and I drag my eyes down her body before meeting her eyes.

She nods in realization, a chuckle slipping through her lips.

I take another sip from the cup and look away from her, wondering if I should go look for Aliya.

"Have you known Emerson for long?" Sage asks, bringing my attention back to her and I nod slowly. "High school. "

"That explains it. " She smiles.

"Explains it?" I repeat and she nods. "We met during graduation break and turned out with the same college choices. " That explains why they all seem so close when it's only the first semester.

"Are you all freshmen?" I lift my brows and she shakes her head, taking a sip from her cup. "Not everyone. About three are sophomores. "

"Hey, I'm back!" Aliya's voice interrupts Sage when she parts her lips to speak again and we both turn our heads to her.

"What took you so long?" I say with a frown and she giggles she grabs her cup from me. "Drunk assholes. " She averts her gaze to Sage before meeting my eyes again with raised brows.

"Oh, Sage, this is Aliya, the friend I told you about. And Aliya, this is Sage. We met today. "

I introduce them and watch in amusement as Aliya shoves me to the side to lean next to Sage.

"Hey. I love your name. " She grins and I roll my eyes.

"Love your hair. It's beautiful. " Sage responds and I stride to the other side, leaving them in their bubble.

I walk up to the seat at the other end and crouch next to a guy.