Chapter 9 - Party

Iris POV

I ran into my room and jumped into my shower. I could be ready in less than one hour.

** Thirty minutes later **

“Who am I kidding?” I looked around the mess I had produced around my room. I was so in between outfits, and because I hadn´t made my choice, I hadn´t done my hair and makeup.

I chuckled because I knew that Aisling or Vicky would be walking into this war zone, and I would get an earful about it. Just as I thought, “What the hell, Iris?” Aisling said, her mouth hanging from her face.

She was already ready, and I looked at her. She looked hot, she was wearing a small black strapless dress that accentuated her curves and popped her fiery red hair and amazingly blue eyes. She was a shy, gorgeous beauty.

“Vicky was right!” She laughed and I blushed. I was standing in the middle of my room, wearing only my underwear, while every single party outfit was scattered around. Yeah, they knew me so well, even better than me sometimes.

“Let me help you…” She bent down and picked up a piece of garment, and just like that she started piling up outfits and gathered them on the couch.

“It is just a party… if you stress about it and overdo it, everyone will notice…” She said and I nodded. Aisling has this calming tone that helps me ground myself and put things in perspective.

“How about this one?” She picked up a strapless short jumpsuit. It had a big bow in the front and sequined shorts. That outfit was cute, but I wanted to be gorgeous…

“I don´t know… isn´t it too cute for a frat party?” I asked her and she shook her head.

“You can’t go out all sexed up, especially to a frat party… those usually end up with a big gang bang… and you don´t want to put yourself on the prey radar…” She said confidently, holding the garment and giving it to me.

“This one is sexy, but also a bit old-fashioned… I think it will work perfectly…” She said, and then encouraged, “Try it on, at least…”

I slipped up the one-piece garment and then fastened the zipper holding everything up. I looked good… The mid-thigh black sequined shorts with the neon orange top, in contrast, were so commanding and attention-grabbing that I was thankful to Aisling for helping me see the potential of the outfit. Earlier, I just looked at it and tossed it, dismissing it without a second glance.

She picked up a pair of black pumps in her hand and shoved them my way.

“Your hair is dry… so just wear a black liner and lip gloss and you are done…” She instructed and I gave her a questioning look. It was odd to see Aisling being this bossy.

“What? I made a bet with Vicky, and I don´t intend on losing it…” She shrugged her shoulders, making me laugh.

“Is Darius still downstairs?” I asked, and she nodded.

“Yeah, he will leave as soon as we go down… He doesn’t feel like tagging along to a frat party…” Aisling shrugged her shoulders.

I shrugged my shoulders, I tolerate Darius for Vicky´s sake, but I can clearly see all of them being rude assholes, especially Matei, with his Alpha King s**t going on, and his tight group of bullies. I honestly can tell who is in the wrong, because not so long ago they even dared hurt me.

I sighed and finished my make-up… “Hurry… I don´t want to lose…” Aisling pressed, and I laughed. Grabbing my clutch and closing the door behind me, we made our way downstairs.

When we moved down, Darius whistled… “You girls look amazing… I am certain that all the guys will be staring at you…” He said while wrapping his arms around Vicky…

“Now, I think I will have to join you…” He laughed while I rolled my eyes. Was he for real? It was a girl´s night, and now he is coming along… Vicky bit her lip and gave me a pleading gaze. She wanted him to come, and as the good friend I was, I shrugged my shoulders, allowing him to come. After all, it was a party… and he could show up later if he wanted to.

“Alright, let´s roll…” I said and Vicky jumped up and down. She was completely in love with Darius. When I found out they were mates, I wanted to split them apart, but then I realized that if I put pressure on her to leave him, she would end up caving more to the bond… So, I decided to accept it and to remain vigilant of his treatment of her. If he hurt one nail on her body, I would flip out and he would have to deal with me. So far, it hasn´t happened, he has been on his best behavior, but that doesn´t mean he won´t slip anytime soon.

We took my car and made our way to the party. The loud music and the house full of people were a clear giveaway that this was the right place. Out in the front of the house, some Greek letters showed up on the threshold, and a couple of flags moved around in the wind.

I locked my arm in Aisling´s and we made our way inside. The DJ was playing dance music, and people gathered around the main floor dancing, talking, and drinking. In the backyard, more people danced along and some of them were inside the pool…

We took confident steps when an arm slipped around my shoulder… “Iris!, you made it”, Tom said, dragging his words around, but showing a sincere wide smile.

“Hey Tom, this is Aisling, my friend, and roomie…” I said and he nodded.

“You two look gorgeous…” He said and I gave him a short smile. “Where are my manners? Want something to drink?” He asked and I nodded.

“Come with me… let´s get you some beers!” Tom held my hand and Aislings and pulled us towards a big kitchen.

“Two beers, Jackson!” He yelled to another guy that was pouring drinks.

“Right on, Tom…” Jackson replied.

“Who are the beauties?” Jackson walked towards us, handing us the red cups with our foamy beer.

“This is Iris and Aisling…” Tom introduced us to Jackson.

“This is Jackson, my best friend…” Tom said and patted Jackson´s back.

“Iris… is she the girl you told me about? The one from Student Services?” Jackson said while Tom elbowed him.

“I guess that´s me…” I said in a polite way, “I hope he told you only the good things…” I said and Jackson nodded.

“Well, he got short on how beautiful you are, but other than that… all good things…” He said and we all cheered together and drank our beer.

We talked for a while with Tom and Jackson. I think Jackson was mesmerized by Aisling, he was so cute around her that it hurt, especially since she is a shy one, and he managed to make her laugh a couple of times.

“Want to dance?” Tom stood up and offered his hand to me.

“Sure, why not?” I said and he chuckled, “That´s encouraging….” He mumbled, making me laugh. Tom is such a great guy, hard-working, smart, and good-looking. He was such a good person and so relatable that I could clearly see myself being good friends with him.

We started dancing together, the rhythm of the music making us swing our bodies in a fast and seductive way. His hands wrapped around my waist, and we moved around. “You are a good dancer…” I said to him, and he winked my way.

We kept dancing and talking… Tom was so funny that I couldn´t hold my laughter with some of the goofy movements he used to dance. We were so goofy around each other that our laughter filled the room. I was having a blast, until he held me close, and moving a strand of my hair away from my face he said “I like you, Iris…” he said in a strained way, and I knew that he was trying to control himself around me.

Well, that got awkward pretty fast. I looked around trying to find a way out, and I took a step back. I didn´t want Tom to feel rejected or that I had led him to something else other than an honest friendship. He knew immediately when I met his eyes,

“I am sorry….” I said and took another step away from him,

“Wait, Iris…” He said, holding my hand, but I wanted to go… Before I could pull myself away from Tom, my back hit someone.

“Let her go…” Archer said to Tom, his voice intimidating and fierce.

“She is way out of your league, Thomas…” Archer gave him a nasty look, one that I didn´t agree with. Tom might have misinterpreted the situation, but we were having fun. He was respectful and funny; we can be friends for sure.

“Archer…” Tom´s eyes flashed in annoyance and Tom took a protective stand.

“Iris…” Archer looked at me and gave me a soft smile. “Let´s go…” He said, and somehow the way he was commanding me, didn´t sit well with me, but even against my better judgment, I followed Archer…

“Sorry, Tom…” I bit my lip, “See you around?” I added,

Tom lowered his gaze and nodded. “See you, Iris… Be safe…” He added while giving Archer a nasty look. It didn´t slip by me the way Tom thought Archer could hurt me.

“I thought you had a girl plan…” Archer said, caging me between his body and the wall. I didn´t find him frightening, but at the same time, he was towering over me in a commanding way.

“Yes, I am here with my friends…” I shrugged my shoulders and pushed him away. I had to use a bit of force to shove him away, but in the end, he complied and moved.

“You don´t know how things roll around here… you can´t associate with low lives like Tom… you are a princess; you have to know your place…” Archer said, and I didn´t like the way he was referring to a guy that has been struggling to get an education.

“Not everyone is as privileged as we are, Archer… and the fact that their circumstances are harsher than ours, doesn´t rest value to their persons…” I said, and somehow, I cringed, because I sounded just like my mother.

“Another idealist…” He mumbled, barely audible, but I didn´t miss his words.

“Whatever, Archer… But I want you to know that I reserve my right to become friends with whomever I want… So, if I want to be friends with Tom, that is my prerogative…” I said in a firm voice, and Archer raised his hands in a surrender stance.

“Wanna dance?” He asked, but my mood was ruined. I just wanted to leave the party and go home.

“No thanks, I want to look for my friends…” I said, and he nodded. He followed me around and when I found Aisling she was laughing with Jackson…

“Aisling… I think I want to go… Want to stay or want to hit home?” I asked her.

“I can go… I am tired…” She said and then took Jackson´s hand…

“Call me, I am up for that coffee later in the week….” She said and Jackson beamed at her. Yeah, they are way too cute together.

“Jackson… would you tell Tom to give me a call?” I asked him, and I heard Archer grunt behind me. Jackson swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded.

“Yeah, I will get him your message…” He said and looked at Aisling with longing… I wonder how dragons find their mates because those two look like they belong together.

“Where is Vicky?” I asked Aisling. We looked around and she was wrapped around Darius' arms, drinking a beer.

I made my way towards them, noticing that Archer took two steps back at the sight of Darius. “Vicky… I think I want to go home…” I said and she nodded.

“How drunk are you?” She asked, and I giggled. Yes, I had one too many beers while dancing. Not enough to be pissed out drunk, but enough to not get behind the wheel.

“I will drive you…” Darius extended his hand, and I handed him my keys.

“Thanks…” I mumbled and he gave me a courtesy nod.

I turned around and looked at Archer… “I am going to go… see you around…” I said and he nodded. He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on my hand.

“I will call you later…” he said, and I nodded. I liked him, but sometimes I didn´t feel comfortable around him. It was so weird that, before cutting ties with him, I wanted to figure s**t out, you know, make my own opinion.

“Let´s go…” Darius said, and Archer looked at him.

“See you, watchdog…” He said to Darius, and he smirked back.

“It never gets old… jerk…” Darius said, turning around, and leading the way out. When I looked back towards my shoulder, I could see Archer´s jaw clenched and his knuckles white.

We made our way back home, Darius parked in the underground garage… and I loudly stepped out of the car. Aisling and I were loud and obnoxious drinkers… our giggles echoed all over the place.

We climbed on the elevator, and our laughter could not be contained. Darius chuckled because we were being quite silly. I kept taunting Aisling about catching Jackson’s attention, making me laugh harder when she turned an odd shade of red.

We made our way to the door of our place. “Girls, there is Pizza in my place, want to join us?” Darius said, and my colors drained, that simple request was enough for me to sober up.

“I am tired…” I said, walking towards the door and wrestling with the key to open the door.

“I can eat…” Aisling said, in a hesitant voice. Traitor, she wanted to fraternize with my enemy.

“Good night…” I said, turning around and opening my door. When I turned back to close the door behind me, I saw a pair of green eyes taking me in.

I gasped, and before I could do anything more embarrassing, I closed the door with a loud bang. Damn, he looks hot…