Chapter 16

I spent the next couple of weeks avoiding Brendon. When I did see him, which was often, he made no move to apologize for the things he said. He just acted as though that night never happened. Jennifer had started dating that guy she met at the party. I did rethink the whole Alex situation. We’ve been on a lot of dates in the last two weeks. Today was Adam’s birthday and tonight we were all going out to celebrate. I had decided to bring Alex with me since Jen was bringing the guy she was seeing, Jerry, and Carden had invited Kerri (he finally had the guts to ask her out).

“Happy birthday, Adam!” I screamed over the loud music. I was trying to hug him but there was some girl clinging to his arm.

“Enzie, I want you to meet Abby. Abby, this is my sister Enzie,” he said. Abby smiled politely at me and loosened her grip on my brother long enough for me to hug him.

“Are you having fun?” I asked.

“Yea. Where’s uh… Alex?”

“He went to get us some drinks.”

“Oh…Hey Brendon!” Adam yelled to Brendon who was walking up to us pulling a girl behind him.

“Hey man. Happy birthday!” He said to Adam.

“Hi Enzie,” he said turning to me. I smiled politely and nodded at him.

“Who’s your friend, Brenny?” The girl with him asked in a high-pitched giggly voice.

“This is Mackenzie. She’s Adam’s sister.”

“Hi,” I said with a little wave. She did a weird giggle-snort thing in response.

“So are you here by yourself?” She asked in a rude tone.

“No.”

“Are you here with a friend or something?”

What is with this chick?

“I’m here with…”

“Hey babe,” Alex said wrapping an arm protectively around my waist and handing me a coke.

“Thanks. Alex, you know Brendon. This is his friend? Girlfriend? I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name,” I said turning to Brendon and the girl.

“Oh. This is my friend Payton,” He said slightly exaggerating the word ‘friend.’ I nodded.

“Let’s go dance,” Alex said. I quickly excused myself and Alex and I went on the dance floor.

Brendon’s P.O.V.

I watched as she walked away with that guy Alex. I watched as she put her arms around his neck. I watched as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. I watched as she let him.

I saw when he leaned over and whispered something in her ear. I saw how she giggled and moved closer to him. I saw when he placed his hand on her cheek and pulled her into a kiss. It killed me when she returned it.

How could he be here with my girl? How could he be dancing with her and holding her and kissing her? Why isn’t that me? Why isn’t she with me? I love her. I knew that a long time ago. I wanted to be with her from the first day we met. I love everything about her. Why couldn’t I just tell her that?

It’s because you’re an asshole, Brendon. It’s because you blew up at her for something that wasn’t her fault and you called her an alcoholic whore. It’s because you didn’t even try to apologize for it. It might even be because you brought that slut Payton with you to this party to make her jealous. Great going.

“Brenny…Brenny…Brenny!”

”What, Hun?” I asked trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

“I want to dance,” Payton whined.

“Not now. I’m going to get something to drink. You want anything?” She shook her head and pouted.

“We’ll dance later?” She asked. I nodded and walked away.

A couple of hours later I was sitting at a booth with the guys. Mackenzie’s friend Kerri was to the right of me (on the right of her was Carden) and Ryan was on my left. Everyone was talking and laughing and having a good time except for me. I couldn’t help but stare at the person sitting across from me. It was Mackenzie. She was sitting between Adam and Will, who had his arm casually thrown around her. Alex had left about twenty minutes ago. She said he had work or something the next morning. The last time I’d seen Payton was an hour ago. She was making out with some guy in a dark corner. I never liked her anyway.

I watched as Mackenzie laughed and joked around with everyone like nothing was wrong. It’s like she didn’t even care that we weren’t talking. Did she even notice? I missed her so much. I thought we were close. I thought we were friends. She doesn’t even miss me.

Pete was in the middle of a story when I saw William lean in and whisper something in her ear. She smiled brightly and turned a light shade of pink. What did he say to her? Was Will flirting with her? She whispered something back to him and he threw his head back and laughed. Enzie leaned over so her head partially hid his and he whispered something to her again. I watched her eyes twinkle with child-like excitement as she listened to whatever he was saying. She laughed again and smiled that beautiful smile of hers.

Suddenly Pete made a weird noise that I’m guessing had something to do with his story. Enzie whipped her head around to look at him. When she did that her hair fell into her face in the most amazing way. I was staring at her when she turned her head and our eyes locked. A few seconds had past when she did something she hadn’t done for over two weeks. She smiled at me. It was real genuine smile. At that moment my stomach did a back flip and my heart skipped a beat. Maybe she wasn’t as mad at me as I thought. Before I had time to react she returned to the secret conversation she was having with Will. I am really beginning to dislike him.

Regular P.O.V.

Pete rounded everyone up and we all crowded into booth. I ended up sitting between Will and, of course, Adam. Across from me was Brendon. His little friend wasn’t there, thank God. I was trying to listen one of Pete’s stories about Adam, but Will kept on bothering me. I didn’t really mind. I’d heard Pete’s stories a billion times and Will could be a lot more entertaining.

“You know Brendon really likes you, right? He’s being kind of an asshole right now, but he really does like you. I mean who wouldn’t. You’re smart, funny, nice, and probably the prettiest girl we know and you’re talented. I read one of those journals you’ve got in your room,” I smiled and blushed.

“Journals are private, William Beckett! You shouldn’t have read it. You’re probably only saying it’s good because you want my body. Don’t deny it Bill. I know you want me,” Bill laughed whole heartedly.

“Not as much as Brendon does. Seriously, Ryan says he’s always writing about you, Jon told me that he’s been really messed up since your fight, and Spencer says the guy wakes up in the middle of the night calling your name...’Enzie oh Enzie. Baby I love you’. You really should give him another chance. Brendon can’t live without you.”

I was about to say something to him but was interrupted by a weird noise Pete made. He must be telling the story about the time Adam sat on Ryan’s hair straightener. He still has the burn marks on his leg. When I turned back around to finish my conversation I caught Brendon’s eyes. The look in his eyes made my heart melt immediately. I thought I was over him, but how could I look into those eyes and not feel anything? I couldn’t help but smile. He just stared at me.

“I told you so,” Bill whispered in my ear.