"I don't like the way he's looking at you, I'm starting to think you want him too. Am I crazy? Have I lost ya? Even though I know you love me, can't help it." —Nick Jonas.

••

Once again, April and the girls don't fail to surprise me with the way they assisted me in getting dressed for the party.

I am wearing a blue sleeveless top with a pair of black skinny jeans. I ensured to take a jacket with me since I've learned from the previous time that not taking a sweater to these events will result in you becoming a live snowman.

The girls look awesome themselves, and as we enter through the large timber doors, a few heads turn to scope us out. I keep my eyes on the floorboard, not liking the attention we are getting at all. I am starting to regret not staying in and watching a movie, but I recall why I agreed to come in the first place. To avoid being alone with Blaze.

The house is huge, and I wouldn't be surprised if Tia reveals later that her cousin is actually a billionaire. There would be no slack jaws or widely opened eyes from me since the interior of the home surely does account for it.

If I were not feeling this depressed, however, I would have given the dwelling a more proper examination, but for now, all I can think about is how my heart keeps aching for the one boy I have ever truly found an interest in.

Shamefully, after he touched me that night, I have sunken headway into a sea of emotions and feelings and I just can't seem to get out of it. It's eating away at my heart and consuming my soul, forcing me to harbor thoughts of only him and grabbing onto false hope that perhaps one day we could be something. Anything.

I am such a pathetic mess.

"Woah, Kite has a whole party here," April says above the music, and I pull myself from the drowning thoughts and try to focus on what's happening around me.

"Um, do you all know him?"

Yuna smiles. "Yeah, he keeps parties a lot plus he's friends with Blaze and James."

Tia glances around frantically while unconsciously gripping onto my arm. "Where is he? I want to introduce you to him, Harmony."

Introduce me? Okay, that will be awkward. I am definitely not a social person.

"Hey, it's okay." I quickly say. "You don't have to."

Tia grins. "Don't be shy, he's cool; you'll like him. I'll go find him." She runs off on her heels to locate this 'Kite', and I blow out a sigh.

It's really okay though. I don't want to meet new faces tonight especially since my mind is nothing but a wreck. All my mental energy is currently used up, how will I be able to fake smiles and fabricate small talks at this rate?

That's why you should have just stayed home and watched Netflix instead, my subconscious scolds. But she knows the reason I agreed to come to this party in the first place was to avoid being alone with Blaze. She's the same one who will mentally torment me if I yield to temptation again and do things I shouldn't do with him.

April pulls her cell from her jeans pocket then after a few seconds of her flawless nails tapping against the illuminated screen, she looks up at Yuna and I. "Blaze is in the living room, let's go over."

The sound of his name gives me an instant leap in my heartbeat as Yuna tucks her arm in mine and we walk toward what seems to be the living room.

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"

The sound of boys chanting and roaring fills my eardrums as we step through the door of the large space.

Blaze is among them, laughing and cheering on a guy who's drinking down a whole bottle of liquor.

That probably tastes really awful considering I have experienced the bitter taste of liquor before.

The guy finishes the alcohol and raises the bottle in the air and the crowd roars.

James says something to Blaze and he laughs hard, clutching his stomach and hunching over as he does. He looks nice. He's wearing a brown pullover and ripped, blue jeans. His hair is messy as usual but looks really good regardless.

As if he senses me checking him out, his eyes shift to us as we each find a seat on the large, suede couch. He finds me among the girls in no time and a bright smile forms his lips.

God, why must he smile at me like that? That's really hard for me.

I offer a small one back but quickly look away.

"Finally! My woman is here." James gushes as he walks over to April with open arms. She uses her palm to push him away by his forehead. "Stay away from me."

He comes back almost immediately and sits beside her with a grin. "You look nice."

"Whatever."

"April, my dearest cousin. You took approximately two hours to get here." Blaze sits between us, throwing his arm around her shoulder playfully. The soothing scent of his body meets my nose and I unintentionally inhale the delectable fragrance.

God, Is that body wash or cologne?

"Blaze take your hand off me, please." She hisses as she tries to wriggle away from him.

He smiles. "You are always so miserable, April. What's wrong with you? Mm?" He kisses her cheek, and she finally breaks free from his hold.

"And you are always so touchy," she shoots back.

Touchy is correct.

"I am going to get a drink," Yuna says.

"I'm coming." April stands up and looks over at me. "Harmony, you wanna come along?"

I glance around at the crowded room of people and decide that I rather sitting here than sliding through sweaty bodies right now. Plus, I notice two boys smoking at the entrance to what seems like the kitchen, and bearing in mind my asthma, it's best I stay far away from that zone.

"Um, it's okay. I'll wait here." I tell her.

She nods. "Alright. I'll take back a drink for you."

"Thanks." I smile.

"Bring one for me as well, yeah?" Blaze splays his arm over the chair, and I side-eye the action since it's now rested behind me.

April frowns at him. "Get your own drinks, Blaze."

"Damn." He holds his heart dramatically and I can't help the small giggle that leaves my lips. "We sure live awful for family, huh?"

She squints her eyes and points at him. "Don't bother Harmony while we are away or you're dead." She clenches her hand in a fist and gesture as if to punch him.

Blaze just smiles. "I wouldn't dare to, April."

It sounds like sarcasm, and she gives him the stink eyes before walking away with Yuna.

Knowing her nature, she certainly will be taking back a drink for her cousin. She loves him too much; it shows.

"Take me with you, baby." James purrs as he throws his hand around her. She tries to take it off but he's just too stubborn to let her do so successfully as they walk out of the living room.

Now that it is just us two, I start to feel quite apprehensive. Blaze looks over at me. "You look nice Harmony."

I smile. "Thanks, so do you."

I try not to look at him. I think every time we exchange eye contact, I fall for him even more beyond my control and I need to have control, or I may become emotionally destroyed. But deep down I know that I am far gone into Blaze's web. I can never get out.

"I was actually waiting to see you all night," he admits. "It's lame when you aren't around."

I am flushing at his words which gives me an added reason not to look at him.

"Really? I saw you laughing when I came earlier."

"Yeah but... my heart wasn't in it. My mind wasn't here. Until you came."

My heart has melted into a pile of nothingness, but I still keep my gaze fixed on a loose thread on my jeans. I can't look at him, not when I am not my normal shade.

"Why aren't you looking at me?"

"Huh?"

"You have barely looked at me since you got here." He frowns. "I have noticed that since today at lunch. You keep trying to avoid eye contact."

I had no idea that it was so obvious. I thought it was a safe approach.

I shake my head. "That's not it."

"Are you sure? Because I have gotten so used to seeing your green eyes when we talk that whenever they are absent it is quite obvious, Harmony."

I look at him finally and his crystal blue eyes are like a dose of drug after a long month of withdrawal. I feel my body slacken in contentment.

"That's better." He smiles. "When we talk, don't look away. I want to see your eyes."

I stare at him. He sure has a way with words. When he talks like this it is really difficult to keep in control. Blaze would make anyone lose control.

"What are you saying to her?" April returns to the scene with two red cups in her hands. She hands me one then hands one to Blaze before retrieving her cup from Yuna and plopping down in her previous spot.

"What is he saying to you, Harmony?" She presses. "Don't let him flatter you with words, sweetheart."

"April always wants to mess with a brother's flow," James says as he sits on the arm of the couch where he can hover over her conveniently to flirt. She shoots him a look and shifts over.

"I found him!" Tia returns with a guy by her side. "Kite is here!"

I crane my neck to look up at the guy with low cut brown hair and a wide, bright smile. His hazel eyes crinkle under the ceiling lights, and I must admit that he is quite handsome but not as handsome as Blaze.

Why does my mind always go back to Blaze? I have issues.

"You haven't met Harmony; she's our friend too. She's in her first year at Homewood." Tia introduces.

I smile awkwardly, and the guy's beam stretches even wider as he extends a hand of rings and male bracelets toward me. "Hi, I am Kite."

"Harmony." I politely reply as I take his outstretched palm, his cool rings grazing my palm.

His eyes flash with admiration, and I notice that he's holding my hand for what feels like forever.

Blaze looks from him to me and his brows furrow.

The guy still has my hand in his for a few more seconds while his gaze is fixed on me, and needless to say, it feels weird so I awkwardly pull my hand back and run it against my jeans.

"You sure are pretty, Harmony." He compliments, and April and the girls are all smiling subtly while looking at each other.

"Thanks," I reply.

Blaze clears his throat loudly, shifting Kite's attention away from me in a blink. "Anyway, Kite, do you want to play some pool?"

He nods. "Yeah bro, sure let's go. James you in?"

James kisses April's cheek in a swift and she looks at him with daggers in her eyes as he walks away with Blaze and Kite.

Yuna sits beside me with a dreamy smile on her face. "Kite likes you."

"Yeah, he is definitely on to her; I saw it too." Tia chuckles.

Kite likes me? How could they draw that conclusion in such a short space of time? We barely said anything to each other.

"Um. I don't think so..." I mutter.

April smiles. "I think he does... the way he looks at you tells us." And they all giggle.

"Oh." Is all I say.

What else should I say to that? I am feeling the least bit flattered, but perhaps if they replaced Kite with the name Blaze, then maybe my reaction would be far different.

~

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