Chapter 6 A Party To Prepare

• We found ourselves trailing back into the club, Clara held my hand while Jake and Isaac were having an inaudible argument behind us, but I could guess that it was about me.
• “I just need to confirm something from that guy and we'll be out of here.” Clara pleaded with me.
• “It's fine.” I slid into the booth and soon enough, they guys joined me. The tension between them was noticeable and I felt bad for causing it.
• “I'm sorry, Iz—”
• “No, you're not!” Jake scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You did absolutely nothing wrong, unlike the idiot that couldn't even sense that you weren't alright!” He couldn't even meet my eyes.
• “I saw two idiots on the dancefloor, not one.”
• I sent him a withering look while Isaac looked like he wanted to strangle him.
• “If you're going to hurt her, just leave.”
• “Why are you acting like some white knight for her? Knights save only pretty ladies, Iz.”
• “Guys, that's enough!” I intervened before Isaac could speak.
• “I know that man,” Israel said and we turned to see Mr Montgomery making his way to us.
• “Mr Montgomery!” Jake and I chorused as we approached, but not before glaring at each other.
• “Please call me Carl.” He seemed in a better mood than the last time we saw him.
• “I noticed you two the moment I walked in here. Celebrating your contract right?” He raised a glass to Jake.
• Bunch of misogynists!
• “My birthday party is coming up in a week. I know it's a late invitation, but I don't want to look for you two there, alright?” He was still speaking to Jake!
• “Of course, we will be there.” Jake nodded, shaking Mr Montgomery.
• “Um…I won't be there.”
• All eyes turned to me, including Isaac's. If eyes could kill, I'd be six feet under from the way Jake was looking at me.
• “Why can't you make it?”
• “I have…uh…dinner with—”
• “Oh you mean Clara? Iz and Clara will catch up.” Jake cut in. “We’re coming.”
• “Alright then, see you soon.” He nodded to Jake again!
• “Why did you say that?”
• “I have lips too and a brain. You don't need to speak on my behalf, Miller. This will be the last.”
• I hated how much he made me seem insignificant. Perhaps it showed on my face because he didn't push the matter further.
• ***
• “Nope. Any turtleneck is a big no.” Clara repeated, her eyes returning to the tablet on her lap. I cursed her and then returned to the dressing room to change. Turtlenecks we
• “What about this?” She groaned before looking up. I was dressed in a long, flowing dress that hugged my curves and covered every single bit of skin, down to my fingers. It had a huge cape that wrapped around my neck, overlapping at my chin, giving me a regal look.
• “I will stand up and leave here and forget you were ever my friend.”
• “But there's nothing else to wear!”
• Clara sent me a look and then stood up, with a determined look on her face. I shuddered in anticipation of what she would whip out.
• “Here.”
• And I was right. It was a backless, strapless dress that would barely cover my butt.
• “I remember someone being very particular about how much she hated a certain Miller, I don't see why I should bare my nakedness for him to see!” I snapped at her, hands akimbo.
• Clara shrugged, hanging the dress. “I never said anything about showing Jake a bit of skin.” I rolled my eyes.
• “Unless you want to, of course,” She added.
• “I don't want to. I don't have any sort of feelings for him. That died after he took my heart and chopped it into tiny little pieces.” I looked away from her, picking at the sleeve.
• “You still like him.” She whispered. I didn't want to admit it. Ever again.
• “You guys still have a—”
• “We don't have anything. There will never be anything between Jake Miller and I. Ever.”
• “Saying those words won't change anything. What's gonna be will be.” Clara was always right. Three years with her taught me that.
• “What's gonna be isn't Jake and I? We want to kill each other. It's not possible.” I shrugged or tried to in the cloth.
• “That's not what it looked like a few days ago, at the club. I don't know Jake Miller, but he looked pretty worried.”
• “Worried that I may die of a panic attack.” I scoffed. “That's because he wants to be the one to slit my throat and watch till every single drop of blood runs out.” I snapped. I didn't want to talk about this and hoped Clara would drop it.
• “You know that's not true.”
• “My scar is proof that he can do it!”
• “You’ve not told me how you got that. You just told me it's because of Jake.” I started walking back to the changing room, eager to end this conversation.
• “No matter what you two think, you can't do without each other. Hating is your form of love.” She said, following me.
• “Whatever helps you sleep. Even if it's some psychological shit.”
• She disappeared behind the throne of clothes, leaving me to my thoughts.
• For some reason, I felt jittery about how I would look. Despite our enmity and hatred, this would be the first time we walked in public together. It felt pretty special to me especially as I had prayed so much for it when I was sixteen.
• “Voila!” Clara smirked as she hid a dress behind her back. I held my breath in anticipation.
• “What I'm about to show you, promise me you will wear it.”
• I peered at her suspiciously wondering what devious incarnation of hell she was hiding.
• “Um…Clara you know I can't let germs get on my skin. There are going to be—”
• “It will cover you perfectly. Just promise me.”
• “I promise.” I swallowed.
• “Trust me, Jake is about to go crazy.”
• “I don't want to seduce Jake.” I retorted.
• “I never said you would seduce Jake. After all, anything can make him go crazy.” She winked devilishly at me and whisked out the dress.