Chapter 3

• The energy of the house was infectious.
• Music thumped through the walls, bass heavy enough to vibrate the floor.
• Emerson pushed his way through the packed living room, weaving between couples grinding against each other and groups of students shouting over the music.
• The air smelled like cheap alcohol and sweat, and from the looks of it, more than half the people were already wasted.
• Hey lifted his cup to his lips, taking a slow sip as he scanned the room in search of Mason.
• Hey nodded his head at Benjamin who briefly returned the gesture, he was standing close to the dance floor, talking animatedly with a group of students. Benjamin laughed easily, his bright eyes sparking with genuine excitement. His hair sat soft and slightly fluffy over his forehead and his smile, wide and effortless, seemed to pull people toward him.
• Sometimes Emerson caught himself envying him. There was a lightness in Benjamin, a kind of innocence Emerson felt he’d lost years ago. Watching him now, laughing freely, completely at ease. Emerson couldn't help wondering what his life might have like if things had turned out differently.
• If he was different.
• Emerson sighed and took another sip of his drink when he spotted Mason walking up to him, “Any sign of her yet?”
• Emerson nodded and subtly pointed in the direction of the kitchen where he had spotted William along with Emma. Mason followed his line of sight and whistle when he saw hers. “You know what you have to do right?”
• “No.” Emerson breathed, he was a little nervous. He watched as they played spin the bottle, the bottle stopped on William and he murmured something Emerson couldn’t make out. Maybe this was a bad idea. Emerson thought.
• Mason glanced at Emerson's foot that he had begun tapping on the floor, “There is nothing to be scared of, we would walk up to them and ask to join in the game, that way you can have a chance to start a conversation with her, okay?”
• Emerson released a deep breath, “Oka—,”
• “Mason,” Ava called, storming towards them, she totally ignored Emerson and grabbed Mason when she got within arm’s length. And pulled him in for a kiss, Mason’s hand immediately fell to her waist pulling her in.
• Emerson looked away as they both partially ate each other's face, then Ava broke the kiss and began to pull Mason away.
• “Sorry,” Mason mouthed to him. Then turned and followed Ava like a long lost puppy.
• Emerson sighed and rang his hand through his hair, leave it to Mason to ditch him at the slightest chance of getting laid. This was why he didn't attend parties.
• He glanced back at William's group. They all looked like they were having fun.
• Real fun.
• Another sigh escaped Emerson's lips, and he decided to just go home, there was no way he was walking up to Emma by himself.
• Somewhere at the back of his mind, he argued with himself but Emerson still chose the back door closest to William. As he headed toward the door, he took a quick glance in William’s general direction and their eyes met instantly.
• Emerson’s heart jolted. He turned quickly and pushed through the back door, stepping into the cool night air.
• He had just taken a few steps into the pool area when a voice frightened him.
• “Hey.”
• Emerson jerked, turning so fast he almost tripped over.
• “Sorry, are you okay?...Didn’t mean to startle you.”
• William.
• For a second Emerson just stared, his brain struggling to accept the fact that William was standing before him, or that he had asked him a question.
• “Oh… yeah…yeah… I’m… okay.”
• William tilted his head and smiled a little, “Uhm… Emerson, right?”
• “You know who I am?” Emerson blinked.
• The question seemed to catch William off guard. A faint flush spread across his pale face and he rubbed the back of his neck, briefly glancing away.
• “You’re number ten on the rugby team,” he said. “Emerson Zephyr, everyone knows you." His amber eyes flicked back to Emerson. “Nice throw, by the way.”
• “What?”
• “At the game, today," William clarified softly.
• “That pass to Mason. Bit dramatic, but very effective.”
• “Oh.” Emerson cleared his throat. “Thanks.”
• If Emerson's heartbeat was fast before, now it was ripping out of his chest. As William stood before him, he got to look into those amber eyes from a closer point and was yet again consumed by the flames within.
• “Wow,” William murmured, tilting his head slightly. “You’re much taller up close.” But then he paused. “Wait, wh—” William’s words died in his throat, when he felt Emerson hand on his cheek, thumb brushing softly over his lower lips.
• William froze, eyes wide staring at Emerson as his hazel eyes snapped out of whatever trance he was in, pulling back as if he had been burned.
• “I’m sorry…I don’t know why I did that…sorry.”
• William slowly brought his hand to touch his lips where Emerson's hand had previously been, smiling to himself. “It’s okay…” he reassured Emerson. “I don’t mind, just as I don’t mind you staring.”
• Then they were plunged into silence and his words rang like a broken record in Emerson’s head, before he opened his mouth to defend himself but all that came out was. “What?”
• Emerson mentally faced palmed himself.
• He watched as William smile grew even more, and he took a slow step closer to him, “You stare quite a lot, Emerson.”
• Emerson hands squeezed into fist beside him as a tingling sensation began in his stomach, he took a deep breath and look away, because it was true and he couldn’t deny it.
• “Sorry,” he whispwered when he could found his voice.
• “Like I said,” William whispered as he reached for Emerson's hand and entangled their fingers. “I don’t mind. You wanna get out of here?”
• Emerson stared down at William's pale hand on his, then glanced back towards the house. Mason could probably find another way home. He nodded his head at William. “Sure.”