Re: The Palms Hotel

[Guest]

Ashlee looked up at Ashton and nodded a thanks to him and she flicked her eyes back up at Luke, "Um? Ev is somewhere! She was dancing and stuff and we got separated!" Ashlee shouted over the booming music as she scanned the crowd for a bronze head.

***

James didn't really have a chance to admire the fire show because the girl he was dancing with decided to give him a preview of what she would do once it was midnight. James was never one to protest against making out.


Jake had gotten his way to the bar, after much shoving and pushing around. A lot of girls along the way had asked him to dance, he would have too but he felt himself just getting tired trying to navigate the place! He had ordered a few shots and could feel a buzz creeping in, the alcohol dulling the pain. From here he could see the entire club, he even spotted Seth and a few of the others.

[Tiger-Lily]

"Good luck finding her here," Luke commented, and then remembered, to hsi horror, that he'd left Jake alone.

"SHit!"

Ashton shot him a quizzical glance.

"I left Jake, I told him to stay in one spot, he was getting tossed around like one of those flimsy plastic containers in a dishwasher," Luke remarked grimly. He glanced around the place, but wasn't really able to see too well because there were a lot of tall people here that night.

"Fuck," Ashton swore softly. "I'll go look-"

"Wait!" Something had just occurred to Luke. Fifteen minutes to midnight, right? Maybe he could do some good before the year let out since he'd screwed up so much. Luke turned back to Ashlee, hesitated a second and then shot her a meaningful wink Ashton would probably not see in the dark. Luke stepped back into the crowd, realizing Ashlee's dance partner had stormed off. "I'll go look. Keep Ash company, it's her birthday, dude!"

Before Ashton could say anything, Luke dove into the crowd.

Ashton looked taken aback and then cleared his throat somewhat nervously, feeling his buzz fizzle a little in shock. Well, this is unplanned. He glanced over at Ashlee and then shrugged off his surprise at the sudden twist things had taken. "What're you doing in Vegas?" he asked her, leaning down to talk in her ear since he really didn't feel like yelling anymore.

***

Evelyn had finally noted some guys in black among the crowd by the railings on either side of her. She had begun moving further down the cleared off path till she climbed over the railing and headed up to the raised platform where the bar was. She figured this way she'd find Ashlee before midnight. But with the dimmed lighting, it was really hard to see anything. She stumbled a few times, winced as her ankle twisted and then walked on, pausing a few meters from the bar because she didn't feel like being carded, and looked out over at the crowd.

She could have sworn she spotted a familiar silver-blond head. But there were more silver-blonds in the world than the demonic one she knew...She glanced at her watch and then began making her way away to where the DJ stood, onto higher ground where a few booths were set up.

"Heyy, sexy!" a few college boys hollered her way as she strode past. Evelyn ignored them for the moment, leaning over the railing that bordered the bar and overlooked the dance floor below said bar. She ran her hands through her hair, feeling sweat bead on the back of her neck. It was much easier ot breathe here and she was suddenly worn out. Badly. She pulled out her phone and impulsively texted Ashlee anyways. Where r u?

[Guest]

Ashlee had to stand up on her tiptoes, to talk into Ashton's ear, "Rose and Ev decided to come here for a girl weekend. They invited me along for my birthday, what are you guys doing here?" She asked.

***

After a few more drinks Jake had definitely loosened up a bit more, and when a very pretty brunette girl bumped into him. She had sort of hurt him, but then he began to exaggerate how he got his lovely wound.

"So there I was in the alley, and this huge looking creep is trying to attack this poor kid. So my squad gets called in and I go into fight this guy. And we're rollin all over the ground and he knocks me down for a second. Then I see him pull out this huge knife to hurt that poor little girl so I jump in front of her and the jerk stabs me."

The girl gasped widening her eyes, "Did it hurt?"

"I mean there was so much blood, and honestly the paramedics didn't think I would make it. But I was lucky I got there just in time. But I would have done that for anyone in trouble." Jake said nobly.

"Wow... I can't believe it. You're a hero, you have to be brave to be a cop." The girl said.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn had put her phone back in the leg strap under her dress and was back to leaning on the railings again, ignoring the catcalls of a few boys seated at the bar nearby. She wasn't exactly eager to open the new year with a bunch of drunkard idiots anyways, so she figured she'd keep looking for Ashlee and slipped by said idiots and along the railing to the steps that led to the dance floor. She perched on the top step for a second, doign a quick scan of the room again.

"OUTTA MAH WAY!" came a familiar obnoxious yell and Evelyn saw a few people nearby draw back in alarm. She couldn't really make out the voice though, so she let it go and began trekking own the stairs carefully.

Seth meanwhile, had breezed right past her with his current girl clutching his arm. He spotted Jake at the bar and grinned, strutting up to him. "SALAZAAAAAR! TEN MINUTES TO MIIIIDNIIIIIGHT!" He glanced at hte girl Jake was with. "Who's the slut?"

***

"Wanted to party," Ashton replied to Ashlee. "We busted Jake out of the hospital for the occasion, actually, and Seth flew us all here in his fancy jet!"

Lke had made hsi way back to the bar, but unlike Seth, he didn't miss Evelyn. He collided right ito her halfway up the wide steps and had to grab onto the railing to keep from pitching backwards.

"Merde! Luke?!" she exclaimed, disbelieving. Luke winced and tried to make out what else she said but it was drowned out by the sounds of the music and some guys yelling at each other nearby. Seth, maybe?

"Happy New Year's Eve," Luke said to her, in generic response. Evleyn quirked an eyebrow and grinned, shaking her head.

"I'm guessing Dorko is around?" she yelled in his ear. Luke grabbed her arm and tugged her back upstairs so they wouldn't block the way. Once they reached level ground and he could see Seth with jake at the bar, he said, "Yeah, no doubt off ensnaring helpless females of Sin City."

"I doubt the females here are really all that helpless," Evelyn said, recalling a girl glaring daggers at her when her boyfriend gave Evelyn a once-over. The girl had actually begun saying something but Evelyn couldn't hear her and walked off.

"Have you seen Ashlee?" Evelyn asked him now. Luke nodded and then said he had no idea where exactly Ashlee had been. Just somewhere in the crowd with Ashton.

"You left her with Ashton?" Evelyn remarked, a smirk on her lips. She patted Luke's arm and then said, "Well that's fine, since she's gonna be busy ogling the Italian then I guess i'll have to settle for celebrating New Year's with you instead of her."

[Guest]

"Sounds like fun, and Jake is here? You guys sure that was a good idea?" Ashlee asked, she had remembered how fragile Luke had been after he had gotten out.

***

Jake's girl had been offended by Seth's obnoxious behavior so she had gotten up and stormed off, "Um no one? Whose this?" He pointed to Seth's Playboy Bunny girl.

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth squinted at the girl for a second so she answered for him. "Alyssa," she purred into his ear and then proceeded to give Jake a once over while she was at it. "Your friend's cute," she informed Seth. Then, "Let's make out." She tugged Seth toward her and shoved her tongue down his throat. Seht barely had time to flash Jake a thumbs up.

"I'm gonna go find James," Luke commented. "Pretty boy's no doubt going to be with a whore but I fugre he can be around us for New Year's Eve, you know?"

Evelyn pulled a face and replied over the music, "I'll wait here. Good luck!"

Luke nodded at her and with less than ten minutes go, dove down the steps and into the crowd.

Ashton, meanwhile, was leading the way back to the bar, figuring they could meet up with everyone else there. "Well, it felt kind of wrong leaving Jake in his room all bandaged up while we kicked back in Vegas, you know? I mean, Seth is a tool, and an asshole, but he's still loyal to a fault."

Up above on the bar balcony, Evelyn spotted Ashlee's head (or rather, her animal print dress amidst the mostly black coloring of people around her) and yelled loudly down to her, "ASHLEE MARIE BROOKS! YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO QUIT FLIRTING WITH THE CUTE GUY AND GET UP HERE!"

***

Luke had spotted James form the bar balcony and now found him in the crowd easily. Luke tapped his shoulder, clearing his throat to interrupt the makeout session. "DARKO!"

[Guest]

James finally came up for air after what seemed like a lifetime, "Huh!? HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY LUKEEE!" James shouted drunkenly, patting Luke hard on the shoulder. "Have you met... ummm" He squinted his eyes at the blond girl completely forgetting her name, " I think her name is Gumdrop?"

Ashlee heard her full name being called and few people in this place knew it and she looked up to see Evelyn smirking above her, and Ashlee shouted back up, "EVELYN IRENE MATHESSON! ITS MY DAMN BIRTHDAY AND I'LL DO WHAT I WANT! SO YOU GET YOUR GINGER ASS DOWN HERE!" She yelled back up at her.

Jacob had laughed at Seth and took this as his cue to leave, he pat Seth on the shoulder and went on to go find one of the twins. Because Seth was his friend and all but he didn't want to be there once the groping took place. Jake was walking through the club when his eyes landed on a exotic looking girl and his eyes twinkled as he whistled at her, " Muy caliente chicka!" He winked at her.

The girl turned back and focused her hazel eyes on Jacob and smiled coyly, "Hmm thanks, come dance with me Enrique." She said slinking her arm through his and leading him to the stairs, so they could go to the lower level and dance. On their way there Jake accidentally walked into a girl in a red dress who he had heard shouting to someone else.

"Oops sorry." He apologized as he went down he looked up and nearly froze when he saw very familiar emerald eyes.

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!!!

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke opened his moth, thought better of it, and closed it. "I found Ashlee and Evelyn," he informed the drunk James. He grabbed James' arm and escorted him and.....Gumdrop? to where Evelyn and Ashlee stood. Ashlee was yelling something up at Evelyn on the balcony, who was leaning dangerously low over the railing.

"ASH!" Luke hollered to her, before shoving James and his escort over to Ashlee. "I found the Diva! Say hi, James!"

***

Overhead, Evelyn yelped in fear. Some dumbass had bumped her from behind and because she was leaning over, suddenly her balance tilted off-kilter and she felt herself pitch dangerously forward.

The DJ was yelling something about two minutes to go till countdown. Evelyn didn't hear this because she was too busy swearing in French as she felt her feet lift off the ground and fought to hold onto the railing with her arms. She did not want to faceplant onto Ashlee, Ashton, Luke and...James?

She turned her head, not really seeing the idiot behind her, and yelled furiously as she fought to keep her balance on her skittery heeled boots, "Quel genre de crétin ne peut pas marcher sans trébucher deux pieds sur ses deux pieds gauches?!!! SERIOUSLY! HOW DUCK-FOOTED DO YOU HAVE TO BE?!"

[Guest]

"WHAT KIND OF IDIOT STANDS OVER A DAMNED RAILING!" Jake hollered but quickly let go of the girls arm that had wanted to dance with him and ran up to pull Evelyn back from falling over the damned ledge.

***

"JAMES!!" Ashlee hollered giving him a big bug.

"ASHLEEE HAPPY BIRTHDAY GURLLL!!" James hollered giving her a hug and then pulled away from her, "GURLL! I MET MY SOULMATE!"

Ashlee raised an eyebrow at James, he was clearly drunk and she looked up at Luke and mouthed, "soulmate?"

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke was pulling faces behind James' shoulder and Ashton struggled not to laugh as James introduced the girl with him. "Gumdrop?" he asked, nonchalantly, trying not to sound offensive.

James was SO lucky Seth wasn't here right now.

At that second, there was a slight diversion in the form of a girly yelp from overhead and next thing Ashton knew, a red blur had tipped over the balcony railing and was suddenly dropping toward Ashlee and James.

Evelyn hadn't had time to hold on much longer before her balance tipped and the moment Jake reached her, she had tipped backward off the railing and onto the dance floor below, too dismayed to even do anything besides let out a small yelp of shock.

She was going to hit Ashlee. One minute before her birthday was due to end. Not happening!
Evelyn twisted in mid-air and her body arched left over what she had thought was solid (hard) ground.

Only when she landed, it wasn't on the ground. Or on Ashlee. She landed and knocked someone down, smacking her head against the hard floor upon impact with the poor guy's back as he went facedown.

Evelyn closed her eyes, feeling pain rack through her head, and didn't have the energy to move.

"Evelyn, oh God!" Luke's voice exclaimed. Then softer, "James?" he asked, somewhere above her. "I think you just saved her life, dude."

[Guest]

Jake leaned over the railing his eyes wide, his heart nearly stopped beating but he nearly died in relief when he saw her land on James. Jake ditched his girl and ran down the stairs to make sure she was okay though.

"WELL I'll be damned! I DID! And I deserve a reward for it too!" James yelled, he sat up a bit disoriented but not too dazed to pull Evelyn into a kiss.

Ashlee's jaw dropped when she saw this, half of her was relieved that Evelyn was okay and she was happy that she didn't end up squished.

Jake had arrived just then feeling a sharp pain cut through him, and he knew this time it wasn't his wound.

[Tiger-Lily]

"SIXTY SECONDS TO GO!" the DJ roared into his mic just over their heads.

Ashton bit his lip as he glanced up at Jake, stomach coiling. Where the hell did he make these timely entrances from?!

"Uh, James?" Luke was saying, sounding worried. When James pulled back from Evelyn, she gave no sign she had any idea what had just happened. Her eyes were fluttering like she was only half-conscious.

Oh, lovely, with her luck, it'll be a concussion, Luke deduced, kneeling beside James and reaching over to tap her cheek.

***

Holy shit, her head stung something terrible. It felt like some persistent bulldozer were ramming on all sides of her skull. Evelyn heard some raucous yelling and then a very familiar mouth was pressing on hers but she really wasn't sure what the hell was going on. She tried to pull away but her body didn't seem to be responding in her shock.

Is it New Year's already? No, that's not right...the DJ said sixty...seconds? Minutes? She wasn't planning on being kissed. She tried to turn her head ever so slightly again and nothing happened.

Then all of a sudden, just as someone's fingers poked her cheek, Evelyn sat up, throwing off Luke's hand and turning her head till she found the idiot she was seeking. Her blurred vision came into sharp focus and her heart began thudding ridiculously in her chest.

"You," Evelyn said as firmly as she could while her head pounded away, pointing her finger shakily at the invalid asshole. "Had better run before I kick your fragile ass from here to Madrid."

[Guest]

"What?! Me... how can you even blame this on me?! You were the one leaning over the damned ledge, I tried to save you!" Jake's voice shook with anger and hurt as he glared down at her. He couldn't believe this!

James oblivious to all of this was just humming along to the song on the speakers and he poked Evelyn in the nose, "Heeeyy Evie... you looking fine." He winked.

[Tiger-Lily]

At this, both Luke and Ashton looked to Gumdrop for her reaction.

"Poor Gumdrop," Ashton murmured to Ashlee.

Evelyn swatted James' hand away, wiped her mouth, felt dizzy and shakily got up with Luke's help. "I'm gonna go back t-to the...table," she said woozily to Ashlee, and walked past Jake silently. Unable to help herself though, she had to say, "Maybe if you weren't so immersed in Nevada Barbie that you couldn't see someone standing smack bang in front of you, then this wouldn't have happened!" as she walked shakily past him.

[Guest]

Gumdrop scoffed at James' reaction to Evelyn and turned on her heel stomping off. She did not come in second place to a falling girl.

Ashlee giggled at Ashton's remark but was glad to see the Barbie stomp off.

Jake grit his teeth and grabbed Evelyn's arm, "Oh I'm sorry, but who leans their whole damned body over a railing to shout at their friends! ITS CALLED A CELLPHONE!" He ignored the goosebumps he was getting just touching her. But like hell he would blamed for her fucking stupidity.

James heard shouting from Jake, but he wasn't sure what he was saying but he saw a very upset looking Evelyn, and he figured that he had something to do with it.

"30 SECONDS UNTIL 2011!! EVERYONE COUNTDOWN!" The DJ announced, as the whole club started counting down the seconds to the new year. Which panicked James, because he would have no one to kiss!

James waltzed up to Jake and Evelyn and decided to intervene, "Ahh hell no! Don't you make my fallen devil here cry you Enrique poser! She's my New years kiss!" James defended Evelyn holding her hand.

"James shut up!" Jake yelled at him, god he was already annoyed enough at Evelyn for being a bitch. He did not need her fan club trailing behind!

"10... 9... 8..." Everyone around them was counting down and oblivious of the drama going on next to them.

"HEY DON'T YOU TELL ME TO SHUT UP! Do you know who I am!? I'm JAMES FREAKING DARKO! AND DON'T HATE BECAUSE SHE LIKES ME AND NOT YOU!" James shouted, walking past Evelyn and shoving Jake. Which if he hadn't been drunk he would have known not to do that, but his drunk mind was telling him that Jake was invalid like Evelyn had said so he really couldn't fight back.

"4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!" The crowd erupted into cheers and yells as "2011" flashed on a huge screen behind the DJ and confetti, and balloons rained down from the ceiling above, people around them were hugging friends or exchanging kisses with their beaus.

Jake on the other hand punched James across the face as hard as he could knocking his dumb ass down onto the ground just like Evelyn had, and he turned to storm away. What a shitty way to ring in the new year.

[Tiger-Lily]

Nobody noticed the scene taking place. Everyone was too busy celebrating, cheering hugging each other. Ashton, however, was frozen in place alongside Luke and Ashlee.

Evelyn had her hands clamped over her mouth in horror. She looked from the sprawled James to Jake and then back down at James again.

She wasn't going to be stupid and feel sorry for Jake again. Not this time. Evelyn lowered her hands, feeling her pounding heart start its familiar ache as Jake turned away. Stop it, she told herself firmly, kneeling down by James. "You all right?" she asked in his ear over the even louder chaos around them. A nasty brusie was forming on his cheek where Jake had hit him. The fall had probably not helped. "Can you stand?"

Luke tried to fight off his irritation at James and Jake and slung an arm around Ashlee, saying in forced cheeriness, "Happy New Year's, Ash!" He kissed her head and then pulled away and walked over to kneel on James' other side. "Here, James, get up, bro."

"I'm sorry," Ashton said quietly to Ashlee, eyes on Jake.

[Guest]

Ashlee hugged Ashton back, "Happy New Year." She muttered going to Luke's and Evelyn's side.

James shook his head, he was seeing stars for a moment. He wasn't sure why he had wanted to piss off Jake like that but it sort of came out since he had been drunk, but he could feel his buzz dying down. James slowly got up and shook his head, "Yeah I''m fine..." He said.

"Happy New Years." He smiled weakly, drawing in a sharp breath. He thought he had learned his lesson last year not to pick anymore fights with Jake.

Jacob shoved past hugging groups of people who all threw him dirty looks, he needed to get out of this club. Already the new damn year and he wanted it to end. Jacob walked into a group of people a girl had spilled her drink on him when he collided into her and her skyscraper of a boyfriend.

"Watch it." He growled, shoving Jake into a table, hitting his side. Jake would have fought the guy but he just didn't want to, it wasn't worth it he needed to breathe so he just left towards the exit smelling like that skanks drink and his side stabbing at him and his heart.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn glanced over her shoulder, eyes on Jake as he disappeared into the crowd. She bit her lower lip and fought back the sudden stinging behind her eyelids. Happy New year.

But she'd done the right thing. James had stuck by her when she needed a hand and she already regretted aiding Jake.

Ashton hesitated and then leaned down and helped Luke pull James to his feet. "I...I gotta go," he muttered apologetically, and then took off after Jake quickly. Evelyn straightened up, feeling sick ot her stomach.

Don't feel guilty. Don't feel guilty. Don't feel guilty. Only, in this situation, James had definitely picked a fight. But he'd been drunk! So she couldn't hold it against him.

What had he said, though? "She likes me more than you"? Sure, he'd been drunk. But he didn't believe that, did he?

Ignoring her aching head, Evelyn turned around and followed Ashton without a word.

***

"I think we should get home, James," Luke said kindly, patting James' shoulder. "I don't think you can take too many falls tonight."

***

Ashton had slowed down when he spotted Jake crash into a crowd of people and not retaliate when the huge guy shoved him. That was definitely not right. At that second, Evelyn reached Ashton's side.

"This is your fault," he told her matter-of-factly. She simply nodded and he let her follow Jake. Ashton pulled out his phone and texted his brother and Seth to find out where they were.

Seth was actually with Tony when they had cheered in the New Year. He had an arm slung around Antonio's neck and was now singing happily to The Star-Spangled Banner. He ignored his buzzing phone and clinked a shotglass with Antonio. "Hippy Noo Yeuuurr!" he slurred.

***

Evelyn was tentative when she neared Jake in his purposeful walk. What was with him?! Pissed off one second and now so dead, he was walking as responsively as a zombie.

She had to stop a moment and lean against a booth to catch her balance and then started after him again. She was never going to catch him at this rate! She wasn't sure what she'd do when she reached him. Slap him to sanity maybe? She was used to cold, cruel Jake. This lifeless version was scary.

Seeing a space clear up ahead and Jake just feet from the exit, Evelyn acted on impulse. She yanked off her Amor necklace, pulled back her arm and let fly, watching the necklace hurtle through the air and smack hard between Jake's shoulder blades. Evelyn leaned down and rested her hands on her knees, hair swinging out to curtain her flushed face, completely worn out and feeling dangerously near like she was going to collapse, her head felt so heavy.

[Guest]

James just looked up and nodded silently at Luke, he was right it was time they left.

Ashlee sighed, so much for the new year being better than the last, "Hey you need help Luke? I'll go with you." She offered, plus since Evelyn had walked off with Ashton she really didn't want to be left alone here at the club.

***

Antonio had been oblivious to what was going on, he was too busy singing with Seth, "HAPPY NEW YEAR FAIRY!" He yelled giving Seth a big hug, then resuming singing and swaying back and forth with him.

***

Jake felt something hit his shoulder, he turned around and saw no one but down on the ground he he saw something glimmer in the dim lighting of the club, he reached down to grab the Armor necklace when a sharp pain tore up his side and he fell to his knees, "Ahh!" He winced grabbing his side it was damp to his touch, because of the girl throwing her drink on him, but that guy had shoved him into the damned table like he was going to use Jake to break him with it.

"Motherfucker." He hissed. It really hurt, he closed his eyes tight taking a deep breath to ease the pain so he could at least get up off the dirty floor of the club and leave.

[Tiger-Lily]

"This was just an amazingly pointless last few minutes before New Year's," Luke commented to Ashlee glumly as they walked. He brightened. "But hey, we have presents for you." He nudged her with a small grin.

***

Ashton was still trying to get through to his brother and Seth. Not surprisingly, they didn't answer their phones in this raciet. He sighed and then spotted Ashlee and Luke adn James and fell into step with them as they made their way to the exit. "You holdin' up all right, James?"

***

"Well, that was one way to stop you," Evelyn remarked, now standing over Jake. She had recovered her breath and knelt to pick up the Amor necklace, slipping it around her neck again. "Whose genisu idea was it to bring you here?" she demanded of him, grabbing one of his arms and slinging it around her shoulder to hoist him to his feet. God damn it, he was heavy! She nearly fell over twice but managed to stand upright. "C'mon, don't go duckfooted on me now."

[Guest]

"Holla!" Ashlee beamed, at least there was one upside to this crappy ending of a night.

"Oh me? Yeah I'm fine I bounce back." James cracked a grin at Ashton as they headed out of the club but then he realized that they were a few people short. He knew that Seth and Antonio were probably off partying somewhere.

"Hey where are Ev and Jake?" He asked, he knew Jake took off but he could have sworn that Evelyn was with Ashton.

***

After Evelyn had helped Jake up, he was standing weakly on his legs but he knew he'd be fine to walk to the door and at least once he got into a limo or cab whatever. He'd be fine, he really just wanted to leave and ignore all these feelings and damn butterflies he was getting just being around her.

"I'm fine." He said through grit teeth, pulling her arm off of him and sort of hobbling towards the exit.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn gritted her teeth and turned away, looking around for the others. If she lost them, she'd never find them in here.

"Jake, wait," she blurted out suddenly, spinning to face him and the rumpled red dress flared up feebly at the hem.

***

"Uh," Ashton faltered and decided against telling James Evelyn had gone after Jake, "Probably lost. They were both leaving though, so we'll probably see her outside."

[Guest]

"Oh okay." James shrugged going with them out of the club.

***

Just keep going don't turn around... leave...


He wanted to leave, he didn't want to be there with her. His side was really hurting him and he just wanted to go back to the hotel and go to bed. But of course there was that small nagging part in him that knew if he had left Evelyn there in that club, alone and something happened to her...

Jake turned around reluctantly and fixated dark annoyed eyes on her, "What Evelyn?"

[Tiger-Lily]

Ashton had hesitated outside the doors of Rain. He figured there wasx sno way he was going to find Antonio and Seth in this crowd so he simply walked on with Luke and Ashlee and James. "Limo's outside," he said, putting his phone away. He pulled it out and hastily texted Jake. Need ride home? Takin limo.

***

Evelyn walked slowly up to Jake, stopping abotu a foot away from him so she didn't have to keep yelling. Her face was equally annoyed. "You're seriously going to stand there and "what" me, right after you just sucker-punched James, ruined the most important ten seconds of the night and managed to shove me over a balcony railing? I nearly died!" she hissed, leaning closer so he would hear every damn word and jabbing his chest with a finger. "What gives you the right to act like your night's ruined and and mine is so great?"

[Guest]

"Just shut up! What honestly thinks I would be so fucking angry with you that I'd push you over a damn railing! I may not be your best friend at the moment, but I would never do that to you! I was trying to save you, but of course you have to twist things to fit your situation better? Make me seem like I'm some fucking ogre! I'm sorry I tried to save your life! And who I punch is none of your business, if you think what I did to him was so terrible then go be with him tonight instead of standing here and arguing with me alright?!" Jake snapped, swatting her hand away and making his leave.

[Sponsored content]