Chapter 5 eyes hardening

As I shake my head no, Andy glares at Lucas, "We were just leaving."

Lucas raises his brow at me, before slowly looking to Andy, "Why would Evelyn be leaving? She's working here tonight."

I interrupt before Andy can reply, my stomach in my throat over the tension that's becoming thick between the two of them.

"Andy, this is Lucas," I say nervously, wanting to kick myself for how this wasn't the time for introductions, but I couldn't think of what else to say.

Andy extends his hand to Lucas, giving an acknowledging nod, "Andy, Evelyn's boyfriend."

Lucas only stares blankly back at him, completely uninterested in any interaction with him, and ignores the handshake completely.

Lucas looks back at me, tilting his head. "So why are you leaving?"

"I-I'm not," I reply, shaking my head, but Andy pipes up again.

"Yes, she is," he says firmly, giving me a hard look to tell me not to disagree with him.

Lucas glances between Andy and me before focusing his attention back on him, his sharp jaw tensing in annoyance. "It looks like Evelyn's not the one who wants to leave. If you want to leave so badly, why don't you?"

"I'm not leaving her here with a bunch of drug addicts!" Andy snaps, pointing to the couch of people behind us.

Lucas's lips tug up at the corners, raising his brows at Andy, "I bet you're real fun at parties."

"Oh yeah, he's a blast to be around," Sophie chimes in sarcastically, grinning at the interaction between the two of them.

This whole thing is my idea of hell, I can't stand confrontation or tension, and the fact that I can tell Lucas thrives on it only has the nauseous feeling in my stomach growing.

"That's what you call fun?" Andy bites back, waving his hand to the couch behind Lucas.

"Yeah, I do actually," Lucas replies smugly. "You should try it sometime, might pull that stick out of you."

My mouth drops as Sophie lets out a high-pitched cackle, and Andy looks like he's about to blow a blood vessel in his forehead.

Andy tugs my arm roughly, pulling me to stand next to him and stares at Lucas with a screwed up arrogant expression, "Who the hell do you think you are speaking to me like that?"

Lucas clenches his jaw, his eyes hardening as he leans forward, leaning down slightly to meet Andy's height. "I'm the person that's going to cut your hands off of your fucking body if you ever grab her like that again."

Lucas's threat comes out calm and matter-of-fact, which only makes it more intimidating, and my blood runs cold at the look in his eyes.

Lucas flicks his eyes to me, then to Andy's hand gripping my arm, then glares back at him, and Andy shrinks back.

Andy's always been all bark and no bite; he's used to getting his own way and not being questioned on it, and he certainly is the type to recoil away with his tail between his legs at any sign of a physical confrontation.

I've always put it down to him being so sensitive.

Andy is definitely never going to let me near Lucas again after tonight.

Lucas runs his tongue along the inside of his cheek, gesturing his head towards Andy's hand around my arm, "I'd let her go before I drag you out by your throat."

Andy immediately drops his hand from my arm, clearing his throat, and I can tell Lucas has scared him. He's never really touched me like that before, but then again, I've never really tried to disagree with him.

I'm putting it down to him just being panicked over the situation, maybe worried and trying to protect me, and being more forceful than he realised. It's my own fault; I should never brought him here.

I feel an odd sensation over Lucas being so protective of me. I can't understand why, it's not like he cares about me.

Lucas focuses on me, dropping his brows, talking as if Andy isn't even in the room, "Are you okay, love?"

"M'fine," I squeak out, ignoring the burning in my skin from where Andy's fingers had pinched into it.

Lucas doesn't reply, just sends me a look that says he thinks I'm full of shit as he straightens.

"So now that it's agreed that you aren't leaving, have you got everything to take photos?" he cocks a brow, looking from the camera slung over my shoulder back to my face.

I nod quickly, trying to ignore the deafening tension still present between Andy and Lucas, mostly coming from the face like a slapped ass expression on Andy's face, Lucas's back to ignoring his presence completely.

"Good," he smirks, "I'll have your pay for you when we close."

"We have to stay till this hell hole shuts?" Andy bursts, exasperated.

Lucas looks to him with bored, half-lidded eyes. "Scamper off back home if you've got such a problem with it."

Andy scowls, "I'm not leaving her here by herself."

Lucas tilts his head, a wicked smile spreading across his lips. "You wouldn't have to worry, I'd take very good care of her."

Andy slides his arm around my waist possessively, pulling me closer to his side. " You'll do no such thing."

Lucas chuckles, staring at Andy with a menacing look. "Calm down, it wouldn't be the first time I've done it, would it, Evelyn?"

My face pales as Andy whips his face to me, looking at me with a shocked expression, and I scramble to change the subject. "Should I talk with the owner about the photos? I still haven't met him."

Lucas bites his lip, his eyes dancing with amusement at both of our reactions, seeming to gloat over the shock on Andy's face and my ghostly complexion- I can't believe he said that!

I knew this was a fucking terrible idea.

"He's busy, you can just email them to him, I'll give you his email when I give you your pay," he replies smoothly, shoving his hands into his tight jeans.

"Why are you handling all of this?" I question, dropping my brows in confusion.

I know he said he was friends with the owner, but this still seems odd.

"Because I can," he replies simply, "You should get to work, I'm sure I'll see you throughout the night, I've organized free drinks at the bar for your friends."

My face drops as Sophie's lights up excitedly over the promise of free alcohol. I didn't miss the fact that he purposely referred to Andy as a friend.

"Boyfriend," Andy corrects indignantly, puffing his chest out as he clings to me.

Lucas only smirks, ignoring Andy as he leans forward to speak into my ear, "Have fun tonight, and by the way, that outfit of yours is doing very dangerous things to me... Angel"

My breath hitches as he pulls away, my skin prickling as his words seep into my blood.

Lucas gives me a wink before turning and sauntering casually back to his place on the couch, and I ignore the twisting in the pit of my stomach as the two women on the couch fawn over him as he sits.

I look to the ground, frowning, confused as to why that suddenly bothered me.

"You have a lot of explaining to do when we leave tonight," Andy says, scolding me like a parent.

I lift my eyes to his, feeling guilt swirl in my chest over the look on his face. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know any of that would happen."

"Just save it, Evelyn," he snaps. "Take your damn photos, and we will talk about this later. You're never seeing that man again."

I nod obediently, my shoulders slumping, "I won't, I'm sorry."

-----------------------------

The night so far has felt like I've been thrown into an alternative dimension. While I've enjoyed taking photographs of the people getting lost in their reckless and deviant behavior, it's also made me feel completely out of my depth.

The things I've witnessed tonight have felt like my eyes have been opened to another reality I didn't know existed, the lost Inhibitions, the drugs and dirty behavior of the people throughout the night has felt like I was capturing the dark side of humanity people often try to ignore, the sinful part that most people sweep under the rug and keep behind closed doors.

I thought people may have been apprehensive about having their photos taken, but it seemed to only excite them. Whenever my camera would be pointing at them, it would almost spark an exhibitionist streak in them.

I've never taken so many photos of women flashing their breasts in my entire life.

I'm so lost inside this world, so naive to everything around me.

The interaction when a man approached me, holding out an offering hand and simply saying "Molly?"

To which I replied with a confused look, "No, sorry, my name's Evelyn."

And he only burst into laughter, saying "You're hilarious" before shoving a pill into my hand and disappearing off into the crowd.

That interaction confirmed I really don't know what I'm doing here, nor do I know what to do with the possession of whatever that pill is that he gave me, which I promptly threw in the bin.

The wildest thing I've ever taken is an aspirin.

I've had the company of Sophie most of the night, joining in with a lot of the photos and taking full advantage of her free drinks, but I've also spent most of the night being riddled with guilt, with glares from Andy, who hasn't budged from sulking in the corner on a couch with his arms folded.

Sophie has even tried throughout the night to talk to him, get him to dance, or participate in some way. It seems alcohol really lubricates her dislike for him; he only dismissed or ignored her each time, saying he wasn't going anywhere and was only waiting until we could leave.

I often wonder if he's ever had fun outside of dinner parties at his father's house, or corporate gatherings, or playing those incessant video games he spends hours enthralled by. I've never really seen him do much else.

"Have you ever noticed that Andy is your mother but with a dick?" Sophie asks, staring over to him, taking another swig of her drink.

I scowl, shaking my head, "What? He's nothing like her."

Sophie looks, calling bullshit on my reply, "Oh please, he acts exactly like her, I thought you moved here to get away from that."

"I did, Sophie, and again, Andy is nothing like my mother; he's just not cut out for places like this," I defend, feeling slightly insulted over the comparison to my mother.

I know Andy can be demanding, a bit uptight, maybe a little prudish, and somewhat controlling, but it's only because he's so focused on what he wants in life.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Evelyn," she rolls her eyes, finishing the rest of her drink.

"Why are you being like this?" I ask, trying not to feel hurt by her remarks.

Sophie blows out a puff of air, her face softening as she looks at me, her lids heavy from the amount she's drank tonight. "Because, babe, you've put yourself back in the same bubble you tried so hard to get away from, and you just let him keep you in it. Are you honestly happy with him?"

I swallow as I glance at the ground, slinging my camera strap over my shoulder. "Yes, I am, this is just who I am, I'm just someone that stays in their bubble, Sophie."

Sophie frowns, placing her drink down on the table next to us. "I don't think you are, but you just let people make you think that's what you want."

I sigh heavily, fidgeting with the hem of my skirt. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be back."

Sophie sighs back at me, knowing I'm avoiding this conversation again. She's tried having it with me several times, and I always find a way to avoid it. "Fine, I'll wait here for you."

I smile tightly, as I turn and make my way to the corridor I became so familiar with all those years ago.

I weave through the crowd of sweat-covered people, grinding against each other to the heavy rock music, until I reach the hallway, walking until I reach the bathroom door, and push my way inside.

To my relief, it's empty, and I take a moment to collect my thoughts as I rest my hands against the bathroom sink and stare at myself in the mirror.

I could never admit that Sophie was right, that I'd let myself slip straight back into the mundane routine of the life I had back in that small town.

I'd changed the scenery, just not the situation.

It is who I am, though, and I just have to accept that. I tried all those years ago to step out of my safety blanket, dancing with the side of life I'd been shielded from my whole life, and I just made a fool of myself.

I know that there's always that restlessness in my veins, that cloud above my head that reminds me of how unfulfilled I feel at times, like there's more to life than what I've had planned out for me.

But I manage to ignore it, I know it's useless and something that I can't change, I put it down to me just being a daydreamer, my over curious nature convincing me I want things I know I shouldn't.

I'm a meek, timid mouse. I hide where it's safe and don't dare to venture beyond that, at least that's one thing Lucas was correct about when it came to me.

Thinking of Lucas, I've barely seen him tonight. The last time I saw him, a few hours ago, was when he was talking to two large men, one of whom I recognized as the bartender I bumped into at the convenience store. I'm assuming they're probably friends.

The men seemed to mention something to Lucas, which had him searching his eyes around the room before walking off with a cold expression, with the two men trailing close behind him.

All three disappeared down the stairs, and I haven't seen him since.

I don't know why I find that so disappointing, or why I found my eyes searching the sea of people throughout the night, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Andy had been watching me like a hawk; I'm sure he would've intervened if Lucas had come anywhere near me.

I don't think I'll ever figure Lucas out. I don't even know if I want to.

Something tells me I wouldn't enjoy solving the mystery that is Lucas; there's a nagging in my stomach over it that there's a lot more to him than I'll ever realise and that I'm far better off not knowing.

I just wish I could get him out of my mind.

I feel like I'm being pulled towards him by a magnetic force whenever he's around me, captivated entirely by those haunting eyes and serene pink lips so hopelessly that I feel like I'm drowning in them.

I'm an instrument at his mercy that he could pluck the strings to however he pleases, playing me until I can't tell up from down or wrong from right, and I know that he knows it. I just wish I knew why I was so caught under his spell the minute I laid eyes on him.

My thoughts are interrupted by the bathroom door swinging open, and I panic as my eyes meet those same devious ones.

Well, speak of the devil.

"Just the little mouse I've been looking for, you wouldn't be hiding from me again, would you, love?"