Chapter 9 The party

*Tessa*

How am I going to tell Knox I am going to a party just after he saved me?

I'm sure he will think I don't care about my safety, and giving Wes an excuse isn't an option.

"Wes says there's a party at Shawn's. Are you coming?" I sent a text to Marin.

"I hear it's exclusively by invitation. I don't really like Shawn anyway. I'm not going, but you should if you want to." She replies.

If Marin isn't going with me, I'd feel left out in the crowd because I know girls will start flocking around him as usual and I won't be able to have him all to myself.

"What am I going to do?" I sit on my bed and throw myself into the unknown realities and expectations I'm faced with.

I stand up, holding my phone close to my thigh as I saunter towards Knox.

His eyes were closed, so I thought to prank him by taking his phone from his hand.

I reach for it and touch its tip. He grabs my hand and squeezes a bit before letting me off, like he had been watching before I even thought to touch his phone.

"Gosh!" I jump a little. "You scared me."

"Why are you poking your nose where it shouldn't belong? Do you think I'm sleeping?" He laughs.

I glare at him and snarl, rubbing my hand.

"I want to ask for a favour."

"What do you need?"

I didn't know how to tell him in the face that I needed him to escort me to the party, so I could see Wes, but more importantly, so I wouldn't feel left out.

"There's a party I need to attend tonight, and I want you to please follow me because Marin says she won't be there, and I know Wes will get occupied with his female friends and I won't have anyone to talk to."

"You don't have to go." He responds in a curt manner.

"No, no. I must. I must go. Please."

The look on his face. It's clear he's not interested in the party or excited to know I'm thinking of attending a party.

"Pleaseeee. Just this once. Please." I squeeze my face like that of a baby who shouldn't be ignored.

"Two hours max, and we are out of there. I'm not invested in you not choosing something else to do from night till dawn. I mean, there's a lot you can do if you stay behind here."

"Wes can even come over." He suggests, and I know well that he wouldn't want Wes to come over.

They both will have a hard time because he will have to keep a close watch on both of us having our moments.

"Fine. Two hours is enough."

I didn't have a choice, but I am full of excitement and I find myself wearing a short black dress.

Maybe a little too short. I needed to call the attention of Wes as fast as I could.

I glance at the mirror, turning front to back and then to the front again. I couldn't help but adorn myself with fancy jewelry and chains. They always have a way of making my outfits look more sophisticated.

"I'm ready." I hope out of my room, my bag swinging on my shoulder.

Knox takes a good glance at me from head to toe, as though he were assessing me, and he will send me back into my room if he doesn't like something I put on.

I hope he likes what I wear anyway, but I just stand still.

"Alright, after you."

He finally says.

A breath of relief proceeds out of my lungs afterwards as I walk down the stairs with my boots.

I get to the car, and Knox was still approaching.

"It's open," he oddly says

"Oh."

I expect him to get the door for me like he always would, even on days when I act like an asshole.

"Are you angry at me or what?" I turn to look at him.

"Why do you ask?" He stands and looks at me with a weird smirk on his face as though he's aware of why I was asking anyway.

"Uhmm, it's nothing." I proceed to try opening the door myself but it wouldn't open. "The door is..."

I keep pulling on the handle when Knox walks over to me and places his hands over mine.

An uncomfortable pause fills me as I could feel the wrap of his body over me, hiding my whole body.

He removes my hand from the door. "Step aside."

I've not heard a command sound so hot.

His voice tingles in my ear as I move aside, confused.

I didn't know if I'm the one feeling a strong tension between the two of us, or if I'm the one falling for how masculine he is.

Knox presses the button on the keys in his hand and pulls the door open.

It was locked all along.

I shook my head at him as I walk into the car to sit.

He closes my door and hops in moments after and drives off.

We arrive at Shawn's dad's mansion.

We were met by the security in front of the gate.

I stretch forth my ID to the man who walked up to our vehicle, and he waves his hand, signaling for the gate to open.

The gate opens and Knox drives in a zoom into the dark drive. Despite being inside, the house is farther down, with its beauty, hidden by the tall trees that cover it.

Soon we begin to hear a loud play of music and the voices of people.

Knox drives slower as we approach the building itself.

I have been there before, so I wasn't moved by the beauty of the mansion.

"I'd like to go in by myself first, then you'd come in afterwards."

"You know that's never going to happen," Knox gets down and walks over to my side of the car and opens the door for me.