No Name | Completed

Chapter 73 - Trouble in Paradise

"Look at his face in this one," Lissa giggled while she pointed at her phone.

I laughed at the way his green face only made him look angrier at us from across the room.

"Guys," Demi groaned. "Stop, he's getting so annoyed."

I glanced at her. "Hey, I came first, remember?"

She held her hands up. "Alright, alright."

"Where's the asshat?" Demi asked, looking at the room.

I shrugged.

"Who cares?" Lissa replied.

"Uh oh," Demi murmured. "Trouble in paradise."

Lissa and I followed her gaze and there he was, clearly arguing with Lauren.

"He deserves it," I went back to scrolling through my phone.

Lissa gasped. "This song!"

Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande. Only our favorite Christmas love song.

"But—"

Lissa sent me a warning look, reaching behind me to grab a shot.

"Take it."

You know what? I would. Screw Jesse Vanderlin. Screw Olivia Wright. I threw the shot back.

"Another one," I motioned to her. Demi and Lissa grinned at each other and Lissa handed me another shot.

I winced as it went down and stuffed my phone into my pocket.

"Remember this tradition?" I asked them. We used to sing this on Lissa's fireplace every Christmas.

Lissa began singing to Demi out loud, drawing Jared's attention to us.

I noticed a few people start to watch us, but with the songwriting classes I was in, I was growing used to performing in front of groups.

Lissa held her pretend microphone to me and Jared let out a whistle.

"All I want is to have him by my side, on the 25th by the fireside, but I don't wanna a broken heart. This year I've got to be smart. Oh baby!" I sang.

They scoot closer to me and together we sang the chorus. People sang along with us and clapped and for a minute, it was a fun. It was free. Sometimes there was nothing better than a room full of drunk people, honestly.

The song ended and Jared ran up to us, sweeping Demi into an epic makeout session, forcing Lissa and I to look away in discomfort.

"Okay, get a room you two," Lissa mumbled.

I laughed and swayed to the song that came on and spot my Mom and Gerald in the corner speaking with guests. She caught me staring and she smiled, a look of pride crossing her features.

"Incoming," Lissa murmured.

Before I could ask what she meant, she was in front of me.

"Incredible," Lauren said. I blinked, suddenly afraid of what was about to happen.

Her eyes were watering and she stared me down. Lissa coughed uncomfortably, but her gaze was unwavering.

I swallowed.

"Lauren, don't," Jesse stepping in between us, blocking her from my view.

Lissa glanced at me, her eyes huge.

Lauren laughed.

"I can't believe I fell for it," she said.

"Lauren," Jesse's hand twitched, but he stayed in place.