Kisses after midnight (WICKED #0) | ✓

12

THE PARTY WAS GOING well. Everyone was either dancing, drinking or laughing, though he had seen a few puke already despite it only being eleven. He lazily watched everything over the tip of his red cup, before downing the sharp liquid when Chase tapped his glass against his.

"Anyone you got your eye on, Mateo?" one of the new kids said.

Power really was the quickest way to get anything through their heads here in St Joseph. As soon as he had defeated them, all hint of rivalry seemed gone, instead replaced with intimidated, but admiring gazes. Mateo looked at the kid, whose name was Logan last he recalled, and amusedly raised his eyebrows.

"What?" he said.

"Well," Logan said, more nervous now Mateo had shifted all his attention to him," surely you must have your eye on one. I heard the stories."

"What stories?" Mateo said as he held up his cup and the girl next to him refilled it.

"Well, that you're a ladykiller," Logan said, his eyes wide in admiration," I heard no girl is able to resists your beastly charm and strength."

Chase choked.

"You heard right," Mateo smirked," so I decided to dial my beastly charm down for tonight, to spare those poor girls."

Logan just nodded solemnly, Chase bent over forwards, coughing, as he still tried to recover from the remark. The new kid looked at his friend with a puzzled expression and Mateo's smirk widened.

"Excuse him," Mateo said," Chase is just sad because he too fell prey to my handsome face."

"You wish you could get me, Martinez," Chase coughed.

"I'm not surprised," the girl beside him said as she poured more vodka in his cup," your handsome face has probably taken many victims."

Mateo grinned, flexing his bicep as the rest of his friends lauded him with joking praises.

"All hail our mighty leader," Chase said as he raised his cup.

Everyone downed their glass then, though Mateo stopped halfway through when he noticed a crimson dress. Even without the striking color he would've noticed her immediately, as he always noticed her, anytime, anywhere. His amused smile morphed into something more genuine as she walked his way, Penelope, Sahar and Jay by her side. Jay still seemed a bit cautious, but mostly he was just focused on Sahar. The girl had hooked her arm through his and was telling him a story, her giggles betraying her intoxicated state, and Jay listened quietly, something which was almost a smile on his lips.

Mateo's smile vanished and he looked at Chase, who hadn't noticed them yet. He had to keep his friend from seeing this for now, so he put a hand on his back and pushed him in the house.

"What are you doing?" Chase protested.

"Let's go play beerpong," Mateo said hastily.

"Oh, alright."

"Where are you going, Mateo?" the girl complained, but he was gone before she could say more.

Regret at not being able to say hello to Gabriela nibbled at him, but that could come later. Chase would have gotten hurt if he saw what had been happening outside. And aside from that...

The sight of Gabriela up close flashed through his head, his thumb on her soft lips, the distance between them so small he could have crossed it with just one move.

He almost blushed again, but he quickly pushed the thought out of his head. It had been Chase's courage in inviting Sahar that had driven him to be so reckless, but he had wisened up halfway through and pulled back before he would cross the border of no return. Hopefully Gabriela wouldn't ignore him, because that would honestly break him.