ELEVEN

Drake's fist turned white due to his tight grip on the steering wheel. The booming of music from various stereos made him nauseous. Why did he have to get stuck in this situation? 

He glanced at Maeve who was already unbuckling her seat belt - quite eager to get out - with a smile on her face. He still couldn't believe she was the same Maeve he knew.

He had not been able to recognise her the moment she stepped out of her house in a mini dress, her face coated with heavy makeup that turned her into an entirely different lady.

He never knew makeup had the ability to change a person's feature - he had always recognized Nicole each time he saw her: make up or not.

Maeve held the door to go but just like she left something behind, she turned immediately to look at Drake who was still sitting.

"Aren't you getting out?" She asked but he didn't respond.  He was deep in thought. Seeing his colleagues again was one thing he never planned for. 

"Drake!" She brought him out of his reverie by shaking his shoulder slightly. His eyes were haunted when he looked at her and she sat still, trying to understand why he was reacting the way he was. It was just a party, wasn't it? 

"Are you okay?" She asked quietly and he shook his head vehemently.

"No. I'm not.  Can we leave?"

The expression of concern that filled Maeve's face a minute back disappeared as a scowl took over instead. She folded her arms, raising a brow at him.

"Is this all a show to get us to return?"

"Of course not. I just - "

"We had a deal, remember? We haven't even had any fun and you're asking to return? You're a wonder." She snapped at him, before pushing the door and walking out.

Not wanting to pass through the entrance alone for he could sight Jeremy, Brownie and Josh standing by the gate, he left the car too and walked by her side.  

The dim disco lights which displayed spirals on the floor heightened his anxiety. It looked like he was walking right into an hell hole. 

The men who had been talking loudly, quietened the moment they saw him walking together with Maeve.

"I'll be damned if that's Drake" Jeremy rubbed his eyes in surprise. 

"It is." Brownie confirmed and Drake caught a small smile form on Maeve's lips.

"What the heck, punk? I thought you were visiting granny?" Jeremy's eyes held suppressed humour. 

"I was but. . ." Drake scratched his head as he sought of what to say.

"So you know them?" Maeve bumped her shoulder with his playfully and Jeremy's eyes widened like he had just noticed her presence.  His eyes roved around her, settling on her exposed thighs and Drake frowned a bit. 

"Hi pretty." Josh began, taking Maeve's hand in his and bringing it to his lips.  Drake cringed at this while Maeve chuckled. The music playing indoor could be heard quite loudly, so Drake had to strain his ear to hear what was being said. 

"I'm - "

"Jeremy." Jeremy stepped forward, offering his hand. 

Maeve looked amused by this but she offered her left hand, standing with two muscular men holding each of her hands like they were pleading for her hand in marriage.  Jeremy repeated Josh's action: placing his lips on her palm, and Maeve smiled brightly at him. 

"I'm Josh." Josh pushed Jeremy a bit and Maeve chuckled at that. "Welcome to my party."

"Maeve." She grinned at him and he blushed. 

Drake who had been standing quietly by her side didn't like that Maeve was interacting with them freely; It felt like they had known one another for a very long time and Drake felt like a total stranger. 

"What's yours?" Maeve turned her gaze to Brownie who was typing something on his phone.

"Brownie." He grinned at her and she smiled warmly.

"You must be new here, Maeve." Josh stated and she nodded, expecting to hear this right from the start.  It no longer surprised her when people said that. She had gotten accustomed to the fact that she was indeed in a small town.

"Relocated few weeks ago."

"Wow! So how are you liking Geodan so far?" Josh flashed her a contagious smile and she couldn't help but smile back.

"Well. . .it's really hot." They chuckled at this while Drake shifted his weight from one leg to another. 

"But it is nice." She completed and Josh opened his mouth to say something when Jeremy cut him off.

"So how do you know our Drake?" He grabbed Drake by the shoulder, drawing him closer and hanging his arm around him. He was very close, Drake could perceive the minty breath mixed with cigarette and alcohol. Drake wanted to wriggle himself from his embrace but the firm grip on his shoulder told him better. 

Jeremy's eyes were trained at Maeve and he seemed oblivious to the discomfort he was bringing to Drake. Maeve on the other hand shrugged innocently.  

"He's my neighbour." 

"Oh!" They all exclaimed in unison and Josh began talking but Drake couldn't hear him because Jeremy's lips were now whispering words into his ear.

"You surprise me a lot,  Drake. Most people think you're a dork with no sense but here you are showing up with the prettiest girl I have ever seen in my life."

"She. . .she. . .is only my neighbour." Drake stuttered.

"Whatever." Jeremy rolled his eyes. "You know what? You can have Nicole . I'll have this one." 

He released Drake then with a slight push,  grinning from ear to ear as he held Maeve by the wrist.

"Let me show you around." He winked but Maeve turned to look at Drake, a look that wasn't quite clear to Drake on her face. Was it worry? He couldn't tell.

"Don't worry about Drake. The boys will keep him company." Jeremy pronounced like he could tell what she was thinking.  "Right, boys?"

"Yeah. Of course." Josh responded and Maeve nodded,  casting a glance at Drake once more before walking into the building with Jeremy walking closely behind. 

Drake watched them till they disappeared into the building,  a strange feeling settling at the bottom of his stomach. He felt empty now that Maeve was gone. 

Josh's soft touch jolted him from his thought and he turned to look at Josh who was offering him a bottle of vodka.  

"No. Thank you." He shook his head and Josh nodded in understanding. 

"You have a really beautiful neighbour. Was she the reason you came?" Josh looked at him and Drake nodded.  Though Josh wasn't his friend neither did they talk on regular basis,  Drake felt he could be honest with him. He was quite different from others.

"Yes." He nodded. "She wanted to come." 

Josh nodded and then gestured to the party arena.

"You should go in now. Have fun and thanks for coming. You've never attended any of my parties so I'm glad to see you here." He grinned and Drake nodded, moving away from them and taking small steps into the bubbling hall filled with drunken and hormonal people whose hands were dangling in the air as they swished and moved to the beat. 

Drake found a corner which was quite secluded so he sat on an empty stool with the can juice he had picked from a table. His eyes scanned the hall for sight of Maeve and when he didn't see her, he sighed deeply,  wondering where Jeremy had taken her. 

She was old enough to fend for herself, he heard his subconscious say. He shouldn't be worried about her; besides,  she had happily went with a total stranger without thinking about the repercussion. She wasn't his responsibility so why worry about her, he rambled inwardly. 

There were women grinding and rocking their partner; Drake couldn't help but shut his eyes. He wished he could just leave.  The atmosphere was suffocating.  

Willing himself to breathe in and out gently, he heard a familiar voice call him. He turned immediately to see the surprised face of Nicole staring at him. Her jaw dropped and she brought a palm to her lips to stop a squeal. 

"Is this really you? What are you doing here?" She managed to ask and Drake sighed.  That was a question he didn't know the answer to. Why was he here? 

"Hi, Nicole ." He smiled dryly and she shook her head. 

"Why are you here, Drake? I know how much you hate being in parties."

"There is always a first time for everything,  Nicki." He grunted and she rolled her eyes.

"Indeed." She scoffed and began to walk away.

"Nicole ,  wait!" He stood up and went after her, holding her by the wrist. She pulled her hand from his grip to his surprise and folded them beneath her breast instead. 

"What?"

Drake scratched his head as his eyes travelled everywhere except her face. How was he to say this?

"I'm sorry." He blurted out, hoping she would understand without him having to say anything else but she stared at him blankly like he was speaking a strange language. 

"For everything." He decided to try again but she kept staring at him and he suddenly felt stupid.

"Please, say something." He whispered.

"What do you want me to say, Drake? You are the one acting strange not me. You're the one that kept ignoring me like I didn't exist." Her nostril flared as she spoke. 

"For all those, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for ignoring you." He fixed his eyes on his feet, his fingers trembling. 

"Why, Drake?  Why have you been ignoring me? Did I do something wrong?" Her eyes were teary and Drake was scared she would cry.

"No. Of course not."

"Then why?" She yelled to his surprise.  He looked around but everyone around them looked quite drunk to pay attention to them. 

"You won't understand." He sighed and she scoffed.