Chapter 4

Rayne’s POV

Emma had excused herself to use the bathroom before the band began to play and Ethan was at the bar talking to Reese about something and I forgot that they had become friends the last year I was in school with them. I watch Ethan talking to Reese and had zoned out and didn’t realize someone had approached me.

“Rayne.” I looked up to who was calling my name. “I knew that had to be you. Wow, do you look great!”

“Derrick. Wow it’s been a while.” I say to him taking in how much he had grown and I started to wonder what they were putting in the water around here.

“What bring you back here?” Derrick asks.

“I’m here with a friend to watch the cover band.” I tell him and he smiled and said, “Me too.”

Emma came back to the table at that moment and she introduced herself to Derrick and as they talked my eyes wandered back to the bar where Ethan and Reese were. Reese whose back was turned from me was now staring in my direction with a stern look on his face and I wondered what had him so upset. Reese said something to Ethan and then Ethan came our way with a tray of drinks.

Ethan placed the tray of drinks on the table, and I wondered who they all were for. “Drink up birthday girl.” Ethan said handing me a shot.

“You didn’t tell me it was your birthday Rayne.” Derrick said as he then wished me a happy birthday.

I downed my first shot and chased it with my drink and the band started to do a mic check. Ethan then handed me another shot and I tried to plead with him, but he won and I downed another one.

“Mind if I join you guys at your table?” Derrick asks and I slid back to the extra chair giving him mine.

The band began to play and I sat and listened to their music and they really were a great cover band. Emma took Ethan up on his promise to giving her his first dance and my foot tapped to the music under the table.

“Would you like to dance?” Derrick asked as he got up and extended his hand to me.

It was a faster paced song and I didn’t see any harm in saying yes. We made our way over to where Emma and Ethan were dancing and started dancing as a group. I was feeling pretty good from all the alcohol that I had consumed today and I let myself move freely to the music.

Spinning around I noticed Reese had moved closer to the dance floor and some girl that I recognize but couldn’t put a name to her was talking to him but his eyes were looking straight at me. I had grown up a lot since the last time Reese had seen me and I wondered if he even recognized me. I held his gaze and didn’t dare to think to look away. If there was one thing I wanted for my birthday it would definitely be Reese Cooper especially seeing him now and how he had matured.

The band started playing a new song and the beat was much slower and Derrick tried to pull me into him and as I lost eye contact with Reese I could have swore his eyes began to glow but as I pushed Derrick away from me I turned to look and Reese was gone. Something pulled at my heart and I took off towards the bathroom to splash cold water on my face.

When I returned to my table only Emma and Ethan were there, and I was thankful Derrick wasn’t with them. “I guess Derrick got the hint.” I say to them.

“Oh yeah, Derrick got the hint. You don’t have to worry about him the rest of the night.” Ethan said and I wondered if he said something to him. Either way I was happy he was gone. Derrick had always been a douche bag and I can tell things hadn’t changed.

Ethan handed me another shot as him and Emma took one too, “To Rayne, happy twenty first birthday!” Ethan said as we all downed our shots, and I chased it again with my drink.

One of my favorite songs started to play and I got up and pulled Emma and Ethan to the dance floor and I notice Reese was back and he still was watching me closely. I decided to give him a little show as I swayed my hips to the music and ran my hands up my body and then through my hair. If he was going to just stand there and watch I was going to give him a front row seat to what he was missing.