Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

Kara was tall but had to tilt her head to look up at the guy. I was standing behind her and couldn’t see her face, but I knew she was probably staring at him again, slack-jawed. “Hi! Theo, right?”

She was using her fake sweet voice. I smirked.

He nodded. “Yes, I’m Theo. We met in front of the studio when you were, um…ah…littering?” he asked shyly. A dimple appeared on his cheek. He looked boyish, despite his huge build, and happy that she remembered him. “It’s nice to see you again, Kara.”

“I know. I actually can’t believe you’re in front of me again.” I could hear the grin in her voice. “My friend lurking behind me is Ver.”

His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed me. “Hi,” he said, smiling sheepishly. I smiled back.

“So,” Kara started, “can we join the party?”

“Of course!” He flushed again. “Please come in.”

There was something adorable and sweet about Theo, a big guy who blushed and seemed out of sorts when Kara flirted with him.

Music bombarded my ears when he opened the door. He gestured for us to enter first. Inside, warm bodies were packed close together, rubbing and dancing. The smells of beer and sweat and various perfumes permeated the air. Kara’s eyes sparkled, the anger and sadness from earlier fading as she took in the surroundings.

“Kar, I’m going to grab a drink. Have fun, but behave,” I added, waving her to the dance floor.

She grinned at me, looking grateful. She blew me a kiss, mouthing I love you before turning to grab Theo’s hand. “Dance with me, Theo.”

I watched for a moment as she pulled him into the mass of writhing bodies on the dance floor, swishing her hips to the beat of the music, dancing around him. He looked adorably awkward as he just stood stock-still, not dancing and blushing the whole time.

Kara might flirt with Theo, but I knew that was all she would do. In her mind, she wanted to remain loyal to Cameron, to someone who had broken her heart. I knew she was still in love with Cameron, and watching her now, I realized how much that love was hurting her.

Wasn’t love supposed to feel good? Make you feel all warm and protected? Then why did it hurt so much?

Feeling thirsty, I went to the kitchen to search the fridge for a drink. It was nearly empty, only a few bottles of beer remaining, along with a small bottle of orange juice—as if it had been waiting for me, reminding me of someone I was trying hard not to think about.

I reached for the orange juice anyway, twisting the cap and feeling a smile on my face as I took a long drink. By the time I went back to the living room, I couldn’t see Kara and Theo anymore. I was about to search for them, just to make sure I knew where she was and that she was safe, when the music suddenly stopped playing. The sharp echo of the microphone stabbed my ears.

The crowd was cheering instead of complaining, and I automatically searched for the reason. There, on a makeshift stage beside the huge speakers, a band was getting ready to play.

The dim lighting made it hard to see clearly, but there was something vaguely familiar about the vocalist. He picked up his guitar with ease and familiarity, as if he had done it a thousand times before, and folded his long legs as he sat on a stool.

He looked down for a moment to adjust his guitar, his wavy hair sliding silkily over his forehead, hiding his face. He raked his fingers impatiently through his hair, rising from his seat and setting his guitar down to search his pockets. He laughed lightly at himself when he found an elastic band in his pocket and quickly gathered his hair in a bun. I could hear his fangirls sighing.

“I hope everyone is having a great time. Thank you for letting us play for you tonight,” he said. He had a faint accent I couldn’t identify. French, maybe?

The crowd went wild at the first note from his guitar. Girls screamed, “Damon! Damon!”

His voice was deep, almost raspy. I found a spot near the staircase and leaned against the wall, drinking my orange juice as I listened.

A couple of girls lifted their shirts and flashed him. I wanted to march in front of them and pull their shirts down. He looked down, smiling and seemingly embarrassed as he continued singing.

A movement in my peripheral vision made me look up, and I thought I saw Kara and Theo walk into the kitchen. What were they up to?

I stayed where I was, enjoying a few songs to give them privacy. When the band called for a quick break, I decided to look for Kara in the kitchen, but I only saw a guy on the floor, passed out drunk. Where was she?

Deciding to get another drink, I opened the fridge and found it empty. I sighed loudly and leaned against the counter, crossing my arms and feeling out of place.

What was Caleb doing now?

Stop! Stop thinking about him!

I’d made him chicken potpie for dinner, but Cameron had phoned before we could eat, and then I’d left to check on Kara. Did Caleb eat already?

Stop it!