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The blinking red and blue lights were causing me a headache. I was thankful that the loud music had finally stopped playing but then the sight of people boozing and acting crazy, then puking, then losing conscious and falling on the couch wasn't in the least pretty. There were so many of them groping each other weirdly and kissing in the corners but the fact that the whole place was so lot crowded and noisy was what put me off.

What the hell was I even doing at this farmhouse party? Oh right, girlfriend duties.

Our school football team had won an important match against a rival school. It was a tough game right till the very end but Luke and the boys fought it out in the field and claimed victory. Hence, this party. Luke had invited everybody from his huge social circle. I never really felt at ease around his overwhelming number of friends and acquaintances. The primary reason being I wasn't much into the socializing thing. I was the kind of person who believed in having just a small group of real friends.

Thus, initially, I had thought against coming to the party but then I didn't want to hear him say that I never attempt to be a part of what he liked and that I always wanted things my way. So I got myself to change my mind.

So here I was standing all by myself looking at Luke, who was busy talking and guffawing with his friends, from a distance. He was with me when the party had begun but that was until his friends and acquaintances started pouring in and he got completely occupied with them. There were some girls now in revealing outfits clinging onto him and he was as usual hugging them back.

Strangely this time I wasn't in the least affected by all that. And this got me anxious and worried about myself. I thought of going up to the terrace to breathe in some fresh air and also to clear my head. I was just about to climb the stairs when my gazes happen to fall at the entrance of the house and I turned white as a sheet in horror at what I saw.

Devon.

And he was walking in Luke's direction!

Damn this looks bad, I was sure Luke would never ever invite the guy he most despised. So if Devon came in front of him, I didn't even want to imagine the horror. Because the last time the two boys came in front of each other, they had almost come to blows.

I had to stop Devon before everyone witnessed an exchange of foul words followed by a gruesome fight.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a reprimanding tone, standing on his way.

"Exactly what you are not doing here," Devon drawled.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "That didn't make even the slightest bit of sense," I snorted.

"I know but I sounded smarter than you," he responded nonchalantly.

Argg!!

Calm down, Eleanor.

I inhaled deeply and spoke, "Listen, you need to shoo away from here before Lu---"

"Why? Are you jealous?" he interrupted me with a smug smile. "I know there are a lot of attractive girls out here but I assure you that my heart belongs to just you," he added huskily.

What?

I looked at him blankly. Where did that come from?

I gave him a pointed look. "It's high time you possess the basic etiquette of not interrupting someone when they are speaking."

"You're talking about etiquette to me? To Devon? To Devon Parker?" he asked in extreme amusement. "Child, you should know that out of Devon and Etiquette, Devon came first. So Etiquette must follow Devon and not the other way around."

I could tell from the mischievous glint in his eyes that I would need a hell lot of patience to deal with him.

"The faster you buzz off from here, the better," I said sharply.

"This is not done!" Devon said in a complaining tone, " You should stop being a boring 'Do Not Enter' signboard wherever I go. I can understand if you do that at your house but here as well? That's pathetically too much."

"Can't you see this is Luke's party?!" I asked, exasperated. "Luke and you can't stand each other, don't you remember?"

"I don't 'cause it's the quarterback who has issues with me, not I," spoke Devon calmly." Because you can't really help if pigs and humans are destined to coexist in this universe. So it makes no sense holding a grudge against a pig."

This guy is unbelievable!

"Devon, I swear I'll kill you," I gritted my teeth, my patience wearing off.

"Later," he said nonchalantly. "I've business to do now," he added and literally shoved me aside and walked over to Luke.

I can't even tell how irked I was. But for now I followed Devon, dreading what was to come.

"How are ya doin', man?" Devon asked bearing a quirky smile.

To say that Luke was shell shocked seeing Devon would be the biggest understatement of the decade.

"Luke, you don't---" I began.

"What the hell are you doing here, Parker?" Luke scowled at him.

"Strange," snorted Devon, looking from Luke to me, "Did you two attend the same lame school where they taught you to ask 'What are you doing here?' at the drop of a hat?"

"Shut your mouth, douche, and get lost before I punch your eyes out," spewed Luke.

"My being here can prove to be a great advantage to your image," said Devon to a puzzled Luke,"Didn't you understand? I'll explain." He put an arm around Luke's shoulder. "The whole school and everyone around here knows that you detest me. So if they come to know you have invited me here, you will come across as a guy who has a large heart and who treats his rivals with respect and regard. People will look up to you. On the other hand, if you throw me out of here, they will talk behind your back calling you a jealous, haughty and insecure ass."

Within moments, Luke's attitude towards Devon completely changed. He began to treat Devon warmly only to show everyone around that he might not be sharing a great equation with Devon but that didn't mean he didn't admire his skills at football.

I moved away from the fakery. I was wandering alone at the party, feeling out of place when Devon came across me with a smirk playing on his lips.

I rolled my eyes and looked away.

"I know you're very happy that I'm here. So don't pretend you're not. It makes you look gross," he said smugly.

I shot him a glare. "If you've landed here uninvited to irritate me with your shitty talks then no one can be a bigger loser than you."

"Didn't you see the part where I got myself invited to the party?I did that to be with you. That's what I think about all day. And I knew that quarterback douche would neglect his beautiful girlfriend and that she would feel lonely."

"There's nothing like that," I said quietly, averting his gazes.

"Sure, I can see your so called boyfriend giving you a lot of attention and has never left you alone even for a second. No other truth in the world can compete with this one." I noted the sarcasm in his voice.

"We were together all this while before you came," I said defensively, looking at him.

"Liar Lair Sanchez on fire." Devon smiled a lopsided smile.

I clenched my jaws. "Keep your thoughts to yourself. The air needn't be polluted." I walked off.