(chapter five)
Dean was better. For the next two weeks, I felt safe.
But also nervous, waiting for him to snap again. Waiting to see his eyes darken and raise his fist at me. 
Dean smiled at me while we laid on the couch in his living room.
He leaned up to kiss me and I flinched backwards, swallowing hard. He stared at me with slightly widened eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing,"  I said too quickly. 
"Do you not want to kiss me?" he asked quietly, his eyes cast downwards.
"It's not like that," I said in a small voice. He just nodded and I couldn't contain the surprise on my face at the fact that he hadn't gotten angry. Maybe he really had changed. My heart already felt lighter.
He walked towards his kitchen and I could hear him ruffling through the fridge.
"Babe!" I heard him call out from the kitchen. "Joe's having a party tonight. You're coming right?"
I bit my lip, thinking of the first time we went to a party. Also the first time he had hit me.
"Yeah," I answered. "Sure."
* * *
"You're going to put a jacket on, right?" Dean asked, eyeing the blue dress I had on that was tight, but not too tight. 
"It's hot out, though," I said.
His jaw clenched. 
"Yeah," he said and it sounded like he had to choke it out. I held his hand tight in my own. 
He had just swallowed his anger. I smiled. A really, real big smile.
He noticed. I felt him smiling as he kissed the side of my head.
When we got to the party, I could feel the grass vibrating under my feet from how loud the music was playing. I felt Dean's arm cover my waist possesively, and I said nothing. Girls and guys smiled at us, but mostly at Dean.
I was only known as Dean's girlfriend.
"Stay close, okay?" he whispered against my jaw line. I nodded, looking around us.
He trailed through the party, grinning and drinking beer. I wanted to stay sober, so I settled on soda. 
While he played beer pong in the backyard with his friends, I sat on a stool, twirling my cup around. 
"Hey," a voice said. I looked up to see Seth, his dimples and all.
"Hi," I said shyly.
"You look..." he trailed off. I felt myself blushing. I crossed my arms over my chest.
"I look what?" I asked cheekily, smiling and looking at him from under my lashes. 
Surprise jolted through me. Was I flirting with him?
When he grinned and leaned a little closer, I had my answer.
He tilted his head. "Miss Haden, I thought you had a boyfriend," he said in a teasing tone that made me laugh but also look around for where my boyfriend was. I saw him in the corner of my eye, whooping and grinning after he won a round of beer pong.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I was safe.
I turned back to Seth, simply smiling at him.
I examined him as he was looking at me. He really was handsome. With wavy brown hair that was cut short, and brown eyes that were warm and nothing like Dean's, just looking at him made me feel a little flushed.
"So," I said, swinging my legs.
"Want to go for a walk?" he asked me, raising his eyebrows.
I nodded. 
What the hell was I doing!
I still followed him out as we walked on the sidewalk. I took off my heels, and like the sweetheart he was, he held them for me. I bit my lip while he wasn't looking, thinking about how much sweeter he was than Dean.
I closed my eyes. I shouldn't be doing this.
Flirting. Walking with someone while I'm taken.
Because we were doing more than walking. Every few seconds our hands would brush and Seth would play with my fingers. Then he would send a smirk my way that was anything but conceited. It was gentle. Playful.
So when he asked, "When can I see you, Miss Haden?"
I said, "Soon," and gave him my number.
And I smiled that whole night, even while I drove a passed out Dean home. 
Half asleep, my phone vibrated under my cheek and I jolted awake, barely noticing Dean sleeping beside me, snoring loudly.
On the screen of my phone it said: Text from Seth.
I read it and grinned, my heart filling up with something. Something like happiness.
You looked beautiful tonight.


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