Ethan began to laugh, though I wasn't sure if it was genuine, "Chloe you're so funny," or a "Chloe you're such a twit," laugh. He had a laugh that could fill a room and the sound he made was like a chucking kitten, all cute and lovely. Something you wanted to take home and cuddle forever and ever.

"So," he started, "how's the party? Sorry, I'm late, I had, err, stuff to do." I stopped and stared as he ran a hand through his thick dark hair. My eyes shifted to the group of giggling girls, giggling in the background as they watch us talk

"It's been fine, really really good." Ok, I had only really just got there myself and technically that was a lie, but what he didn't know couldn't hurt him, right?

We walked through into the living room where all the drinks and bite-sized nibbles were laid out on long tables, along with Indie's massive birthday cake. Ethan picked up two glasses of, what I thought was wine and handed one to me.
"No thank you." I said, "I don't drink."

"Oh? Strange." Two glasses of wine in hand, he turned to leave. I felt as if I'd offended him, but after seeing what that stuff had done to my stepfather, it had put me off it for life.

Not going to give up on my man that easily, I grabbed his arm. He stopped and turned to talk to me, but it was I that was doing the talking, or rather explaining why I didn't drink.

"Sorry, it's not because I don't like you. I do. It's just that my step-dad is alcoholic, like that stupid man from Coronation Street, the one with the big conk, and he tried to end it all earlier today." As I spoke about Derek and the stuff going on at home, I found myself with tears in my eyes.

I felt Ethan's heart sink, "Chloe, I'm so sorry. I didn't know." He placed, not just one, but both glasses back on the table, "that stuff pickles your brain anyway."

Before I knew it, he pulled me in for a tight embrace. My head resting on his muscular shoulder, I could smell his rather nice and floral aftershave. I'd smelt it before somewhere, but it was very nice. A slow romantic song began to play and before I knew it, Ethan and I were slow dancing together. I had ever felt like that before and never thought I could feel so happy, but when one person is happy, there was always one to bring them down.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Reggie staring down at me. He stood still and with his freakishly long arms, beckoned me to go with him. I shook my head, but persistence was Reggie's middle name! I rolled my eyes and apologised to poor Ethan who had to watch and I was dragged away from him by some crazed maniac known as Reggie Warrington.

Reg dragged me into the back garden where he began to spout out a load of crap about my first ever boyfriend.
"What the hell do you think you are doing with Ethy-Pops, Chlo-Chlo? I've told you, he's not into girls!"

"Well, he seemed quite happy with me!"

"You wouldn't know how to please a straight guy in a million years, let alone someone who is quite obviously G-A-Y!" He started and before long the whole Reggie Warrington's verbal diarrhoea began, "he's had soo many boyfriends you wouldn't be able to count them on your fingers and toes! He's been seen with boys only yesterday, snogging in the park. He probably fancies your brother or your dad or something. He's using you! He must be! Why would any guy in a million years ever want to go out with that?! Let alone anything else!"

With every word of pure and utter rubbish he spoke, the more the anger inside me grew. My patience now almost non-existent. I'd never felt like that before in my life. I wanted him to shut up. I needed him to shut up. I could feel my face contorting into something I knew I wouldn't be able too to recognise. As I glared it his horrible, acne ridden, smarmy face, I no longer felt in control of myself. I drew my hand back and as hard as I could, thwacked it straight across his face. Contact stung my hand and I could feel the blood pulsating through my fingers.

He stared at me and began to growl as if he was some evil bare in a cage.
"And violent too? Ooh, how horrible women are when they're on their period!"

Tears streamed down my face. I felt horrible and wished I'd just stayed at home.
"You're vile, Reggie Warrington! You hear me! Absolutely vile!"

Reggie rolled his huge brown eyes and recited that dreadful thing primary school kids said every time someone said something they didn't like.
"I know you are, you said you are, so what am
I?"

A crowd of people watched from inside the house, their noses pressed against the window pane as I spun on my heels and left. Reggie followed me back into the house, but Ethan stepped in front of him, blocking him from upsetting me even more. I didn't hear the words they spoke to each other, but from the look on Ethan's face, I assumed Reggie had been spouting off his poison again.

I couldn't take it anymore. Reggie. His poison. His unhealthy obsession. I'd had enough and all I wanted to do was just go home. I missed my old friend. The old Reggie Warrington. The kid that used to play Barbies with me when I was seven. The boy who's laugh would fill the room when one of the Barbie's wore something different. The boy who turned up and Indira's party dressed as something no one knew what to call. He'd gone. I knew that and there was no way to ever get that boy back. The boy I called my best friend.

I opened the door and stepped out into the darkness. The cold night breeze forced fallen leaves to dance a mindless dance across the Lewis's driveway. I stood and watched for a moment, using the opportunity to check the amount of money in my purse. I had enough to get a taxi back, but as I put my purse back in my bag, I realised I'd left my phone inside. I cursed under my breath, words I knew my highly religious cousin wouldn't forgive me for.

Turning around, I walked towards the front door and pushed it open. "Indie?" I called, but the music was far too loud for anyone to hear me. I stepped into the house. My eyes scanned the room in search of my phone. Close to the staircase, the gaggle of giggling girls swarmed around Ethan. He looked across at me and smiled. I had my phone when he gave me his number. For all I knew, he was the last person to see me with it. So I pushed my way through the girls, the smell of their sickly cheap, tarty perfume and the glare of their bright tops was enough to give me a migraine.

"Hi, Chloe." Said Ethan, running a hand through his thick dark hair. The girls all sighed in unison. I rolled my eyes at one who immediately caught my attention. I could feel her eyes drilling into the back of my head as Ethan and I chatted for a couple of minutes.

"Don't suppose you've seen my phone?" I asked.

He scratched his head, not in a dirty unwashed nit ridden way, ugh! But in a kinda cute sexy way, if that makes sense.
"Yeah, you gave me your number."

The stench of alcohol on his breath was enough to make me feel drunk, although I hadn't touched a drop. The girl in the tarty red top draped her arms around his neck, her bright red nails embedded in his hair. I knew what her game was and tried to take no notice, but when someone was throwing themselves at my man, what was I supposed to think.

"You left it on the kitchen top. I gave it to..."

The girl began to pull him towards the stairs, but he pointed across the room to the person who he gave my phone too. Knowing it would be Libby or Indie, I didn't mind, but as I looked to where he was pointing, my heart sunk. Reggie. He stood with his arms folded staring straight at me, my phone in his hand.

I sighed and approached Reg. "Reg? Can I have my phone back?"

"This?" He said, dangling my phone in front of my face, "it's my nana's. An old lady phone. I mean no one our age has a Galaxy S3 anymore. It's all S8 and iPhone now, Chlo-Chlo!"

I shook my head and tried to stop the tears from running down my face.
"Reg, please. I need my phone."

Reggie began to stroke his chin, "umm, let me think... get on your knees and say you worship the wonderful glamorous Reg-bae and then I'll think about it!"

Reggie stood in the doorway that leads into the kitchen. I could see Indira looking in our direction. She could see how upset I was and hurried over.
"What's the matter, Chloe?"

Reggie tutted, "she's battery's dead and no one here has a Samsung charger."

"So why have you got Chloe's phone?"

"She was just showing me a picture. That's all. Here, she can have it back."

Indira waited and watched until Reggie handed me my phone. I put it back in my bag and turned to leave.

Standing outside in the frosty night, my whole body shivered. I'd had a horrible night. The worst night I had ever had, but as I took my phone out to call a taxi, I had no idea it was about to get a million times worse.