Glass Jaw

Chapter 7

This was a lot. Not overwhelming, just... a lot. Jules and I stood in the middle of the lacrosse field, surrounded by Jackson, Tatum, and Landon. Students bumped into us as they jumped and danced to the music but the boys took the brunt of it.

By the time we had gotten to the Summer Send Off, swarms of people had already filled the area in front of the stage so we could only barely see the guy fist pumping behind a DJ mixer. Jules had assured me that it didn't really matter though because this was just the first stop tonight.

It was odd how everyone seemed to understand how these things worked except for me. What I assumed was the main event was actually just the pre-game. Every person who had come up to our group had asked the exact same thing. "Where are you guys headed tonight?"

It seemed like everyone wanted to quadruple-check that they had heard about the right party.

The flashing lights from the stage washed over the crowd, casting us in yellow and red auras as the music thumped underfoot. The tequila and champagne flooded my veins as I swayed on my feet between Jules and Jackson. No one in our group was dancing so I tried to contain my hips as they fought to swing around to the music.

This was definitely the most I'd ever drunk and it made me self-conscious, like I might embarrass myself. On a good day, it was hard to trust the words that could come out of my mouth. But right now? Near impossible. Every time I opened my mouth the weirdest stuff slipped to the tip of my tongue.

I told the last girl that Jules had introduced me to that I liked her eyelashes.

Who freaking does that?

"Where are you going next, Atwood?" one guy slurred as he clapped hands with all of the boys in our group.

"Capras," Landon replied lazily for the millionth time tonight. He stood behind me talking to Tatum and I couldn't help but shiver as his soft voice slipped by me like a gentle yet icy breeze. I tugged my jacket tighter around my shoulders and hoped that anyone who saw me assumed I was cold.

Jules bounced on her toes next to me and slipped her arm under my elbow.

"I'm freezing my ass off too," she said as we huddled together.

I couldn't help but be amazed at how helpful a little alcohol was with fast-forwarding a friendship. Jules and I had naturally moved on from getting to know each other to tipsy partners-in-crime. It helped that I had assumed the natural position of side-taker with Jules against the boys when they argued—which was a lot.

I'd only been with them for a few hours and I'd lost count of the fights.

Not that she really needed my support. Jules handled all three boys with the ease of an experienced mother and the attitude of a sassy little sister. But I liked to feel like even briefly, my position mattered.

"We need to move before my legs fall off!" Jules shouted into the middle of the guys' conversation.

"You're fine," Tatum said through an eye-roll.

"Jackson!" Jules whined, tilting her face toward her friend and widening her eyes.

Jackson rocked on his feet and grimaced. It was very obvious that if anyone were to take pity on us, it would be him. His eyes scanned to me and he raised one straight eyebrow.

"Are you cold too?"

I wasn't really that cold, but regardless, I huddled closer to Jules as she clung to my hands. I sucked in a slow breath and on a breathy shiver I said, "f-freezing."

Jackson nodded firmly and made eye contact with Tatum and Landon behind us. "Let's get going. They aren't dressed as warmly as us."

"They're being dramatic!" Tatum scoffed and gestured to both of us as though it were obvious. Jules added a teeth chatter that, in my opinion, was just a tad too far—but it strengthened Jackson's resolve.