It all started with a game

Official Chapter 1

I nodded, "Yep, I've never seen it before."

"Oh really? Then you wouldn't mind if I took a look at it, right?" He held out his hand.

I stared at him and his open hand, wide eyed. He waited patiently, a conniving grin plastered across his face.

I'm so sorry, please forgive me.

With shaky hands, I handed my precious baby over to him. I held my breath as he flipped through the pages, landing on one of the intro pages. "From the library of Beatrice Henderson." He read aloud.

I wiped my sweaty hands along my pants. "Wow, would you look at that, there's a library named after me."

He handed my baby back to me. I scrambled to take it from him, clutching it to my chest.

"So, where are you friends?" I questioned, trying to divert his attention away from my book.

He shrugged, "Probably off hooking up with some girl."

"And why aren't you?"

"Well, if you couldn't tell, I was just about to seal the deal when this damsel in distress clung on to my arm and pretended I was her boyfriend."

I gave him a sheepish look, "I'm my defense, she clearly didn't look interested." I looked anywhere but him.

His mouth fell open, "Excuse me, I'll have you know that girl was about ready to beg for my attention."

"Beg?" I laughed, "you'd be lucky to even get a please from her. She was just waiting for you to get distracted for a brief moment so she could slip out."

She had, in fact, stormed off with a begrudging look on her face the second he was distracted, but only after the word babe had left my lips. Oops.

"Wow, you sure know how to knock down a man's confidence."

"I could do worse, but luckily for you, I need to find my brothers." I released my book, sliding it into my purse.

"Here I'll walk you." He offered, getting up from the wall.

I shook my head, "It's alright, I think I can manage."

"By all means, walk by yourself but unless you want to meet some more 'adoring fans', I'd suggest walking with someone. You know, safety in numbers." He brought up a good point.

I crossed my arms, glancing around at my surroundings. I had spent most of the night dodging creepy men who thought it was funny to watch me squirm. I glanced back to the bystander, who I guess was no longer a bystander. "Alright." I agreed, nodding my head for him to follow.

He fell in step with me at my side. I glanced up at him, enjoying the fact that I didn't have to crane my neck to talk to him. My brother, on the other hand, I practically had to look up to the sky to talk to. Even my youngest brother had started to catch up to me in height, but I was still taller, and will never let him forget it.

"I have no clue where they went," I warned the bystander.

"I'd try the kitchen first, that's where all the drinks are at." He suggested, pointing in the direction of the kitchen.

I nodded, knowing there was a fairly good chance my younger brother would be there. My older brother, on the other hand, was the designated driver for the night. He had named himself this in an attempt to get me to lighten up and maybe have a drink, as if that was ever going to happen. Me drinking is about as likely as me deciding I don't need to read.

A group of teens pushed their way through the crown, their chatter filling the room, clattering with the music. The group came closer, pushing me out of the way. The bystander held onto my arm to keep me from getting lost as some guy rammed into me, nearly knocking me over. I slammed into the bystander's chest as I lost my balance. I gripped onto his shirt to keep me from hitting the floor. A button smacked me in the face as I accidentally tore his shirt. You have got to be kidding me. I squeaked, as in literally squeaked. "I'm so sorry!" I frantically apologized.