The New Boy [boyxboy]

Chapter Eighteen

                Dex and I glanced at each other before looking back at them and said simultaneously, ‘Share.’

                So Paulie casually slid what appeared to be a bottle of Ballygown bottled water across the table to us, but which turned out to be filled with vodka.

                And after that… I don’t remember very much.

                What I do know is that I woke up a few hours ago with a thumping head in a bed I didn’t recognise, groaning and rubbing my eyes, starting in surprise when somebody shoved a glass of what I hoped was really water this time under my nose.

                I took it and gulped the full thing down before handing the glass back and collapsing down on the pillows, finally opening my eyes to see Dexter blinking bemusedly down at me.

                ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

                I tried to nod, but that hurt, so I muttered hoarsely, ‘I think so.’

                ‘Do you want me to tell you what happened?’

                I squinted. ‘Is it bad?’

                He shrugged one shoulder. ‘Not so bad.’

                ‘Is that a lie?’

                ‘Maybe a little.’

                I groaned and covered my face with my hands. ‘Do you hate me for it?’ I asked, peeking through my fingers. He looked surprised.

                ‘No, of course not.’

                ‘Okay. Good. I guess you can tell me then.’

                ‘How much do you remember?’

                ‘Up until we got chips, I think…’

                ‘Okay, well. You missed all the drama then,’ he joked. ‘The others were pretty drunk and we both insisted that they spread the love so we got a little tipsy too. Then you went to sit by Andie and you both started giggling and telling each other how much you loved each other, and then you both started talking about Dylan and I like we weren’t there. I think you thought you were whispering or something, but you weren’t.’

                I groaned again. ‘What did I say?’

                Dexter laughed. ‘Nothing bad.’

                ‘Tell me,’ I insisted, even though it was the last thing I wanted to know.

                ‘Just about how much you fancy me and you like me and stuff.’

                ‘Oh god,’ I muttered, ‘kill me now.’

                ‘That’s not even the main part of the story. Not even close.’ He waited for my nod of consent and then continued. ‘So Andie started sharing her alcohol with you, which made you even drunker, and you came back around to me and sat on my lap and started kissing me.’ I was groaning steadily at this point with embarrassment. ‘Which was nice because we both sort of started getting into it until there was this noise, like a giant bang, that came from behind us and we both turned around and – surprise! – there was Gary.’

                I pulled my hands away from my face and stared at him. ‘You’re joking,’ I said deadpan.

                ‘Not even a little bit. Anyway he went like half berserk and was shouting at us and stuff – I don’t think he was drunk as well, but I think he was pretty shocked to find us, you know… Expressing our attraction in public, or whatever. Anyway, he was yelling at us and you got pretty angry and jumped up and grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away towards the edge of the picnic area, and we all kept an eye on the two of you and it looked like a pretty heated argument. I don’t know what either of you were saying, but you were totally awesome – all poking him in the chest and stamping your foot and such. But you must have said something that really pushed his buttons, because it looked like you were delivering your final blow – you looked pretty pleased with yourself anyway – but instead of slinking off he grabbed you instead and kissed you.’