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Chapter 13

I would like to note that I am so sad that Christina Grimme is ... passed away. She was AMAZING (artist of the song above) If you don't know who she was you must live under a rock. She was even on The Voice. She will be missed!

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Everyone hooted and hollered. I heard a few catcalls and one 'dam girl'. My eyes never left Dean's. I hadn't seen him in so long and now here he was at a fraternity party of all places.

"Impressive," Mark said as he stepped in front of me. "A full three and a half minutes. Where did you learn to chug like that?"

By now the alcohol was starting to set into my system. I felt warm and bubbly all over, yet I still felt like something was missing. I pushed back the pain in my heart and locked it away.

"Oh, I have my ways," I replied with a wink and moved to step away.

Mark grabbed my wrist stopping me. From the corner of my eye, I watched as Dean glared and I did my best to ignore him. I looked from my wrist to Mark.

"Why don't you stay and hang out with me for a bit?" He asked.

The hair on the back of my neck began to prick up at his touch. For a moment I was frozen unable to move. I swallowed nervously and took in a deep breath.

"No thanks," I replied while pulling his fingers from my wrist and stepping out of his reach.

"My turn," Olivia exclaimed excitedly.

She handed me my bat and went and took her place in front of the keg. Once her hands were gripping the handles two boys quickly lifted her legs high up in the air and another placed the mouthpiece in her mouth. I smiled a gigantic grin as everyone began to shout, counting.

"One" everyone yelled in unison.

"Two," Mark took a step closer to me.

"Three," I stepped away from him.

"Four," He moved closer still.

"Five," I moved away a few more paces.

"Six," He glared at me mischievously as if this was some fun game.

"Seven," I shot a glare at him before taking the remaining steps left between Dean and I and linked one of my arms into his.

I knew Dean was mad at me, but right now I needed a buffer to keep Mark away from me. I only hoped he wouldn't push me away.

My body relaxed instantly as his free hand reached over and squeezed my hand that was resting on his arm. He didn't let go.

At that moment every doubt and fear I had about us no longer being friends left as a wave of comfort and security settled into my heart, filling the empty hole ever so slightly. I turned and smiled a grateful smile at him. He stared back with a look of understanding as he squeezed my hand a little more.

"Twenty-six," Everyone shouted soon to be overrun with screams of 'Oh,' and shouts of laughter as Olivia toppled over into one of the boys holding her legs spluttering and laughing as cold beer ran down her face.

I couldn't help but laugh along with everyone. Glancing around I noticed that Mark had moved away and was now talking to a couple of girls one dressed as a nurse and another a ... sexy zombie. I shook my head and laughed more.

"So what are you supposed to be?" I asked Dean who was wearing the same thing he would wear every day; v-neck, leather jacket, and jeans.

"A serial killer." He replied matter of factly.