"When we had our first kiss
it was your favorite thing
and you weren't lying
when you said it would sting "
CHAPTER EIGHT
It was Friday night, which meant another party.
It wasn't at Imogen's, meaning I was forced to drive. But that wasn't going to stop me from the self induced alcohol coma that was calling my name.
I'd end up walking home anyways.
"There's my bad ass best friend!" Imogen hollered, jumping off the hood of Chase's car, walking over to me.
"We saw the aftermath of what you did to Taylor. Nice Job." Archer smirked, giving me a one armed hug.
"Yeah it was. A broken nose and two black eyes." Dean added, an amused smirk on his lips.
I laughed so they wouldn't see my dismay. "I'd rather not talk about that."
Archer nodded, "Of course."
I was shocked that a genuinely nice and respectful guy like him was best friends with Axel. Dean wasn't a surprise on the other hand, being the cocky asshole he was. But at least he was mostly tolerable, having his moments when he was nice.
I looked around to see everyone but Axel, which made me grow curious.
Not that I cared or anything.
It was probably best that he wasn't around me, knowing how explosive I was when I drank.
"Shall we party?" Imogen questioned, linking arms with me.
"We shall." I sighed, allowing her to pull me into the teenage mayhem, the boys following in tow.
Some people praised me for what happened with Taylor, some girls gave me dirty looks, some guys flirted. But I ignored them all, focusing on my one and only mission; finding the alcohol.
"Well aren't you a beauty." I sighed blissfully, picking up the untouched bottle of vodka out of the cooler.
My eyes searched the room for the perfect place to sit and drink away, only finding Axel in the corner, posted up with some blonde.
Her lips were on his neck and his arm was around her waist that was nearly exposed. Her boobs were on the verge of spilling out of her dress, obviously wearing a bra that was too small for her, and her dress could have classified as a tank top, barely managing to cover her ass.
Her face had makeup caked on top of makeup, making me cringe. And her blonde hair-, I was not even going to comment on that.
Axel's eyes soon met mine, his impassive expression never changing, making me realize I'd been staring for too long.
With that, I spun around on my boot covered heel, exiting the room.
***
"Don't tell me you finished that whole bottle on your own." Dean, the person I had least expected to find me, laughed, entering the kitchen.
Sitting in deserted kitchens at parties seemed to be my thing.
"Hate to break it to you, but I did." I replied, chucking the bottle in the trash.
"Impressive." He nodded, hopping onto the counter next to me.
"So I've been told." I sighed, rolling my eyes at the thought of Axel.
"What are you doing in here alone?" Dean questioned, leaning against the counter as if he was planning to keep me company.
"I prefer to be alone."
I surprised myself by not slurring my words, which made me concerned. If I wasn't slurring my words then I wasn't drunk enough, and I desperately wanted to be drunk enough.
I hopped off the counter, only to have my knees buckle under me.
"Woah." Dean said, his hands darting out and grabbing my waist, steadying me before I could fall.
I threw my head back laughing, as if it was the funniest thing in the world.
A throat clearing behind us made my laughter come to a halt, turning my head to see who it was, Dean's hands remaining on my waist.
Axel stood in the doorway, watching us. His face looked impassive while his eyes were blazing. I momentarily caught his fist clenching before he walked away, disappearing into the sea of teenagers.
I rolled my eyes at the buzzkill known as Axel, walking to the cooler on the other side of the kitchen. I found a half empty bottle of vodka that I was sure wouldn't be missed if I took it, so I did.
"Please tell me you're not going to drink that." Dean spoke slowly, arching an eyebrow. "It could be roofied."
"I'm not going to drink this, Dean." I recited, popping the cap off and taking a big chug of the thick liquid, tossing the cap onto the floor before leaving the kitchen.
***
It was two in the morning when I decided it was time for me to leave. I couldn't find Imogen and Chase in the mob of teens, and I felt that it'd be awkward if I latched on to Archer or Dean.
I laughed carelessly as I walked down the sidewalk to my car, taking the keys out of my pocket, slightly swaying as I came to a stop, unlocking my car.
I knew good and well I wasn't driving, nor could I, but I needed sleep and a safe place to crash, deciding my car would be the perfect place. I opened my door only to have a large hand slam it shut, making me spin around and almost lose my balance.
"You're not driving." Axel spoke gruffly, taking the keys out of my hand, making me roll my eyes.
Oh, please spare me the caring act.
"Shouldn't you be sucking faces with your blonde barbie?" I muttered before my brain could comprehend, feeling unconventional annoyance at him.
It was the alcohol.
"Shouldn't you be flirting with Dean?" He fired back harshly, making me scoff.
"Give me my keys, Axel."
"No, Oktober."
"What makes you think you can swoop in whenever you want and play hero?" I spat, pushing myself away from him.
"Oh I don't know, maybe that I'm trying to stop something bad from happening to you!" Axel yelled angrily, grabbing my arm and pulling me back.
"Well stop trying to save me!" I snapped, shoving him off of me. "I don't even know why you care!"
"I don't fucking care!" Axel snapped, his expression telling me that he wasn't lying.
I laughed as my eyes started to water involuntarily, making his features slowly relax. I hated crying so I never did it. I took it as a sign of being weak and I wasn't weak, but alcohol didn't seem to care what I was or wasn't, having a mind of its own.
"Let me drive you home." Axel spoken calmly at my silence, his jaw still clenched.
"Thought you didn't fucking care." I reminded him, brushing past him as I walked away.
I heard him release a frustrated sigh behind me, followed by footsteps. I scoffed as he walked beside me, my obvious attempts to ignore him not working.
I stayed silent the rest of the twenty minute walk, feeling a slight sense of deja vu as I stormed up the stairs of my porch, walking into the house and shutting the door wordlessly.
I watched as he waited for second before turning around, walking back in the direction we came from.
Sighing, I fell onto the couch, not feeling energized enough to walk up the stairs. I looked out of the window, watching the clouds cover and uncover the moon, the occasional star twinkling.
I stayed like that for at least twenty minutes, on the verge of falling asleep until headlights flashed through the window briefly, followed by the sound of a door shutting.
I forced my eyes to open, seeing Axel getting out of my car, walking up and setting my keys down on the porch. He turned around slowly, as if he didn't want to leave, walking back down the stairs and into the same direction as before, leaving me in a daze.
***