I walked up the familiar path to my front door and could hear music pulsing through the house. When Becca opened the door, the smell of alcohol and sweaty bodies burned my nose. The kitchen table was being used as a beer pong station and the couches in the living room had all been moved to make space for a dance floor.
I recognized the song playing as "I like it" by Cardi B and searched the crowd of bodies swaying to the music. Avery was no where to be found and I figured she was probably in her room with someone.
"Come on," Becca shouted over the music into my ear. "Let's grab something to drink."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen. I watched as she poured a concoction of alcohol and soda into red plastic cups and handed one to me. She crashed her cup into mine yelling bottoms up!
I choked the drink back and coughed as the burning filled my chest. She laughed and high-fived me pulling me towards the dancing bodies. I could feel the alcohol reaching my senses and I found myself smiling as I swayed my body to the music. It was crowded but for once I didn't care about the claustrophobic feeling. It was like my brain was in a little bit of a fog and I like that. It was just Becca and I and the music.
I few songs later, Becca pulled me out of the crowd and back into the kitchen. She poured a shot of vodka into a shot glass and handed it to me. She licked my hand and poured some salt on it. We both giggled at her actions and I did the same to her. We counted to three and swallowed the alcohol. I coughed and started laughing with her.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Ryder standing in the corner smiling at us. Something was off about him, but I couldn't put my finger on it. He was wearing a pair of tight jeans and a black v-neck T-shirt. I caught him looking up and down my body and remembered what I was wearing. The alcohol kicked in and brushed it off, following Becca back to the dance floor. I was enjoying myself dancing with Becca without a care in the world when I realized she was no longer dancing behind me and I felt someone grabs my ass. I turned around to find some lacrosse player. I think his name is Sam. I immediately recoil away from him and search for Becca. She's completely oblivious with her eyes closed and swaying to the music. Sam approaches me again and places his hands on my waist.
"Stop," I say. My voice sounds weird but I ignore it and try pushing his hands off of me.
"Come on," he says low into my ear. "You look so good in that dress."
The music is suddenly too loud and everyone and everything is too close. I can't breathe. Gasping for air I try to push him off of me, but he's holding me roughly. I can feel hot tears running down my cheeks but I can't find my voice to call for help. His breath smells like alcohol so strongly and it's making me feel sick.
I feel like I'm about to pass out, when suddenly Sam is pulled off of me and Ryder is punching him on the ground. He stands up after whispering something in his face and grabs my hand pulling me down the hallway.
I'm sobbing hysterical and Ryder keeps asking me if I'm hurt, and I can't find the words to say anything. I can feel all the alcohol I consumed rising up my throat and I stumble across the hall and into the bathroom. There's someone on the counter making out with a girl and they immediately leave as I puke into the toilet. I heard the door shut and someone grabs my hair.
When my stomach is finally empty I lean back and Ryder flushes the toilet. I take his hand and he leads me to the sink where I grab my tooth brush and rinse my mouth out.
"Um, I hope you're not just using some random persons toothbrush," he says.
I give me a "shut-up" look and explain that it's mine.
"Oh, that's right. You're related to Avery."
"We are not related," I say sternly.
He gives me an apologetic look and follows me out the door. I unlock my bedroom door with the key I hid on the top of the doorframe and stumble inside. I unzip the boots and kick them off as I make my way to my bed. The door clicks and I realize that Ryder followed me inside and has locked the door.
"What are you doing," I ask worried.
"Keeping people out of your room," he says matter of factly.
"Oh," I mumble, relaxing a little.
"You can go now," I say crawling into my bed.
He doesn't move from his position by the door, just stares at me.
"I think I should stay, until you fall asleep," he says walking towards me.
"Why do you care?" I whisper closing my eyes.
I'm struggling to stay awake. I feel the bed sink and I roll over to see Ryder with his shirt off laying next to me on the bed.
"What the f*ck are you doing Ryder?" I shout squirming away from him.
"Relax, princess, I'm not going to do anything. I promise...I'm not like them," he says calmly.
I give him a skeptical look, and realize that his torso is covered in different shades of purple and green and yellow. Bruises. Some fresh, some old.
"What happened?" I ask unknowingly moving my hands towards them. I jerk my hand back realizing that I was about to touch him.
"Nothing," he shrugs getting more relaxed into the covers.
"That's not nothing," I say.
"Just drop it okay?"
I shut my mouth at his harsh tone and sink back into my pillow. I pull the covers around me and realize his body is consuming most of them.
I groan trying to pull them up from underneath his ass.
"Can I help you," he smirks.
"Yes, you can get your fat ass off of my blankets!" I huff.
"He my ass isn't fat," he says faking hurt as he puts a hand over his heart.
I roll my eyes and continue to tug at them. He chuckles and pulls them out from underneath himself wrapping them around me.
"Thanks," I say annoyed.
A silence passes between us and I readjust myself, suddenly not tired. The music from the living room is loud and I can hear people talking loudly and shouting over some drinking game.
"Did he hurt you?"
I open my mouth but before I can respond my door starts rattling. Ryder gives me an "I told you so" look and I roll my eyes.
"Whatever," I say closing my eyes.
"Hey," he says quietly. His fingers stroke the side of my jaw where my bruise rests and I flick my eyes open flinching at his touch. He immediately pulls his hand back.
"Did he hurt you?"
He searches my eyes for an answer and I shake my head no. He nods and I look into his green eyes. I could get lost in them.
"Why are you here?" I ask avoiding his gaze, not really wanting to know the answer.
"I already told you—"
"No," I cut him off, "I mean why are you here, you could be f*cking any of the girls in that room out there yet you're here in my bed. I mean you just watched me puke my guts out. I'm nothing to you, you don't care, so why are you here."
He doesn't say anything so I flick a quick glance at him and find him studying his hands. One of his knuckles is busted from punching Sam.
"I'm sorry," I say reaching out for his hand.
He half smiles and gives me a sad look.
"You shouldn't have to apologize. He deserved it."
I sigh and shrug.
"You didn't," he repeats.
"Okay," I say.
I suddenly remember that I was meant to have shut down the party by now. I'm meant to have already started cleaning.
**************************************
Another long update. Guess who's gonna help her shut the party down. Spoilers!
Xxx
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