Ava's POV:
I refuse to pick up.
No fucking way.
I turn my body to the other side of the room, facing away from the phone. After several more vibrations, I sat up, getting ready to put the phone in airplane mood.
I grab the phone but stop when I see a voicemail.
I shouldn't listen to it.
I know I shouldn't.
However, there was this uncomfortable sensation lurking inside my stomach. Taking a sharp breath, I click on the voicemail app and punch in my code. Pressing the phone against my ear, there was a burst of music banging in the background.
A party, of course.
"Hey, Ava?" This is unexpected. It wasn't Luke's voice. "You may not know me, but I'm one of Luke's friends, Daniel Rowland. I'm sorry for calling you this late, but I couldn't call anyone else. I know you and Luke aren't on the best terms right now, but Luke is really wasted, and he refused to go home. I don't want to leave him here alone, but my girlfriend and sister want to go home. I can't convince Luke to leave, and I remember how he only listens to you when he's like this. Please, if you get this, come soon. The address is XXX."
I released a deep breath when the voicemail ended. I groaned, throwing my body down on the bed. Staring at the phone resting on the pillow, I debated whether to pick him up.
Shoving the keys inside my jacket's pocket, I stared at the large house with bright lights in front of me. "What am I doing here?" I grumbled before opening the door. I stepped out of the car and began walking towards the house. The closer I got, the louder the music blasted. I can pick up heavy scents of alcohol taking me back to my party past.
I threw a hood over my head to avoid any attention. "Pick him up and leave. Pick him up and leave," I mumbled, feeling irritated due to the sudden awakening.
Crashing and dodging into each person, I grab the phone and dial Luke once more.
The phone clicked.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"Oh, holy fuck! You came! Okay, we are in the second-floor bathroom. It's the fourth door to the right," Luke's friend said, and I rush upstairs, dodging the bodies once more. Reaching the destination, my heart was palpitating due to leaping and dodging, mixing with the heavy scent of alcohol. I raise a knuckle and knock against the door. Suddenly, it burst open, and I was greeted with a relieved smile.
"Thank God you're here, Ava," Daniel said, tilting his body to the side. I partially remember him. He is on the same football team as Luke.
Immediately, Luke came into view. His head was pressed into the toilet, one which I assume contained his glorious vomit. His mouth partially slacks open, eyes in a complete haze. There were two girls behind him, one patting his back and the other casually taking photos of him, in no doubt establishing a physical memorial memory.
His emerald eyes met him, and a grin crossed his red face. "Now, this is what I'm talking about!" Luke slurred, stumbling his way towards me. "Makee!" He hit his head against the wall, causing everyone to wince and look away. I'm going to assume this isn't the first he had done that tonight.
He fell on top of me, my hands still stuck inside my jacket's pockets as I stumbled slightly, fingers fiddling with the keys. "Finally come back to your senses, eh Makee?" he grinned, a truly foolish one.
I held the barfing sensation inside my mouth, inhaling the fading scent of puke from him. Unable to contain it, I plug my nose and slightly push him back. Unknown to my sudden superhero-like power, he plummets into the ground. After a good ten seconds, he finally recognizes his pain. "Ow. That hurt." His tone was flatter than a can of soda after three hours of being exposed to air.
"What happened?" I turn my head towards Daniel, which the other two girls help Luke stand up.
Daniel scratched his head, "Well, you know, it started like every other party. But Luke began well taking more than he can handle." Daniel stuck his head out of the bathroom before closing the door. "Then, college students came."
"And?"
"They brought some fun stuff with them," he places quotation marks around fun stuff. "So, we decided to call it a night and go home before the cops show up. We may enjoy parties, but we aren't stupid."
"But, we couldn't leave Luke," one of the girls said.
"What about the other guys?" I asked, knowing they usually don't party with only four people. They generally gather in groups of ten or twelve people.
"God knows," the other girl said. "They ditch us as soon as we enter the party. For all we know, they could've left or as high as a kite downstairs right now."
I release a deep breath, "You guys can go. I'll take care of Luke."
"Hey, we can and will stay to help you," Daniel said. "This party is getting out of control, and we don't want to see you get hurt. Those people downstairs-" For Daniel to call the people downstairs like that must mean that he also doesn't know the majority of them, "they don't seem nice."
I tuck my lips over my teeth, knowing he is right. I heard a loud bang from downstairs, followed by a roar from the crowd. The party was getting more and more out of control. We need to get out...fast. "Daniel grabs his left arm, and I'll grab his right. You two girls go for lookout but hold onto each of our arms tightly. We don't want to lose you in the crowd," I said, and they nodded.
Daniel attempts to grab one of Luke's arms only to almost receive a punch in the face. "Don't touch me!" Luke shouted, causing all of us to freeze. "You can't touch me until you take me out for dinner," he giggled like a little girl.
I grunted at his action. We don't need that from him right now. I inch closer to Luke, knowing his drunken habits, I kept a safe distance. "Parke,r" I said slowly, his red face turning towards me. Immediately, I grabbed his ear, causing him to groan. "Stand up, Parker! I don't need this fucking shit from you right now!" I barked into his ear, and he instantly complied.
"Grab him," I told Daniel, who cautiously grasped an arm. One girl held onto me, and the other held onto Daniel while we walked out of the bathroom. Finally, analyzing my surroundings, I realized that there wasn't or barely anyone from our school. Now, it's a party for adults. I pity the person who owns this house.
A drunk guy grabbed the girl beside me. "Let's have fun." He yanked her back, causing her to claw my arm. I threw Luke at Daniel and instantly grabbed the girl who began crying. She must be scared. He only held onto her tighter. "Come on! We can all have fun!" he slurred, and a few more guys show up.
Another guy grabbed me, "Hey! Guys! Look what I found!" he shouted. That's the thing with alcohol. They bring out the best and, more likely, the worst in people.
I'm amazed that Luke and his crew came to this type of party in this part of the town. I remember how we like partying, but we were always cautious to never enter unknown territory.
I punch the stranger's arm, shrieking at him to let go of me. A scream left my parting mouth when he slammed me against the door. My body unconsciously trembled when I felt his callous hand running up my sweats. "Damn, I never met such a beautiful girl." Small bile exits my trachea, and I am forced to swallow it.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Suddenly, a fist crashes on his face, and he stumbles off of me. I look upward from my teary eyes to see Luke swaying beside me. "Don't touch her! She doesn't like it!" he shouted, a vein popping up on his temple's side.
Without uttering another word, he jumped on top of the guy and continuously threw punches across his jawline. "Fuck! Fucker! Don't touch her! She doesn't need another asshole in her life!" he barked. "She got me! That's enough assholeness!"
Amen to that.