I guess now I know why his life is so private…
“Yeah, well, I don’t really like to think about it.” He said. He started biting his lip again. “Where’s Bryan? I thought he never left your side?” Hmmm, so he does notice some things. I think he was also glad about the subject change.
“I told him I wanted to walk to Sophie’s. He was hesitant but I finally convinced him and he listened. What about you? Don’t you have a car? Why would you want to walk?” I’ve seen the Audi. Everyone has.
He looked up and gave me the most genuine smile. “I like to walk in this weather. Clear my head.” He said. So do I. It’s refreshing.
His arm brushed against mine when we turned a corner. I could just die. Now, only if he could take me in his arms and kiss me…
No, shut up. You’re going to scare him away.
“I know what you mean. Sophie’s party came just in time for everything that happened to me today. I just have to go to a party, get some alcohol in my system and–oh, I’m sorry…I think the last thing you want to hear about is someone getting wasted.” I said mentally kicking myself.
“No, it’s fine.” The look on his face said otherwise. “Emily, maybe you shouldn’t drink as much as you do.” Great he’s heard about my wild moments. “I’m not one to judge but you’re young and alcohol really messes people up. I mean…the last thing you need is someone to tell you what to do with your life.” He said catching my eye.
“I know. If only you knew what my life was like though. Alcohol really helps out. I learned how to control it…” Why am I telling him this? “Bryan asked me not to drink at this party but he doesn’t know what’s going on with me. Especially at school. If you only knew...” Shut up, Em. Maybe Alex doesn’t know about the rumors. He did come to Wilks this year. With him around some of them died down but some kids still bring it up.
“I don’t believe those rumors. Just so you know. Everyone has problems and everyone else wants to bring them up and twist the words. Bryan seems like he cares about you. You’re lucky to have him. Some boyfriends wouldn’t want a girlfriend that drinks and has rumors going around that she...you know” He had an apologetic smile on his lips.
I don’t know what to say. He heard about the rumors but doesn’t believe them. He doesn’t even know me and he already takes my side. “Bryan’s not my boyfriend. We’re just friends. He just looks out for me.” I said. Alex smiled and I swear that smile says that’s the answer he was looking for. I want him to know I’m single. Hello. Put flashing arrows on me with a sign for him to notice, please.
“Well, you should have someone like that as a friend.” Alex said. “I always thought you had your life together. I guess we’re both the same. But like I said, we all have problems. If you wanna talk some day, I’m here. You know where to find me.” He said.
Ha, like I would just talk to him.
Lips would be involved but talking wouldn’t be going on.
Alex’s eyes caught mine and his brows rose. What? I didn’t–
“I did not just say that, did I?” I asked horrified.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure you did.” He said smiling.
Ohmygod! Kill me now. Seriously. Fucking run me over and kill me.
I stared at the sidewalk as we walked and tried not to think of ways to hurt myself for that slip. God, I want lighting to strike me right now. I curled my hands into fists as we walked. I’m use to be up front with guys. I have last summer to think back on but with Alex it’s different. I don’t want to be the slut. I don’t want to be the one night stand. I want something and I want it with him. I’m delusional for thinking of something more with him or anyone. My body has needs and that’s why I’m lusting over him. I need to stop. Like right now. But it’s hard…
I heard the loud music so I know we’re near Sophie’s. I just have to ask Alex one question before I stop this. This obsession I have with him that is. I need to know.
“What about you? Do you date girls that drink and have rumors flying around?” I asked. Wow, congrats Em. I grew a pair.
He smiled. “Depends on the girl.” He said. I nodded. Good answer.
“So…I never asked…is Alex short for Alexander?”
I really don’t want to stop talking to him. Just having him beside me is making me forget about everything my mom said. And he smells really good. The wind is blowing that sexy smell my way and I don’t want to stop breathing him into my lungs. Creep.
Alex shook his head. “No…Alexandra.” He said finding my eyes. I stopped short. What? Is he serious? He sounds and looks serious…
The smile spreading on his lips told me he was joking.
“That was good.” I said. He totally had me for a bit.
He let out a laugh. “It’s just Alex.” He said.
This conversation needs to end now. Not because I want it to (it needs to) but because the people at Sophie’s party will see us together and it will not be good if Alex is seen with me. No man is safe seen with me.
“You should probably go in ahead of me. I don’t want them to start saying things about you too.” I slowed my steps and he turned around.
“I don’t care what they say. Come on. We were just talking.” He said. Then he stopped walking. “I’m not moving.” Alex smiled and pushed his hands deep in his pockets. I looked at him. He’s serious.
“Okay but I warned you.” I said.
We walked up to the house and the people outside went silent. They looked at us and as we walked in, they started with the whispers. It’s always like that. I glanced sideways at Alex and shot an “I’m sorry” look.
He smiled and shrugged. No, it’s not okay.
We parted ways and I found Tiffany in the kitchen. She had a bottle of Smirnoff in hand. She waved it up to me and I pointed to the freezer. She stuck it in there and came over to me.
“I see you came in with Alex.” She was smiling and wagging those brows at me, waiting for me to tell her what happened. I’m not going to.
“What kind does Sophie have?” I asked nodding toward the freezer. “Please tell me she has raspberry or watermelon flavored vodka.”
She looked disappointed at me for changing the subject.
“Um, it was black cherry. I asked if she had more but her parents didn’t like knowing there was alcohol in the house while they were away so they hid it somewhere and she can’t find it. She made her brother buy some booze but he only came back with beer and that.” She pointed to the freezer. “Joey seemed happy that you were coming today. Did you guys date and not tell me about it?” Tiffany asked.
Joey is Sophie’s older brother. She told me he had a huge crush on me when we were friends but I was 13 and he was 18 so he didn’t try anything with me. Except a kiss. It only happened once and after that it never happened again. We even talked about it and he didn’t mind. It was in the past. After Sophie and I stopped hanging out, I heard he pushed her into becoming friends with me again. He tried. At least one Woods tried.
“No, he liked me but it never went anywhere. I haven’t seen him in so long. He must be…twenty-three now. Hmmm, I’m almost eighteen you know. Where is he?” I asked. Yes, I like Alex but he obviously doesn’t feel the same way. A girl has got to move on, right?
Tiffany spun in a circle as if he would magically appear. “I don’t know. He was right there when you came in. Maybe he thought you were with Alex and ran off. He’s cute. He asked if you drink, hence the vodka.”
Does he still like me? I’m not looking for a one night stand but it didn’t hurt to try and get back in the dating pool. “Did Bryan come in yet?” I asked. Tiff shook her head and I went to the freezer. I took out the vodka and took a gulp. “Ah…just what I needed.” I drank some more. Since I have a high alcohol tolerance level, I could probably drink a whole bottle of this stuff and not get hammered. Good thing to have at a party. “Did I tell you the wonderful news? My mom is going to take the job in Seattle. I’m either stuck with Mrs. Diaz or go with my family.” I said dr
inking more.
“The Spencer clan is not leaving.” She said looking away from me. I don’t know who she is trying to convince. And I love how she calls my family the Spencer clan. My mom’s maiden name is Spencer and since my dad left and never returned, Tiff calls us the Spencer’s instead of the Vasquez’s.
Thirty minutes later, my eyes wondered to the front door and I saw Bryan coming in. I put the half empty bottle down on the counter and waved him over. I turned to Tiffany, “Don’t tell him about the move. He doesn’t know anything. Okay?” I said.
“Yeah. My lips are sealed.” Tiff said. Good.
“Finally. I thought you might chicken out because I turned down your offer to drive me home. What took you so long?” I asked Bryan.
Tiffany got a beer for Bryan and herself.
“The Jeep wouldn’t start. I needed jumpers and nobody was around so I hitched a ride with some football players.” Bryan said. He noticed the bottle of vodka on the counter. He eyed me curiously. “Did you drink that already?” He asked.
“No!” I lied. “I like raspberry or watermelon. I never tried black cherry but since you mentioned it…” I grabbed the bottle and eyed Tiffany. She looked at me weirdly but followed my lead. Sometimes it’s like we can read each others minds. “Hm, not bad.”
Just because Bryan’s nineteen doesn’t mean he can stop me from drinking. Yeah, he started school late. I don’t mind. We started school together. Hence being best friends. “Don’t look at me like that. You have a beer in your hands. Am I suppose to watch everyone drink and I’m going to be the sober one? Yeah, right.” He knows I’m right.
Tiffany laughed and dragged me and Bryan to the living room to dance. I miss this house. It has a lot of memories in here. Good memoires. When we were in middle school, we’d come here so Tiffany and I could gush over Joey’s friends. Declan and his group of friends were good looking but they were two years older than us. We wanted much older men to drool over. We were thirteen and older men where like gold to us.
I stretched my fingers out to grab the vodka but Tiffany pulled me harder into her. One of Miley Cyrus’ songs played ten minutes later and I found that as my excuse to get a drink. I left the dance floor and went back to the kitchen for the vodka. The bottle was nowhere to be found. I looked in the fridge, the cupboards and the trash (I’m desperate) but I couldn’t find it.
“Looking for this, prom queen?” I turned around. Liam was there, holding my vodka. I eyed it and it had been drunken from. Ugh. There’s no more in the house. “Sorry for drinking some. I saved you this.” He rocked the bottle back and forth.
“It’s not mine so you could have some if you want.” I said. A girl I’ve seen around school passed by. She took the bottle from Liam’s hands and kissed him on the cheek, “Thanks, Liam. We’re looking for you, come by when you’re done.” Then she walked back were she came from.
“I’m glad you didn’t need that. What would you like to drink, prom queen?” Liam asked walking over to the cupboards and looking for alcohol.
“There’s none in there.” I said. He turned around and smiled.
“And how would you know that?” He asked while he continued to search the cupboards.
“Sophie’s parents hid everything. They don’t like having alcoho–” He turned around with a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of Bacardi. “Where did you find that?” I grabbed the Bacardi and got a shot glass from the cupboard holding the cups. I know this place in and out. “You want some?”
“Nah, I’m more of a watcher than a drinker.” He said.
I poured some into the glass and drank. That hit the spot. I poured a few more glasses for myself until I could feel the buzz starting. That was good. Now I can have some fun and just let go for a bit.
“That’s enough for me.” I said grabbing a handful of M&M’s from a jar on the granite top counter next to the sink. The Woods’ still keep this lying around. Tiffany and Bryan call me M&M because how much I love them–especially the blue ones–and since they call me Em, it stuck and I don’t mind. Sophie use to call me M&M too.
Liam grabbed the whiskey and poured it into my shit glass.
“I thought you weren’t a drinker.” I said.
He threw his head back and drank. “Prom queen, you are a bad influence. I couldn’t watch you and not drink.” He winked at me then put the bottles back into the cabinet where he found them. They were hidden on the top shelf. Nobody could have possibly been able to see that. Liam’s tall and from the looks of it, he’s taller than every guy in this house, except Bryan. They look to be the same height.
“Yeah, I’ve been told that before. You’re still calling me prom queen you know. My name is Emily.” I said.
He brushed past me and leaned against a counter.
“I know but a beautiful girl like you deserves to be called many things.” He said with a lazy smile. I don’t know if he’s trying to see if I’ll catch the bait but I’m not a slut. Just because I drink more than I should and I stare at men, doesn’t mean I’m easy. Zach knows that more than anyone. I only slept with him when I felt ready and there was no alcohol involved.
This conversation is now over.
“I know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work. I have to get back to my friends.” I said. I tried walking past him but he moved so he was positioned right in front of me. “Move.”
“I’m not doing anything. I was just simply stating the truth. I don’t know what you think I’m trying to do but I’m not.” He said moving to the side and opening his arm, gesturing that the path is open.
I walked past him then I looked back at him and for some reason he didn’t seem to be doing anything wrong. He wasn’t even checking out my ass like most guys do when I walk past. Yeah, he said that stuff but it could have just been something nice. “I’m sorry, but I’ve dealt with guys like that. Maybe you are different but I know what you’ve heard and they’re not true. So don’t think that since I’m drinking something will happen.” I said.
He nodded. “Didn’t plan on anything happening besides talking. See you around, Emily.” With that, he walked over to the group of football players. Where Zach was. I pretended not to notice. Sophie would be close by. Oh wait, I think they had a fight. Someone was talking about it when we were dancing. I think it’s a serious fight this time. Apparently, they’re not talking and they might break up. Not my problem. But why is he here then?
“There you are. Why did you take so long?” Bryan asked popping up in front of me. He’s never too far from me. Sometimes it’s like he’s a brother instead of a friend. He cares about me too much.
“Just talking to Liam. I was looking for the vodka but someone took it. We found Bacardi. Do you want some?” I asked.
“No. Why didn’t you tell me?” Bryan asked with a look in his eyes. I looked over at Tiffany but she was busy dancing. She told him. Traitor.
“Tell you what?” I asked acting dumb. He stared at me in disbelief. I can see what’s coming and it hurt. Fuck, he’s going to let me have it.
“That you’re moving! Were you ever going to tell me? Was I going to go to school one day and not see you there? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Am I not important to you? You told Tiffany!” He said. He’s hurt. He doesn’t ask so many questions like that. Ever.
Bryan shook his head and turned his back to me, making his way back to Tiffany. I put my hand on his arm and he stopped. “Bryan, please don’t. I didn’t want to tell you tonight. I wanted to have one last party with my friends.” I said. “I wanted to remember us…doing what we always do.”
It’s my dad’s fault. The fresh start is because of him. God, I hate him so much. We wouldn’t be in this situation is he was just a normal, nice guy.
Bryan put down his beer on a counter and grabbed my shoulders.
“Emily, we could still have a good time. It’s just that I thought we shared everything. I thought…” His eyes widened. “Shit, Em. Put your head back.” I didn’t know what he was talking ab
out until he grabbed a paper towel and brought it to my nose. I looked down at it, cross-eyed and there was blood. Shit. “Come on, let’s go to the bathroom.”
I was starting to feel lightheaded and a killer migraine was pushing its way through. Just great.
Everyone was busy drinking so they didn’t notice the blood stained paper towel I’m holding up to my nose. Alex did though. He put down a red cup he was holding and pushed past people until he walked over.
“You okay?” He asked.
“She’s fine.” Bryan said.
I nodded my head and leaned against the bathroom sink’s counter. I was left staring at both Bryan and Alex giving each other the I’m-the-alpha-here look. It was pretty sexy, actually.
A few minutes later, the blood stopped but the migraine didn’t. “My head is killing me.” I said. I took a step and lost my balance. Alex caught me and a small moan escaped my lips. This is not how I envisioned being in his arms though. “I’m fine. Just need an Advil.”
Bryan opened the bathroom door. I thought it was funny how both guys I like are locked in a bathroom with me. Can someone say awkward?
Alex held me up and I noticed his arms were stronger than I thought. It felt nice…being in his arms. “You need to lie down. Did you drink?” Alex asked. I didn’t answer. Yeah, I’m a wreck. “Let’s find a bed.”
“Sophie’s is down the hall.” I said. Never thought I’d say that.
I tried walking by myself but my legs gave out. Alex wrapped an arm around my waist and helped me to the room. He even laid me down. I’ve had dreams of this happening but with a different outcome. In any other time, I’d enjoy this.
“Bryan’s getting the Advil and water.” He said.
Holy shit, he is sitting on the bed beside me.
“You don’t have to babysit me you know. Help him find it, please. I feel like my head’s going to explode.” I said. The music isn’t helping. I put a pillow over my head and groaned in pain.
“I’ll go but don’t go anywhere.” Alex said.
I moved the pillow and found him smiling at me. I guess he’s a joker. And that smile won me over completely.
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