“That’s the price ya pay for shooting vodka all night.”
“Guess it’s rough being the entertainment.”
And as she snickered, her words slapped me across the face.
Entertainment.
I was nothing but the entertainment?
I heard her say something, but I didn’t catch it. I felt her kiss my cheek as her hand lingered against my thigh, but I hardly felt it. And as she walked away, I didn’t even steal a glance at her barely-there ass. My mind had latched onto that word. That phrase. It parsed out every syllable and bounced around in my head. Taunting me. Lashing out at me. Encompassing the whole o
f my high school career.
Entertainment.
My eyes slowly focused on the crowd around me as images of a trained monkey rushed through my mind. Being slapped around and whipped by trainers before being put in front of a crowd and expected to obey. It was an apt description. One that made my stomach turn over on itself. And as I sat there on the sidelines watching everyone else party, I wondered how I’d gotten there.
Here.
At this dumbass party with these dumbass people.
Do I even like these people?
In a flash, I was unsure of everything in my life. As I slid off the barstool and made my way for the patio doors, I felt people clamoring for my attention. Women tugging me over to the hot tub and guys trying to get me into the pool. Roy tried sliding my leather jacket off, but I simply shook him off me.
“The fuck, man? I set you up with a good catch.”
“You good? You need some water?”
“Give him some space. I think he’s gonna puke.”
“Hey! Clint! What gives?”
I ignored all of their comments and questions as I lumbered into Marina’s parents’ house. I slid the patio doors closed behind me, seeking solace in the ice cold air conditioning of their kitchen. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, chugging it back as it filled my stomach. I backed it up with another. Then another. And slowly, I felt my veins being freed of the alcohol I’d pushed through them.
Which freed my mind up to roam even more.
“Clint! The fuck!”
Roy’s muffled voice hit my ears and I turned around. I saw him banging his fist on the kitchen window before he shrugged at me with an attitude I didn’t like. I held my bottle of water up to him before drinking the rest back, but Roy wasn’t a fan of my actions. He looked pissed. Though I didn’t know why.
I mean, did he sell his soul to Satan in order to get me that girl?
Terrible exchange.
I tossed my third empty bottle of water into the trash can, then grabbed a fourth. And as I cracked it open, I started walking through the house. It was small, compared to my father’s. But there was a lot of love in this place. I felt it. The walls bled with it. And it made me smile. The sounds of the party fell into the background as I walked down the small hallway. I stood in the living room, gazing out at the front lawn as whispers of happy secrets puffed up from the plush carpet I stood on.
You don’t belong here.
My eyes fell onto my bike and I felt myself gravitating to the front door. I slid my bottled water into my leather jacket pocket, making my way outside. My feet carried me toward my bike as I drew in a deep breath. And as I slung my leg over the side, I reached for my helmet.
Drink the water first.
“The fuck are you doing!?”
Roy’s voice caused my head to whip up as I held my helmet in my hands.
“You leaving already?”