One of the guys spoke up. “Yeah. Not cool, dudes.”
Clint snickered. “Yeah, dude. Well, see your way out of this conversation. Come on, Rae. We’re going back to the hotel.”
I crossed my arms. “And if I don’t?”
> Clint sighed. “Pouting doesn’t look good on you when your eyes are bloodshot. Now, come on. You need food and a shower.”
I licked my lips. “Maybe what I need is another boyfriend.”
Michael held out his hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s take it easy with all this shit.”
Allison came up to my side. “You’re going to regret this in the morning. Just come with us. You can sleep with me tonight.”
Michael paused. “Wait a second, what?”
Clint sighed. “Fucking grand.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yeah, sorry I don’t feel like bouncing on your cock tonight, you jealous asshole.”
He snickered. “Oh, I’m the asshole? You’re the one preaching about new boyfriends and not giving a shit how any of this makes me feel. But I’m the asshole?”
I glared at him. “Yeah, that’s right! You’re the asshole!”
I pulled away from Allison and stumbled over something. Whether it was my own two feet or Allison’s shoelace, I didn’t know. All I knew was that my drink went flying into the air, all over Clint. And his arms fell open to catch me. My cheek pressed against his chest as I struggled to stand up. And feeling him against my body made me shiver.
But not in a good way.
“Rae, you okay? Can you stand?”
I shoved him away. “Leave me the hell alone.”
I pushed my way through the crowd as blood rushed through my ears. I stumbled against the porch, trying to prop myself up.
“Rae! Wait up!”
I rolled my eyes at Allison’s voice and kept going. I pushed my way through the crowd as guys held out their arms to catch me. I couldn't stand up. I couldn't keep myself fucking upright. I felt someone guide me to a couch in the living room as music thudded against my ears. Asses swayed in my vision. Guys looked at me and winked before sticking their tongue down someone else’s throat.
“Rae, there you are.”
I sighed as Allison dropped down beside me. I felt her rubbing my back, but I shrugged her off. I didn’t want her concern or words of encouragement. What I wanted was to relax. To forget about everyone and cast all hell to the clouds, for once in my fucking life. I leaned into the couch cushions and closed my eyes. I let the beat of the music whisk me away. And as Allison batted away people who tried to offer me drinks, I felt the world tilting around me.
Must be the weed.
Clint got to do this with his life. If anything, he should understand. He got to party to relieve stress. He got to drink. I’d seen him more than once come into school with bloodshot eyesand the smell of pot on his leather coat.
I wonder what happened to his leather coat.
“Rae? You need anything?”
I sighed. “I need you to shut up.”
Allison murmured, “Sorry.”
My head fell off to the side. Smoke started filling the room. Someone ‘woo hoo’’d off in the distance and I shoved my fist into the air.
“Woo hoo!” I exclaimed.
But Allison didn’t join me in the exclamation.