"Do I really have to wear this," I sighed as I tried pulling the crop top a little more down so it would show less skin.

"Oh hush up," Grace silenced me, "you look good and it's the only costume I have for you."

Currently Grace is curling her blonde hair and I'm trying to adjust to this really tight and innapropriate cheerleading costume Grace lent to me. The white crop top is long-sleeve with red stripes. The skirt is high-wasited and matches the top. But it is way too short to the point where if I bend down, you can see my underwear but I demanded Grace to give me booty shorts to wear underneath.

This was out of my comfort zone and I hated it. Grace is wearing a "sexy" police officer outfit and it's even more revealing than my outfit, which is hard to get.

As I looked at Grace doing her hair and makeup, I wanted to tell her that I would rather stay home or atleast not go to a party, but the smile on her face as she was getting ready was enough to make me forget that thought. I just wanted to make her happy.

Grace put her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to sit down on the step stool. "Sit down. I'm going to do your makeup."

"Ok." I only agreed with the makeup because her makeup actually looked really good — like James Charles good.

She put foundation, red hot lipstick, mascara, light eyeshadow, and eyeliner on my face and when I looked into the mirror, let's just say I was impressed.

After she was done with my makeup, she curled my long, dark brown hair.

"Tada! You are a masterpiece!" She clapped and I looked into the mirror with shock.

"Wow you did a really good job." I admitted, admiring her work on me.

She hooked her arm with mine, pulling me out of her bathroom. "Yeah I know. Let's go because we are already late!"

***

As I stepped out of Grace's car, my eyes widened in admiration.

Wow this house is huge!!

Whoever this house belonged to, they must be billionaires'. The house was a three story white mansion; it basically looked the White House but more extravagant. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Every step towards the house, I remembered and could feel what happened the last time I went to the party where Luke raped me.

Remember you're doing this for Grace. This will be over faster than you know it trust yourself.

Different colored lights shined through each window of the house as loud music boomed everywhere on the block. People were practically sucking each other's faces out on the humongous lawn and driveway and I pretended to gag

The front door was open so we walked in and every inch of the house was covered with people drinking, smoking, grinding, hooking up, or jumping to the music.

"We should probably drink. You look very tense," Grace held out an alcoholic drink contained in a red cup.

Shrugging, I took the drink out of her hand and chugged half of it. "Thanks!"

We chatted for a while at the kitchen counter until someone twirled me around then kissed my hand.

"Autumn." was all the person said for me to recognize their voice, even after the alcohol.

"Derek." I acknowledged him, setting my drink on the counter.

"How are you? I haven't seen you in a while. By the way you look really beautiful in your costume, I like it."

My stomach formed into painful knotts as I watched his lips curve into a crooked grin. I never noticed his creepy looks and ways until I found out the truth about his past between Ryder and him.

"Um," I pulled my hand out of his reach, "thanks?"

He looked past my shoulder and I turned around only to see Heather behind me in a mermaid costume. The fact that she was wearing only a bra as a shell top made me grossed out.

"So you and Ryder–''

"Before you say anything else," I warned Derek, taking a step back from him, "just know there is nothing between Ryder and I so don't ever ask that and mind your own damn business.

He looked into my eyes for a moment, trying to figure me out but the only person that could really make me lost in their eyes is Ryder. I looked away from Derek and watched Grace come back to me.

"Comon let's dance," Grace tugged at my arm to the middle of teens that were actually dancing instead of doing other things I listed earlier.

As we danced with the music I felt like I was floating on clouds. My hair bounced to my jumping, the heart in my chest beat so violently to the tudding music. Although it felt good to jump to the music, my head was pounding.

I shouldn't have drank that drink. I need to leave now. This is what happened last time: you were drunk and then Luke...

I didn't want to remember that but it kept creeping into the back of my mind, signaling for me to leave. I've been at the party long enough for Grace and now I need to look out for me.

"Grace I uh," I stopped dancing to the music and pressed my palm against my forehead, trying to stop the thudding. "I need to go. I'll get a ride from someone else."

She didn't hear me but my drunk self thought she did so I walked out of the house away from Derek and Heather and all the bad memories.

Running to a bush, I prepared myself to hurl and people around me scattered.

As I puked my guts out I could hear people scream "lightweight" or "ew gross" or "how is she already drunk the party just started!".

Coughing in disgust at the awful taste in my mouth, I shakily grabbed my phone out of my purse and scrolled through my contacts until I reached the number I thought I needed to call.

I could call anyone but this persons name stood out the most.

Sitting down on the curb, my thumb hovered over the name.

"God am I really going to do this?" I mumbled to myself.

Since my hands were so shaky from how cold it was, they accidentally clicked on the name and my eyes widened.

"Shit–''

"Hello? Autumn?" Ryder picked up the phone immediately.

"Jesus I meant to call you but I thought I shouldn't because I didn't want to bother you but now I'm bothering you and well I'm sorry wait should I be sorry or not because–''

"Woah woah," Ryder chuckled, "slow down. What are you talking about?"

"Are you avaliable? If you're not it's fine." I asked him nervously.

The line went silent for a few seconds until he responded. "Uh yeah, why?"

The thought of the traumatic scene that happened at the last party I went to ran through my mind faster than ever. Tears threatened to spill but I refused to cry.

"I'm so sorry for bothering you but can you please pick me up from this h-house I'm at? If you can't it's f-fine really it's not a big dea–''

"Send me the address." was the last thing he said before I hung up on accident.

After sending him the address I rested my head in my knees and sighed heavily.

I'm sorry Grace. I'm sorry I bailed so soon.

Too lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize arms wrap around my back and the back of my knees, holding me bridal style.

The person buckled me up into the passenger seat of their Porsche and got into the drivers seat.

"Ryder." I hiccuped and he turned his head to look at me.

"How come you can drink a drink but you can't food a food?" I asked him in the simpilst way possible.

What? I'm a curious drunk.

Ryder's face held confusion as he looked over at me once we reached a stoplight. "What the hell? Who ask that kind of question?"

I giggled, "well duh...me!"

He rolled his eyes at me but a sly smile crept onto his lips, almost faint enough for me to not see it.

"I don't know what I'm saying right now but all I'm gonna say is that I'm sorry. You seem really irritated and if I ruined your plans then you shouldn't of picked me up but thank you so much for doing it anyways. You see, parties scare me really badly and–''

We pulled up infront of his house but before we got out, he turned of the ignition and studied me. "Why are you scared of parties?"

My eyes flickered around the car in fear. "I-I *hiccup* was...r-raped by my um ex boyfriend."

When my eyes met Ryder's, his held so many emotions but the only one I could figure out was pain.

He was in pain.

Out of no where, Ryder's hand entertwined with mine and I shuddered at the sudden contact. His hand was really cold– freezing actually.

"T-thanks for the *hiccup* ride." I tried opening up the door but he squeezed my hand.

"I think it's best if you sleep over at my house tonight, you're drunk and scared."

"I don't know wait what sorry I can't really think right now or ever actually." I admitted and he smiled warmly at me, brushing his brown hair out of his eyes.

"Don't worry, you can go home in the morning if you don't feel safe." he said as he unbuckled himself.

He walked around his Porsche to my door, unbuckled me, and picked me up bridal style again and carried me in to his house.

As we got inside and up to his room, Ryder picked out one of his t-shirts and black sweatpants for me to wear.

I put on the sweatpants easily but the crop top was too tight around my arms.

"Ryder?" I walked out of his en-suite bathroom and to him lying on his bed reading a book.

"Hm?" he responded, putting the book down on his night stand.

"Can you help me pull my shirt over my head? It's too tight and it's hard for me to do it myself."

"Um," his face turned bright red at my question and he froze not knowing what to do. "I um..."

"Oh for crying out loud," I crossed my arms over my chest, "just close your eyes if you are disgusted or turned on or–''

He got up and walked towards me, "fine fine fine."

I raised my arms up. His hesitant fingers shakily grabbed onto the bottom of my crop top.

"I don't want to take advantage of you, Autumn. So for both of our sakes I will close my eyes."

Wow. He's a gentlemen, nothing like Luke.

"O-ok."

In a swift moment he pulled my shirt over my head. When he was done his eyes were still closed and I realized he was waiting for me to go back into the bathroom and finish changing.

"Thanks."

"Y-Yeah."

When I was done changing, I removed my makeup and hopped onto his bed and watched as he read.

"Hmmm The Maze Runner. That's cute."

His cheeked tinted red. "C-Cute?"

"Yeah," I giggled as I watched him get all tense at the thought of him reading being considered cute.

"No it's not. I'm just reading."

"On Halloween? No one reads on Halloween you nerd."

He laughed. "Shut up! I don't like Halloween anyways."

"I'm surprised you didn't atleast get laid or go out and drink. I mean you are one of the popular kids...isn't that what they do like all the time?"

His response was only a shrug.

After a while of silence he stopped reading. "Are you still scared?"

"I'm always scared, Ryder."

Subconsciously his hands found my hair and he began to comb through my soft locks. "I want to ask why you're scared but I know that the sober you would not appreciate me digging through your business, especially while you're drunk."

"I know you will forget this but I wish you weren't scared anymore. It makes me...sad." he admitted straight to my face. Wow he was sad, never thought I'd hear those words from a guy like him.

My head was in la la land but those words stuck with me for the rest of the night. As his fingers massaged my scalp and combed my hair, I fell asleep and for once I wasn't scared of Luke or my father out to get me. He didn't want to invade my personal space so he slept on the floor, which made me feel bad but I was too tired to care.

But even just having Ryder's presence close by, I felt safe.