Mason grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze, noticing my uncomfort.

"Mason, my man. Great save out there" A guy, I'm assuming the one who's house this party belongs to, says doing a handshake with Mason.

"Thanks Eric. It was all Leah" Mason says slinging an arm around me.

"Ahh, so you're the famous Leah. Mason's first real girlfriend and the girl who told Samantha off. You've got fire" Eric slurs out causing me to shiver.

"Thanks, it's nice to meet you. And we are actually just fri-" I start to say but Mason covers my mouth.

"What she means is that we are such good friends that it turned into something more. And we need a drink" He says pulling me to the kitchen.

"Mason, what the fück? Why didn't you tell your friend the truth?" I scream over the music.

"His brother has a thing with Samantha's sister. I don't like her. At all. Please help me out with this" Mason says and I stare at him.

"Mason, thats a lot to ask for" I say and Christine runs up to us.

"I'm taking Leah. Bye Mason" She says dragging me to the dance floor.

The stench of alcohol, weed and body odor fill my nostrils, causing me to gag.

"Hows my favorite couple?" She screams holding my hands and dancing.

"What?" I say leaning in.

"You and Mason. I heard that you confirmed during school" She says and I laugh.

"That was to get him away from Samantha" I say smiling.

"It's only a little time until you both come to your senses" She says walking away, leaving me. Alone, in a group of sweaty teenagers.

"Hello pretty thang" A guy says, placing his hands on my waist from behind me.

My anxiety picks up.

I turn around to see who it is and as soon as I'm facing him, his lips smash against mine. I try to pull away but he's holding my head so I can't move.

With this, my anxiety sky rockets.

I start to feel the walls closing in, trying to gasp for air. Nothing.

He finally lets go and I push him away, tears running down my face.

"Excuse me" I say pushing my way through the crowds, desperately looking for the bathroom.

Shįt, someones in there.

I go to the back door that leads to the back yard.

"Hey" Someone yells and I recognize the guy chasing after me.

"Leave me alone" I scream running out the door and closing it before he can get to me.

"Eric" I say recognizing the guy from when we first got here.

"Hey Leah. Did you lose Mason? I can go find him for you" He slurs out and I shake my head, seeing the guy staring at me.

Chills rack my body and I point at him.

"What about Derek? You like him?" Eric says and I shake my head no.

"He, he kissed me and" I say, frozen from my anxiety and fear.

"Woah, what? Hold on. Todd, stay with Leah. Protect her or whatever. I'm getting Mason" Eric says running into the house.

The man, Derek just stands there. Watching me. He has long, wavy hair. Brown eyes and a little stubble on his chin.

"Leah, whats wrong" Mason runs out and I immediately hug him, knowing he will protect me.

"Le, talk to me, what happened?" Mason says as the uncontrollable sobs wrack my body. He-he came up to me after Christine left and kissed me and I-I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me" I say and he tries to control his temper, looking back at Derek.

Derek notices Mason and quickly goes out of eye sight.

"You're okay. I'm here" Mason says hugging me as I cry.

"Leah, what happened?" Ellie says as her and Christine walk up to us.

"Fücking Derek. Stay here while I go beat his äss" Mason growls out and I grab his arm.

"Please Mason. Stay with me" I say, causing his face to soften.

"Okay, okay. I'll stay. Do you want to go home?" He says and I nod.

"I'll take your car home. Text me when you want to be picked up and I'll get you" I say wiping my eyes.

"No, I'm going with you" Mason says and I shake my head.

"Please, stay. Have a good time. I'm okay. I'll be with your mom" I say walking away before he can stop me.

I hop in the car as Christine comes running after me.

"Leah, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I thought you were right behind me and-" She starts rambling on.

"Christine, shhh it wasn't your fault" I say hugging her. "This just isn't my thing or setting. Obviously" I laugh out.

"Okay, I'll see you Monday" She says and I nod, driving away.

I obviously didn't drink so I'm 100% okay to drive.

I pull into the driveway shortly, happy to be at Mason's.

I walk in and see that no ones in the kitchen. I also didn't see Jims car in the driveway.

"Tara" I scream and she yells back "I'm in my room honey"

I run up the stairs and knock and walk into her gorgeous room. I had never been in here before and its so beautiful.

"Hey honey, have you been crying?" She says patting the spot next to her.

"Yeah, some guy at the party started kissing me and wouldn't let me go" I say and her face drops.

"Aw, Leah" She says hugging me.

"It's okay. Mason was going to come back with me but I didn't want to ruin his party. So I took his keys and drove home. Told him I would pick him up after" I explain to Tara.

"Smart move, don't want any drunk driving" She says and my eyes widen.

"Honey, I'm not stupid. I was a teenager once too. I don't like it but I do like the fact that they don't drive home from the party or one doesn't drink" Tara smiles, laughing.

"Yeah, thats good. I just wanted to check in with you. I'll go in the living room" I say getting up.

"Hey Leah, Jim's not going to be home for a couple hours. Why don't you stay in here and we can watch a movie. Go put on one of Ellie's tank tops and some shorts and you can put on my robe that doesn't fit me anymore" She says walking to the bathroom and coming out with a beautiful silk robe.

"Oh Tara, thats so sweet but its okay. It's late and-" I start to say but she interrupts me.

"Don't be silly. Now hurry up, go get changed and I'll make the popcorn" She says placing the robe in my hand and walking downstairs.

I get changed in Ellie's room and stand there admiring the beautiful robe. It looks like something out of a movie.

I take a quick mirror picture with Ellie's amazingly aesthetically pleasing mirror.

"Come on" Tara says patting the spot with a big huge fluffy blanket.

"Tara, thank you" I say and she smiles and kisses my head.

"I want to be the mother that you should of had. I'm here for you always Le" She hugs me.

I take a quick picture with her and text it to Mason.

We sit and watch some movies, talking and laughing.

I want to punch that fücking dįckwad in the face.

"Yo Mas, calm down. Your girls okay. Don't get yourself in trouble" Eric says trying to calm me down.

"Mason, don't" Ellie says looking at me with a terrified face.

"I need to do something. Leah has been through so much shįt. And now fücking Derek has to go and sexually assault her? I'm not having it Ellie" I say pushing my drink at her, going to find Derek.

I am so furious

Then I see him dancing with another slüt i've never even seen before.

*Beep*

I look down to see a picture of my mom and Leah. They are both wearing silk robes and seem to be in my moms room.

'I hope your parties going good. I know where you got your kind heart from. Thankful for you and your family. Call me when you and Ellie need a ride home. Love you guys 💕'

The message brings a smile to my face.

Leah wouldn't want me to hurt Derek.

For fücks sake this girl is changing me so much. I walk back out to see Ellie talking to Brooks with a nervous face, still holding my drink.

"Mas, what happened?" Brooks says and Ellie looks relieved seeing me perfectly fine.

"Derek is a piece of shįt, thats what happened. He hurt my best friend" I say chugging the alcohol down.

"Then, when I went to go and teach him a lesson to not treat Leah or any other girls like that. She texted me this" I say pulling out my phone and showing it to Brooks and Ellie.

"Dude, when are you gonna ask her out?" Brooks says and I shrug.

"She doesnt feel the same way. When are you going to ask my sister out?" I say crossing my arms.

"I already did when she first got here" Brooks says and I smile.

"No fücking way. Yes, my best friend and sister. I'm happy for you guys" I say hugging my sister and giving Brooks a hand shake. "But, you know the drill" I say sternly

"Thanks man, you have nothing to worry about. And to answer your other statement. If you think that Leah, the girl who sent you that text doesn't like you, you're an idiot. And it's clear that you like her. You let her wear your jersey for crying out loud" Brooks says.

"No man, I just helped her through some stuff. She's grateful. She doesn't like me" I say shaking my head. "Hey Eric, go get me another drink" I need to clear my head.

"Mason, she adores you and you adore her. You saved her. Think about what would make you happy and go for it. And think about what you are doing right now and what it will do to her if you get into the car, drunk. It will tear her apart" Ellie says and I realize what I'm doing wrong.

"I will eventually guys. I promise. Thanks Elle, Brooks" I say walking away.

I find a nice quiet spot alone and decide to text Leah back.

'You're so cute. Thanks for being you. I think Elle and I are almost done here. Love you'

"Baby, what are you doing out here, alone?" Samantha says coming up to me.

"Samantha, I'm not in the mood" I say taking a sip out of my water.

"Wheres your little toy? Didn't want to bring her tonight? Felt the need of a change from that little prude?" She says sitting on my lap.

"Samantha, It's not funny. And don't say fake shįt about her" I say holding back my temper.

"You know, It's pretty cold out here. How about we go warm up in Eric's bed. You look so amazing in those clothes, I can't even begin to imagine how you would look without them" She says playing with my jacket.

"Samantha, Leah is my girlfriend. I'm not interested in you or cheating on her" I growl out abruptly standing up.

"Babe, come back" Samantha says trying to chase after me in her drunken state.

"Elle, are you ready to go home?" I say walking up to her and she nods.

"Brooks, you can come too. I'm gonna go call Leah" I say and give Leah a call.

"Hey Mas, everything okay?" She answers in her cute voice.

"Yeah love. Ellie, Brooks and I need a ride home" I say and I hear my mom say something.

"Okay, I'm on my way" She says and hangs up.

Soon enough she is here.

"Cute robe hun" I say getting in.

"Here" She says handing me a piece of gum, causing me to laugh.

I pop the gum in my mouth and chug the rest of my water, seeing that Leah has two bottles up front and there are two in the back.

"Drink" She says, stepping on the petal.

Ellie and Brooks take a sip of the water.

"Hey guys" Leah says as Ellie and Brooks close the water bottle.

"You guys official yet?" Leah continues causing Brooks to laugh and Ellie to blush.

"Yup, made it official a few hours ago" Brooks says and Leah smiles.

Soon we are home and my dad pulls in right behind us.

"Brooks, Leah, what a pleasure" He says shaking Brooks hand and hugging Leah.

"Hey Jim" Leah says smiling.

"Is that Tara's robe?" He says causing Leah to blush.

"Um yeah, I was upset so I was talking to Tara and she told me to wear it and we watched a movie" She explains and he laughs.

"Thats good, i'm glad you two had a good time" My dad says walking inside.

"Le, can I talk to you?" I say and Leah nods.

We make our way into my room. I want to talk to her about tonight and what exactly happened.

"Whats up Mas" She says jumping onto my bed and wrapping herself in the blanket.

"I just am worried. I want to know that you are okay" I say staring at her.

"Thank you Mason, I'm okay now" She wraps me in a hug.

She hugs me for a second longer than usual.

That single second gave me hope.

Word count: 2341

~Leah