Why am I here? How did I let Elaine talk me into this?

I clicked and clacked my way up the stairs with my arm looped around the woman herself. In a normal situation, I'd be shivering against the bitter autumn breeze. Not tonight.

In addition to her last-minute request, she took it upon herself to dress me in her clothes like her own life-sized Barbie doll. Black block heeled sandals, black ripped jeans, and a black button up crop top.

With my giant coat of course, despite her protests.

Just as we were about to head out, she stopped me and undid the buttons on the top. "Show some skin." She chided. My arms and hands were swatted away with every attempt to hide.

According to her, I was still too...stiff.

To loosen me up before this forced situation, she had given me two shots of Bacardi. As usual, I coughed and sputtered but it made quick work of me.

I held onto her shoulders as we walked to the car. I came close to losing my voice as I belted out lyrics for the entire fifteen-minute ride. Unlike her younger brother, she was not here for it.

Now, I was biting back a generous smile as the makeshift bouncer looked me up and down. My head leaned against Elaine's shoulder. Her skin was cool to the touch in contrast to mine. My cheeks were flushed with heat, likely from the alcohol.

Her elbow gently nudged my ribs, as if to say "stop embarrassing me".

I untangled myself from her and squared my shoulders. The quick jolt of anxiety I felt was enough to sober me up for a few seconds.

"Enjoy ladies."

The stocky man stepped aside to let us pass through the gates of darkness. Elaine turned the knob without a second thought. She grabbed my arm as if to bolster her own confidence in whatever we were walking into.

What came at us was a cacophony of drunk and/or high young adults with music loud enough to burst my eardrums. I plastered a wide smile on my face as Elaine tilted her head at me. We plunged ourselves head first into what would be a memorable night.

And then I instantly regretted my coat.

The door shut behind us, trapping us like rats in this seemingly minuscule house. How could so many people fit in one room?

My alcohol infused dreamlike state disappeared within seconds as I boiled in my clothes. Elaine was focused on bringing me as deep as she could into this hellhole, unaware of the fact that I was already feeling its effects.

She was stopped multiple times, by people she knew and those she didn't. Despite the heatstroke that would soon consume me, I was fascinated by how popular and eye-catching Elaine was.

"Hey," She addressed me as we stopped in front of another door. "Give me your coat." Without protest, I pulled it down from my sleeves.

Just as she was forcing it into a closet that was already at capacity, a new song came on. One that made everyone cheer, especially Elaine.

She shut the door and grabbed my hand, hauling me back into the abyss. And we danced. More like she danced on me while I tried to keep up.

A man appeared from the ocean of party guests to drag Elaine back into the depths with him. She was gone in an instant. My last glimpse of the girl was a mystical mirage of her throwing that ass back with everything she had.

Now, how do I get my body to do that? Alcohol.

I stood on my tiptoes as I scanned the room for alcohol. All by its lonesome against the wall, stood the glorious alcohol table. I just needed to make it across this sea of people.

I held my breath as if my life depended it on it. One hand out in front, I parted people like the Red Sea. I shimmied my way through crevices and nearly shoved some people, but I made it.

Now what do I do?

Jack Daniel's, New Amsterdam, Svedka, Bacardi, and Hennessy. Don Julio, Casamigos, Fireball, Absolut, and Malibu. What won't make me throw up? Then my gaze landed on the massive punch bowl sitting right in the middle of it all.

I needed that.

I reached for a plastic cup, yet I felt a warm hand. Instantly, I jumped back in surprise. Oh god, they'll probably think I'm a freak who doesn't pay attention. My eyes followed the hand, up his arm and straight to the source.

Oh.

Darkness shrouded most of his features in a veil of mystery. His smile though? Charming, but devilish. It was enough to make me blush, but then again what didn't make me blush?

"Sorry." I stepped back, waving my hands profusely.

"Go ahead." He encouraged as his offending hand hovered in the air.

I shrugged and offered a meek smile as I grabbed a cup for each of us. As I passed it to him, our fingers grazed again. My cheeks tingled as I glanced at him. The corners of his lips twitched as he regarded me.

Are we having a moment?

The intrusive thought almost broke my unstable composure. I need to find out if we're having a moment or not. "What are you drinking?" I boldly asked.

"What?" He tapped his ear as he shuffled closer. I repeated my question louder as I tapped my cup. He pointed at the big punch bowl. "You?"

"I don't know, maybe a soda?" It was meant to be sarcastic. The table was littered with alcohol, not a caffeinated beverage in sight.

His shoulders shook as he chuckled. "You came to this party to drink soda?"

I smiled as he laughed, "And what if I did?"

"You're a big girl aren't you?" He inched closer to me. Our breaths mingled as he reached behind me to pour himself some punch. "Try this with me."

My cup squeaked as I squealed inside.

Since Elijah's (second) subtle rejection, I've been feeling especially insecure. Part of me wished that he would have looked past my hesitation to continue in such an intimate act and taken things slow, but I'd seemed to have ruined any chance of us ever happening with a simple: "Uh...I just wanted to kiss."

It seemed as though Elijah took my desire to take things slow as a sign that we should have never happened in the first place. Technically, "we" never happened at all, it was just a kiss.

Since then, Elijah enforced his friend zone boundaries heavily. You know what that meant? Side hugs and fist bumps. Fucking fist bumps.

Fuck that.

At least for the night, I was giving up that handsome, gorgeous man. I was a single, independent woman. I didn't have time to pine over a man that clearly wasn't interested.

"Sure." I turned swiftly, allowing my butt to brush against him. My free hand clasped the table while I felt him briefly press himself against me. He's just pouring your juice girl, relax.

No, we're definitely having a moment.

"Thanks," I said breathlessly. My head turned slightly, enough to give him slight eye contact.

"Bottoms up." He tapped my cup with his, giving me yet another bewitching smile. Within minutes of meeting this man, I was weak in the knees. I returned it with my own as we downed our drinks. "What do you think?"

"Perfect." I can't even taste the alcohol.

"More?" The stranger smiled against my ear.

I nodded as the liquid courage took over. Suddenly, I felt as though I couldn't support my own weight. My eyes hung low as I let out a low chuckle.

How pathetic. Already wasted after a single drink.

As if he sensed my instant inebriation, his hands snaked around my waist. "No more for you."

I felt like a marionette. He moved me mechanically, putting one foot in front of the other. Like a baby, I stumbled as if taking my first steps. I relinquished my cup, coming to terms with the fact that I wouldn't be able to indulge any longer.

How much could I really indulge in anyway? I had already lost feeling in my tongue.

"Such a lightweight." He tutted as he held me up straight. My bubble burst.

I needed to return to reality. Ignoring the Bacardi I had earlier that night, I had no reason to be acting like this. I steeled my legs, trying my best to come across as a normal, sober, human being.

"I am not." My voice was unnaturally high as I cosplayed as a sober young adult.

I marched ahead, not entirely sure where I was leading us. I didn't mind the fact that his hands were still on my waist. Though I didn't realize it at the time, he was gradually guiding me to a secluded corner.

We settled against the wall, our bodies swayed to the beat of the music. I was giggling wildly as I wobbled, eventually leaning against the man. I wanted to touch him.

I ran my fingers across the ripples of his waves. A familiar afrobeat song came on, and my hips began to move on their own. His hands tightened around my waist as I grinned.

I turned, let him slide his hands down to my hips. I danced against him, making sure to go slow during certain parts of the song. My hands rested on his head as he held me. I deserved this. I needed to forget about Eli.

"Hey!" Someone tapped my elbow harshly.

Elaine of course.

Her arms were crossed over her chest. She eyed the man warily. "I've been looking for you." I groaned internally.

"It's okay, I'm fine." I half heartedly smiled. Part of me got where she was coming from: it's dark, with a lot of people I didn't know. I could have already been drugged and taken advantage of. But I wasn't.

I was horny as fuck though. I could tell by the persistent poking into my back, that this stranger was too. Elaine didn't give a rat's ass. She hauled me from that man with the strength of an ox. Before I could protest, she was pulling me away.

I didn't know Elaine's intentions at the time, but I don't think I would've cared. I dragged my feet as she pulled me further from the stranger that would have possibly cured me of her damned brother.

A new song came on. Along with the rest of the room, Elaine cheered.

"Dance with me." She tugged at my arm. She turned and threw it back on me. As much as I wanted to keep being petulant and moody, I still wanted to dance.

I held her hips like that stranger did mine and moved in sync with her. We laughed as I struggled to keep up, but we were having fun. That was until I felt a familiar presence on my back.

I ignored it until his hands slinked around my waist. I turned my head and was met with that devilish smile. He swayed side to side, slowly pulling me away from Elaine.

She was quick to notice, but it was too late. In the blink of an eye she was descended upon by another dancer eager to take my place.

"I'm sorry," The stranger yelled over the music. "I missed you." He linked our hands as he led us out of the room.

"Where are we going?" I tried to ask, but once we passed the DJ's set up I knew my question would fall on deaf ears.

The kitchen was brightly lit. The sudden transition burned my eyes, but it was nothing compared to the bitter autumn air. We were out in the backyard. There were a few other stragglers here as well, but they paid no mind to us.

"Why out here?" I pulled away from him to hold myself.

He turned to face me and I held myself a bit tighter. Why were his lips so pink and wet?

"It was suffocating in there." I knew his smile seemed mischievous before, but in that moment his entire aura felt off. My heart began to beat faster. "Wanna smoke with me?"

No matter how attractive that stranger was, I wanted to go back to the safety of the crowded house and the safety of Elaine. "No, thank you, I don't smoke."

"I thought you were a big girl." He snickered, closing the distance between us. I backed up against the wall. I plastered a smile on my face to hide my discomfort, but I knew my facade wasn't working on him. "Why, you scared?"

"I mean—I have I just don't like it." I crossed my arms, looking anywhere but him.

"Woah relax," He watched me carefully. "I didn't mean to—"

"No, you just make me nervous." God, why would you admit that? I shook my head, willing myself to calm down. "I mean you don't make me nervous, I'm just—"

"You weren't so nervous when you were rubbing up on me." He placed a hand on my cheek. "Stop being scared."

His fingers drifted down to my chin, pushing my head up slightly. Closing his eyes, he began the moist journey to my lips. If I could have become one with the wall to avoid those wet smackers, I would have.

"There you are." Elaine called out to us. She leaned against the doorway leading out to the backyard. "Can you stop stealing my friend, Nick?"

"She started it," He laughed, backing away from me. "I'm just finishing it."

"I actually don't care," Elaine's smile was so sickly sweet that I had no choice but to believe it was fake. "Let's go back, V." Eagerly, I tore myself off the wall. I nodded at him before walking back to her.

"Wait," Nick grabbed my arm, pulling me back to him. "You just let her boss you around like that?"

I was frozen. I didn't want to tell him that he made me thoroughly uncomfortable. I didn't want to tell him that his lips alone had turned me off. He made me dry.

"Well, no but—"

"I thought we were having a good time." His hand tightened around my arm. "Why you letting her tell you what to do?"

"She's too nice to say what's really on her mind." Elaine crossed her arms. "What you don't seem to understand is what 'no' means."

Nick only laughed. "I know what 'no refunds' mean." A chill ran up my spine as the words came out of his mouth. "Either you stop bugging us or you can get escorted out of here without a refund."

Of course this would be his party.

"I could care less about your lame ass party, let's go V." Elaine held out her hand.

"Stop letting her boss you around." Nick squeezed my arm. "Weren't we having a good time earlier?"

"She's not," I started, a blast of anxiety exploded within me as I desperately tried to avoid a conflict. "And we were, I just think it's best if—"

"—you think for yourself." Nick finished, his dark eyes were hard. "Don't let her pressure you."

"V, let's go." Elaine gritted out. She was becoming visibly frustrated.

I didn't want to seem like I couldn't think for myself.

"I can make her leave if you want." He murmured in my ear. "She's clearly making you nervous."

"No," I blurted. "It's fine. I'm fine." I nodded to the both of them.

"Okay," Elaine rolled her eyes again. "When you stop being an idiot come find me inside." She pulled out her phone, putting on a disinterested face as she stepped back inside.

"Finally," Nick let out an exasperated sigh. "I thought she'd never leave us alone." He pulled out a blunt and a lighter.

I hope I didn't get her too upset.

The click of the lighter jolted me out of my thoughts."I think I should go back inside." I began to back away from him, walking towards the back entrance.

He grabbed my arm again. "Take a puff, it'll help you relax." That's what they all say.

"Okay fine, at least dance with me." Gently pulling me back to him, we leaned against the house. More like, I leaned on him while he leaned against the house.

The music could still be heard from outside. He swayed us from side to side. One hand held a blunt while the other held me by my waist.

My eyes shut as I relaxed against him. Breathing in the smoke he exhaled had likely given me a bit of a contact high already.

His fingers explored my exposed midsection. I felt him poking into my butt. "You're really cute, you know that?" He took another drag of his blunt, before offering it to me again.

"Thanks, but I'm good." I muttered.

"I could help you relax," He held me tighter as his fingers journey led them inside my top. Static filled the edge of my vision. That's when I realized I wasn't breathing. His fingers grazed my nipple then pinched.

I had to snap out of it.

My hand grasped his wrist, halting his movements. "Stop." I pushed against him, hoping he'd get the message.

Nick pinched me in tighter as he laughed, "How can I when you look so good?"

I could have stood there and waited until it was over. That would have put me more at ease then actually having to confront him about his disgusting actions.

That would involve conflict. That would cause me anxiety.

"I said stop." I ripped his arms from me, putting a lot of distance between us.

My eyes stung as tears filled them. My hands were shaking and my breaths were ragged. I needed to breathe.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Nick spat. "I thought we were having a good time."

He's wrong, not me. Why do I feel bad?

"Sorry," I started, already regretting how I started my statement. "I just—"

"Don't fucking apologize Verona." Someone snapped from behind me. "I should kick your ass."

I turned, recognizing the angry voice behind me. Eli yanked me behind him as if I was nothing but a piece of paper. "Eli wait—"

Nick flicked the remnants of his blunt away, causally regarding the both of us. "Is that your girl or something? She's been teasing me all night."

I watched Eli's fists clench and I knew things would only get worse the longer they spoke. "And I could still hear her saying stop from ten feet away."

He advanced on Nick quickly. I knew if I didn't do anything soon, Eli would do something drastic.

I grabbed his hand, pulling him to me. "Please let's just go."

His eye searched mine before falling to my disheveled outfit. His jaw tightened and his breathing became harsh. "Fine." He grabbed my hand, dragging me towards the front yard.

"Verona," Nick called after us. "When you get that stick out of your ass, call me." Eli nearly crushed my hand as he stopped in his tracks.

Another wave of anxiety washed over me. "No, thanks." I frowned at him before turning back to Eli.

Given the way he was holding my hand that, I knew that this was only the beginning. Eli would give me hell for this. I should've stayed my ass home.