I lift my head off of the pillow on Amelia's bed, my head pounding. She's still sleeping there in the clothes from last night with the covers over her. She looks so peaceful, yet she's not. Because when she wakes up she will come across the news that she was drugged, and in the worst possible way.

Even after our argument last night, when she basically told me to do my own thing and she will too, I had to stay with her. I couldn't let her out of my sight. Whoever did this might have came looking for her, hoping to finish the job. The thought makes me shiver.

Deciding to get her water for when she wakes up, I go downstairs and find Val passed out on the couch with cocaine scattered beside him. I could be sick.

"Get up, Val," I say while trying to lift him from the couch. He moans like a baby but eventually stands on his own two feet, putting most of his weight on me and I practically carry him upstairs. Santiago is awake for once when I put Val down onto his bed.

"How's Amelia?"

"Still out."

"You think she'll be able to walk again when she wakes up?"

"If she sleeps long enough." I hope she does. I don't want her to wake up and still not be able to move. She'd be terrified.

When I go down to the kitchen, Amelia's Mom and Dad are there, drinking coffee. I gulp.

"Seems like you guys had fun last night," Dylan says.

"Not so much." I pour a glass of water and drink it, the feeling sensational to my dehydrated body.

"Did Amelia get drunk?"

"Not exactly." I sigh, closing my eyes. I need to tell them. "Her drink was spiked."

Kate sets down her coffee mug and they both stare at me. "With what?"

I was hoping she wouldn't ask that. "A date rape drug."

Kate's hand covers her mouth, her eyes averting to the floor. "Are you telling me that someone tried to rape my daughter?"

"I wouldn't have let that happen. I didn't leave her alone all night."

"What kind of people are you letting into your home?"

I look down. This was partly our fault. "It won't happen again."

"Damn right it won't, because Amelia wont be anywhere near your next party."

"Kate," Dylan says. "Don't take it out on Alex. At least he stayed with her."

She gives her husband an angry look for not taking her side. "I'm going to see her." She gets up and walks out, Dylan sighs and follows her.

After i've showered and put on clean clothes, I go back into Amelia's room to find her awake, sitting up. At least she can move.

"What the hell happened?"

After I tell her about the rape date drug, she buries her face in her hands. I hear a sob and I don't even need to think about it before i'm by her side, wrapping my arms around her.

"You scared the shit out of me when I saw you."

She leans her head on my chest. "Sorry."

I laugh and put my hand on her head as she cries more with her head resting against my chest. It was such a horrible thing that happened to her, and it wouldn't have happened if we didn't have that stupid party. "You're okay." I run my hand along her soft hair. "You're okay," I repeat, more to myself that time.

"It's like someone's out to get me. First the picture, now this."

"James Portland wasn't there."

"Maybe he got someone to do it." I think about that for a moment, trying to figure out who would want to hurt Amelia. "The last thing I remember is our argument, then talking to Val."

"All that happened was you lost feeling in your body, and Ray found you before you passed out." Ray and I still haven't spoken to each other since what he heard Santiago say, so I'm surprised he even got someone to tell me she was in trouble.

She pulls away from me, about to say something but her Mom comes in before she can.

"Amelia, how are you feeling?"

I stand up and let Kate take my place, then leave.

+++

"Did you do it?"

"Do what, man?" James steps back, intimidated by my anger, and his back hits the wall.

"Spike Amelia's drink!"

"No! I wouldn't do that." There is fear in his eyes which are both surrounded by purple-blue circles from my hits. Other parts of his face also has bruising and cuts.

"I doubt that."

"Alex, I swear. I feel bad about what happened – and about the picture."

My anger rises from the mention of what he did, and I grab him by his collar. "Then why'd you send it?" I hiss.

"Because-" He takes a breath. "'cause-"

"Oh, Alex. Bullying people as usual?" A sweet voice says.

I turn to my right to see Chelsea, almost having to shield my eyes from how glittery and pink she is. She swipes her chestnut hair behind her shoulder, smiling. I step back from James.

"I'm not gonna press charges," he says quietly. I narrow my eyes. Why not? I beat him to fuck and he's not even gonna get back at me for it? Finally, I nod and he walks away after one last look at Chelsea.

"You can be awfully scary, can't you?"

"What do you want?" I turn to her.

"Can't I talk to a fellow student in the halls and just say hello?" I just stare at her until she continues. "You and the new girl dating yet?"

"No. What's it to you?"

She shrugs. "It's obvious you like her. I saw you carry her upstairs at your party, and you beat up James for her, right?"

"What's it to you?" I repeat.

"Hey, Amelia," she says, looking behind me. Amelia slows her walking and comes to a stop, hesitantly looking between Chelsea and I. "We haven't met yet – I'm Chelsea, but you can call me Chels."

There's no point having a nickname if you gave it to yourself.

"I feel so bad about what happened to you on Saturday," she continues, her voice honeyed. "I hope you're alright."

Amelia nods. "Thanks."

The bell rings and Chelsea flips her hair again. "Well, I better go. Nice meeting you." Her eyes avert to me. "Talk later, Alex." She says it in a way that implies we are gonna do more than talking. Gracias, pero no gracias. I got better things to do y better girls to do.

Amelia looks at me blankly before walking away.

I stare at the back of Amelia's head in math while Jace talks about how much of a douchebag a guy called Tim Littlewoods is. The same guy who just so happened to be making out with Yasmin today.

"I'm just saying, Tim Littlewoods probably has somethin' little growing down there in his littlewoods."

"Okay I get it – you're jealous and better for Yasmin than that dude, even though you're probably not. You can shut up now."

He scoffs. "I don't get jealous. There are plenty of fish in the sea to nibble on my co-"

"Jace, please be quiet," Aarons says.

"And that right there is exactly why anyone would be better for her than you," I tilt my head to side and he scowls.

I go back to staring at Amelia's blonde head while Aarons talks about whatever he talks about all day.

"Ain't she cute when she's drunk?" Jace says as we walk through the corridor.

I stop. "Who?"

"Yasmin." He nods over to wear Yasmin's standing at her locker.

"What makes you think she's drunk?"

"Dude, her body language is completely

different."

My head jolts back. "Since when do you pay attention to body language."

He shrugs and a couple of books fall from Yasmin's locker, making a passing boy go straight to the rescue. Jace and I go over without hesitation and death glare the boy, making him literally run the other way.

"You guys are assholes, holy shit," Yasmin says and leans down to get her books, ending up in her falling on her butt.

Jace looks at me. "Told you."

"Eugh, help me up," she holds her arms up and we both take one and stand her up.

"One of these days you'll get caught drinking here."

"I'm pretty good at hiding it," she says then squeezes my chin before closing her locker and walking away, unable to even walk in a straight line.

+++

who ships Jace & Yasmin? when i finish this book i was thinking of doing another in her POV, since there is history between her and Jace.

teaser: alexia get it onnnnn

vote, comment, follow

ly

-e