I didn't belong here. I wasn't a fan of parties of large crowds to begin with but to top it off, I couldn't even get high to feel more in my element.

Aria and Miles walked alongside me as we approached inside the doors of the house that seemed to have belonged to a rich teenager in those dumb movies. Everyone there was around twenty to twenty-seven which landed me in the middle, behind twenty-four. I didn't mind, no one knew me.

When Miles was noticed, everyone started screaming and cheering. I was uncomfortable by the curious people who were looking at me standing next to him; there were many eyeballs on us. I wasn't exactly pleased when a few hungry eyes raked their glances up and down my girlfriend either. They could look but they couldn't touch.

I had my hand on her middle back while I leaned down to her ear. "Why is everyone so happy to see us?" I murmured.

Aria laughed and turned her face towards me. "It's Miles's party. It's a celebration for him making it into the army officially."

I nodded. Congratulations.

"Aria!" A high pitched sound outbeat the bumping music. Aria's back left my hand as she bolted away from me and literally pounced into another girl's arms.

I raised an eyebrow as I watched the two of them squeal of excitement towards each other. Then it wasn't just the two of them anymore, but four. All of them had matching grins of excitement as they spoke to each other, each hand on another girl's limb as they grasped on to each other.

She flipped her hair behind her shoulder and craned her neck towards my direction. I watched her intently while her seemingly friends spoke a thousand words per second. I gave a softened smirk to her, full knowing that she wasn't listening to a word they were saying anymore.

She grinned at me with rose colored cheeks after one of her friends whispered something in her ear. She lifted her arm up and waved me over to the chaos. I was already abandoned by Miles who was swarmed in a crowd of his large group of friends. I was the odd one out, scanning my surroundings while closely paying attention to one person in particular.

I walked slowly over to her while she waited impatiently. I caught the attention of her three friends who all shared a similar expression. An expression that screamed Who was he?

"Eli!" Aria smiled while dragging me closer to her. "These are my best friends from high school," She motioned her hand out.

I nodded towards the girls, intently observing each one of them. "Jaz," Aria politely pointed towards her caramel toned friend. She looked Persian by the way she had subtle cultural features in her carefully chosen outfit.

"Casey," Aria grinned at her redhead friend who looked like a dalmatian with her speckled freckles on every crevice of her skin.

"And Olivia," Aria motioned towards her last friend, a tall brunette.

Each of the girls dressed similar but not as well pulled off as Aria.

"Hey," I spoke with a charming smile and extra rasp in my voice. "I'm Eli, Aria's boyfriend."

Olivia bit her lip while the other two grinned from ear to ear. "We heard a lot about you but we didn't expect this," She spoke with intrigue.

Casey smacked her arm with a scold. "She doesn't mean it in that way."

I raised an eyebrow. "I get it," I said.

"Such a bad boy vibe," Olivia said cunningly.

"It's a real pleasure to meet you, Eli. You must be having the time of your life at her parents house huh?" Casey spoke again with humor. "I lost ten bucks by the way. I bet Olivia that she would hide you in a hotel before taking you back to her house."

"Hey!" Aria flicked Casey which only made her laugh and wrap her arm around her shoulder. "I'm a risk taker."

"Here, drink this then!" Olivia shoved a drink in Aria's hand. I got a whiff of the substance, immediately coming to the conclusion of tequila. "Eli do you want some?"

I smirked. "Nah, you girls enjoy."

Jaz was quiet with my presence, unlike how she was when we first arrived to the party. The girls began speaking in their own bubble of nonsense that I couldn't be bothered with.

I snaked my arm around Aria's waist and leaned down to her ear. "Behave yourself tonight, pretty girl," I whispered so quietly, that it was only audible for her to hear. I kissed her dressed up earlobe before walking away from them and into a different crowd where Miles was playing beer pong.

I opened my leather jacket and took out a mickey of whiskey and started taking slow, burning sips.

Miles turned over with a puppy dog grin on his face. "Buddy!" He raised his hands up. He turned to the rest of the group and cleared his throat. "Boys, boys. This is Eli, my sisters boyfriend. My brother in-law if you will! You shall accept him and not get on his bad side."

"Aw, so that means I lost my chance with your sister then?" One of the men joked. I glanced in his direction to where his smile slowly started to fade. Play nice. I offered a small smile of reassurance to lighten his words.

"Brady, you never had a chance with her," Miles laughed while shooting the ball into one of the cups across the table.

"Redemption!" Brady cheered as the ball fell into the cup.

I took another sip from my whiskey bottle while I watched my future brother in-law as he mentioned, fight for victory of champion. As the ball flew across the table, I couldn't help but have my eyes captured by something other than games. Someone Miles introduced me to only moments before, turned to another body in the corner of the crowd, exchanging wrists. I narrowed my eyes in a form of focus as I tried to distinguish the exact picture I was looking at.

My suspicions were correct when one nose dipped into the person's wrist and snorted a powdery substance then look up with wicked eyes. I chewed the inside of my lip, anxiety coursing through my veins as the thought of joining that specific party grew stronger. I didn't like parties, I didn't like meeting new people, I didn't like being belittled by Aria's parents. I didn't like having to be strong all the time in the sake of my sanity and those around me.

I continued to observe the two of them as it turned into three people, all dipping in as if a pack of wolves fighting for the last piece of meat. I wanted to join the wolves.

"You good there, buddy?" Miles threw the palm of his hand on my shoulder, causing me to move back from his touch and snap back into reality.

"Spaced out," I said while taking another sip of booze.

Miles looked past me to the people I was watching and nodded. "I see that," He said. "Do you want some?"

I frowned. "What?"

Miles nodded his head towards the people. "I can get you some, if you want it."

I quizzed my eyes into his. He was testing me. "No." I swallowed. "I don't fuck around with that stuff anymore."

"Anymore?" Miles kept his poker face. He took a sip of his own drink.

"I'd have guessed Aria would have told you by now."

"She tells me most things. But she wouldn't tell me another person's secrets, she's too loyal," Miles tilted one corner of his lips upward. "So you're good then?"

"Yeah."

"Then lets party!" Miles tapped his cup against my bottle and took a sip. I matched his behavior and nodded with a fake smile. Sure.

Miles was easy going. He didn't care what most people did, it was obvious. He was hanging around people who were doing blow, drinking, smoking, passing out, and oddly enough, me. He didn't leave me behind during the party, but only encouraged me to let loose further. It was fun to be with a guy who partied hard like he did in the right moment.

I was finally loosened up.

Grabbing another drink from the variety that the party had to offer, I only realized that I basically drank three quarters of the whiskey without even paying attention. Miles was good at keeping me occupied and included in the fun.

"Eli?" A male voice beside my ear questioned.

I turned my head to a brunette man who was only a few inches shorter than I was. "What?" I asked.

"Eli Kingsley, holy fuck!" The man held his fist to his mouth and let out an excited laugh. "It's really you."

"Yeah man, what's it to ya?" I asked.

"Don't you remember me?"

I squinted my eyes at the man. He looked familiar, too familiar, but I had no idea. I could have met him a couple hours ago or I could have met him a couple months ago, I didn't know.

"No."

He frowned. "We did business way back a few years ago with Na-"

"Look buddy, I have to go, I'm not buying anything," I mumbled and grabbed my drink and walked away. Miles must have been testing me still. I didn't need blow tonight.

As I turned away, I fell face to face with a girl who styled her platinum blonde hair in a bouncy curls. "Hi stranger," She purred.

"Hello," I smiled.

"I haven't seen you around here before, you know Miles?" she smiled and tilted her head to the side.

"You could say that," I sipped my drink. "Have you been watching me?"

"I'm a keen observer of people I've never met before. Maybe we can get to know each other," She trailed her fingers down my arm. "My name is Carson, most people know me."

"I'm sure most people do," I simpered.

"And what's your name?"

"Eli."

"Eli, I like it," She grinned. "What brings you here, Eli?"

"I thought you were a keen observer. I came here with Aria and Miles."

"You've definitely been hanging out with the better of the two tonight," She scrunched her nose in a form of revulsion.

I clamped down on my jaw to hold back from saying something I'd regret.

"She's got a bit of a reputation from the last time she went to a party in town. She seems to be a tad bit dirty. She's made her way around, giving the football team- But anyways, Miles doesn't like it when people talk about her like that."

"I'd have to agree," I glowered.

"I've been coming to parties here since I was fourteen, I know the house inside and out. I could show you around so you don't get lost or mixed up with the wrong people."

I removed her hand from my arm. "Are you asking to get to know me alone?" I stared down at her, hardening my eyes.

"I know what I want," She swallowed.

"You should be careful, Carson. On the people you try to befriend yourself with."

She bit her lip and smiled. "I don't look like a person who lives with no enemies. I've had my eyes on you tonight, Eli. You're an observer just like I am. If my suspicions are correct, you've seen me around here tonight too. And I know that I'm not someone that could easily be looked away from."

"I have seen you around. And I know what I want just as much as you know what you want," Her eyes blazed with flirtatious excitement. "I always get what I want."

"So do I."

"Then why haven't I come up to you?"

Carson frowned and stepped back on her leg. "What? Well-"

"I've been watching you tonight, that part is true. I've been looking at you the same way that you look at yourself in the mirror before you leave your house. Utter disgust."

"Excuse me?" She scoffed.

I smirked. "Be careful who you gossip to, Carson. You don't want to end up getting hurt because your desperation is getting the better of you."

I moved to the side and away from her. While walking through the crowd, my eyes glided towards Aria and her friends, laughing and full of high energy. Her friends were jumping around and plastering their arms on each other while laughing and sat on the backrest of a couch.

"She's fucked," Miles snuck up behind me with a grin. "She hasn't partied in a long time with her friends."

Aria stumbled off the couch and started dancing with her redheaded friend. "She's having a good time," I smiled at the sight.

"I try to get her out of the house as much as possible when she visits, all considering. She might snap one day."

I nodded at his words and observed her and her friends. She was wasted and I didn't blame her. All four of them were blasted, it was only a matter of time before things got a little out of hand. Her friends and her were wavering back and forth while dancing. The girl that I believe was named Olivia already took off a layer of clothing.

"So you met Carson," Miles spoke again.

"She's a character," I muttered.

"She's a royal bitch, be careful of her," Miles warned.

"Wasn't planning on seeing her again," I stated. Another test.

I laughed when the redhead, Casey, grabbed a man's wrist and took his hat off his head and placed it on her own, then motioned for him to walk away. She seemed like the fun one among the other friends.

"How do you know her?" I asked, side eyeing him.

"Unfortunately we go back a few years. She's easy to lay but hard to get rid of is all I'll say," he laughed.

I sipped my drink.

I nudged Miles. "I think I should probably take her home," I nodded towards the girls.

Miles agreed. "Yeah man, it looks like a good idea. I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow, I'm going to sleep here tonight."

He offered a fist bump which I took before walking away.

I approached the girls, who noticed my arrival. Casey nudged Aria who spun around almost too much before planting her eyes on my face. When I met them, Aria grinned and pounced into my arms. I caught her with a strong hug and squeezed her before setting her down.

"Hey beautiful," I smirked.

"Hi!" She squealed and planted kisses all over my face and neck.

I caught a glimpse of her friends giving us a cheeky look, especially Casey who was seemingly beaming from excitement for her friend. Looking back at Aria, her hands were clenched to my arms while she eyed to the side of us, where Carson stood gaped.

"Wanna get out of here?" I murmured teasingly.

"Desperately," She nodded.

I glanced at her three friends who were just as sloppy as Aria was. "Do you guys need money for a cab home?" I asked, fishing out my wallet.

Jaz and Olivia shared a similar glance. When they turned back to me, they had a large grin on their faces. "We're staying. We will figure out how to get home," Olivia spoke.

"Well I'm leaving," Casey walked up to us and gave me a nod. Her eyes were protective over Aria, she held the look all night even while she had fun.

I opened my wallet and gave her a fifty. I had no idea how far away she lived.

The other two friends continued drinking whatever it was that was in their cup. Tequila, a mix maybe. I narrowed my eyes and handed them each a twenty. "In case you guys are strapped," I said.

They hesitantly took the cash from my hands and gave me thank yous. I glanced at Aria and nodded my head towards the door. She smiled and extended her arms out towards Casey and the other two girls, bringing in a group hug.

Casey followed us outside where I already had a smoke lit. "You didn't have to do that you know," She said while typing the cab number on her phone. She looked up at me with a serious stare. "Give us money. You didn't have to do that."

I nodded. "I've known a few too many people who've died while drunk driving."

Her eyebrows knitted together while gave me a simple nod of acceptance. "Thank you," She smiled. "From what I've heard, you're a really good guy to Aria. She's my best friend in the world, treat her with respect or I'll hunt you down."

I stifled a laugh. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. Take care of her, and for the love of god and cheese crackers, make sure she visits more often."

"I will," I offered sympathy.

"Hey thanks, it was really nice meeting you," she poked my arm. "Till next time?"

I nodded. "Good night, Casey."

The night was warm while the breeze was a calming stillness. Considering Aria's parents house was only a few blocks away, I thought the fresh air would be suitable. She began dancing around me while making aimless conversation on our journey home. She skipped over to me and grabbed my hand and twirled herself around my hand and under my arm. She's been nothing but amusement.

When we got to her home, I had to help her up the few steps to the doors. She jabbed her key towards the keyhole but missed and stabbed the fresh painted door. "Oops," She mumbled and tried again.

"I had such a fun night tonight!" Aria cheered. "We should get a pizza! And a lot of dipping sauces," She scrambled into the house. "Help me take my shoes off!" She lifted her leg up in the air.

"Sh, babe," I hushed. "You're going to wake your parents," I whispered.

"They sleep like the dead," She assured with a loud voice and stumbled forward. Before I had a chance to react, she slammed her hip into the entrance side table and knocked over what looked to be a very expensive vase.

I grabbed her waist and pulled her towards me.

"What is going on here?" Annabella's voice echoed from the stairs. I looked up to her wearing a nightgown, crouching over with squinted eyes to dipitcher what's happened.

"I'm drunk," Aria announced to her mother. I let out a heavy breath. "Go back to your room," She demanded.

I scratched my chin. "I'm sorry, we're going to bed," I said with apology.

"You got my daughter wasted and disrespectful," Annabella retorted.

I sighed. "She's a big girl, she can make her own choices."

"Not when she's being controlled by a thug!" The mother insulted. "You're taking advantage of her. And turning her into a monster."

I picked up the majority of the vase pieces off the floor and put them back on the table.

I held Aria's hand while she walked in front of me and up the stairs, me trailing behind her. Aria released my hand and walked past her mother without so much as a glance in her direction.

As I walked up the stairs, Annabella's hand flew up in front of the space between us. "You are not sleeping in her room."

"Yes he is!" Aria sloppily called from behind her. "We're going to have sex too!"

I smirked at her words, but more so at her mother's facial reaction. "Don't worry, I'll be good." I mocked.

In her room, she was already half naked and laying face first on her bed, sideways. I shook my head and let out a chuckle as I closed the door and clicked the lock a little too loud just to instigate her mother.

I walked over to her and gently took off her clothes. She stirred and whined while shoving her face further into the pillow. After she was completely naked, I pulled the blanket over her perfect body and brushed the hair out of her face.

I laid next to her for what felt like forever. I was wide awake, uncomfortable. She had all the blankets and most of the bed and all I had was my sweater to keep my warm and my blaring thoughts to keep me occupied. I hated nights like these.

Sighing, I crept out of bed and stumbled for my pants on the floor in the darkness. Fishing out my smokes from one of the pockets, I snuck downstairs and out of the house.

I sat on the white railing that wrapped around the whole front of their house. I lit a smoke, feeling tranquility in the stress reliever that it held over me.

It didn't last long when the sound of gravel being tampered with perked my ears. My eyes shot up, scanning for the disturbance. When the light shone on his face, I breathed in relief.

"I thought you were sleeping out tonight," I called out while hauling on another smoke.