The cup from my hand was taken from me when Stephanie nipped at my ear. "Come on, Theo.." She whispered seductively, practically sitting on my lap. "You know you want to go upstairs with me."

I didn't. Not one part of me wanted to go upstairs with her. If I was being brutally honest, I really wasn't in the mood.

"Hey..." I put my hands on her shoulders and leant away from her. She frowned. "How drunk are you?"

Her eyes darkened at my question and she removed herself from my lap with a huff, her arms crossed over her chest. "I'm not drunk, I just like you Theo."

She may of not been super drunk right now, but I could smell the alcohol on her breath. "I like you too, Steph."

"But not enough to fuck me." For fuck sake. I leant back against the couch, cussing at myself.

She dropped her arms, eyes softening as she leant in. But before her lips could touch mine, I gently pushed her back. She scowled, her pink lips far too close to mine. "Why don't you like me like that?" I swallowed and sat up.

"Stephanie.." She huffed and I watched as her eyes narrowed on me.

"Is it because I'm not good enough?" She tilted her head and I made a point of shaking my head but that wasn't enough for her.

My patience was wearing thin.

"No. You are good enough. It's just that I'm not in the mood right now." I said with annoyance, but she ignored that and kicked a leg over my waist and straddled my lap once again. I groaned mentally. What part of, 'I wasn't in the mood', did she not understand?

"But I can make you in the mood." Her fingers dragged along my collar and I sighed. "Are you in the mood now?" She whispered in my ear and I looked down at the cup in my hand. I couldn't drink anymore, Father would be pissed.

But fuck him.

I downed the rest of my drink and dragged my finger along my mouth to catch the excess alcohol.

"No." I said, pushing her off my lap and tossing the now crumpled cup aside. I stood up and so did she, clinging to my side like an animal waiting for its food.

"What do you mean, no?" Stephanie asked, frantically grabbing ahold of my wrist.

I chuckled lightly and yanked my hand from her grip, "I said no, now leave it for fuck sake." I rolled my eyes at her pesky behaviour and walked outside into the yard where most of my friends were. Some of them were passed out, pissed or hardcore making out with someone.

"Heyy mann!" Cody tried to stand up but ended up tipping towards the ground. I was lucky enough to catch him with my hand and helped him sit back down before he fell face first onto the grass. "Here, have this." I said, spotting a random bottle of water that was beside him which he must've tried to drink to sober himself up.

"Thanks mann. You're really cool, do you know that?" He asked, smiling and patting me on the shoulder. "This is the best party, EVER!"

I chuckled and helped him drink the water safely without choking and then dying. "You got it from here?" I asked him and he nodded, giving me a big thumbs up. I walked away back up the porch steps and back into the house, "Will you just go away?" I snapped as I could see Stephanie following me.

She didn't like that.

"You're such a screw over Theo!" She yelled at me, loud enough to be heard over the deep base of the music from the living room. The house shook and my ears were ringing, I had no time for Stephanie's bullshit. "Theo! Get back here this instant! We should talk about this!"

I stopped abruptly and felt her go into the back of me. "What the fuck is there to talk about? Just leave me the fuck alone man!"

Then she wrapped her hands around my arm, kissing my biceps. "I'm sorry."

I laughed, keeping my arm still. "You're always sorry. I've had enough of your stupid games." I told her and she pouted. "Don't do that." I warned her and yanked my arm free.

I couldn't tell if she was running after me as I walked back into the living room or not since the music was cancelling out every sound and emotion there was in the place.

Stephanie was the most annoying girl I had ever laid eyes on.

As I went to start clearing up the trash off the floor and the spilt alcohol that oozed down onto the wooden floor, I felt something tap me. Or someone.

Then it happened again.

Then again.

Before I could allow it to happen one more time, I spun around, expecting to see Stephanie's face and hear her bullshit sad excuses of how she needed me and she couldn't live without me, it wasn't her. It was Willow. The girl I had never expected to be here at something like this.

Her eyes were fluttering open and closed as she swayed side to side. Her mouth was pulled up into a small smile as she saw I turned around. But I couldn't help notice the look on her face when she realised it was me.

It was a mix between shocked and scared.

I couldn't decipher whether or not that was good, or if it was bad. I just kind of hoped it was good.

My chest heaved up and down as I couldn't help let my eyes drag down her small frame. Her blonde hair that lit up her eyes bounced on her shoulders and danced its way down to her chest. Her face was perfect. There seemed to be a dark hue colour that shaded her cheeks - it even matched her lipstick shade. Her freckles stood out and I realised how beautiful she really was up close.

Usually the words when someone would often compliment someone else's appearance, never associated itself with me. It wasn't something I did. Ever. But when it came to her, for whatever reason, it came out easily. Her nature and overall heart-like face had an effect on me. Her lake blue eyes that stared and perplexed into mine as if she couldn't believe I was standing right in front of her, had an effect on me.

She, had an effect on me.

"Theo?" The words left her mouth as a soft whisper, uncertain but also out of shock. A knowing smirk found its way onto my face as it always did when she was around. It was something I couldn't help. Something that I had no control over.

I cleared my throat and it was like I was suddenly brought back into my senses. I could feel and smell her minty breath fanning my face which was a good enough indication that we were far too close to each other. I stepped back and stood up straighter. But that only made her stare even more at me. I could feel the tips of my ears start to tint red.

Fuck. This wasn't me.

"You shouldn't be here." I told her firmly, voice remaining deep and bold. Willow looked down at my lips, as if she was reading the words coming out of my mouth like a script. Her lashes fluttered up and down, evidently telling me she had more drink than I have had tonight. A school night.

I knew her type.

She was a good girl, someone who always did everything right. Everything that was correct according to the books. She didn't stay up late, she didn't hang around with the wrong crowd and get mixed up in all the bad stuff there was. She was a good girl, and it should stay like that.

"Why not?" She asked, tilting her head to the side as if she was scrutinising what I had to say. "Everyone else is here." She stated. She was right. Who was I to tell her what she could and couldn't do or where she was and wasn't.

"Never mind." I said, watching her as she swayed even more, shuffling onto one foot then the other. "Who are you here with?" I asked. I couldn't see anyone that I recognised to be her friends. They were just random people who were wasted out of their minds. God forbid where Stephanie was. Probably stalking me as we spoke.

Willow shrugged and then hiccuped. I watched as she placed her hands on her stomach and mouth. Then her eyes met mine telling me she was about to be sick. In a second, I grabbed ahold of one of her wrists, gently, and guided her to the nearest bathroom.

"Get out." I warned as soon as I saw two people making out up against the wall. They paused and immediately ran out.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Willow said, bringing me back into the room. I helped her by holding her hair up and leaning her over the toilet seat as she threw up. It only lasted a couple of seconds before she was leaning backwards and against my legs. "Not again." She mumbled but I was reluctant enough to hear what she said.

"Have you already been sick?" I asked her and she looked up at me from her crouched position and nodded. Her face looked pale but I knew if she sat outside with a bottle of water, she'd feel a lot better. "Here." I offered her the towel to wipe her face and some mouthwash that was sitting on the side.

"Why are you helping me?" She asked, taking the mouthful of mouthwash into her mouth.

I didn't know why I was helping her. But this felt right. I didn't want her to be scared since I already knew this was her first party. Excessively drinking and throwing up indicated she was new to this.

"Because you need the help," I told her and she spat out the mouthwash into the sink. "and I wanted to help."

She turned to me, hands now clutching the side of the sink as she leaned her front against it. I leant against the wall and shoved my hands into my pockets, waiting for her to say what she wanted to say.

"You wanted to help me? Why?"

I cleared my throat took out a cigarette and my lighter, "Because I just did." I told her blankly, and lit the cigarette.

She remained quiet as she washed and dried her hands.

I remained quiet as she stared at herself through the mirror. She seemed to have a glum look on her face that told me enough. I knew this look all too well. "You look good, Willow."

Her eyes met mine through the mirror and she frowned, immediately going to bite down on her bottom lip. "Thanks." She said as if she didn't believe me. "I need to find my friends, can you help me?"

"Sure." I stood up and swung open the door, letting her go out first. Her eyes scrunched up as the illuminated lights swirled around her face and the whole room. The music made her hands cover her ears so I made it my duty to guide her quickly into all the different rooms and outside as we looked for her friends.

As soon as we spotted them, she gasped, "there they are!" She pointed and ran over to them. As soon as they saw her she was engulfed into a hug. I took this time to walk away. I knew she was safe now.

🝮🝮🝮

Driving up to the gated house that I had to call home, I quickly parked my car in the garage.

I knew Father was here, and also Mother, so I had to be quiet.

I unlocked the front door and placed my keys down on the side, sliding off my trainers straight after.

I walked into the kitchen and took out a bottle of water, feeling my mouth was dry from the alcohol.

I knew I should of been going to bed now because I had soccer tryouts tomorrow, but I really wasn't bothered. I knew I was good at the sport, why act like I wasn't? I used to be a part of the football team in my old school. A Quarterback, to be specific. But the programme at my last school was bad so I half expected it to be a lot better here.

I didn't know where my future was headed. But I really wished she was in the picture. But I knew that was impossible. She was gone, and now I had to pay the price for it.

I walked around the house, staring at all the old memories that were hung up against the painted white walls. She looked so happy in them. So alive.

But I had never expected her to be the opposite on the inside.

She was my best friend. My will to live.

But now she was gone.

I didn't know how to cope with it. Didn't know how to cope knowing she was never going to come back. I was never going to see her pretty face again. Never listen to her dad jokes that made me want to smash my head against the wall. Watch as she danced around the kitchen with a spoonful of chocolate. Laugh like everything was funny.

I was never going to set my eyes on her anymore.

I stepped out on the porch and sat down on a step, arms resting on my knees as I looked out to what was in front of me. The bright lights of the city.

California was never my choice of places to come. This was what my parents wanted. After what happened in Chicago, my parents thought it would be best to leave and start somewhere fresh. Somewhere where no one would know what happened. Somewhere where no one would find out.

If they knew, we'd be done.

I didn't want my life like that ever again.

Before what happened, I was a happy and bright kid. I lived my life to the fullest with my best friends. I had good grades. The teachers liked me. My parents actually acknowledged my existence and took me out to celebrate when I passed my test.

I was loved by them - well, I at least felt like I was.

But then things turned - and quickly.

My life went upside down and I had no one. My parents turned cold and distant which immediately made me put all the blame on myself. They turned to work and always being out of the house - not caring about their son. About me!

I felt like they didn't care about me and how all of this affected me, and I was right. They kept the topic on the low. We never spoke about it. We all just had to move on and pretend everything was perfect. Drowned ourselves down with the expenses of alcohol and designer clothing. I had to go out and meet up with people and act like I was fine. Like nothing in my life had come crashing down on me. I had to pretend I was a free, happy-spirited eighteen year old who had everything he wanted because of his parents.

The only reason we got to where we were was because of them. Because of my parents.

They worked day in and day out. Money, money, money.

That was their priority now.

It wasn't me and I didn't ever think it was.

"Theo. Is that you?"

I looked up at the sound of my Mother's voice. She was dressed up in her usual formal attire.

Then my eyes dropped to the suitcase.

"Leaving again?" I asked and shook my head. Before we moved to Cali, Mom had had the under current of her business- her own business - and it was only till now that she took it seriously.

She glanced down at her shoes before she looked back up to me again, a pitiful expression on her sharp face. I let out a frustrated sigh looked back out to the lights in the distance.

"I'll be away for two weeks." She spoke again. I heard her walk over and I felt her hand rest on my shoulder. I shut my eyes to try and cherish her warm touch but it was gone, quicker than I had liked.

Mom was always leaving. Always going to the next city and the next city after that. She was a busy woman and my Father was a busy man.

Seeing them both home, it was like keeping golden treasure. Cherishing the moments before it was gone.

"Where's Father?" I asked and I heard her sigh.

"He is asleep. He's got a busy start tomorrow."

"Does he really?" I continued to stare forwards, hoping that all of this would come to and end. Hoping that all of this was just a joke and we were a happy family again.

"I've left him a note in the kitchen. Please make sure he sees it." I just hummed in response.

"What are you doing out here alone? You've got school tomorrow haven't you?" She sent me a pointed look.

"Yeah." I mumbled, putting the bottle down next to me.

"What's the matter?" She asked and I scoffed.

Like you cared.

"It doesn't matter. Nothing I can't handle." I told her and she sighed. Then she was taking out her phone from her coat pocket, giving it a once over.

"You going now?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Sorry." She said, stepping back and grabbing ahold of her suitcase handle. She stayed still, staring at me for a couple seconds before she went back inside.

Goodbye.

Not a second later I was going back inside. There was only so much peace and quiet I could take.

I locked all the doors and walked into my room, straight away putting on some sweats ready to decompress.

Then my phone buzzed.

Are you ready for tryouts tomorrow?

I tossed my phone somewhere on my bed and collapsed, feeling utterly and undoubtedly, spent.