A vodka for the lady

It's friday afternoon and i can't explain how much my lessons dragged today. Is it too late to drop out and become an exotic dancer?

I have some sort of after school music thing until half three, which i'm not exactly thrilled about.

Especially since Lane won't be there. Who else am i meant to associate with? Maybe i should've taken the time to get to know everyone... well anyone else.

I push the music room door open and assume to my seat, head down. No one really takes notice of me anymore, which i'm very grateful for.

Sitting in my regular seat at the back, i push my hair back over my shoulders and cross my arms. Where is Jonesy?

"Hey girlie!" A voice says from beside me.

Oh my god, no. I'm honestly debating running away right now.

I turn to my right to see a girl sitting down in Lane's seat. I've don't think i've ever seen her in my life.

"Hey?" I give her a half smile.

She's so pretty. Long brown curls resting just past her shoulder, bright green eyes and perfect little freckles dotted over her nose bridge. It's like she has absolutely zero flaws.

The girl smiles at me brightly.

"I don't think we've met, i'm Mia." She puts out a perfectly manicured hand and i return the hand shake. She jumps slightly at the unexpected coolness of my rings, but recovers quickly.

"So i know you recently transferred, and if you ever need anything, i'm so here for you!" She carries on.

I just know theres a catch to this. The 'hey girlie' was a dead giveaway.

"Anyway, i see you've been really close to Lane recently." She finally says.

Ah, there it is.

"Yeah." I laugh. I can already see how this conversation is going to pan out.

"What are you guys, like, hooking up or something?" She laughs in return, a bit more forced than mine was.

"No, just friends." I simply reply.

Please god, don't do this to me right now.

"Huh, that's weird because Lane has never had any female 'friends' before." I swear i can see her leaning closer to me.

"Wow, how strange." I try to contain my eye roll.

"Yeah, uh, anyway i just wanted to let you know that me and him are like, a thing. So stay away from him." She lowers her voice at this part.

I was expecting it but it still took me by surprise.

"I'm not sure how that's going to work since we're in the same friend group." I smile, which seems to make Mia lose her cool.

"I don't care!" She screeches, before clearing her voice and regaining her composure. "I mean, from girl to girl, just stop throwing yourself at another girl's man. It's embarrassing." She smiles sweetly before hopping down off the seat and returning to wherever she came from.

What the fuck just happened?

"Sorry i'm late class, we had a staff meeting!" Mr Jones rushes in, carrying a couple boxes.

Wow, perfect timing sir.

We run through some projects that we're gonna do over the next week and Mr Jones gives us some sheet music.

"Does anyone know when Mr Evans will be back?" Jones asks.

"He's on home leave sir, i can give him something if you wan-" Mia starts.

"Thank you Miss Martinez, i'm aware." Mr Jones raises a hand to her, before turning towards me.

"Jules, dear, would you be able to run this by his dorm room the next time you're there please." He hands me the sheet.

Mia's jaw practically hits the ground. Oops.

"Why would she be going to Lane's dorm room when he isn't there?" She spits.

"Because i know Jules is friends with Mr Cohen, Lane's roommate." We clearly spend way too much of our spare time in the music room.

Mia huffs and turns back to face the front.

I take the sheet and put it in my folder amongst my own, smiling at sir.

"Okay you're all dismissed, enjoy your weekend!" Mr Jones ushers us off. I shove my folder in my backpack and wave goodbye to sir before making a beeline for the door in attempt of escaping Miss dragon princess over there. I'm in no such luck.

"Jules, wait up!" She calls in her fake sweet tone. I sigh and stop in my tracks. Mia loops her arm through mine and begins walking in step beside me.

"I just want you to know, i want Lane to myself. And i get what i want." She says in a low mumble, smiling brightly. I pull my arm from hers, smoothing my blazer sleeve.

"I can tell." I mutter.

"My life was perfect before you came here, i refuse to let you mess it up." Mia carries on.

"Okay, i'm gonna have to stop you there." I halt, rubbing my temples. "I don't know what kinda royalty you think you are at this school, but Lane and i are mates; i'm not gonna stop hanging with him because you miss your fuck buddy."

Mia frowns at me. And then she begins hysterically laughing. What's so funny? I think she must not be used to the shock of being told 'no'.

"Listen here Jules," She spits my name as if the taste of it on her lips revolts her. "I'm trying so hard to be nice, i really am, but i'm not gonna let a harlot like you get in the way of what me and Lane have."

Did this woman just call me a... harlot?

I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing. Contain yourself Jules. Mia can clearly tell i couldn't care less about her empty threats. She tuts, before turning around and flicking her hair over her shoulders. Then she struts down the hall, making sure to push as many people out of the way as possible.

I didn't know the popular rich girl stereotype actually existed, wasn't that just made up for the movies?

♡♡♡

"Great party." Chuck says, bobbing his head to the music.

He 'picked me up' from my dorm room about an hour ago, after Em and i spent like two hours preparing me. This isn't my first date or anything, but it's still nerve racking.

Emmy also spent about fifteen minutes trying to convince me to stay in with her and Ozz, which i turned down. I've been third wheeling all week, i need a fricking break.

"Yeah." I smile, playing with the ring on my index finger. We've been making small talk for the past half an hour, boys occasionally coming over to speak with Chuck.

This party was a lot further into east London, quite far out from campus, so it took us a while to drive out.

"So, how are you finding Granite Bay?" Chuck asks, leaning in so i'll hear him over the music.

"It's fine in all honesty, my friends are great and no one else bothers me. Apart from this one girl... Mia?" I chuckle slightly remembering our encounter earlier today.

Chuck nods in understanding. "Yeah, Mia can be a handful. Her and Lane used to be like a thing. They never really made it official though. That's probably why she's coming for you.

"I figured, i've heard about Lane's womanising ways." I roll my eyes and Chuck laughs.

"Speaking of, where has Lane been?" He asks.

"Home leave. I think it's some sort of family thing." I shrug.

Chuck nods, but his eyebrows furrow at the mentioning of Lane's family.

"Anyway, do you want a drink or something?" He asks, holding up his own cup.

"Yeah thanks, i'll go and-" i start.

"No, no it's fine i'll get it." Chuck insists, and with that he walks off, leaving me on the couch.

I look around at the scene: people laughing, dancing, talking and enjoying themselves. I miss the parties back in Blackpool, with all my mates from back home. I mean, i don't remember half of them, but they were definitely fun.

"A beverage for the lady." I look up to see Chuck standing in front of me once again, with a second red cup in hand.

Taking the cup from his hands, i bring it to my face and inhale. It's vodka. I quickly hand it back to him.

I wince. "I don't drink anymore Chuck, sorry i should've mentioned that."

His smile falters. "Come on, whats wrong with one?" He pushes the cup back into my hands.

"No really, i'm good. I'll just go over and get myself a soft drink or something." I push the cup back in his direction, but he shakes his head.

"I refuse to be the safe dad. Just have one Jules. For the buzz." He smiles at me and i roll my eyes.

I put the cup to my lips and throw my head back, downing the whole thing in one gulp as Chuck cheers me on.

I make a face at the taste. I've been sober for just over three months, but surely i haven't forgotten the taste?

This vodka is either really cheap or has gone bad. I try to swallow down the bitter aftertaste it's left on my tongue before standing up and taking Chuck by the wrist.

"What are you doing?" He laughs as i pull him in to the middle of the living room, where everyone is dancing.

"What does it look like i'm doing?" I drop his hand before beginning to dance.

Chuck watches me in amusement as i move my body in rhythm to the music. I throw my hands up and run them through my hair. I open my eyes as i feel Chuck snake an arm around my waist, moving in time with me as our bodies press together.

I wrap my arms around his neck, closing the little space left between us. His breath is hot on my cheek, the smell of alcohol filling my airwaves. Sweat trickles down my back at the heat of the room.

"I'm gonna go get some water." I say in Chuck's ear, to which he nods.

I stumble over to the kitchen, looking for a cup. My head is spinning. I only had one drink, what the fuck, i'm not a lightweight? I grab a cup and fill it with tap water from the sink, chugging three quarters and tipping the rest over my head.

My body is burning up. I rest on the cabinet to my left as i take a couple deep, uneven breaths.

"Are you okay Jules?"

I look up to see Chuck rushing over, a concerned look on his face. I smile, grateful he found me.

"I feel like i'm gonna pass out." I breathe, the same time my knees give out. I grip on to the counter for support, but Chuck lunges forward and catches me. I let myself fall into his arms, shutting my eyes for a second.

"I got you, come on, lets take you somewhere to rest." He picks me up, putting his arm around my waist while slinging my arm around his own shoulder.

We push through the bodies of people before reaching the bottom of the stairs.

"Can you climb them?" Chuck asks and i nod, still barely able to keep my eyes open.

We reach the top of the stairs and he guides me in to a room at the end of the hall. He pushes the door open and shuts it behind us, helping me over to the bed and laying me down, propping a pillow behind my head.

"Thanks Chuck." I mumble, my eyes becoming heavier. I allow them to flutter shut.

He strokes the side of my face before leaning in and planting a kiss on my cheek. "Sleep well, princess." He whispers as i finally let myself pass out.

♡♡♡

ok so something isn't right :/

chuck is so sus, i never trusted that man.

hope you enjoyed,

bye!