Carson could feel the bass outside the house. The party was Taylor Campbell's, he was the kicker on the team. He was pretty chill and friendly enough. Carson thought it would be a good way for her to loosen up. However, when Noelle hopped in his car earlier, he was sure she wasn't going to have an issue catching people's attention. Hell, he almost crashed into a tree because he couldn't keep his eyes off the bouncing twins in her bralette.

Damn she was gorgeous when she put a little effort, he thought as they drove in silence to Taylor's house. Her lips were glimmering under the passing street lights and it made Carson wonder how warm they were. Her body looked soft and fleshy in her skirt and bralette and jean jacket. Shit, to him, it seems like he just had a revelation, Maybe chubby girls are where it's at. He chuckled softly to himself.

However now, they're approaching the the front door of the house. Carson smiles real quick down at her and Noelle flashes a small smile back his way. He raps on the door and it swings open, Taylor's dirty blonde hair was styled in a quaff and his lips were super pink, as if he was just making out with some girl before he answered the door.

"Holt!" Taylor yelled out. The entire party, it seemed, let out hoops and hollers. Noelle was kind of taken aback by the sudden tsunami of sound. Noelle closed the front of her jacket because she was starting to feel self-conscious under their eyes. Even though she felt like the baddest bitch in the universe, she still seemed to crumble under someone's gaze. Taylor's eyes fluttered to the cute brown girl standing next to Carson.

"Well, hello..." Taylor grasped her hand and laid a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. The gesture and the warmth of his lips made her blush. Carson quirked his eyebrow at Taylor's cheesy pick up. "Who might you be, Sweet-heart?" Taylor's stormy grey eyes seemed to pierce her soul. She opened her mouth to say her name, "Noe--"

"My date, Campbell, so back off." Carson said sternly. Noelle looked at Carson in horror, that was the first time a boy ever showed her interest, like ever. Taylor put his hands up in defense and shrugged his shoulders.

"There are plenty of fish in the sea. It was nice meeting you, 'Carson's date." Taylor stepped a little closer to Noelle so Carson couldn't quite hear him, "However, if you ever get tired of this meat-head, I'll be in the kitchen, Sweet-heart." He smiled down at her. Noelle swore her heart stopped. Noelle has never received attention like that ever. She was always over-looked and practically invisible until now.

Taylor sauntered away back into the heart of his party. Noelle then turned her head towards Carson and punched him in his shoulder quickly. His hand automatically shot up to rub his bruise, "Ow, Noelle!"

"Why would you say that! I was interested, very interested in that guy!" Noelle said exasperatedly. Carson rolled his eyes.

"Okay, 1) you don't even know 'that guy's name and 2) he's a walking STI, he's slept with the entire grade." Carson replied as he started to move towards the kitchen with Noelle following closely.

"He seemed nice and cute. And I usually don't feel this confident..." She replied.

"It's not your confidence he's looking at Noe. It's your tits."

"Now why would you say that?"

"It's true, every guy in here is."

"Even you?" She chuckled as they stumbled past sweating, dancing bodies. In truth, Carson did enjoy the view but, who didn't?

"Don't be silly, Noe. You're like one of the guys." He chuckled as he made his way to the tequila. And suddenly she could feel just how tight her skirt felt on her hips and she noticed just how sheer her bralette was. She cleared her throat pulled her denim jacket a little closer to her chest.

Carson leaned on the counter and poured himself and Noelle Tequila shots. His eyes flicked over to her warm brown ones, "Ever done one of these?" He licked his pale pink lips. She shook her head 'no'. He grinned and proceed to give her a tutorial. He grasped her warm hand, "Lick the back of your hand." He said as he got a salt shaker. Noelle's pink tongue grazed a small portion of her hand. Carson sprinkled white grains of salt, "Okay, here's how it goes. Lick the salt. Take the shot and bite the lime. Got it?"

Looking up at him through her lashes, she nods and follows through with his instructions. She grimaced at the warm shock that went through her body. "Oh God...that burns."

Carson shrugs and does the shot without the lime or salt, he didn't even flinch. Noelle stared at him in horror, "The good thing about genetic alcoholism is that this shit never hurts." He jokes. Carson saw that Noelle was looking at him with pity in her eyes, God, he hated that look.

"I don't think we should drink..." Noelle suggested. Noelle couldn't help but remember how depressing it was to see him drink by himself. He's obviously fighting some serious demons and she didn't think him drinking was a good coping mechanism. Carson rolled his eyes.

"Mind your business okay?" He said right before knocking back another shot of tequila. Hurt flashed across her face as she felt herself get shoved from behind by some random stranger.

"I didn't mean to over step--"

"Well, you did. Just drop it." He said as he handed her another shot. She hesitantly put it against her lips and gulped down the shot and cringed. He took one last shot and grasped her hand and led her into the living room to dance. "Let's dance, Baby."

He twirled her once and grasped her fleshy hips and swayed her side to side, Carson spoke lowly into the shell of her ear, "Put your arms around my neck, Sweet-heart." Noelle slipped her arms behind his neck, Carson craned his neck. She could feel his breath brush her neck which sparked goosebumps to travel down her spine. Noelle could feel time slow down as the song pulsed around them. She had never felt this way, ever.

Carson enjoyed getting lost in her maze a little too much. His hands snaked around her waist and moved south to her round and lovely--

"Carson!" A shrill voice practically shocked him away from Noelle. A girl with bright pink hair and blonde roots called out to him. She wore a dark blue cocktail dress and black converse.

"Jamie," Carson smiled, "This is my friend, Noelle. Noelle this is Jamie, my...friend." Carson paused a bit. Jamie stood there kind of awkwardly before she said:

"Uh, Carson, can we talk for a sec?" Jamie said as she stepped closer to Carson. Jamie's eyes flicked towards Noelle as if to tell her to leave.

Noelle catches the hint and smiles a small smile, "Ya' know what? I'm gonna find the bathroom." She said as she started to wade through the crowd.

***

With his eyes still lingering on Noelle's retreating figure, he asks, "What is it, Jamie?" Her bubble-gum hair grazed his arm as she pulled him closer to her. Her baby-blues felt like needles on the side of his neck.

"No need to be so hostile, Car. I just wanted to say 'hi.'" She smiled softly. Carson watched Noelle turn a corner, all he wanted to was push Jamie off his shoulder and make sure trouble didn't find her.

"If that's all, Jamie...I should get going." He said as he tried to shrug her hands off him.

"Wait!" Jamie said sharply, "Umm...why didn't you call me back?" She said lowly. Carson could barely hear her.

"I lost your number."

"Did you want me to write it again?"

"No, I'm sure I'll find it." He replied as he walked off to find Noelle. Hopefully she didn't get too far. Carson weaved between sweating, alcohol-reeking bodies. He stumbled into the saloon and on a love-seat, Noelle was giggling next to Taylor Campbell. His large tanned hand was spread across her warm mahogany thigh. Carson shook his head as he furrowed his eyebrows. He remembered that the reason he brought her out tonight was to say 'thank you' for taking care of him. It was about her tonight, NOT him. Then his eyes zeroed in on Taylor's creeping hand making their way up.

Carson didn't understand the over-whelming urge to sever Taylor's hand and send it to him in the mail. Carson rolled his eyes and turned around to find a distraction. His feet led him into the kitchen and there was a beautifully clear bottle of Vodka with his name on it.

"Oh don't mind if I do." Carson said as he untwisted the cap and took a huge swig. He didn't even flinch when it burned his tongue beyond recognition.

"Holy shit, bro!" Said some random guy on his team that happened to be standing near him. Carson took a deep breath and swallowed another swig and decided to grab the hand of some beautiful red-head.

"Hey gorgeous," Carson winked as he caught a glimpse of Noelle following Taylor upstairs.