^^Chloe Russell

After fussing over Brittany with Maddie, we separated and I searched for Brittany to make sure she wasn’t doing anything nasty out of anger. I walked out of the living room to the foyer and found Brittany with Tiana talking to Marco. My brows knitted in confusion as I strode towards them.

Marco wasn’t the guy anyone should talk to. Why? Because he’s in some kind of gang business and was a drug addict. When his parents found out about him they sent him to rehab and he was better when he came back but there are still signs that he might be in contact with them.

Some said he’s dealing drugs now and if he is I don’t want him around my friends. No one has any proof, but it’s better to stay safe than to be sorry.

When they saw me coming, they stopped whatever they were talking about, making me suspicious.

“Sup, dude.” Marco patted my shoulder as he walked away.

“Nothing much,” I mumbled, and watched him leave the house. I turned towards Brittany and Tiana, who avoided eye contact with me. “Why was he here?” I inquired.

“Don’t know.” Brittany waved her hand in dismissal. “Let’s go inside.”

They started walking, but I grabbed Brittany’s arm to stop her. “Why were you talking to him?” I asked again.

“I told you nothing-“

“You know that guy is dangerous, Brittany.” I snapped. “You shouldn’t even go near him.”

“I know, Drew.” Brittany patted my cheek and gave me a toothy grin. “And I’m old enough to take care of myself. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Brittany-“

“He was just asking to come to the party, and I said no, that’s all.” She said, ending the conversation. I glimpsed at the door, still not convinced.

“What’s going on in your head, B?”

The smile on her face fell. “Why do you all think worse of me?” She grumbled and walked away with Tiana. I sighed.

She’s right. I shouldn’t doubt her like that. It’s all Maddie’s fault.

“I’m sorry,” I said, grabbing her arm again. “I was just worried about you. Everyone knows about that guy and...” Brittany exhaled loudly, looking uninterested. “I’m sorry it’s wrong of me to assume worse of you.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and pouted. “It won’t be the first time.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, feeling guilty. “How about we play some games?” I suggested.

Everyone knows Brittany loves games.

She side glanced at me then tapped her chin thinking. I bit my grin as I watched her acting, knowing she was going to yes.

“Alright.”

“I’ll go gather everyone,” Tiana smirked at Brittany and went inside the living room.

“I’ll go get beers,” I said and Brittany nodded her head, striding towards the hall.

I sauntered through the living room and entered the kitchen, but halted in my steps when I saw Lillian and Nate. I bent my head in confusion when I saw them standing close to each other and how red Lillian's face was.

What the f**k?

Why the hell are they standing so close, and why the hell is she blushing like that?

I glanced at her from head to toe, and she looked different somehow. Maybe because this was the first time I saw her in casual clothes. She looked so tiny beside Nate.

When they didn’t move, I stepped behind Lillian and cleared my throat to get their attention. She turned around and blinked her confused green eyes at me as I gave her a deadpan look.

“Can you make some way?” I glowered.

“What crawled up your pants?” Nate asked and clasped her arm, making way for me.

“Something you shouldn’t worry about,” I said in a monotone and walked to the refrigerator. I opened it and looked inside, then frowned.

Why the hell did I come here?

I internally groaned. I have no idea why I opened it. Maybe because they were busy ogling each other and I wanted to distract them.

I sighed and picked Ben’s protein shake. I turned around and cast a glance at Lillian, who was still watching me in confusion. “In the hall,” I said to Nate, exiting the kitchen and stood behind the wall.

Nate sighed. “I need to go. See you around.”

I heard footsteps, then Lillian stopped him. “Thank you for helping me that day!” she said, referring to the day we cornered her and I scoffed.

Mr. Geek snitched on us and got to play the hero.

Lucky for him.

I deliberately walked and after a second, Nate caught up to me.

“What the hell was that about?” He asked walking beside me.

“What?” I acted obliviously.

“You being rude to, Lilly.” He raised his brows.

“I wasn’t being anything to her,” I answered, sipping Ben’s drink.

“She has done nothing to you Drew-“ I halted in my steps and cut him off.

“Why the f**k were you two flirting?” I blurted.

He burst out laughing. “You think we were flirting?”

“I’m not blind or idiot, Nate.” I scoffed.

“We weren’t flirting I was just telling her she looks cute.” He shrugged.

“That’s flirting,” I said deadpan.

“You of all people should know what flirting is, Drew.” He gave me a sly smirk. I rolled my eyes, and we stepped aside as a blonde and Toby stumbled from the dance floor heaving.

“Sorry.” She sheepishly smiled and went inside the kitchen with Toby, who gave me a side glare.

“What’s his problem?” I asked as we watched them entering the kitchen. Nate shrugged and we walked to the other side of the house and enter the hall room.

“Where're the beers?” Brittany eyed Ben’s protein shake in my hand. I internally slapped myself.

I was supposed to get beers!

I glanced at Louis, who was about to sit on the sofa. “Louis!” He halted in between sitting positions. “Go get some beers.”

“Why me?” He asked, still frozen with his butt out.

I chuckled. “Because I said so.”

He rolled his eyes and stood straight. “Fine.”

“And hurry!” I said behind him as he walked out. I heard him grumbling something but ignored it and sat on the sofa.

“Hey, Drew.” Fiona flopped beside me, making me groan. “Where were you? I was looking everywhere for you.” She pouted.

“Busy,” I said, plopping my back on the couch and watching everyone settle.

“If you’re free, we can dance after the games.” She purred, running her finger down my biceps. “And after that, we can go somewhere private and continue where we left off.” She finished batting her fake eyelashes at me.

I glanced at her and pondered on it. Maybe I should take the offer and blow off some steam-

“Here.” I looked up and saw Louis extending us beers with a cheerful face. I raised my brows at him and took the beer.

“Why do you look so happy?” I asked. He was scowling when he left. He shrugged his shoulders and went ahead.

“It’s time for games!” Brittany clasped her hands as she stood in front. She observed everyone sitting, then frowned. “Where is Ben?”

Nate got up from his seat. “I’ll get him.”

The last time I saw him was when he was going after Lillian to the kitchen. My brows knitted in confusion. But when I went to the kitchen, he wasn’t there with Lilian.

Where the hell is he?

A soft voice cut my thoughts off. “Can we play too?”

We turned toward the voice and saw Lillian standing at the door threshold, playing with her fingers nervously.

What is wrong with this girl?! She should run in the opposite direction of Brittany instead of coming into the lion’s den!

“What are you doing?!” We heard someone whisper shouting behind Lillian.

“This is VIP.,” a guy from the soccer team said.

“It’s alright,” Brittany said with a mischievous grin on her face. “Come in. You can stop hiding Chloe.”

A blonde girl that I saw with Toby earlier stepped inside. “I uh... I wasn’t hiding.” She let out a nervous laugh.

“Sure.” Brittany rolled her eyes and signaled them. “Take a seat.”

“Come here!” Maddie pushed Nate from her right and made space. They took a seat and Lillian ended up right in front of me.

I watched Lillian and tried to read her when her eyes caught mine.

“Let’s play seven minutes in heaven,” Brittany said and her eyes turned wide.

“I thought we were playing truth or dare?” Nate frowned.

“We were but now we’re not.” Brittany gave him a tight smile. “It’s my birthday so my rules,” Nate grumbled, and Brittany explained the rules.

The game started and Fiona kept babbling beside me, but I muted her and watched the bottled spin as rounds proceeded until it ended on Lillian. The horrified look on her face told me she wanted to flee, and it was confirmed when she unconsciously said.

“Can I back away?”

“No, you can’t,” Maddie beamed and gestured towards the bottle.

With shaky hands, Lillian spun the bottle, and I held my breath when it slowed down, pointing at me, but it stopped just an inch in Brittany’s direction. I glanced at Lillian, and my brows snapped up when I saw her exhaling in relief.

She was the first girl who looked relieved that it didn’t end on me.

Would it be that bad if I was the one she had to spend seven minutes with?

“You get a redo.” Brittany scowled. “Do it with a little strength this time.”

Nodding, she did it again, and this time it ended on Jordan. Jordan shuddered and complained about it, but Maddie pushed them both into the room.

“What do you think they’re doing inside?” Maddie asked as she sat down in her seat.

“What do you expect?” Tiana gave her a sly smirk.

“Nothing.” We turned towards Chloe, who was sitting beside Louis. “They are not doing anything.” She shook her head.

Brittany scoffed. “Two horny teenagers locked in a room in dark and you expect nothing to happen?”

Chloe opened her mouth but stopped when we heard something fall in the room.

“They have already started,” David commented and everyone laughed, excluding me, Maddie and Chloe.

As soon as the alarm blared, Brittany got up and opened the door. Lillian and Jordan came out and they look oddly calm.

“What did you guys do?” Maddie asked impatiently.

They side glanced at each other then Jordan shrugged. “Nothing.”

I raised my brows. “Nothing?”

He shook his head, and they both took their previous seats.

“I don’t believe them,” Brittany mumbled. “Go ahead and spin, Jordan.” Jordan spun and it landed on Louis.

“Oh, boy.” He mumbled then cracked his neck. “Here we go.” He spun and it landed on Chloe, who stared at the bottle bugged eye. Louis scratched his head. “Do you-“

“I’m gonna puke!” She covered her face and dashed out of the room, with Lillian running behind her.

We sat there in silence, then burst into laughter. “I told you that haircut was a bad idea!” Jordan cackled.

“Chloe wanted to puke just at the thought of being alone with you!” David snickered.

Louis grumbled and sunk in his seat, flushed. “I’m done with this game!”

We finished the game and everyone teased Louis. I stood up from my seat, but Fiona put a hand on my arm, stopping me.

“Where are you going?” Fiona asked. “We should dance-“

“Some other time.” I shrugged her grip and left the room. Before Lillian distracted us, I was thinking of Ben.

I can’t believe he got MIA at his birthday party.

Passing the hallway, I saw Lillian outside the bathroom.

“Are you alright Chloe?” She asked, and Chloe groaned from inside. “I’ll go get you some water.” I watched as she ran towards the kitchen.

Shaking my head at them, I climbed upstairs and went to Ben’s room. I grab the knob and pushed the door, but it was locked. Frowning, I knock on it.

“Ben?! It’s me!”

I heard some quick movements inside and then heard Ben’s voice. “Yeah?!”

“Dude, what are you doing in your room! It’s your birthday party going downstairs-“ I stopped when he cracked the door.

“I’m coming.” He heaved.

My brows knitted in confusion when I took in his appearance. His hair was messed and his face flushed as he breathes heavily like he ran a marathon. I eyed his shirt, which was inside out.

“Dude you alright?” I asked, pushing the door to get in, but he clenched it.

“I’m fine.” He swallowed. “I’m coming down just give me a minute.”

“What the hell happened to you? Are you sick or something?” I tried to touch his forehead, but he backed away.

“I’m fine Drew and I’m coming.” He repeated and slammed the door in my face.

What the f**k?!

“Open the door, Ben!” I banged on the door but he didn’t open the door. My jaw clenched as my temper rose. “Fine! Do the f**k you wanna do while your girl is downstairs flirting with other guys!” I fumed but no answer came. “Whatever,” I grumbled and went downstairs.

Descending the stairs I turned for the living room and saw Brittany and Lillian in the corner. Lillian held a water bottle in her hand and a cup in another and looked for an escape.

“What’s going on?” I asked and Brittany turned towards me with a smile.

“Nothing!” Brittany exclaimed, plopping her arm on my shoulder, and grinned. “We are calling it a truce!” She held the cup in her other hand. “Right Lilly?”

“Yeah.” She mumbled.

“Let’s make a toast.” Brittany cheered with Lillian and took a sip of her drink while Lilian eyed her’s. “Go ahead drink it.”

I frowned at Brittany’s behavior and before I could stop Lillian from drinking; she devoured it in a second and choked at the taste.

“Can I go now?” She coughed.

“Of course, sweety,” Brittany answered in a honeyed voice and Lillian bolted towards the bathroom.

“What was in the drink?” I questioned Brittany.

“Beer.” She shrugged and walked into the living room.

“I can see that but why was it in the cup when we have beer bottles.” Her shoulders tensed but she continued to walk. “Brittany?” I firmly asked, putting my hand on her shoulder and turning her around.

“Fine!” She sighed and looked around, then stepped closer. “I put a little something in it.” She whispered, and my brows shot up.

“You spiked her drink?!” She covered my mouth with her hand and looked at me with wide eyes.

“You don’t have to scream.” She grumbled. “And it was just one pill.”

My eyes grew round. I took her hand from my mouth. “You got it from Marco, didn’t you?”

That’s why he was here.

“It wasn’t for free but I bet it’ll be worth it.” Her lips stretched into a mischievous grin.

“What was it?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I asked him to get me something to get Lillian drunk.”

“What are you going to achieve from it?”

“The truth.” She grinned. “People tend to say it when they’re drunk.”

I groaned and rubbed my hands over my face, and that’s when I heard a shrill scream. I looked wide eyes at Brittany and ran to the foyer to see Lillian unconscious on the ground with Chloe and Toby kneeling beside her.

“Oh my God! Lilly, open your eyes!” Chloe patted her cheeks, but no response.

“This is bad,” Brittany mumbled.

“What the hell?!” Ben's voice boomed as he rushed downstairs and crouched beside Lillian. “What happened to her?”

“I-I don’t know! We were just talking and she-she did she was having a headache and then she fell!” Chloe whimpered. “Tell me she isn’t dead?!”

“She’s not dead, Chloe.” Toby tried to calm her down. “She’s just unconscious.”

“Oh...” she mumbled and calmed down. “She told me she drank something and wasn’t feeling well.”

Ben glanced around and his gaze hardened when it landed on me and Brittany.

“I know what happened,” Ben growled, keeping his eyes on us.

“What?” Chloe sniffed.

“She’s been spiked,” Ben answered, picking Lillian in his arms and he stood up.

“What are we going to do now? We can’t take her home like this.” Chloe said.

“She’ll stay here for the night,” Ben answered. “I’ll take care of her.”

Chloe blinked her eyes at him. “Oh-okay.” Suddenly, there was a grin on her face. “I’ll tell her parents that she’s staying the night with me.”

Ben nodded and climbed upstairs while Toby and Chloe left the house.

“Someone’s in trouble,” Maddie said from behind.

I turned around and saw everyone witnessing the scene.

“He’s going to be mad,” Brittany mumbled. “God! It was supposed to make her drunk not unconscious!”

“I’ll take care of Ben,” I said to Brittany and glanced at Jordan. “Get everyone out of here. The party is over.” He nodded and I dashed after Ben.

I entered Ben’s room and saw him laying Lillian on his bed.

“What did Brittany give her?” He inquired, turning towards me.

“Why do you assume it was her?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“You think I don’t know my sister?”

I sighed. “She wanted to get her drunk. She didn’t mean any harm-“

He scoffed, cutting me off. “Harm? Look at her Drew, she’s unconscious because of her at a party full of horny guys! If Chloe wasn’t around her anyone of them could have taken advantage of her!” He pointed at Lillian. “Who would have taken the responsibility then?!”

“Brittany was just trying-“

“Don’t you dare take her side!” I slammed my mouth shut in guilt. “I’ve warned you to stay away from her so why don’t you get it through that f**king thick head of yours!” He fumed.

“Ben-“

“Don’t!” He pushed past me and went downstairs.

I glanced at Lillian’s peaceful sleeping form. Something tugged in my heart and my stomach clenched at the worse scenarios running through my head. Ben’s right, she could have gotten hurt because of Brittany’s silly obsession and Lillian doesn't deserve it.

I walked out of his room and closed the door behind. I stepped down the stairs and heard Ben and Brittany shouting in the living room.

“Don’t you blame me for worrying about you!”

“Stop making a fuss over nothing!”

“Then tell me what she has on you!”

“Nothing! Why is so hard for you to believe that I can have a friend other than you all!” I entered and saw everyone watching the twins back and forth as they fight.

“Friends?” Brittany scoffed. “You don’t go around stalking friends!”

Ben groaned. “I wasn’t stalking her and even if I was it’s none of your f**king concern!”

“Of course, it is I’m your elder sister Ben!”

“By a minute!” Ben growled. Brittany opened her mouth, but Nate cut her off.

“Stop, both of you. We have enough drama for the day.” They both huffed and crossed their arms in sync.

“For the last time, I’m announcing it. Lillian and I are friends! Stop coming in between!” Ben barked and dashed upstairs.

“F**k you and your friend!” Brittany growled and plopped on the couch.

Everyone went silent after that and glanced at each other.

“What are you’ll looking at?” Brittany snapped at us.

‘Nothing,’ Everyone mumbled and got up.

“Who is staying the night?” Louis asked, glancing at us. “I don’t have the energy to drive home.”

“I’m going to stay to make sure no one kills each other,” Nate said cautiously, eyeing Brittany, who scowled at him.

“Jordan and I will stay too.” Maddie grinned. “Can’t miss the morning drama.” We rolled our eyes at her.

“We’re gonna go now,” David mumbled, taking Tiana's hand. “See you guys on Monday.” They said bye and left. Everyone went to the guest rooms and I sat with Brittany alone.

“Are you going to lecture me too?” She mumbled.

“You already know what you did was wrong so there’s no need.”

“I swear I didn’t mean that.” She hesitated. “I just thought she’ll get drunk-“