Chapter 10

It only took about five seconds into the party for Mitchell to disappear, leaving me to the foyer that was filled with overly talkative people.

“You decided to show up!” Hannah appeared beside me in the foyer, scaring the fuck out of me.

“Surprise.” I said. “Where is the rest of our group?”

“Oh, they’re in the garage playing beer pong.” Hannah stated, drinking the last of whatever liquid was swimming in her cup.

“Let’s go get a drink.” She linked her arm with mine and lead me through the crowd, headed for the liquor that scattered across the top of the dining-room cabinet.

“I don’t know… I don’t really feel like drinking.” I told her.

“Oh, are you okay?” She wondered.

“Not really.” Was my response.

Just thinking about alcohol made me think about what happened the last time I was under it’s influence. I could not risk it.

“A drink will make you feel so much better.” Hannah said, already pouring herself a drink before pouring me one.

She handed it to me with a smile on her face.

“I guess one won’t hurt me.” I said, returning her smile.

Again, she linked her arm with mine and we headed towards the garage to join the rest of our crew.

“Look who decided to show up!” Hannah squealed.

“Dal! Thank god!” Cody said. “This is fate!”

Huh?

“We need you to join our team.” Phillip says.

“I don’t know the first thing about alcoholic ping pong.” I stated.

“It’s beer pong, and it’s easy.” Cody explained. “All you have to do is get this ball into the other side’s cup.”

“Okay. But just one game!” I said.

That was a big fat lie. It didn’t end up being just one game. When I got the ball in first, I thought it was a total fluke. But then I kept getting the ball in, and I’ve rarely won at anything in my life, so this was an entirely new concept to me. Many games later, I was up against a guy I had never met before. He only had one cup left, whereas I had three. I held the ping pong ball in my hand as I raised it backward a tad before throwing it over to he other side of the table, waiting for it to plop into the cup.

And it did.

The invested crowd surrounding the table all cheered. “Damn, Dal! You’re a fucking machine!” Phillip said, standing beside me with a beer in hand.

I was pretty buzzed, despite saying that I was only going to have one drink. I didn’t know the exact number of drinks I have had, but it was definitely more than one. And I must express that beer is highly disgusting, but oddly enough, after being able to stomaching the first few—barely, I might add—I had grown used to it’s repulsive taste.

After winning that last game, I decided to give up while I was ahead and make my way back inside the house. My friends and I walked into the living room and took a seat one of the couches.

Grayson’s house was much bigger than i thought it would be. I wonder where his family is? I know that he has two younger siblings: a little sister named Everleigh and a younger brother named Henry. I’ve never met them, but he has mentioned them on a few occasions. And his mom, Diana, who I have met before, only three times, or maybe it was four times? I don’t know, but it was definitely more than twice, and even though I had only met her a few times, I highly doubt that she would allow her seventeen-year-old son to throw a party in her house. They must be away for the weekend.

“So, what time are we gonna meet up for Fall Fest tomorrow?” Hannah asked the group.

I had totally forgotten all about Fall Fest. It’s one of our town’s greatest traditions, in which the entire town square is converted into a carnival for two days. A few rides, a dozen food trucks and plenty of activities. For as long as I can remember, i have never missed a Fall Fest.

“Shit, it’s tomorrow? I was kinda hoping to sleep in.” Cody pouted.

“It doesn’t start until three, so I think you’re good to sleep in.” Phillip stated.

“Hello? Answer my question!” Hannah groaned.

“We should meet up around four, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow afternoon, so yeah.” Lucy says before taking a sip of whatever concoction was in her cup.

“Four o’clock it is.” Hannah said, jotting the time down in her mental calendar.

“I cannot believe that we are actually inside of Grayson Scott’s house!” Hannah squealed, changing the subject. “Oh my god, we should look around for baby pictures.”

“Hannah, please don’t tell me you still have a crush on him.” Lucy groaned from beside Hannah.

“What?! Hell no!” Hannah was quick to respond.

Before her secretive little crush on Jake, Hannah was obsessed with Grayson. Every sentence that came out of her mouth mentioned him by his full name, which was Grayson Evander Scott. He hates his middle name. I know this, because sometimes when he tends to piss me off, I call him by his full name, emphasising his middle name just to piss him off.

Hannah’s crush on Grayson started in freshman year when he had managed to catch her from falling down the bleachers. Since that day, she was convinced she was in love. That he was her one true love and that her and Grayson would one day have a red and white wedding in September.

“I just wanted to find embarrassing photos of him to add my blackmailing file.” She gave her best excuse.

“Does anyone else remember his Mohawk?” Alicia asked the group, appearing behind us with Jake’s arm wrapped around her waist.

Ugh, public and romantic affection made me feel queasy.

“Oh my god, he was soooooo cute.” Hannah squealed.

It didn’t take a genius to tell that she was drunk, nay, plastered.

“I’ll be back.” I told the group.

“Where you going?” Cody asked me.

“To find the bathroom.” I answered him truthfully.

“Okay.” He downed his beer and headed towards the kitchen as I headed upstairs.

“Excuse me.” I pushed my way through the crowd that was mingling on the staircase. There’s literally an entire house, why is everyone hanging around on the staircase talking about their first orgasms and shit.

Ugh.

After finally making my way up the staircase, i turned into the hall and opened the first door.

The room was small, with walls painted in deep blue. Judging from the solar system on the wall, and all of the toys scattered across the room, this must be Henry’s room.

I closed the door and moved on to the next one.

This bedroom was quite simple, yet combined with complexity. The walls were painted phthalo green, the floor was carpeted, and the bed with it’s headboard against the left-side wall had anchor-gray sheets and pillowcases. Each corner on either side of the bed had a large potted plant, and on both bedside tables were identical lamps. I’ve never seen a bedroom this neat.

“Relax, I’ll be back down in a minute!” I heard Grayson’s voice coming from the stairwell. In a panic, I quickly closed myself into the phthalo green bedroom and pressed my right ear against the wall, waiting to hear Grayson walk past.

The last thing I needed was for Grayson to catch me in his mother’s bedroom. God, why am I being such a complete and utter maniac?

I couldn’t really make out anything through the door. Maybe he already walked past?

The door knob twisted, and faster than a singular heartbeat, the door swung open against me, knocking me backwards onto the carpeted floor.

Shit.

“What the fuck!?” I groaned from the floor.

From the doorway, Grayson laughed at me. “What are you doing in my room, little Cooper?” He asked.

This is his bedroom? But it’s so… and he’s so…. There is no way he is this neat! I mean, he’s at my house all of the time, and he’s messy, like a little child.

“Oh, uh. I was… looking for the bathroom. Grayson Evander Scott.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure you are in the wrong place.” He smirked.

I shifted uncomfortably in place.

“What are you even doing here, anyways? Does your mother know that you’re at a party hosted by Redfield High’s finest?”

God, he’s so full of himself.

“Does yours know that you are hosting one?” I countered.

“No. But some secrets are worth keeping.” He smiled, making me feel uncomfortable.

“Okay, I better go and find that bathroom before I piss myself.” I said, instantly regretting that last bit.

“It’s the right door at the end of the hall.” Grayson informed me.

“Thanks.” I said.

“My pleasure, we wouldn’t want you to piss yourself. Especially on my perfectly clean carpet.”

“You’re such an ass.” I cursed at him, rolling my eyes before barging his shoulder as I exited his bedroom and made my way towards the bathroom.

I still cannot believe that I kissed that condescending asshole.