Chapter 3

The music was loud.

Not so loud that the neighbours would call the police with a noise complaint, but loud enough that my ears were already hurting.

Teenagers littered the household, drinking, dancing and conversing loudly over whatever electronic music was playing through the speakers.

“I wonder if the crew is here?” Cody spoke loudly over the music and into my ear.

I just shrugged my shoulders, looking around to see if Mitchell was anywhere to be seen. He’d left our house hours ago, probably to help his friend Diego set up the party.

“Dallas?” A familiar voice called.

I searched with squinted eyes for the source. It was Alicia, the latest member of our friend group. Cody and I didn’t really like her, but since she was dating Jake, one of our best friends, we decided to, at the very least, pretend to be nice to her.

“It’s been awhile!” She pulled me into a hug. Her voice was shrilling, and insincere.

“It’s only been a day.” I corrected, faking a smile.

“Codyyyyy!” She pulled him into a tight hug. “Oh M Gee, you smell like cotton candy!”

And you smell drunk. I thought to myself. She was correct though, whatever cologne Cody had chosen to spritz on himself, smelled exactly like cotton candy.

It kind of made me hungry.

“Great to see you guys, let’s do this again sometime.” She turned on her heels and click-clacked away.

It’s hard pretending to not dislike her.

“Let’s go get a drink.” Cody nudged my shoulder. We walked through the dining area, which was overflowing with people, and started straight towards the kitchen counter where all the different varieties of alcohol were scattered across the countertop.
Vodka, Tequila, Bourbon, if you can name it, it would probably be here.

I reached for an unused plastic cup, proceeding to pour myself a cup of vodka and lemon soda. Cody poured tequila into his and downed it without hesitation before pouring himself another drink. This time, he poured tequila and mixed it with orange juice.

Out of all the alcohol, Tequila was my worst enemy.

“Down it!” He encouraged, pointing to my cup.

After a few seconds of psyching myself up, I downed the drink with a few big gulps. The strong taste of vodka burned my throat. I almost wanted to throw it back up.

“Little Cooper?” Grayson’s voice called from behind me.

I paused, looking up at Cody who was downing his own drink. I hesitantly turned around.

“What are you doing here?” He asked with furrowed brows.

I inclined my head to the now empty cup in my hand. “Drinking.”

“Does your brother know you’re here?” His head fell slightly to the side as he looked up at me.

“It’s none of his business.” I said, leaning over to the counter to pour another drink. I took a big swig, swallowing it instantly.

“Maybe you should slow down.” Grayson suggested.

“Maybe you should shut up.” I plastered on a smile.

“Yeah, shut up Scott!” Cody seethed from beside me.

Cody didn’t like Grayson either, which was understandable, he’s an unlikable guy. Grayson once hooked up with Cody’s sister, then never bothered to talk to her again. And Cody has hated him since.

Grayson put his hands up in defeat, smirking like the devil that he is. “Don’t drink too much, you don’t want to end up crying again like that one time.” He whispered so only I could hear.

He’s referring to the first time I ever got drunk. I was so wasted that I had ended up crying for over an hour. I barely even remember it, if I’m being honest. But he clearly remembered it, which added to the tally of reasons why I hated him.

He winked at me and my insides flared up. I clenched my fist.

I closed my eyes, inhaling a deep breath before releasing it, along with my fist. I opened my eyes and gave Grayson a dirty look before shoving him in the chest.

“Fuck you!” I spat.

He staggered back a few steps, laughing at me. “Calm down little Cooper, I was just playing.”

“Why don’t you fuck off!” Cody intervened.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Mitchell grumbled, stepping into view. He approached me in a fast and angrily manner, snatching the cup from my hand.

“Getting hammered. This one girl offered me some of her joint, I might go take her up on that.” I responded in a sarcastic tone.

“Go back home.” He ordered.

“Maybe later.” I turned around and reached for another cup.

“I’m not joking. Go the fuck home.” He said angrily, quiet enough as not to draw attention.

“Why do you hate me so much?” I asked in all seriousness. “I’m only one year younger than you. I’m not a little kid anymore, I don’t need you to be the big protective brother. It’s not like I’m gonna smoke crack. I can make my own decisions.”

He stepped back slightly, his face falling in shock at my outburst.

“I don’t hate you.” He said. “I just don’t want to worry about you when I’m trying to have a good time.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, I will be fine.”

He inhaled a deep breath before smiling. “Fine, get drunk. But if you tell mom about this, I will murder you.”

I couldn’t help but slightly chuckle. “Deal.”

Many cups later, Cody and I had found the rest of our friends and joined them in one of the upstairs bedrooms, along with a bunch of other people. Our friend group included Hannah, Lucy, Jake, Phillip, Cody and myself. With the new addition of Jake’s girlfriend Alicia.

“Let’s playa gammmmme!” Hannah slurred.

“Never have I ever?” Lucy suggested, causing the group to groan in disagreement.

“How about Seven minutes in the bathroom?” Was Alicia’s suggestion. “Good idea, bunny.” Jake cooed, kissing his girlfriend’s manicured hand.

The rest of the group didn’t object, but that’s probably because everyone knows Alicia always gets what she wants. She’s the most popular girl in our school, and nobody ever liked to get on her bad side. She was also in the same year as my idiot brother.

“Sure.” Hannah said, faking a smile. “We will need paper for a name lottery.”

After procuring paper and a pen, Hannah began writing everyone’s name on a tiny ripped out pieces of paper.

“Brock! Grayson! Wanna play?” Alicia asked as they walked past the doorway. They slowly stepped back and looked into the room.

Just say no and fuck off!

“Sure.” The guy named Brock smiled, nudging Grayson in the shoulder.

“You play, I’ll head back downstairs.” Grayson says.

Thank all the deities!

“Come on Graysie, come and play with us.” Alicia persuaded.

Please just say no and walk the hell away.

“Anything for you Lissy.”

Fuck!

“Okay, now for the rules. I’ll pull out one name, then that person will go into the dark bathroom. You’re not allowed to turn on the light, no phones allowed. Whatever happens in there, stays in there.”

I wanted to just get up and leave.

Hannah reached into a hat which she had found in the closet and pulled out a name. “Jake!” Hannah beamed.

Jake smiled weakly, standing up from the ground. He paused there, unmoving, as if waiting for Alicia to get picked from the hat.

“You have to go into the bathroom!” Hannah stated.

After Jake had reluctantly walked into the darkness of the bathroom, closing the door behind him, Hannah pulled out another name.

“And…. Alicia!” She lied. I could always tell when Hannah lied.

“Don’t contaminate it, please.” Lucy implored as Alicia hurried into the bathroom.

“They better use protection.” Cody mumbled next to me. I laughed.

Seven minutes later, Alicia and a lipstick-stained Jake returned to the group. Hannah pulled another name from the hat, smiling as she looked up and landed her eyes on me.

Well fuck.

“Dallaaaass!” She cheered.

“Can I pass?” I asked, already knowing the answer before I got it.

“Hells to the No!” Hannah quipped.

I stood up and staggered slightly towards the bathroom, partly scared of what would happen in the darkness.

My head was buzzing.

I sat down on the floor of the bathroom, crossing my legs as I pulled my head into my hands. I felt sick.

The door opened and closed before I could look up. All I could see was the silhouette of someone as they knocked something off of the counter. “Shit!” They spoke.

I knew that voice.

I take back thanking the deities.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Grayson?” I spoke into the darkness.

“Hey little Cooper.” He responded. After a few seconds, a light appeared from his phone.

“You’re not meant to use your phone.” I stated.

Even as I said it, I realised how pathetic I sounded.

“I’m a rebel.” He winked.

I went to say something but I could feel the alcohol coming up. I scrambled my way to the toilet, lifting up the lid before puking.

Great. Another embarrassment to add to the tally.

And no doubt another thing Grayson would eventually hold against me.

“I told you to slow down with your drinking.” He voiced.

“I told you to slow down with your drinking.” I mimicked, closing the lid to the toilet and flushing it. I made my way to the vanity and turned on the tap so I could wash my face.

“You good?” He feigned concern.

I rolled my eyes and hummed a yes before walking over to the door and opening it, walking straight into the room to get my phone.

“You still have three minutes!” Hannah explained.

I picked up my phone from where I had left it on the floor next to Cody and drunkenly walked out of the room.

All I wanted to do was go home.

I slowly walked down the stairs, holding onto the railing as I descended. “Have you seen Mitch?” I asked Diego, who was flirting with some girl on the staircase.

“I think he’s in the dining room playing flip cup.” He responded, shooing me away with his hands.

I finally ended up in the dining room, finding Mitchell in the corner making out with the girl from Wendy’s.

I walked over to him, trying my best to seem sober, or at-the-very-least, not drunk. “I-I, I’m gonna head h-home.” I slurred my words.

Fuck! So much for seeming Not Drunk!

Mitchell took his lips off of the girl and looked at me. “You’re wasted.” He stated the obvious.

“No. Nope. Me is not wasted.”

He chuckled. “Liar.”

“You’re the liar.”

“Can Cody or one of your mates drive you home?” He asked.

“Cody and I w-walked here. It’s not that far.” I turned away.

Mitchell grabbed my arm. “You’re not walking home drunk.”

“Yo, Gray!” Mitchell shouted, causing me to cover my ears with my hands. “Can you take Dal home?” He pleaded, inclining his head towards Stacy.

“Your parents will murder us!” He complained.

“Just sneak him in through his window.”

“His window is on the second floor!” Grayson shouted in a whisper.

“Just take him, please.”

I looked up at Grayson, my face unmoving as he rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine! But you owe me!”

“Sweet!”

No, it is not sweet. It’s anything but sweet.

Fuck my life.