Chapter 8
Eight
Jaclyn
There are so many areas to look at when you enter this chaos of a house. I have been to a few small house parties here and there but none of them ever looked like this.
I knew that Arizona colleges were party schools but I didn’t think they would consist of this.
There are people either making out against the wall of every corner of the house or on the couches. You could even see a glimpse of a few couples trying to tear away articles of clothing.
In one of the living rooms there are a bunch of people dancing and in the other there are people surrounding a table where you can see lines of white powder and clear baggies on the table filled with crystals. There are also multiple bongs on the table where people are smoking weed from.
I’m not judging anyone doing any of those things because I’ve had my fair share of trying out drugs. I remember trying Molly once and it was a good experience for a few hours but the downfall was where it hurt me mentally. I didn’t eat for three days which was bad for my diabetes and I was actually considering killing myself even though I would never want to do that.
After that I told myself I would never take Molly again.
I smoke weed every once in a while because it’s fun but I usually stay away from all of that because it ruins my creativity.
Natalia pulls me through the crowds of people who are all dancing, mingling or kissing. We make it to the kitchen where she stares at all of the different drinks.
Natalia is wearing a blue mini dress that compliments her tan skin and blonde hair beautifully. I took some pictures of her so that she could post them to Instagram and send them to Chris. Chris said she looks as beautiful as ever and to make sure we stay safe and pour our own drinks. He also mentioned trying to find Hayden if we need a ride and I laughed saying we won’t need him.
She looks up at me. “Do you want anything?”
“I’ll just get a shot of Fireball. You drink whatever and I’ll watch you,” I assure her and she smiles and starts pouring herself a drink and hands me the bottle of Fireball.
I don’t want to get super drunk because one of us needs to drive and also because I don’t quite trust Natalia to watch me and make sure I do my Lantus at midnight.
I like Natalia, don’t get me wrong but it’s hard for me to trust people when I barely know them. I’ve only known Natalia for about two weeks now. I can’t rely on her to watch me and make sure my diabetes is in control while I don’t do anything stupid.
Natalia downs her drink before throwing the empty cup in the trash can. “Wanna dance? I got my liquid courage so I’m all ready now,” Natalia says while smirking.
I wince after swallowing a shot of Fireball before nodding my head. Natalia laughs and grabs my hand before pulling me to the living room where people are dancing and grinding against one another. Some people are kissing sloppily on the dance floor and singing to “Love Lockdown” by Kanye.
Natalia starts dancing while resting her arms on my shoulders. I smile at her and dance while jumping to the music. Everyone in the living room is jumping up and down while screaming the lyrics to the song.
I bet they all feel the music seep in their veins and make their way into their soul as they all are drunk dancing.
Usually I would need a few shots of whiskey or vodka to make me want to dance but the way Natalia is dancing and smiling makes me not care and have fun.
It feels like we have been dancing for hours with how much my feet are hurting but it’s only been a few songs we’ve been dancing to when Natalia says she wants to get another drink.
“I need to go to the bathroom anyway. We’ll go together,” I say, as we walk out of the living room.
“Okay. We’ll actually go upstairs to try and find Hayden after.” Hearing his name makes butterflies flutter in my stomach but I try to ignore it. Natalia pours herself another shot of vodka. She downs the shot before wincing and shakes her head lightly. “Okay, let’s go.”
We walk upstairs, more like Natalia stumbles while I just hold her against me to make sure she doesn’t fall.
We find the bathroom down the hallway. Natalia waits outside while I do my business. I check the time and it’s midnight. I grab the Lantus out of my bag and prepare the needle for giving myself the units in my butt.
I keep the needle in my bag and wash my hands.
Natalia is still waiting outside for me when I get out.
She is on the phone with Chris, smiling while talking to him, making my heart ache because I wish I could have something like that.
It’s so hard to find someone to love because it always has to be so complicated and I always end up wondering if I’m the problem .
“Jaclyn’s back so we’re going to go find Hay.” Chris says something from the other end of the line but I can’t hear because of the music downstairs and from how loud people are talking from the rooms upstairs. “Love you, too. I will.” she says before hanging up and looking at me.
“Where’s Hayden?” I ask, desperately just wanting to go back downstairs then trying to find him.
“Probably playing some party game to find a girl to hook up with. Let’s go.” She grabs my hand and pulls me downstairs.
The crowd of people are still dancing and the music is still blaring.
I expect it to be less crazy at this time but people are still dancing like the night is young. Natalia holds onto my hand as we make our way past many people.
We pass the kitchen and walk towards the hallway. Many doors are closed so we peak through to find Hayden. Some doors were locked and some were occupied with people doing some sort of drugs. Natalia would say sorry before blowing a kiss and closing the door.
I laugh because I love her reaction to that.
She opens the last door in the hallway and she peaks her head and says, “There you are!”
She pulls me through the door and my eyes immediately go to Hayden who is leaning back in a chair with a red solo cup in his hand. His eyes connect with mine before traveling down my body. Shivers go down my spine and I lift my head up to make sure he knows he doesn’t affect me. Hayden tilts his head to the side while assessing me.
I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking.
Hayden is wearing a black graphic tee with black washed denim jeans. A white bandana hangs from out of his pocket and I’m guessing that’s just an accessory.
“What are you doing here?” Hayden asks Natalia, but his eyes would go to me every other second.
Everyone in the room is staring at the three of us while we talk, making me blush.
I hate how we’re the center of everyone’s attention and that all eyes are on us.
“Are you driving tonight?” Natalia asks Hayden.
“Yea. I was trying to find Max since he’s here but I can’t seem to find that idiot. He needs a ride home,” Hayden explains.
“I’ll try to find him,” Natalia says but before she can turn around and grab my hand again, Hayden speaks up.
“Jaclyn, you want to play while Natalia finds Max?” Hayden asks, his eyes going to me.
Fire breaks out onto my skin as he stares at me with that same look he did in the hallway.
It’s playful and challenging.
And I want to show him that his games don't bother me.
I look around the room, looking at everyone who is in a circle. There is a bottle in the middle of the circle and I already know it’s some game that’s going to make people question what the hell they were even doing in this room.
“What are you playing?” I ask Hayden.
His lips lift in my smirk. “Sit down and you’ll see.”
“Come on, girl. Play. It will be fun,” some random guy says from behind me.
I lick my bottom lip and look at Natalia. “Do you want me to come with you?” I ask her.
She furrows her eyebrows and shakes her head. “No. If you want to play, stay. Hayden will take care of you while I try to find Max.” She squeezes my hand before looking at Hayden. “One scratch or bump on her and I’m coming for you.”
“She’ll be fine,” Hayden says and he looks back at me again, staring at me as if I definitely won’t be fine.
Natalia lets go of my hand and leaves the room after saying sorry to everyone. I sit down in the only empty spot next to a girl with long pink hair and the same kind of piercing that Hayden has on his eyebrow.
“Okay so for the new people here or people who have never played. This is like seven minutes in heaven,” one guy explains and grabs the bottle from the middle of the circle. “Basically one person will go in the closet with a blindfold around them. While they are in the closet waiting, we will spin the bottle and whoever it lands on will go in the closet with you for seven minutes. ”
I’ve never played seven minutes in heaven before. I don’t know whether to be scared or anxious or both.
I look away from the guy and my eyes go to Hayden again who is looking at me.
I hate the heated look he’s giving me like he knows something I don’t.
“New girl. You’re first.” I look at the guy with the bottle. I want to argue but then that will show Hayden I’m backing down. I want to show him I’m not the same girl from the alley. I’m stronger. I don’t cry over stupid things like not being loved anymore. I get up and fix my shirt. “Who had the blindfold?” the guy asks, looking around.
“I don’t know, Jennifer had it last,” the girl with pink hair says.
“I have one,” Hayden says as he takes a white bandana from his pocket. “Make sure to give it back.” Hayden sits up and he motions me to walk towards him. I walk across the circle until I’m in front of him. He stands up and turns me around, touching my waist softly before trailing his hand up to fix my hair. His touch feels cold, giving me goosebumps on my skin. Butterflies erupt in my stomach but I ignore them. “Why are you here?” he whispers in my ear softly and I can’t help but blush as his hot breath skims down my neck.
“I want to play,” I say softly.
“No, you want to challenge me. I’m going to give you a warning, princess.” Hayden’s lips graze my ear and I hold my breath, waiting for his next words. “I don’t take challenges lightly.”
Hayden covers my eyes with the bandana.
The bandana smells like him, seductive and dark. I can’t help but want to bring the fabric to my nose and inhale his scent.
He still has the same woodsy scent from when we were teenagers but it’s more mature if that’s even possible, more manly.
Hayden pushes me away from him and I feel someone bring me to the closet.
I stand in the dark, feeling like an idiot but I try to keep my mind blank.
I hear talking from outside the door but it’s muffled since the bandana is covering my ears.
My heart is beating hard against my chest and I try to calm down and keep my breathing controlled. I place my bag on the ground because I feel like it’s weighing me down.
After what feels like forever, because I’m impatient, the closet door opens. I don’t move, instead I close my eyes behind the bandana, getting antsy and anxious.
Did I make the wrong decision by playing this stupid game?
Will I regret this?
Probably .
The door closes and when the person walks closer to me, I feel a hard chest graze mine. I shiver and back away on instinct but he follows me. Walking me back until my back is against the wall. I feel his arms surrounding me as he places his hands on the wall by my head.
There’s no talking between us, you can just hear how heavy we’re breathing.
When he leans closer, I smell a familiar scent but I ignore it because then I’m going to start overthinking.
His knee forces my legs apart. My mouth opens with a gasp and his lips come down on mine. One of his hands holds onto my waist while the other grabs my neck. He pulls me closer until his lips fall on mine.
Kissing him feels like a sweet and deadly unity. His soft caresses on my waist and the way he tightens his hold on my neck makes me whimper in the kiss. Everywhere he’s touching me feels sensitive and like I can feel him everywhere on my body.
He dips his tongue in and glides it against mine. His knee is rubbing against my most delicate and sensitive part. I want to shamelessly grind against him but I know I would regret it. His heart is beating hard against mine but I don’t stop kissing him because this is quite possibly the best kiss I’ve ever had and I wish I can say I regret it but I don't.
I hate how much he kisses like a god.
He grunts in my mouth and I swallow it making him bite my bottom lip lightly. He pushes his body closer to mine to the point where not even a paper could slip between us. He’s exploring every centimeter of my mouth while I happily let him control it.
But then a knock sounds on the door ruining the moment.
“Fuck,” he grunts, his voice smooth and familiar.
He rips his lips off mine and his breath hits my mouth. My lips part as I breathe him in. I feel his lips graze mine but he doesn’t lean forward to connect our lips again. I feel him place my bag on my shoulder before saying, “Leave. Don’t play this stupid game anymore,” he says and his words give me chills.
I try desperately to ignore how his voice is familiar because I know he can’t kiss me like that.
There is no way there can be that much passion in that kiss he gave me.
I hear the door open before closing, leaving me alone in the dark again.
I take the blindfold off and my fingers can’t help but go to my lips, they are hot and plumped from the kiss. I keep myself from smiling before opening the door.
When I open the door my eyes go to where Hayden was sitting but his chair is empty.
“How was it, new girl?” the guy holding the bottle earlier asks .
I look away from where Hayden was sitting and look at the guy.
I give him a shy smile. “Fine, thank you.” I pass him, gripping the bandana in my hand as I leave the room, trying to erase his lips from mine and how his hands roamed my body without any shame.
It’s like he knew exactly who I was and where to touch me.