Chapter 19
Alex
When Isabella and I arrive at the party, Abby and Gianna lead us to a table at the far right of the backyard. A few feet away, frat guys take turns doing keg stands. Beyond them is a pool where a volleyball game seems to be going on, but I can’t hear that far over the loud music and the guys by the keg stand screaming and cheering.
Our table has a bottle of tequila that’s halfway empty and is littered with disposable red shot cups.
“Time to drink up, bitches,” Gianna says, pouring tequila into the cups.
I’m taken aback by this, but then I remember they speak to each other as if they have been friends for a long time. Does this mean I’m part of the gang now?
“I’ll have a shot,” I say. “Isabella, do you want one?”
“One shot?” Abby laughs. “Nah, you girls need to take three each. You need to catch up to us!”
Isabella gives me a nervous look. She’s the youngest of the group, not even twenty-one, and definitely not the type to get drunk. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is her first time drinking.
She doesn’t protest when Abby gives us our first round of shots. She simply looks at the cup in her hand, takes the shot, and coughs. Her eyes water as she coughs into her free hand.
I down mine, too. The tequila burns the back of my throat, but I fight the urge to cough.
I’m not much of a drinker. Not that I’m straight edge or anything, it’s just that I don’t have time to go out and drink. Most of the time, I’m either helping Mom, studying, or working at The Den, where I do drink a beer or two before getting on stage. Drinking shots is a whole different ballpark.
Abby and Gianna refill our shot cups a second time, and we shove them down, too. It’s the end of the first week of school, and assignments are as light as they’ll ever be. I might as well have some fun while I can.
“Holy shit,” Liam appears behind me. “You girls are going hard!”
“They’re catching up,” Abby says. “One more and they’re up to speed.”
Isabella and I take our third shot. She coughs again and sticks her tongue out.
“My face feels numb,” she says.
“Are you a lightweight?” Liam asks her.
“I guess I am,” she nods.
“Come, let’s go watch the volleyball game,” Gianna says.
The five of us walk over to the pool.
“Are you guys game?” Abby asks.
“Game for what?” Isabella asks.
“To play,” Abby says. “It looks fun.”
Isabella turns to me and I give her a stare. Yeah, I’m not getting in the pool tonight. I didn’t come prepared for it at all.
I turn to the others to see what they think. Gianna is looking around as if she’s trying to find someone. Liam quickly looks away when I turn to face him, as if I didn’t already know he has been checking me out this whole time.
“Maybe some other time,” I tell Abby. “I just want to chill and drink tonight.”
“Yeah, same,” Isabella says.
“Fine, buzz kills,” Abby says.
“Speaking of drinks, I think I found the cooler where they keep the good stuff,” Gianna says. She points to a cooler on a table behind the DJ. “Abby, come with me to get some stuff.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Abby says. “We’ll be back, guys. Don’t leave this spot, or we’ll keep the drinks to ourselves.”
She and Gianna giggle as they walk away.
“Cool party, huh?” Liam asks us as soon as Abby and Gianna leave. “They host another one just like this right after finals.”
“Yeah, it’s cool,” I say. This is the first college party I’ve been to in over a year, so it’s nice to be carefree for one night. “Are all these people art majors?”
“Most of them are,” Liam says. “Others are just friends of friends.”
Isabelle stares at me with a blank expression.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Everything is spinning,” she says.
“You’ve never taken shots before?” Liam asks.
Isabella shakes her head. “It’s the first time I drink alcohol.”
“Holy shit, you went for the kill on your first time. Good on you,” Liam says.
“What’s going on?” Abby asks. She and Gianna return with colorful bottles in each hand.
“Isabella isn’t feeling too hot,” I say.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Isabella says. She puts her hand over her mouth and looks at the ground.
“Let me get you to a restroom,” Abby says. She hands me two bottles and escorts Isabella to the house. “We’ll be right back,” she says over her shoulder.
“Was it the shots?” Gianna whispers once Abby and Isabella are a good distance away.
“Yeah. It turns out those shots were her introduction to alcohol,” Liam chuckles.
“Are you serious?” Gianna asks.
“Yup,” I say.
“Shit, I feel bad now. I’m gonna go check on her, too. I’ll be right back,” she says. She hands Liam her two drinks and runs after Abby and Isabella.
“And then there were two,” Liam says. “I don’t even like these girly drinks.”
“Same,” I say. “I’m more of a beer girl.”
“Really?” Liam raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I don’t drink very often, but the few times I do, I drink one or two beers.”
“Shit, you should’ve said something sooner. I can get us beers.” He puts his bottles on a nearby table, then grabs mine and puts them next to his. “The girls can have these when they return. I’ll get us beer.”
Before I can tell him I’m done drinking for the night, he takes off and runs to the house. A few minutes later, he returns with two beer bottles.
“Here you go,” he says, handing me a bottle. “I opened it for you.”
“Thanks.”
“So, what are you up to this weekend? I mean, other than this party.”
“Just visiting my mom and studying I guess,” I say.
Seeing Mom every weekend has become a big part of my schedule. It’s the main reason I never go out with friends on weekends. Mornings are for Mom, nights are— were —for Jacob.
I shudder just thinking about him. Maybe I do need another drink.
I sip the beer, letting the cold alcohol ease my mind. It’s a good night. I recently quit The Den for good, and now I have a group of quirky friends. Life is good. Better.
A few sips later, I begin to wonder where the girls are.
“That’s the problem with these types of parties,” Liam explains. “Sometimes, students get so shitfaced they fall asleep on the freaking toilet. Other times, kinky couples bang in the restrooms, and the rest of us who need to take a piss get screwed. I bet the girls had to go use the upstairs restrooms.”
“Maybe we should go check up on them to see how Isabella’s doing,” I say.
“Nah, she’s fine,” Liam says. His voice drops a few octaves and melts into a low hum that blends with the DJ’s music.
“Something’s wrong,” I say.
Liam places a hand on my shoulder and speaks again, but I can’t make out the words. His voice is low and distant. Behind him, the lights turn fuzzy and faces blur into the background.
We’re walking.
I don’t know where we’re going, but the music is now behind us. Liam’s arm is wrapped around my waist, keeping me on my feet.
“Where are we going?” I ask him.
At least I think I do. The noise that comes out of my mouth doesn’t sound like words. Not that it matters because Liam doesn’t respond. He holds me tightly, leading me somewhere .
Every time I blink, I appear someplace else, as if I’m teleporting. A few blinks later, Liam appears to be hovering over me. Behind him, a tree branch sways in the breeze.
What’s going on?
The entire world spins around me. I’ve felt like this before. It’s like when you lay in bed after a long night of drinking and everything whirls around you. But I haven’t had much to drink tonight. Just those three shots and the beer Liam gave me.
I turn my head and feel grass brushing against my cheeks. I’m…lying on the ground, and Liam is on top of me?
“What are you doing?” I ask him.
This doesn’t feel right. I try my hardest to keep my eyes open, but they force themselves shut no matter how hard I try.
When I open them again, Liam is kissing my neck. His hands grip my legs and go into my dress.
No! This can’t be happening!
My eyes close again.
When they open, I see Alonzo driving a fist into Liam’s face, which is all bloody and messed up. A group of students is standing behind them, watching in horror as Alonzo turns Liam’s face into a bloody pulp.
A few seconds later, all sound fades, and darkness takes over.