Chapter 8 #2
The group of them dance around, singing, laughing, having the time of their lives.
I stand back and watch, enjoying the pure happiness oozing off them.
For a moment, I wonder how. How did the universe, that’s been so cruel to me in the past, put me in the path of this friend group? Where were they in high school? My life sure as hell would have been a lot different if I had them.
I think that’s why I don’t turn Cooper away when he holds out his hand for me to take again and just accept that he wants me to be a part of their group. This time, I take it.
When my hand is gripped in his, the look on his face is like he just won the lottery or something. He pulls me into the group of girls, dancing and singing, making me sway to the music with them.
“Come on, Blake. Sing it!” he shouts.
I shake my head.
“Sing it!” he shouts again.
Rolling my eyes, I sigh. “Man, I feel like a woman.”
“Yeeeeess,” he screams.
I toss my head back, laughing, so carefree that there are tears streaming down my cheeks.
The song ends, and the sounds around the bar return to low mutter and chatter.
My chest is heaving, my heart is pounding, and my smile is still in place. Cooper looks the same as me, our eyes locked.
Why is he looking at me like that? Like I’m the only one in the room.
Something inside my chest shifts, and I’m jolted back into reality.
What the hell was that?
I start to feel exposed, a little too vulnerable. “I’m gonna go sit back down. All that dancing made me tired.”
He nods. “I’m going to grab more drinks.”
He jogs to the bar, and I head back to our group of friends.
For the rest of the night, I’m quiet. Not uncomfortable, or wanting to go home, just kind of confused, and a little scared. Whatever emotion I was feeling before, it’s not one I know. Or understand.
This situation is new to me. I’ve never had friends, and never did things like this. It reminds me just how sad my life was before Cooper and his friends came into it.
I find myself starting to panic whenever I think that this won’t last, that eventually they will move on and forget about me.
I don’t want them to. For the first time in my life, I want friends. I want to be around people and have these people in my life.
I just don’t know what to make of it, how to act, or how to process it.
It’s why I just sit and watch, smiling and observing.
By the time we’re all ready to go home, Ellie and Chase leave together, Lexie takes Val home, and I’m stuck with a drunk Cooper.
“I think I regret drinking." He groans, moving to sit next to me on the bench, placing his head on my shoulder. “Blakey, I feel funny.”
I laugh. “Yeah, alcohol will do that to you.”
“I can’t drive,” he sighs.
“No, you can’t.”
“You drive.”
“I’ll have to. Are you okay with that?”
He nods against my shoulder, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his keys.
“Are you okay to walk to the car?” I ask, taking the keys.
“I’m fiiiiiine,” he says, getting to his feet and swaying. “Okay, maybe not.” He groans.
I take his arm, wrapping it around my shoulders, trying to be a support for him to walk to the car, but I clearly underestimated just how much bigger and heavier he is than me. He’s a football player, of course, he would be built like a brick house.
Thankfully, a nice older gentleman helps me, taking his other side. We manage to get Cooper to the car. I open the passenger door, and we get him in. I thank the man and go to the driver’s side.
Closing the door, I look over to Cooper, who’s now passed out, head on the window, snoring up a storm.
Letting out a big sigh, I wonder what to do next. Do I wake him up and ask him what to do?
Just as I’m about to start the car, it starts to rain.
“Fucking hell.”
I could drive him home, but I don’t want to walk. And if he has practice tomorrow, I don’t want to take his car, because then he won’t be able to get there.
Shit. Practice. Did he even think about that before he started drinking? Cooper said he’s not that big of a drinker, so I don't think tonight is something he does often. At least not on a weekday.
I could ask my mom to come get me, but it’s one in the morning. I don’t want to wake her up.
So, I do the only thing I can think of and call my sister.
She’s still up. Not surprised.
“Hey. Where are you? I came home, and you’re not here. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I keep my voice low. “I went out with some friends.”
“I’m sorry, what? I don’t think I heard you right. Friends? Since when do you have friends?” She laughs.
Not gonna lie, that one kind of stings. “Haha. Funny. I have friends. Cooper asked me to come to the bar and hang out with him and a few of his friends. Anyway, he’s kind of passed out in the passenger seat of his car, and I don’t know what to do with him.
I can’t take him to his place because I don’t have a way back.
And it’s raining. I guess I could call for a cab, but. ..”
“Bring him here,” she says, casually.
“What?” My brows pull together.
“Bring him here and put him in the spare room. He can sleep it off and be good tomorrow.”
“I don’t know, Nina...” I look over at him. He’s snoring softly. “I feel like that’s kind of kidnapping.”
“Oh, stop.” She sighs. “He’s done it for me before.”
“Wait, what?” I growl through the line. “You’ve gotten drunk and crashed at his place? What the hell! You’re nineteen.”
“Whaaaat?” She laughs awkwardly. “I totally didn’t mean to say that. Look, just bring him here. I’ll help you get him inside.”
“Fine.” I find myself saying, knowing it’s stupid, but I do it anyway.
Nina is waiting for me when I pull up to my house. Shutting the car off, I run over to Cooper’s side. The rain is still coming down. I open the passenger door, and Cooper groans as we pull him out and to his feet.
“Fuck, he’s heavy.” Nina groans.
“Tell me about it,” I grunt as we make our way toward the front door.
“I don’t feel so good,” Cooper slurs.
We stop, and I look at Nina with panicked eyes. She looks back at me the same way.
A second later, Cooper lunges forward and pukes in my mother’s rose bushes.
“Gross.” Nina wrinkles her nose. “Mom’s not going to be happy.”
I shoot her a glare and rub Cooper’s back. That's what you’re supposed to do in this situation, right?
When he’s done, I help him inside. Getting him up the stairs is a whole event of its own.
“I really need to start working out more,” I say as Cooper’s weight starts to get to me.
“Same,” Nina grumbles. “Blake, I’m gonna drop him. Just put him in your room.”
“Fine,” I mutter.
We bring him to my room and pretty much let him drop on my bed. He goes with a grunt, face down into the mattress. A second later, he’s snoring.
“He’s kind of cute when he’s like this.” Nina laughs. “It’s rare.” She turns to me. “So, you had a fun night?”
I look at Cooper, the smallest smile forming on my lips. “Yeah.” I laugh softly. “He’s not so bad.”
“Of course he’s not. Cooper is a fucking angel.”
She grabs the blanket at the end of my bed and drapes it over him.
“Just leave him.” She waves at me. “He’ll be fine.”
“Wait,” I hiss, but she’s already gone.
Turning back to the blond football player, I sigh. I can’t just leave him here like this.
Getting down on my knees, I work at taking his sneakers off before lifting his legs onto the bed. He grabs my pillow, pulling it toward him, and buries his face in it before letting out a contented sigh.
Laughing, I shake my head and grab a pair of sleep clothes before shutting the door and making my way to the spare room.
Once I’m dressed and in bed, I lie there and smile. Tonight was a lot, but in a good way. I’m proud of myself for coming out of my shell and trying new things. And I’m glad it’s with people who don't want to see me fail, but actually care.
Cooper has made it his mission to become my friend. And you know what, I think I just might let him.