Chapter 15
LEXIE
Even though the frat house is only a couple blocks away, I decide to get a ride share.
As I’m standing on the curb waiting, I’m constantly looking around to make sure Reed doesn’t just pop up.
He has some serious balls to try to tell me what I can and can not do. Any time anyone has ever told me not to do something, it makes me want to do it that much more.
Reed looks scary but he wouldn’t actually kill someone, right?
It takes less than five minutes to get to the party.
There are cars lined up on both sides of the road, and people scattered across the lawn in groups.
“You can just let me out here,” I say to the driver and step out. I make sure to leave a tip on the app before I make my way into the chaos.
The smell of weed, beer and cigarettes surrounds me and the loud base of the speakers makes my body hum as I make my way through the crowd.
This is the first party I’ve been to this semester. I used to go every weekend, but lately I’ve just been staying at home.
I find myself waiting and hoping that he will crawl through my window again, or knock on my door and it makes me feel like a damn fool when he doesn’t.
When he told me I wasn’t coming to this party earlier at first it made the butterflies flutter in my stomach.
I was half hoping he would show up at my place, but he never did, so I said fuck it. I don’t have to listen to him. He’s not my father nor is he my boyfriend.
I scan the room to see if there is anyone I recognize. Finally, I see Raine. We had a math class together my very first year here and we used to party together every weekend, so I consider her a close acquaintance.
I walk towards her and as soon as she sees me she squeals with her arms open to give me a hug. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Where have you been?” She asks.
“I’ve been staying home for the most part studying. I came out tonight because I desperately need a night off.”
“Yay! Well I’m glad you came. You should totally be my beer pong partner.” She says with a gleam in her eye.
“Eh… I don’t really want to drink beer that dirty balls have been in.” I scrunch my face up in disgust and she laughs.
“No! You don’t have to. I usually get a fruity drink or whatever and sip out of that every time one lands in.”
“Okay. I can do that then.”
“Do what?” A familiar voice says from behind me before wrapping an arm around my shoulder and I see that it’s Johnny.
“I was telling Lexie she can have a fruity drink while playing beer pong.”
He looks down at me and smiles, “Yeah? Want to play against Ryle and me?”
I look over to Raine, and she shrugs with a smile before I say, “Yeah, sure.”
He drops his arm from my shoulder and says, “Let me go get you that drink.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. Just point me in the direction of the alcohol table.”
He smirks and puts his hand over his chest, “Nah, I insist. I’ll be right back.” He disappears into the sea of people.
A few moments later, he comes back with Ryle at his side, holding two cups out, one for me and one for Raine. We both thank him and follow him to the beer pong table. A group is finishing up a game, so we have to wait a few minutes before it’s our turn.
I look at the liquid in my cup and sniff it. It has pieces of fruit in it. Leaning close to Johnny I ask, “What is this?”
He looks down in my cup and smirks, “It’s called Jungle Juice. It’s a bunch of fruit soaked in vodka, rum, and different juice.”
I raise my brows, “Hmm.” I hum and take a sip. “Oh, that is dangerous. It doesn’t even taste like alcohol.”
He laughs, “Yeah you gotta be careful.”
A few moments later the table is ready for us to begin. I watch as Ryle and Johnny set up the cups.
“I can’t remember the last time I played.” I say to Raine.
“Oh, I try to get a round in if I can every time I see someone playing. I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
I tilt my head back and forth, “Well, I may suck so.”
She laughs, “It’s okay. I just like doing it for fun.”
“Ya’ll ready?” Johnny asks.
Raine says, “Hell yeah.”
“Ladies first.” Ryle bows dramatically, making me giggle.
We take turns between the guys and us. Raine is pretty good at this, but me on the other hand, not so much.
Raine and I take turns drinking out of our cups every time a ball lands. I’m halfway through my drink and I already feel extremely disoriented, like I’ve had way more to drink than just this one. There can’t be that much alcohol in this.
I stumble towards Raine and look in her cup, she has completely finished hers. I look up at her, “Are you drunk?”
Her brows wrinkle, and she smiles, “Nah, just a little tipsy.”
I pierce my lips and show her inside my cup, “I’ve only drank half of this, and I feel trashed.”
She giggles, “Lightweight.”
My face feels hot and I feel like I need to get these clothes off. “I’m going to the bathroom.” I tell her and wobble away from her. My body feels heavy and my head is super foggy as I try to sit down on the hallway floor but a hand wraps around my arm pulling me up.
“Lex, are you okay?” I vaguely register Johnny’s voice before everything goes black.