Chapter five
ELIAS
Celebrations begin shortly after the stadium empties up, and most of the crowd replaces the stands for Sebastian's house. From all the hype, I already had a few drinks too much in the span of the last hour. I know I should slow down if I don't want to end up wasted like a mine.
Sebastian always likes to go all out when it comes to partying and a good time, and tonight isn't any different. If anything, it gives him even more reason to let loose, and he's definitely not wasting a single moment. I saw him leave up to his room with two girls earlier.
Loud music is blasting through the speakers and booming through my head. The crowd is getting wilder with every minute, and it seems like it's going to remain this way at least for a few hours more.
But none of that matters right now. What I want most is to see my friends.
I haven't been able to locate them since before the game, but I know that they should be here somewhere.
From so many people congratulating me and swarming me for the evening, I really need some calm energy around me. I need to lower this adrenaline.
My eyes trail among the people as I walk through Sebastian's backyard. The pool is swarmed with bodies, and I wonder how the hell does he feel so comfortable and trusting to have so many people over.
I spot a familiar face then, and a sigh of relief leaves me. Sierra barely ever dresses up, but when she does, it's a sight for sore eyes. That black dress looks amazing on her, showing off her smooth legs that I just want to kiss and make them tremble...
Immediately, I make my way over.
Kyle greets me first, tapping my shoulder with congratulatory words before I embrace both Jenny and Mia, but the last hug with Sierra is the sweetest of them all, lasting a tad bit longer than supposed to.
These people truly feel like my second family, and I would've lied if I said their support and love doesn't matter. It means even more than the win today.
Sierra hands me a bottle of water with that knowing look she always gives me when I've gone a little overboard. I chuckle and take it gratefully.
"So," she says, nudging my arm with a smile on her face, "how does it feel? Being responsible for the win?"
I'm the one who secured the team's victory today with that last shot, and honestly, it feels good. I think the entire team wanted this win for so long, and now that it's here, it's difficult to comprehend. "Feels good. I'm still processing the entire thing."
Her smile shows again. "You just have to let it sink in. You earned it," she says, and her words mean a lot more than I could've thought. She's always there when it matters, along with the rest.
"Thanks." I grin. My mind is arguing between taking her away to celebrate in a different way, or just enjoying the night with everyone else.
Honestly, the first option seems more tempting.
I want to get rid of all this buzz and finally have those pretty thighs wrapped around me by the end of the night, but on the other hand, I know that our graduation is right around the corner.
I want to spend more time with all of them since I doubt we'll see each other as much as we do right now. It's a bitter-sweet time.
The moment stretches out between us, comfortable and still, until loud cheers break it from across the room. I glance over, seeing a few people gathered around a pool table in the living room.
The rest of the night goes by fast. We're no strangers to partying and despite collectively agreeing plenty of times to not stay out all night, none of us actually ever manages to follow through.
In the early hours of the morning, less and less people occupy the pool area. The shot of vodka burns my throat once I chug it down, and the room seems to spin as I try to make a turn, quickly realizing that the blurry vision isn't about to take me places.
The six of us are almost the only ones left here.
"Eli, you okay?" Sierra asks softly, and I feel her hand wrap around my arm. She guides me to sit down on the deck chair and I groan, leaning my head forward into my hands.
"I feel like my head's about to explode," I say, and her soothing touch on my back is heavenly.
"Do I bring you some water?" Mia asks, sitting down on my other side, and I hum lowly. I don't pay much attention to the few words she exchanges with Sierra next, and then stands back up, only to crash into a body that barrels into her shoulder.
A loud crash follows, and I look up to see a glass shattered into small pieces on the floor. Some of them manage to cut Sebastian's legs and he jerks back, beer sloshing from the bottle in his hand.
"The fuck, Mia?" he snaps, eyes narrowing down at her. "Watch where you're going."
His tone makes everyone snap their heads towards him, including me. Mia winces and looks down at the floor, trying to keep him from moving so he wouldn't step on the sharp pieces. "It was an accident. You ran into me, Sebastian."
"Shut the fuck up. Don't even start with that," he steps back, away from her reach, his temper rising. "What are you even doing here? No one asked for it."
A flash of hurt simmers in Mia's eyes. "You're drunk," she says then, her hands a little shaky, but she remains composed.
His jaw tightens. "So?"
"You're acting like an asshole."
The place goes completely quiet, the rest of us watching now, but Sebastian doesn't care. He points at the mess, looking like he's ready to bite someone's head off. "You think I need this shit right now? You think I want someone like you ruining this night for me?"
"Sebastian, what the hell?" Sierra stands up, narrowing her eyes at him and gets to Mia's side. For a moment, I feel like protesting from the lack of her touch.
"What? Did you invite her out of pity again?" Sebastian looks over at the rest of us. This makes my blood boil. I know that his temper is a fucking pain when he gets drunk, but it's clearer than day that alcohol wasn't the only thing he consumed today.
Kyle walks forward, taking his stance next to the girls. "Man, you need to take it down a notch. You're wasted."
"Don't fucking tell me what to do." Sebastian yanks his hand away.
"You're acting like an imprudent ass right now," Jenny says, pissed at his behavior too, but his defenses only fly up and he glares.
"Me?" Sebastian scoffs, his eyes bloodshot and glassy. "You act like I'm the fucking problem! She is."
No one answers. We all know that there's no use arguing when he gets like this. It's clear that this isn't really about the broken glass. Mia wasn't originally a part of the group, and that's something Sebastian secretly resented from the very beginning.
Mia doesn't say a word, as if she's used to it. She's still crouched on the floor, picking up the broken glass with trembling fingers, and I notice a small speck of blood starting to show on her hand.
Sierra crouches beside her. "You're bleeding—stop, let me—" She reaches out, but Mia gently waves her off.
"I got it," she says softly. Too softly. She must feel so fucking bad right now, and it makes me glare back at the causer, despite my drunken state.
"Sebastian," I say, standing up with my jaw tight. I don't raise my voice because I don't need to. "Leave." I say what all of us are thinking.
He stares at me like he's unable to believe I said it. Like it's the worst betrayal in the world. "What did you say?"
"I said leave," I repeat firmly, despite feeling like shit from all this alcohol. "Go and sleep it off. You're out of fucking control."
He narrows his eyes at me and looks around again. Kyle just shakes his head, while Jenny stands on the side, arms folded across her chest and a bitter frown showing on her face. Sierra is turned away, worried eyes focused only on Mia as they get a broom to clean up the mess.
The realization in Sebastian's eyes is instant—the fact that no one is on his side. "Fuck this," he mutters then. "Fuck all of you."
And with a whirl on his heel, he walks inside.
The night turns sour fast.
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