Chapter 7 #2
Now dancing with the senior boy, Kayla swirled through the crowd, her laughter bright and sharp.
She reached for another drink, tossing it back as she stumbled, her hand brushing my shoulder before she caught herself with a breathless giggle.
She grabbed another shot off a passing tray, downing it in one fluid motion, then snatched one more and shoved it into my hand.
“Your turn!” she yelled over the music, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Without thinking, I tilted my head back, letting the liquid burn its way down my throat.
Nicholas pulled me closer, his grin widening as the song picked up speed.
I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so free.
There was no awkward tension with Jamie, no worrying about Lucas brooding in the corner: just Kayla, me, this random hot-as-hell boy, and terrible music.
I let out a loud laugh as Kayla grabbed another drink, her hand trembling slightly as she lifted it to her lips.
I watched her for a second, my steps slowing as concern began to creep in.
She nearly tripped, catching herself on the senior’s arm, her eyes glazed with the alcohol she’d been tossing back so easily.
Something wasn’t quite right. Kayla’s laughter was a little too loud, and her steps a little too wobbly.
“Kayla, maybe—” I began, but my words were drowned out by someone yelling from the other side of the room.
“Spin the Bottle upstairs! Let’s go!”
Kayla’s eyes lit up like fireworks. “I love that game!” she squealed, grabbing my arm tightly. Her fingers dug into my skin as she yanked me toward the staircase, her pace quick, almost frantic.
“Wait, Kayla, maybe we should—” I tried again, but she was already pulling me through the crowd.
Kayla flew up the stairs, the senior boy trailing behind her as she darted to the top. Nicholas eagerly followed behind, urging me to come along. But something didn’t feel right about this whole thing.
“Kayla, hold on!” I called after her, but she was already halfway up, not bothering to look back. Her hair swayed as she dodged people, determined to get to whatever madness was waiting upstairs.
Lucas, standing near the foot of the stairs, groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Is she serious right now?”
Jamie appeared next to me. Everything was happening so fast that I couldn’t keep up with the shifting world. My head was spinning from too much heat and too much cheap liquor.
Jamie shifted next to me, his eyebrows raised as he stared at Kayla disappearing up the stairs. “What’s her deal tonight? She’s acting like it’s her last night on earth.”
Lucas sighed heavily, eyes still on the top of the staircase. “Something is going on. Did she say anything to either of you guys?”
I shook my head. “No, but I haven’t talked to her much this past week.”
I looked up and saw Kayla leaning over the banister, waving us up. “Come on, Alex!”
Jamie ran a worried hand through his hair. “We can’t leave her alone up there. Can we?”
“No,” Lucas spat, already heading up the stairs.
Jamie rolled his eyes but followed Lucas, shooting me a glance. “Guess we’re all going, then.”
I sighed because, of course, I had to follow. “Lead the way, boys,” I said dryly, dragging my feet as I made my way up after them.
The hallway at the top of the staircase felt narrow, packed with bodies moving in and out of rooms. I followed closely behind Jamie and Lucas, my shoes scuffing on the steps. The closer we got to the top, the louder Kayla’s giggles became.
“Finally! Took you guys long enough.” Kayla bounced on her toes impatiently.
Lucas gave her a flat look. “This is dumb, you know that, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “Loosen up, Lucas. It’s just a game.”
“Yeah, a game everyone gets mono from,” he muttered.
We moved to sit in a circle with people we barely knew, who were much older than the three of us.
On one side of me was Jamie, practically radiating annoyance, and on the other was Nicholas, grinning from ear to ear.
His attention was flattering, but right now, I was more concerned about Kayla, who was walking a tight line between fun drunk and the kind where your insides somersault out your nose.
Yet, she was still acting like everything was fine.
She bounced around the room like a pinball, kissing anyone the bottle landed on, boys, girls—it was all the same to her.
Most of the others were laughing and encouraging her, but Lucas, sitting next to Jamie, looked like he was about to turn into a knight in shining armor. Soldier boy mode activated.
“Damn, she’s going to regret this tomorrow.” I grimaced.
“I’m just trying to figure out when to step in,” Lucas answered.
“Now would be good,” I said a little louder as Kayla leaned in to kiss a girl with a pixie cut. She was laughing, but in a manner that made me wonder if she was trying too hard.
It was now Nicholas’s turn, which he speedily took. The bottle spun again, its glass scraping against the wood floor with a sharp pitch. It landed directly in front of me, the little bit of Coke still trapped in the glass sparkling as it came to a stop.
Nicholas leaned in slightly, the corners of his mouth curling into a teasing smirk.
I caught Jamie moving out of the corner of my eye.
His hand flexed, his fingers curling into a fist. There was a tightness in his posture, a barely restrained tension that made me want to push him just a little harder.
I leaned in and gave Nicholas a quick kiss. It was over in a second. When I pulled away, Nicholas was still grinning, and I gave him a polite smile, resisting the urge to taunt Jamie with a glance.
Next, it was my turn to spin, and just my luck, it landed on some random guy I barely knew. I shifted forward, preparing my mouth for the attack, when a hand grabbed my wrist, yanking me back. My heart jumped into my throat as Jamie pulled me toward him.
“Hey—” I began, but my words disappeared the second his lips crashed into mine.
He kissed me—no warning, no build-up—a quick, unexpected press of his lips against mine that left me completely flustered. My heart hammered in my chest, and my hands found the fabric of his shirt, clutching it as if to steady myself.
After a dizzying few seconds, Jamie broke the kiss, but he didn’t move far. His forehead pressed against mine, his breath warm against me, and for a moment, neither of us said anything.
“I’m done watching you kiss other guys.” His words brushed against my skin.
I blinked, trying to process what had just happened. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Kayla’s voice cut through the moment like a knife. “My turn!” she yelled, oblivious to the emotional storm in my mind.
Jamie hesitated, his hand loosening around me, but he didn’t move away. His eyes lingered on mine for a moment longer before he finally let go, leaning back into his spot.
I tried to catch my breath, but it was hopeless. I was hopeless. We were hopeless.
God, I’m screwed, I thought as I watched Kayla spin the bottle.
Her hands trembled slightly, and her eyes looked dazed as the bottle landed on the senior boy for the second time.
According to the game rules, this meant that a simple peck on the lips wouldn't suffice.
Kayla and the boy stumbled toward the closet, just a few feet away from where we were sitting, to conduct their awkward Seven Minutes in Heaven.
For 420 seconds, Lucas's knees bounced a hundred times as he stared at the closet door, seconds away from tearing it off its hinges. He shook his head, his voice tight. “I can’t just sit here and watch her do this.”
The closet door opened before I could say anything, and the senior boy poked his head out with a smirk. “We may need another seven minutes.” He laughed as if it were all a big joke.
Kayla stumbled out, her shirt gone, her hair a tangled mess.
She swayed forward, one hand clutching the frame for support.
Before she could take another step, the boy’s arm shot out, gripping her wrist, yanking her backward.
She stumbled, her body collapsing into the clothes hanging behind her, a low, mumbled plea slipping from her lips.
“Let me out …” Her words were slurred and soft, but the boy didn’t listen.
Instead, he shoved her further inside, the door snapping shut behind them.
That was all Lucas needed. He was on his feet in an instant, his body taut, his eyes dark with rage.
He crossed the room in two long strides, every muscle in his frame coiled like a spring about to snap.
Some random guy, lounging by the door like a self-appointed guard, reached out to stop him.
Lucas barely acknowledged him—one shove and the guy flew backward, crashing to the ground, landing flat on his ass with a grunt.
Lucas reached the closet in seconds, yanking the door open so hard the hinges groaned. His hand shot out and grabbed the senior by the collar. Without hesitation, he ripped him away from Kayla and slammed him against the doorframe, pinning his neck to the wood.
“Lucas, what the hell?” Kayla’s voice trembled as she attempted to pull Lucas back, but her efforts were weak and did nothing to stop him. “Stop it!” Kayla shrieked.
Lucas didn’t even register her plea. His chest was heaving as he pushed his forearm into the senior’s neck, crushing his throat.
“If you ever touch her again, I’ll break your fingers.
” Lucas leaned closer, his weight pressing on the guy, who was squirming helplessly.
“And you can kiss any football scholarship goodbye. You hear me?”
The guy stammered something incoherent, his face pale with panic. “Yes! Yes, okay! Just get off me!” he finally yelled, his voice cracking.