Chapter Six

Now

My head is killing me.

My throat felt dry as I blindly reach for the glass of water I always have beside my bed. I down the glass, spilling half down my chin, before placing it loudly back onto my bedside table. I try to roll over, but there is something heavy spread across my abdomen.

I slowly open my eyes and let out a startled gasp, when there is a tanned arm across my stomach. It belongs to a guy.

My eyebrows shoot up as I move my head, seeing a mop of dark hair. With my head pounding and my stomach whirling, I edge out of the bed and go around to the other side of the room, to see Samara passed out, her head in a bucket. I grimace at the sight, considering she is still wearing her revealing dress.

A shocked breath escapes me as I stare at the boy in my bed. My stomach drops.

Holy shit.

It's Alec.

The Night Before

"Thank God it's Friday, am I right?" Samara asks me, dragging mascara over her eyelashes.

"Hell yeah," I reply, sliding my left hooped earring through my ear.

We're currently getting ready to attend Wesley's party, which has been highly anticipated by everyone. Samara and I always get ready together, before going to a party. When the party is held over the weekend, we usually do pre-drinks with my brother and his friends, but considering they had the game tonight, they start drinking in the locker room, right after. We head straight back to either my house or hers to get ready.

My hair cascades down my back in big, loose curls, while I wear one of my favourite black dresses and my short-heeled boots. Samara has chosen to wear a tight, white dress that hugs her figure perfectly. My dress is clingy and cut low down the chest, but isn't quite as daring as hers. I am pretty confident with my body and appearance, but nowhere near her level. With her vibrant red hair and even redder lips, she draws eyes the moment she enters a party. It's hard to compete with that, considering my appearance is much softer.

"Guess who texted me before the game," she smirks and I remember seeing her busy on her phone.

"Who?"

"Jai!"

"Jai?" I echo in surprise. "What did he want?"

"A piece of this, duh," she states, gesturing to her body.

I roll my eyes. "Of course."

She laughs. "He asked if I was going tonight, which is obvious, and then said he is looking forward to seeing me? I didn't want to say anything at the game because everyone was there and I needed time to think about it."

"So, in boy language, he is going to try and get with you tonight," I confirm. Samara is pretty popular, often talking to multiple guys at once. She has been with a few of the footballers before, but not Jai. "And your decision is?"

"He is hot, I'm hot, it makes sense." she shrugs. "I'll see what happens when I start drinking."

"Hmm... I just need to find something..." I rummage through my draws, finding a safety pin. "Do you think this would work, to pop that huge ego of yours?"

She snorts. "Shut up, you know I'm kidding."

"Sure you are."

After skulling the remainder of our drinks, we descend down the stairs, to where mum is sitting down on one of the armchairs, reading a book.

"You girls look nice," she compliments with a warm smile. "Ready to go?"

"Yep!" we chorus, trying not to reveal that we're pretty much drunk already.

She knows both Finn and I drink when we go to parties, but she doesn't need to know that we get drunk.

Samara and I spend the short car ride singing loudly to the radio, with mum dancing awkwardly in the front seat, trying to join in. This happens often, sober or not. My family turns into performers when we're travelling in the car. Finn tops it, with his facial expression and body rolls.

"Thanks, mum, love ya!"

"Behave!" she calls as I shut the door.

With Samara's hand on my elbow, we stumble into the party. The music is loud, vibrating the floor underneath us. We spot Finn and his group instantly, heading over to them. Straight away my eyes land on Bentley, leaning against a wall, chatting to an unfamiliar brunette. I quirk my eyebrow.

We're not dating, I guess he can do whatever he wants. She laughs at something he says and I turn away, feeling a little deflated.

"Hey!" Finn greets, shoving a shot into my hand, fortunately not noticing Bentley. "I'm about five in, catch up."

"Oh you're on," I say, accepting the challenge.

"I love that your sister can party harder than you can, Collins," Alec smirks, his dark hair still wet from his after-game shower. His soft, brown eyes linger on mine a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Finn rolls his eyes. "She tries."

I down three shots and my throat feels raw from the burning. I chase the vodka with some orange juice, before taking another two. My head is spinning by the time I finish. I give Finn a triumphant smile.

"Put it up here," Alec says, pushing around Finn to high-five me.

"That was cute, but can you do another five more?" Finn tests me, quirking his eyebrow.

If I do another five more, I will either puke or pass out on the floor within half an hour.

"Damn right I can!" I agree anyway.

"Let's not," Samara suggests, steering me away. "You and your brother are so competitive."

"He starts it," I grumble, letting her lead me over to the beer pong table.

The game had just ended. Samara pushes a girl I don't out of the way and I quickly apologise to her for my friend's rude behaviour.

"Alright, who wants to verse me and Isobel?" she asks, looking around.

"I will," an even voice comments as Miles steps up to the table.

I groan internally. He looks hot. He is dressed in a v-neck, white t-shirt, his leather jacket over the top and dark pants. He has sunglasses pushed into his hair, even though it's nighttime. His muscles can be seen through his t-shirt and I suddenly wish he wasn't here while I was drunk because my mind is suddenly imagining me licking those rock-hard abs of his and now I'm questioning myself as a human being.

I exchange a glance with Samara and shrug. Jai joins Miles and we begin to play. I look over my shoulder, to see Bentley still talking to the girl, not even noticing me here with Miles. I let out a huff of air, returning my focus to the game before me, not wanting to seem petty.

I miss all the shots, except two, causing Miles to drink once and Jai to drink the other. Samara is better than me, but still not that good. We end up drinking much more than the boys did, which is what usually happens. My coordination isn't that great when I'm sober, so I'm even worse when intoxicated.

As I finish my last drink, I meet the icy, blue eyes of Miles. The corners of his lips curve upwards as he nods at me, his eyes raking over my body. I feel my cheeks heat up, his stare feeling extremely intimate.

"Let's dance," Samara suggests, dragging me to the dance floor, effectively breaking my intense eye contact with him.

I glance over to the kitchen, where Bentley and the girl have disappeared, Finn is making out with some blond against the kitchen counter, Alec threw a hot dog at Jai and I try not to stare to find out what Miles is doing.

Squashing down my hurt, which is easier to do when I'm drunk, I move my body to the beat of the music. Samara always gets clingy to me when she drinks, one time having kissed me. She loops her arms around me, shimmying her body up and down as she practically dirty dances on me. I roll my eyes as it gains a lot of attention. She is gorgeous, especially when she dances.

A few fox whistles can be heard and I half join in, dancing with her, losing myself in the music and drunken bliss.

Samara was suddenly pulled off of me and her lips were pressed against Jai's. They began making out openly on the dance floor and I roll my eyes, moving from my spot on the dance floor and towards the bathroom. I wobble up the stairs as my phone vibrates. I go to answer as I stumble into the bathroom, only to be interrupted.

Someone pulls me into the room, slamming the door shut. My back is slammed against the door and I'm staring into the eyes of Alec, my brother's current best friend.

"Alec," I exclaim in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"You looked so hot out there," he groans, his warm hands delicately running down the sides of my body. "Tell me you're not dating Bentley."

"I'm not..." I say slowly. "If you haven't noticed, he's been off with some other-"

Suddenly his warm lips were pressed against mine. My eyes widen in shock as I stand there screaming what the hell in my head over and over. Soon, the shock ebbs away and my drunken body starts to react. My arms snake around his neck as I pull him closer, kissing him back, hard.

His warm hands grip the side of my dress in a tight hold.

I hate that when I close my eyes, I think of ashy blond hair, ice-blue eyes and soft, pink lips.

"I think about you a lot, Isobel," he whispers against my lips and I struggle to grasp reality, having been pulled into unwanted memories. "When we hang around the pool, you wearing that bikini..."

"But because of Finn..." I trail off breathlessly.

"But because of Finn..." he sighs, pulling back, running a hand over his face. "Fuck. I shouldn't have done that."

I shrug, a drunk, goofy smile stretching across my lips. "I didn't mind."

He grins, stepping back and giving me another, long kiss, that makes me beg for more before he steps back.

"I gotta' go otherwise we'll be in some serious trouble. Are you staying at your house tonight?"

"I am."

"I will, too," he winks.

He grins, disappearing through the doorway, leaving me breathless, confused and alone. After using the toilet and washing my hands, I stare at the mirror, the room spinning.

Did that actually just happen? Did I just make out with Alec?

Sighing, I lean against the counter and pull my phone out. I have two missed calls from Bentley. Suddenly, guilt grips me and I feel an urge to be sick. I've been hanging out with Bentley, but just made out with one of his friends.

Feeling like a terrible person, I put my phone away and exit the bathroom.

Bentley is wandering down the hallway, his phone to his ear. I just feel my phone start to ring again when he sees me.

"Isobel!" he exclaims, jogging over to me. "I've been looking for you."

I step back and stare at him through my drunk eyes. His hair is messy and there's a mark on his neck.

"The fuck you have been," I snap, suddenly outraged that I felt guilty when he did the same thing.

"What?"

"I saw you with her," I say bluntly, trying not to act too hurt and seem clingy, but also show that I'm annoyed. Wait, that doesn't even make sense, does it?

"With Katie? Nothing happened!"

"Yeah, the hickey on your neck says otherwise!" I shout back, my eyes stinging.

He narrows his eyes and grabs my chin, jerking my face towards him, his fingers biting into my skin. "Why the fuck is your lip gloss smeared?"

"Get your hands off me!" I cry, stumbling back.

All of a sudden, there's a whoosh of air up my side and Bentley is pressed up against the wall, Miles holding his shirt.

"Touch her again and I will kill you," he spits, shoving Bentley harder into the wall. "Got it?"

"You were with him, weren't you?" Bentley drawls, glancing from Miles to me. "Good to see you're repeating your mistakes again."

"Oh please-" I begin when Miles projects his fist into Bentley's nose.

His head snapped back, hitting the wall, as blood spurts down his face.

"Miles!" I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth.

Some guy started running that was at the end of the hall and I step back in shock. Bentley slides down the wall, looking stunned. Miles shakes out his hand, flexing his fingers.

"Miles..." I whisper, just as Alec, Finn and Jai, came rushing around the corner.

"Finn, wait, Finn!" I cry when I see him running for Miles.

I jump in front of him, slamming my hands to his chest, almost falling over in the process.

"He's looking out for me, okay? Please."

Finn's nostrils flare as he glares over my head.

"What did you do?" Alec asks Bentley, staring down at him.

"Nothing, I just asked her a fucking question!" he yells. "What's the big deal about this chick anyway? It's not like she even puts out."

"Oh God help you now," I mutter, as Alec grabs the collar of his shirt, before punching him in the same spot Miles did.

"Let - me - have - a - go!" Finn breaths, trying to get around me.

He almost succeeded, but Jai pulled him back.

"Guys!" he yells. "Stop, this isn't solving anything."

At least one of them is smart.

I let out a sigh, my cheeks flaming. Mainly at the insult that Bentley threw in my face, but also the fact that I had three guys trying to defend me. I felt my heart swell as I look around, knowing whole-heartedly that they would protect me. Even Miles, when I thought he was the one who would hurt me the most.

"Get the fuck out of here," Finn growls at Bentley.

Bentley shrugs out of Alec's hold and mutters to himself, wiping at the blood on his face, before striding down the hall.

The music isn't as loud up here, so when we all stop talking, it's rather quiet. I look down at the ground, feeling embarrassed.

"Did he hurt you?" Finn asks me, his voice much softer now.

"No." I lied.

"He did hurt her. Look at her face." Miles pipes up.

Finn snaps his head to mine and I step back. He grabs my shoulders and inspects my face carefully. There's probably a red mark, from where his fingers held me.

"That fucking-"

"It looks worse than it is. It really didn't hurt. He didn't hit me or anything, I promise."

Finn blows out a breath, shaking his head. He looks back to Miles.

"Thanks..." he says slowly as if thanking Miles causes him physical pain. "We can take it from here."

"Right," Miles replies in a clipped tone, meeting my eyes.

I look away, as he disappears down the hall, his right hand bloodstained.

"I'll take her home," Alec offers. "My brother can take us back to yours if you want to score with that blonde chick."

Alec is damn good. In an attempt to get me alone without being suspicious, he throws my brother's latest hook up in his face. Finn grins, taking the bait.

"You don't mind?"

"Nah, this party is getting lame now, anyway."

"Thanks, man," Finn says, doing the one-arm-shoulder thing.

Jai raises an eyebrow at Alec behind Finn's back and Alec smirks. Jai rolls his eyes, before Finn waves at me. They leave next and soon, it's only me and Alec.

"Thanks for punching him when he deserved it," I laugh. "And for getting me a ride home."

"You can thank me later," he smirks.

After he slipped into the bathroom to wash his hands, we leave the party. I can't find Samara, so I text her, saying that something happened with Bentley and I'm heading home.

The ride to my place is short, as Alec's brother chats to me the entire time. When I drink, I can talk a leg off a chair, as my mother says, so when we pull up, I continue babbling away, talking about nothing all that interesting.

"Come on, chatterbox," Alec says with a laugh. "Thanks, bro."

"You owe me," he calls.

We stumble into the house and I giggle.

"Shh!" Alec says, pressing a finger to his lips. "Don't want to wake mum up."

I roll my eyes. Alec and Jai call our mum, their mum when they come over.

As I enter my room, I collapse onto the bed. Alec saunters over to me, unzipping my boots and yanking them off my feet.

"How kind of you," I say to him, my eyes closing.

"I'm a nice guy."

He crawls over the top of me and then we're kissing. The kiss is sloppy as he tangles his fingers into my hair, pressing himself onto me. I let my fingers explore his defined torso, slipping under the shirt fabric.

I still feel like I shouldn't be doing this, because of Bentley, but we weren't dating. Besides, he was with someone else tonight, anyway.

"Your brother will put a hole in my head if he catches us," he breathes, kissing my cheek and jaw.

"Who cares."

"Um, me?" he laughs, continuing to kiss down my neck.

The make-out session deepens and I feel his fingers slip in between my skin and underwear. I suck in a breath of surprise as he begins to move his fingers down there.

"Shh," he whispers against my skin. "This is our little secret."

"Yes," I moan.

His fingers slowly move in and out expertly, going slow, then fast, then slow, making me whimper softly at the feel of it.

Just as my eyes began rolling into the back of my head, I hear the front door open.

Alec suddenly leaps off me and I feel cold without his body heat on top of me. "Shit, do you think that's him?"

Light footsteps can be heard and I giggle. "My brother could never be that quiet if he tried. It's Samara."

No later than a few seconds, my flamed-haired best friend wanders into the room.

"Dude, why did you leave?" she whines with a pout. "Is there any pizza?"

I giggle again and glance at Alec, who slowly licks his fingers, winking at me. My face burns crimson at the gesture, but Samara doesn't seem to notice.

"There would be pizza, I have a brother, remember?"

"Can we cook some?" she asks. "Pleaaaase?"

"Yeah, I don't care," I shrug. "Do you want some, Alec?"

"Oh yes," he replies and I don't miss the double meaning.

We all trail down to the kitchen and I smooth my dress over, making sure everything is where it's supposed to be.  We tip-toe around the kitchen, trying to be quiet, as we cook a pizza. I already know with Alec being here, one isn't going to be enough.

The pizza cooks surprisingly fast. Maybe it's because we're all wasted.

We stagger back up to my room and begin to eat the pizza. We didn't think to grab plates or napkins and when I see Alec drop a bit of bacon onto my blanket, I know I'm going to regret this tomorrow.

"Fun party, hey?" Samara says, taking a bite.

"It was pretty fun," I admit with a sheepish smile. It was until all that crap went down between me and Bentley.

We demolish the pizza quickly before Alec tosses the box onto the floor.

Samara and I go and brush our teeth. I change into one of Finn's shirts and by the time I get back to my room, Samara is passed out on the floor and Alec is face-first, on my bed.

With a soft chuckle, I crawl into bed, snuggling up to Alec, feeling the exhaustion tug at my body.

I fall asleep instantly.