Chapter 0004

"You okay?" Antoine asked, realizing I had seen everything. "Maybe we should go."

"Why?" I asked, drawing in a shaky breath.

I wasn't about to let Ashton and Brailyn get the best of me. If they wanted to sit there and do that, then so be it. I could have a good time too.

"Lets go."

Wrapping my arm around Antoine's, I began to pull him forward into the crowd of partygoers. Along the way, I was sure to pass by Ashton and Brailyn. I wanted them to be aware that I saw them.

"Good job bro." Antoine said, clapping Ashton on the shoulder. "You've won the prize for being a grade A asshole."

Eyes widening, I looked at Antoine, who was glaring at Ashton. Ashton and Brailyn, who had broken apart upon Antoine's words, were looking at me with looks of shame on their faces. Sighing, I shook my head and turned away. I wasn't about to play into their pity act.

"Let's go." I said, tugging on Antoine's arm.

Turning around I could feel Ashton and Brailyn's eyes on me, but I didn't bother to turn around. All I wanted was to forget all the pain I was feeling, and what better way to do that than to drink?

Finding my way to the refreshment table, I looked around at the different options before finally settling on a beer. Lifting the bottle, I cracked it open and brought the drink to my lips. The bitter liquid made me wince as it entered my mouth and made its way down my throat, leaving a smooth burn behind.

"Ah." I murmured, satisfied. "That hits the spot."

"You should slow down." Antoine suggested giving me a look of concern.

"For what?"

Antoine knew damn well that I wasn't a light weight when it came to alcohol. I could down at least 6 or 7 more beers and be perfectly fine.

"I'm just saying, don't get wasted just to forget about my brother."

Wincing I fixed my gaze on Antoine's. What exactly was he trying to get at?

"This has nothing to do with your brother." I snapped, finishing the last of my beer. "This is a party. That means it is a place to have fun and relax, no?"

Eyeing me, Antoine let out a long sigh, "Whatever you say."

"Atta a boy." I said, grabbing another beer and popping it open. "Now, let's have a good time and forget about that shithead Ashton."

Giving up on any argument with me, Antoine nodded his head in agreement.

"Lets have a good time."

Beaming, I picked up another beer and shoved it towards Antoine. There was no way I was going to be the only one drinking. Knowing better than to deny me, he took it and took a swig. Satisfied, I turned my attention to the dance floor, where many of my friends and people I barely knew danced.

By this point, the party was in full swing. Even if I had a rough day, the vibe that was filling the air from the good times being had was becoming contagious.

"You wanna dance?" I asked, giving Antoine a hopeful look.

"Dance?" Antoine repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Are you even a dancer?"

"Does it matter?"

Grabbing hold of Antoine's hand, I quickly pulled him towards the mass of bodies that were grinding and swaying together. I allowed the music to overtake me as we arrived at the very center. Lifting my arms in the air, I swayed my body to the beat as Antoine grabbed my hips and did his best to dance along.

Laughing I twirled around so I could face Antoine to find that his cheeks were bright pink from embarassment at his lack of dance skills.

Pulling him closer, I led us to the beat for a few more songs, letting myself become completely engrossed in everything but my problems.

"Haidan, that's enough." Antoine said, reaching out a hand to try to stop me from grabbing a mixed drink. "How many drinks have you had now?"

"Why are there two of you scolding me?" I pouted.

"You're drunk." Antoine sighed and snagged my drink. "No more for you."

"Why?"

I didn't know what Antoine meant by I was drunk. Sure, the area was swaying and my vision was slightly blurred. I also felt warm and fuzzy, but I wouldn't say I was drunk per se.

"I can continue to drink and be fine." I huffed, reaching out to try to take the drink back.

Not buying what I was saying, Antoine lifted the drink high into the air, well out of my reach. Looking up, I pouted some more. Leave it to Antoine to act protective and use his crazy height against me.

"Please."

Fixing my gaze on Antoine's, I tried my best to act pathetic.

"Nope." Antoine said sternly. "You're cut off. Drink some water if you want to drink something."

"Yuck." I faked a shiver as I stuck my tongue out. "I don't want that stuff."

Moving forward, I tried once again to grab the drink from Antoine, but he continued to use his insanely long arms and height against me.

"Come on." I said, feigning sadness. "Can I please have it? Please?"

For a moment, Antoine froze as a strange look crossed his face. Trying to decipher exactly what it was, I missed it completely as he fixed his normal look of calm in place once more.

"Let me take you home." He said, quickly downing the drink I was so desperately trying to get. "Come on."

"But I don't wanna."

I was nowhere near ready to go home. Once I was there, I would have nothing to do but sit in my room alone, thinking about the rejection I had suffered.

"Don't be stubborn. Your old man will kill me if I keep you out too late."

Sighing, I found that I couldn't argue. After all, my dad would probably rip Antoine a new one if he kept me out too late.

"Alright, lets go."

Taking one last look at the refreshment table, I let out a long breath. Turning forward, I began walking, allowing Antoine to lead me away from the party that was still raging.

The street around us was dark and devoid of any people, leaving just me and Antoine in the dark silence. Now that my mood had dropped, I had begun to feel the effects of all the alcohol I had consumed. Each step I took was much harder to do without stumbling slightly and my vision had begun to blur.

"You need help?" Antoine asked, stopping and examining me. "You aren't looking so good, Haidan."

"I'm fine." I said, shaking my head. I wasn't, but I wasn't going to let him know that.

"You sure?" Antoine repeated, seeming unconvinced.

"Mmmhmmmm."

To prove my point, I attempted to move forward, only to stumble and begin to fall.

"CAREFUL!" Antoine snapped, reaching out an arm and catching me. "I thought you said you were okay."

"I am." I insisted, trying to stand up, but Antoine had a strong hold on me. "You can let go now."

"No can do." Antoine responded stubbornly.

As I opened my mouth to protest some more, Antoine quickly scooped me up into his arms and began to move forward. Too caught off guard. I didn't move or speak until we arrived in front of my home.

"We're here." Antoine said, looking down at me. "Do you need me to carry you in?"

"Hm?"

By this point, the world had become a mass of haze and swaying, and I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or my feeling of dejection, but I didn't want Antoine to let me go. On the contrary, I wanted him to hold me closer and I really wanted to lose myself in him entirely.