Four Doors Down (4 page)

“So we just ruined your night by showing up, did we?”

I sigh deeply. “Why are you even here?”

Ryan shrugs. “We came to see Zara.”

“And who exactly is Zara?”

His grin grows even bigger. “This is her house. It’s her party.”

Oh, crap. I knew I should have paid better attention when I arrived. The look on Ryan’s face tells me he knows that I have no idea who Zara is. He’ll probably use this information against me later and get me kicked out.

Jake looks between us and makes the wise decision to change the subject. “So, I heard you floored Kevin this morning. It’s all the guys were talking about. I wish I’d been there.”

“It was amazing, bro. You should have seen his face,” Ryan jumps in.

Hang on a second. I’m not having this. “Fuck you, Ryan. Kevin Wilson wouldn’t even know who I am, let alone think he can treat me like that if it weren’t for you.”
Wow. Alcohol really does make you say things you never would sober.

Jake whistles awkwardly and a muscle in Ryan’s jaw visibly tenses. “Well, he’s got eyes, Becca, so I’m pretty sure he’d know who you are.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“What did you mean?”

“If you didn’t take every chance you get to make me look like an idiot, then he wouldn’t have thought he could pull that shit.”

Ryan is glaring at me. “You don’t actually think I wanted him to do that to you?”

“Since I don’t have a clue how your pathetic mind works, how could I possibly know what you would think?” I demand. He’s about to respond when I notice something out of the corner of my eye and I cut off Ryan’s response. “Anyway, looks like your fan club has turned up, so you probably don’t want to get caught talking to me. You know? Since I’m not good enough to be seen with you.”

Ryan screws his face up at me, confused, and I nod in the direction of the door. John, Mason, and Luke have just walked in the door accompanied by Bianca, Katie, and Jessica; they’re all part of his group at school. Surprise crosses Ryan’s face and…is that annoyance?

He looks at Jake, who just shrugs. “They asked where we were tonight.” Ryan looks irritated. He must have wanted to focus solely on Zara tonight without distraction.

Seriously, talk about first world problems.

The group spots Ryan and Jake and starts making their way over, and that’s my cue to exit stage left.

A couple of hours later and I’ve found Charlie, and we’re in the laundry room.

Making out.

Big time.

As in if I were at a party and saw me right now, I would definitely comment to Sam about how slutty I was being and how much a private room was required. I mean, literally I’m up on the counter top, he’s standing between my legs which I’ve snaked around him, my hands are in his hair and his hands are starting to move lower and lower. I know I should stop, and I’ll probably be mortified tomorrow, but what the hell. I’m in the moment, I’ve got a hot as hell guy in between my legs and I’ve drunk so much I’m not thinking about the consequences.

I can faintly hear someone call my name, but I ignore it. Then I feel someone grip my arm and pull.

Hard.

I’m literally pulled off the counter top and nearly smack my face on the floor, but strong arms catch me in time. I look up and Ryan’s standing there.

“What are you doing?” I demand.

“Jesus, Becca! I could have been anyone walking in. If you wanna do that shit, then take it to a bedroom.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“You’ll get a reputation.”

I try to scowl at him, but it’s kind of hard when I’m seeing two of him. “What? Like yours?”

“It’s different and you know it,” he practically growls at me. He’s right, I know it’s shitty, but it’s the truth. If anyone from school saw this encounter, Charlie would walk away the stud and I’d be the one called a slut and getting whispered about behind my back. In fact, Ryan’s probably already figuring out the best way to use this information against me.

“Bro, get off my girlfriend,” Charlie says, like he’s only just tuned into the conversation. Ryan’s eyes snap to me in surprise. 
Ha! Yes, Ryan, I have a boyfriend.
 
A hot, sexy boyfriend, so screw you. Not everyone treats me like something they’ve stepped in.

Charlie reaches out and tugs me over to him. The sudden movement makes me dizzy and I crash into his side.

Ryan narrows his eyes. “How much have you had to drink?”

I ignore him.

“Seriously, Becca, you’re wasted, you should go home. I can give you a ride if you need one.”

I’m distracted by Charlie leaning into my body and whispering in my ear. “You know, we probably should go and find a bedroom.” I can’t help a smile crossing my face, and I let him lead me away, turning away from Ryan.

“Becs?” This stops me in my tracks. No one calls me Becs anymore. In fact, the only person who ever did was Ryan back when we were little. I look back at him.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I can’t read his facial expression.

I nod, then follow Charlie up the stairs.

I’m lying on the front lawn of Zara’s house, staring up at the sky.
Wow, there are a lot of stars out tonight.
I try to stand, but everything seems to start spinning, so I give up and sit back down.

“Becca?”

I look up to where the noise is coming from and see Ryan standing in front of me, staring down at me. I look away, too drunk to even bother responding.

“What are you doing out here on your own?”

“Go away, Ryan.”

“Where’s your boyfriend?”

Ah yes, Charlie. Right after we’d finished upstairs, he got a phone call from his band who had managed to score a last minute gig in the next town if Charlie could make it. He immediately agreed and asked me if I could find my own way home. To be honest, I’d actually been expecting to go with him and had been a bit surprised when he’d made it clear I wasn’t invited. I’d just nodded and then was suddenly left on my own. I’d made a half-hearted attempt to find Sam but had soon realized the time; it was past her curfew and she was probably already at home. I even vaguely remember her trying to say goodbye when I’d been wrapped around Charlie. So I decided to do the sensible thing and go sit in the garden and try not to fall asleep.

“Becca? Are you even listening to me?” Ryan asks, sounding frustrated.

“Go away, Ryan,” I manage to mumble. It’s actually pretty hard to concentrate when you’ve drunk as much tequila as I have tonight.

“Are you on your own?”

“Yes!”

He holds his arm out toward me. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

I glance at his arm and look away. “I’m fine.”

“Come on.”

“Go away! I don’t want you anywhere near me!” I snap venomously. I really cannot be bothered with him right now. I have zero time for him at the best of times.

I see anger flash in his eyes, but he doesn’t move. “How else are you gonna get home?”

Good question. I hadn’t really thought about it. “Jake?”

“Jake’s pretty busy right now,” he replies smirking.
Ew
. I don’t want to think about what Jake’s
busy
doing.

“I’ll get a cab,” I state decisively.

“You’ve got cash?”

Right, money. I haven’t got much cash on me and I don’t even know where I am to call for a cab.

“I’ll call my parents.”

Ryan actually laughs out loud at this. “If your dad see’s you like this he’ll ground you for a month.”

He has a point. My dad can be pretty strict, especially where underage drinking is concerned. I sometimes forget that Ryan knows my parents. Still, I’m not going with him. No way.

He sighs at me in annoyance. “Come on,” he says impatiently. “I can’t leave you here.”

I shake my head and can feel my eyes starting to close. They soon fly wide open because before I know it, Ryan has knelt down and hoisted me up onto his shoulder in a sort of fireman’s carry.

“Okay, okay,” I say, struggling to get out of his hold. “Just put me down.”

He complies and I scowl at him.
Was that really necessary?
We reach his car and he opens the door for me, practically shoving me into the seat. He reaches into the back seat and pulls out a bottle of water. “Drink this,” he demands, shoving it into my hands. I sigh but do as I’m told. Settling into his seat, he starts the engine and quickly pulls away from the curb.

We drive along in silence, mainly because I don’t like him and have no desire to get into a conversation with him, but it also occurs to me that I haven’t had a proper conversation with Ryan in years. I don’t have a clue what to say. That, and the fact that I’m concentrating hard on keeping my head still so that the spinning will stop.

“How long have you been seeing that guy for?” he eventually asks.

I shrug. It’s been nine weeks and four days, but I’m not about to admit it.

“I just thought you were smarter than that is all. Running off to a bedroom with some random guy that dumps you at a party when you’re in this state.”

Random guy? He’s my boyfriend!
 Well if he thinks that’s dumb, I probably shouldn’t mention that all the bedrooms were full so we ended up doing it in a large closet next to the bathroom. “Um, he didn’t dump me. He thought I had a ride,” I snap.

“Well, he clearly didn’t bother to check.”

“Oh, so what? And anyway who cares if I hooked up at a party? God, you’re a hypocrite. How many times have you done that?”

He doesn’t answer and instead shakes his head. “You should have gone home when I told you to. You’ve drunk way too much.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re so stubborn. You can’t admit I might actually have been right when I told you to leave.”

“I’m not stubborn,” I mutter.

He actually snorts with laughter. “Oh yeah, right. We’re best friends, and then we have one disagreement and you haven’t spoken to me in years. Tonight may be the longest conversation we’ve had since we were twelve.”

I glance over at him surprised. This is the first time either of us has acknowledged the fact that we used to be friends in a long time. Not that we could have since I avoid him at all costs. Besides, he knows what he did. Ditched me because I wasn’t cool enough, then let Billy Jameson bet on taking my virginity. If I think about it, it still annoys me to this day.

“What were you even doing there, anyway?” I ask him, eager to change the subject. “Get through all the girls at our school so now you’re working on the ones from Madison?”

He rolls his eyes at me. “God you’re annoying.”

“Oh no, wait. They don’t even have to be students, do they?”

The muscle in his jaw tenses. “Gee, don’t hold back, Becca. Say what you really think.” That is a low blow and I know it. Back when we were sophomores a rumor went around that Ryan hooked up with one of the newly qualified teachers that had just started at school. I have no idea if it’s actually true, but I know she left after just one semester and I overheard my parents talking about a pretty sizeable donation Mr. Jackson had made to the school. I’m well aware that it’s a no-go subject, but I don’t care. I wanted to piss him off. He deserves it for referring to a past I’d rather forget.

“Stop the car,” I say suddenly.

He ignores me.

“Seriously, stop the car.”

He sighs loudly. “Becca, would you shut up? I’m taking you home. We’ll be there in five minutes.”

“No, it’s not that,” he glances over at me. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

He screeches the car to a halt at the side of the road, and I only just manage to stumble out of the car before I throw up.

Everywhere.