Part 12 (1/2)
”Like I care! You're all leaving tomorrow and we'll both be onto the next girl, won't we?”
a.r.s.ehole. But he's an uncomfortable mirror of myself and how I've treated chicks recently.
”What's your name?” I ask.
”Tomas.”
”Well, Tomas, I suggest you keep your hands off Tegan.” If she could hear him, I doubt she'd want his hands on her anyway. ”And don't think she's easy.”
He snorts. ”Girls like her? They love guys like me. I can be very persuasive.” He tips his beer at me. ”Tell Tegan I'll see her later.”
The douche walks into the crowd where he b.u.mps into another girl, his hand straight onto her a.s.s to steady himself before he walks off again. Tegan will have the measure of him; he has no chance.
Although after spending time talking to other girls, I'm pretty sure I've blown mine too.
I join Tegan on the sofa and hold out the bottle. ”Do you want this beer or not?”
Tegan pa.s.ses me her empty beer bottle. ”Not. I've had enough. Think I need to stop.”
I place the bottle on the floor and pull my legs onto the sofa so I'm facing Tegan. The volume in the room has risen, as the suite crowds with more people attempting to talk over the Ruby Riot tracks Will's playing full volume.
”Didn't think he was your type.”
”He's not really,” she mumbles.
”What's wrong?” I ask when she refuses to look at me.
She snorts. ”You go to find me a drink and it takes you twenty minutes!”
”People wanted to talk to me!”
”Girls?” She slurs the 's'.
”I can't help it if I'm irresistible to women,” I say hoping she sees I'm joking.
”Yeah, I know.” She leans closer and touches my nose with her finger. ”Smoking hot Jaxon Lewis, everybody wants a piece of him.”
”You think?”
”Yeah. Especially with your s.h.i.+rt off.” With a giggle, she places her lips close to my ear. ”I was going to kiss you before. In the hallway. Maybe I will now.”
I pull my head back. ”This is a bit of a change in att.i.tude.”
”Like you're complaining...” Tegan shuffles closer and places a hand on my leg. ”Don't you want to kiss me?”
I catch Tegan's hand as it slides up my leg. This is wrong. There's something not right here. Half an hour ago she was lucid and snarky. Now she's slurring and throwing herself at me. ”How much have you had to drink, Tegan?”
She holds her hand out and counts fingers with a furrowed brow. ”Three. I think. Yeah, three. Why? Do I have to be drunk to want to kiss you?”
Tegan smiles up at me, and my smugness that she's changed her mind disappears. Her pupils are huge.
”Did you take something as well?” I ask her.
”No! I don't do drugs! I'm just a bit drunk, that's all.”
I look around the room and Tomas is watching us. When he notices me, he looks away swiftly.
No way.
”Tegan?” She rests her head against my shoulder and I shake her. ”Tegan!”
”Mmm?” She rubs her face into my s.h.i.+rt. ”You smell good. I bet you taste good too.”
”Where did you get the drinks you had tonight?”
”Downstairs at the 'Help the Aged' party.” She waves a hand and suppresses a laugh, face remaining against my chest.
”That's all?”
”Yeah. And Tomas brought me one when you were busy hitting on that girl.”
”I wasn't hitting on any girl!” I retort.
”Whatever.”
An argument over this is not my concern right now. ”Wait there.” Tegan falls to the side when I stand, head lolling on the arm of the sofa. The girl sitting nearby sn.i.g.g.e.rs at her. I push hair from Tegan's face and look down. I'm no expert but I'm willing to bet this is more than three beers. Her drink's been spiked and I'm pretty d.a.m.n sure I know who by.
Keeping an eye on Tomas, I grab Nate by the arm. ”I need to go and find Bryn. Watch Tegan for me.”
Nate sways slightly as he looks round, arm firmly around the waist of his chick from last night. ”Bryn? Tegan?”
”I think she's high, or something. I'm worried about her.”
He waves a hand dismissively. ”Loads of people are high. Tell Bryn and he'll lose his s.h.i.+t. Or worse, he'll tell Jem.”
”No, this is different.” Nate looks back round to his girl and I grab his s.h.i.+rt. ”Nate! Just f.u.c.king do it! I'll be five minutes.”
He groans and indicates the chick. ”C'mon, man, if you're so concerned, you look after Tegan.” I glower. ”Fine, fine! I'll watch her.” He looks over at Tegan. ”I doubt she's about to move far.”
”Make sure you do!” I spin round and look for Tomas but he's disappeared. Yeah, I bet he has.
TEGAN.
I open my eyes and focus on the ceiling; the world swims above. Scrambling to catch up with where I am, I turn my head. A swathe of people surrounds me; and as I sit, the room tips sideways. My leaden body refuses to move.
Whoa. I place my elbows on my knees and hold my head in my hands, willing the world upright again. Where the h.e.l.l am I?
A party.