*Max's party top above!*
Throwing my clothes onto a huge pile on my bed, I groaned.
"I won't allow you to wear jeans and a t-shirt Cupcake, you're going to look hot...none of your clothes are going to work." Alex huffed and shook his head, I gave him my best 'that hurt' look.
Only minutes ago we had gotten the text that Grayson's parents were away for the weekend, and Grayson being the typical bad boy he was, would be throwing a house party tonight. This would be the first party I had attended, not that I'd admit that to Alex. Although, I don't think I had to, he probably already knew.
Grayson was the party animal out of the group of bad boys. They were said to be the best and if you were invited, you had basically made it at West Vale high.
Unfortunately for me, I had never been invited before now, so I was left with the many unpopular kids that were looked down on. Casey and I never minded though. Despite her obsession with the boys, we'd make jokes of how we'd rather die than attend Grayson Ledger's idiotic parties. Now here I was, picking out my outfit to go to his party tonight. What had gotten into me?
"My clothes are fine." I folded my arms, pouting.
"No. We're going to Tara's, right now."
~~~
"We need something hot. Something that will make her look less of a prude." Alex told Tara and I rolled my eyes, keeping my 'I am not a prude!' Comment to myself.
Tara opened her wardrobe and flicked through her clothes quickly. She turned to us after a small moment with a few items of clothing in her hands. First, she held up an extremely short black skirt along with a burgundy belly top that looked rather nice. I pulled a disgusted face as I imagine myself in the short skirt and shook my head.
"Too skanky." Alex dismissed and earned a glare from Tara.
"Jace likes it." She remarked while tossing it to the side.
"Of course Jace likes it love, everything's on show." He smirked and she made a disgusted snort before moving onto the next piece she had chosen.
This one was a slim, tight, black, low cut dress that would come quarter way down my thigh. I looked at Alex for approval since I really had no idea how to dress at a party. Once again he shook his head and Tara tossed it to the side along with the first.
When she turned back from the wardrobe she has two items of clothing in her hand. In the left, a skinny pair of black leather trousers with a black belt and in the right hand, a black crop top that crossed over at the bottom. To me, it looked like something I wouldn't go near,but Alex seemed to have other ideas.
"Put that on." Alex grinned and Tara shared a similar one while I looked at the outfit and back to them nervously. What were they doing to you, Max?
I pointed to the door and shooed Alex. He groaned, but trailed to the door and waited in the hall.
"Trust me Max, you're going to look hot. That boy" She pointed to the door, meaning Alex "will be drooling all night long." She told me as I stripped off my current outfit.
"Oh please, he will probably be drunk perving on some average skank all nigh." I rolled my eyes and struggled to pull on the tight leather bottoms.
"You don't see it do you?" She looked at me amused and I began to feel rather confused.
"See what?" I jumped around and finally pulled up the bottoms.
"Oh my god!" she laughed. "Alex is-"
"ALEX IS WHAT? WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME?!" He banged on the door and added. "hurry upppp!"
I slid on the black crop top and admired the outfit in the long vertical mirror. It looked amazing, yet very different on me. The black belly top went well with my not toned, but flat stomach.
"I told you it would look hot. Let's do your hair and make up." She pushed me to sit down at her vanity unit in front of the mirror and switched on the straighteners. She straightened my dark blonde-light brown hair until it was completely straight then moved onto applying concealer under my eyes, mascara and eyeliner on the waterline. Tara applied more on my face than I usually would,but I let her do what she thought would look best.
When she was finally finished I once again admired how I looked in the mirror. She was right, I did look hot. I honestly looked completely different, but not necessarily in a bad way.
Tara let Alex back in and he made a comment along the lines of girls taking forever to get ready which both of us ignored.
"Wow. Uh. You- I think- You don't look bad, cupcake." He stumbled over his words, unable to get his sentence out. Which obviously, was very unlike the popular, walking ball of confidence.
"She's going to be the center of attention and you know it." Tara said as she picked out an outfit of her own.
We agreed to meet Tara later and headed off to the party as Alex got ready earlier before we left his house.
~~~
I gazed speechless at the already full house from the top of the drive. The music was booming, lights were flashing and the little red and blue cups already littered the garden.
Personally, I found this way too overwhelming, but Alex grabbed my arm and eagerly walked to the open door.
Inside, we were immediately greeted by  people I didn't actually know the names of. When I say 'we' I really meant Alex Parker was and I was blatantly ignored by the airhead girls swooning over him. We made our way through the sea of bodies that were supposed to be dancing, but were honestly just jumping around and grinding on each other.
"Do you see Gray?" Alex leaned close to my ear, yelling over the music as his eyes alertly scanned the crowd.
I did the same until I found the target leaning against a wall chatting up a short blonde girl with caked makeup and false eyelashes. Who would even like that?!
"Over there!" I pointed at him and I was once again being pulled through the crowd.
Grayson's attention was seemingly all focused upon the fake blonde girl with foundation three shades darker than it should be and a crappy fake tan, but when he spotted us, Grayson shooed her away as though he wasn't interested in her in the slightest.
"WOOO!" Grayson yelled obnoxiously, making a noise that if I had heard two weeks ago, I'd have rolled my eyes and walked away. "Maxy you look hot!" His eyes travelled up and down my body and he ended it with a wink. Grayson Ledger just checked me out..
"Kyle and Jace here yet?" I looked up at Alex who seemed to have forgotten I was even here.
"Kyle is but Jace says Tara's taking forever to get ready." Grayson told us and I immediately half tuned out of their conversation as my eyes raked the room for the familiar black messy hair and blue eyed stud.
"Girls." Alex rolled his eyes.
I didn't see Kyle anywhere, just a sea of familiar faces that I could not put names too. Red, blue and green lights flashed to the beat of the music, casting shades over each persons face. Maybe I should've invited Casey too keep me company.
"-Max drinking the punch." I tuned back in when I heard my name mentioned and both boys laughed, but I missed the beginning of the joke so I didn't really see what was so funny.
"God no. We've all done it though." Alex laughed and Grayson did too, but I just stood there confused. Done what exactly?
Grayson and Alex parted from me when Jace turned up and Tara and I had the job of finding Kyle. Grayson's three story house was huge so finding one person within hundreds felt like trying to find a needle in a haystack. When we had thoroughly checked downstairs we headed up to the second floor, it was a whole lot less crowded, but there was still at least forty people up here.
It seemed pretty much impossible to be able to find one person, especially when I found there to be at least ten different doors.
First door - empty.
Second door - girl puking next to the toilet. Lovely.
Third door - passed out male.
Fourth door - the gorgeous Kyle McCall...crushing a brunette with his body and sucking on her neck like a leech! Ew gross!
"Every damn party Kyle" Tara spoke up startling the both of them. She somehow didn't seem fazed by the disturbing image.
Kyle looked over his shoulder momentarily and winked at us before standing up and following us out the door, completely forgetting about the brunette girl.
"Wow Max, you're looking fine tonight." Kyle talked from behind me and when I looked behind me, he was ruffling a hand through his out grown, messy, dark hair, which was very attractive.
"So I've been told." I flashed him a smile and continued to make our way up the stairs.
We headed up the next staircase to Grayson's room on the last floor. The room only had us in it; Alex, Gray, Jace, Kyle , Tara and I. When we arrived and joined their circle on the carpet they had already cracked open a bottle of straight vodka and Alex was currently necking a whole lot.
"Save some for us!" I sat beside him and snatched it from his grasp, taking a swig as he pouted and I then passed it onto Kyle.
"Anyone got a light?" Alex asks us and for a moment I didn't understand what he was asking, that was until he pulled out his deck of cigarettes.
Jace took out a lighter from his back pocket and threw it to Alex. I watched as he placed it between his lips, setting it alight and inhaling it's toxic smoke.
"Why do you have a lighter Jace?" Tara turned to him with a stern face as Jace struggled to find words.
"Busted.." Kyle whispered and the atmosphere made me want to laugh, yet I felt that would be deemed as inappropriate.
"You're smoking again?!" Tara's voice raised and Jace stuttered out random words like "I - you- uh"
"You told me you stopped!" Tara looked hurt that he'd kept it from her, lied to her.
"Babe..I did okay. I stopped. I just..uh I started again." He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck as we all watched the two of them.
"Why?" She demanded.
Jace tried to reach a hand to her but she pushed it away.
"Withdrawals. Babe it's my body. I can do what I want." uh oh, wrong answer.
"I didn't say you couldn't, Jerk!" She looked offended as she stood up. "I just wish you'd stop lying! Stop hiding things from me!" She stormed to the door, we watched her quietly.
"Babe c'mon! ...Tara!" She opened the door, slamming it aggressively behind her.
"Latara!" He yelled loudly, he groaned and jumped to his feet following her and closing the door once again behind him.
"Latara?" I asked.
"It's her full first name, don't call her it though. She doesn't like it." I nodded in understanding and noticed that now Grayson was puffing on the cigarette.
By now, Kyle, who had a bottle of whiskey stashed in his leather jacket, had only half left and was beginning to look completely off his head. Was it even possible to drink half a bottle of whiskey to yourself?
"Well this is my party and I'm not even really attending it, so I'm going to mingle with the ladies." Grayson smirked and gave us a wink while standing up and letting the smoke come out of his nose.
"Did that girl you specifically wanted to come turn up?" Kyle asked, I listened to the new information. Grayson frowned, shaking his head.
"She's not coming."
Kyle got up and followed Grayson out of his room, most likely down to the party on the first and second floor. Alex and I trailed behind, walking slowly.
"So, having a good time at your first party dork?" He asked playfully, he was hardly intoxicated.
"Hmmm. Ask me again in an hour or two." I laughed and Alex chuckled along.
"Do you have any friends here?" We trailed down the first set of stairs and the music was slowly getting louder, but it was quiet enough currently to use our inside voices.
I shook my head no "I don't think so. I only really have my best friend Casey and the rest are just people I talk to. Nobody I really know is here." wow I sounded like such a loner.
"Well, you have me and the boys. Oh and Tara" I nodded, smiling.
"Piggy back?!" I grinned, eyes wide with hope. It seemed he pondered over the idea for a second, then rolled his eyes and bent down a little.
I jumped on his back and as though I weighed nothing at all, he easily picked up a pace, running down the next set of stairs and through the hall, clashing into people we unsuccessfully dodged. I laughed - well, more cackled if I was honest and I clung tightly onto his shoulders.
When we reached the first floor, it was somehow even more crowded than before, which made it almost impossible to move through the sweaty dancing bodies.
"Since we're here, we may as well dance?" I got the feeling Alex was more telling me that we should dance, but he managed to turn it into a question.
He didn't bother waiting for my answer, just led me further into the crowd.
I admitted, I was nervous, since I really didn't know how to dance, but when Alex's body started moving to the beat extremely close to mine, I realised it was easy. His hand took mine and he was soon spinning me in the cramped area we were in before our hips moved once again to the party music.
His hands tangled in my hair and we were so close I could feel and smell his warm mint breath. The moment felt more intimate than enemies should be, but with the bad boys lips inches from mine, my thoughts were clouded.
"I need some air." I croaked and he let go, stepping back once or twice.
Alex took my hand and pulled me through them and toward the back door where it was a lot less crowded in the back garden around Grayson's swimming pool. Remind me again why we hung out at Jace's and not here?
The close moment we had was completely gone and we were back to our usual selves.
"The house is so full, it stinks of sweat." I crinkled my nose, Alex nodded letting out a slight chuckle.
"Max?" The voice startled me, for a moment I was unable to place where exactly I knew it from. I turned and I was unable to believe my eyes.
Ethan.
âï¸Alex Parkers POVâï¸
"Max?" And then her attention was turned to a guy about my height. His brown hair forming a quiff. His dark eyes staring at her, hands in pockets and head cocked to the side. A smile forming on his plump lips.
I watched her as she stared at him with disbelief, her pupils dilated with possible excitement and suddenly, she was rushing over to him, her arms outstretched as his muscular ones wrapped around her small figure tightly.
"You look different." He told her, a smirk that seemed permanent resting on his face.
"A friend picked it out. What are you doing here?!" She excitedly squeezed his hands, their undivided attention was on each other.
"My mother decided Australia just wasn't for her. You know how she is." He shook his head and I clenched my jaw, watching the two of them, unsure exactly what I should do.
"I do! I've missed you both so much! So you're here to stay?" She asked.
Please say no.
I had no idea who this guy was, but I sure as hell didn't want him around.
"I'm here to stay." the smirk turned to a grin and she squeezed him once more. I cleared my throat and it seemed to startle her a little.
"Oh!" She dragged the stranger over to where I was standing. "Alex. my ex boyfriend, Ethan O'Donnell. Ethan, Alex Parker."
ex boyfriend. I gritted my teeth. What the hell did he want?
"Nice to meet you." His American accent was thick compared to mine and Max's British ones and it stood out like a sore thumb to me, yet Max seemed to be melting like a Popsicle on the Fourth of July.
"I wish I could say the same about you." Max shot glares at me and I shrugged carelessly.
"Anyway Max, the boys will be looking for us, come on." I urged her to follow, but she seemed adamant to stay with this douche bag.
"I'll catch up with you guys later." oh no she didn't.
"Fine. Whatever." The completely unnecessary anger boiling my blood forced me to trudge off with clenched fists and gritting teeth.
Why was I so angry at this? Max can do what she wanted, why would I care?!
"Dude, You danced with Max! - where is she?" Grayson asked and I furrowed my brows.
"Her god damn ex-boyfriend came back to town." I spat and Grayson nodded. That's when we decided to do what we always did when the other was angry. Back to Grayson's room.
"So you're angry because her ex-boyfriend is currently with her?" Grayson asked and I shrugged.
This whole thing didn't make sense to me.
"You have to stop playing bro." Grayson shook his head, sitting beside me on the other desk chair.
"Huh?"
"You and Maxy have known each other since diapers. Since before you came to America. You came from England together - with your moms. All this time I thought you hated her. But it's quite the opposite isn't it?" I could feel his eyes like lasers in the side of my skull, but I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact, so I stared at his carpet instead.
"I can't stand her." I objected.
I can't stand her.
I can't stand her.
I can't stand her.
I told myself over and over again, but it felt like I was trying to convince myself. Like the hate wasn't there anymore.
I can't stand her.
"Stop with the games Alex! Just admit it to yourself, you're so used to getting whoever and whatever you want, but when Max came along it wasn't so simple. Tell me I'm wrong and I'll stop." He told me. That's when I found myself stood up in his face and my breathing heavy.
"You're wrong." I whispered and headed for the door, Grayson hot on my heels.
~~~
Max's Pov:
Suddenly I was giggling at everything, all sounds muffled except my echoing laugh. The room was spinning and when I looked up, their was three dining room lights instead of one.
I giggled again, swaying as I stumbled through the crowd, tripping over my own feet occasionally.
"Max?" I was at the bottom of the stairs now, facing More than one Alex, behind him was Grayson, confusion on his face.
"Max, are you okay?" Alex's arms were gripping at my shoulders and I giggled once again, letting my eyes close groggily and my legs turned to jelly.
I started to feel like I was on a roller coaster, as Alex's big arms wrapped around my legs, picking me up bridal style. My vision went black then seeing two Alex's then black again. I shook my head, giggling once again.
"What are you laughing at?"Alex asked, though he didn't seem to be interested.
"The butterflies." I whispered and pointed to the ceiling. He looked up then to Grayson.
"Somethings seriously wrong." He told him and I reached for the exotic butterflies, giggling continuously.
âï¸Alex Parker's POVâï¸
Kyle cleared the grass of people, making everyone cramp inside as I laid Max's body on the soft dry grass.
She was in and out of consciousness and when she was awake, it was not all that good, some babbling about butterflies and barely being able to stand up.
"What the hell happened to her?!" Tara yelled, as though the four of us boys were the reason she was doped up.
"I bet it was that Ethan guy!" I growled , clenched fists once again. How dare he drug Max?! Oh I'll make him pay!
"Guys, did anyone warn her about the punch?" Jace asked and Kyle, Tara and Grayson looked at me expectantly.
"Crap." I mumbled, throwing my face into my palms.
"No wonder she's hallucinating then dude! The punch is always bloody spiked!" Kyle yelled, shaking his head.
"God knows what was in it." Grayson spoke grimly and my heart thudded.
This was my fault. All mine. No - this was Ethan's fault.
"I'm going to kill him." I spat the words as I left Max with the others who seemingly followed me and left her with Tara.
I barged into every body I could manage to hit, only seeing red.
When I spotted him, his back to me, I slammed my body with force into his, holding his throat and shoving him into the wall.
"YOU LET HER DRINK THE PUNCH?!" I screamed and a crowd was formed around us as the music stopped due to the commotion. I pulled him forward and slammed him into the wall again when he looked at me baffled.
Don't lose it.
Don't lose it.
Don't lose it.
I told myself.
"Max is a big girl, she doesn't need to be watched." Ethan smirked and a hoarse growl of anger erupted from my throat.
That was when my feet were wiped out and I was suddenly on my back, Ethan feet away with a smug look plastered along his features.
I lost it.
I stood up and swung my fist which firmly connected with the guys face. It only took him a moment to realize his nose was bleeding and to swing for me. I was momentarily caught off guard and his knuckles smashed into my jaw aggressively.
Mhm, definitely lost it.
He tried to swing again, but the first was just a lucky one and I was an excellent fighter.
I caught his fist in mine and bent it backward so he doubled over, when he stood up again, I couldn't help myself, my forehead connected with face, knocking him down.
I found myself sitting on his waist and throwing punches at him as he tried to block.
"NEVER...EVER...TOUCH...HER!" I yelled between punches and then I felt the boys arms around my waist, attempting to restrain my arms as I fought against them.
Eventually, they pulled me off and I gave up, stalking back to the garden.
"What are we supposed to do with her?" Tara asked us, ignoring my swollen jaw and bloody fists that she had become familiar with seeing.
"Shut down the party. I can't take her home like this she has to stay here tonight." I instructed Grayson and Jace followed in order to help Gray regain control of his house.
I watched her as she giggled at thin air and closed her eyes, shaking her head and mumbling nonsense under her breath. I helped her stand up and she groaned, doubling over and blowing chunks on my shoes. Déjá Vu much?
"I'll get her inside, you clean up." I nodded and Kyle picked her up the same way I did.
When the lights were on and the house was cleared, we saw the house was a bomb shell which was going to need some serious clean up time tomorrow.
"I'll stay in the same room as Max tonight." I told the others, more letting Grayson know I too would be staying the night.
"Tara and I will share one too." Jace called and Tara huffed in annoyance. They clearly had not sorted their issues yet.
"I guess I'll also crash here tonight." Kyle yelled from the second floor.
I admit, I was worried as hell for Max. I could only hope the alcohol and drugs in the punch mixed okay and weren't too serious. She seemed to only be hallucinating and she could hardly stand from intoxication so I shouldn't have to worry about her going walk about over night.
I would stay up and watch her just in case.