Chapter 13 - Sara's right

-

🍣

Her

8:12pm

"Annie this is crazy, you hate parties,"

"Well let's loosen up a bit then!" I said applying a final coat of dark red lipstick and pushing down my dress that kept rising up.

"What suddenly made you change your mind?" Sara asked grabbing her purse and throwing mine at me.

I caught it just before it fell.

"I don't know, I just realised life's too short to miss out on opportunities like this."

This was a straight up lie, but I couldn't tell Sara about my crazy theory that our my mysterious hotline voice, Ed, could possibly be at this party.

"Liar...but I'm not gonna ask. I've booked a taxi to meet us outside the house at midnight and take us home."

"Thanks Sara, you're the best." I said drawing her into a hug.

"Now let's go partayy!"

9;56pm

"Take this" Jamie said, handing me a red solo cup, "I promise it's not spiked, it will just stop randomers offering you a drink,"

"Thanks."

I had lost Sara ages ago. Her all time crush (Carter Shell) pulled her away so of course she willing went, leaving me alone in a huge house full of drunk, random people. Why do all parties play overly loud music? Probably to drown out the sound of people vomiting up their guts from alcohol poisoning.

It was not my scene. I love the first half of a party where everyone laughs and dances before intoxicating their brain so they fall down the stairs backwards or punch a hole through the wall.

Jamie, like I, was an outcast when it came to parties. I've hated them ever since my last boyfriend threw up on me multiple times at multiple parties whilst I was babysitting him.

Jamie just hated the socialising.

On most situations, I'd avoid him as much as possible but right now, I was happy for his company. The party was boring enough as it is, standing alone for hours would be torture.

"I'll be two minutes, I've got to go to the toilet." Jamie said, nearly 30 mins ago. I stood in the exact same spot, my arms crossed across my chest and my eyes darting around the room for Jamie. His words playing on repeat in my head; "Don't move, I'll be back as quickly as I can."

Jamie was gone and the house was huge, I wasn't going to waste my time looking for him so I decided to walk around a little to find someone I knew. I wasn't going to stand around forever  like a loner.

Eventually I found Katie, my Geography partner, her dark brown hair curled into waves, inches above her shoulders. I gave her a small wave from across the room with a soft smile hoping to catch her attention.

"Annie!" She squealed loudly over the booming music, rushing over to me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards her group dancing in the middle of the room.

"I love your dress!" She slurred, stroking her hand across the laced bodice. She was definitely drunk. Her friends, a few girls I was also quite close with, nodded in agreement and slurred more compliments even though I towered over nearly all of them in my heels.

"I love your dress too Katie!" I said back with a sweet smile. It was true. The tight red skirt paired with a black strapless top perfectly accentuated her curves as well as matching her bright red lipstick.

We shouted to talk over the incredibly loud music and danced stupidly, swaying our hips back and forth, laughing as we did so.

For once I was enjoying a party as I had a good group to dance and laugh with.

That was, until a hand snaked at around my waist. At first I thought it was of the girls, but realising they were all in front of me, I panicked and turned to see a bulkier figure. His hot breath against my neck sent shivers down my spine and I stopped dancing as he pulled me closer to him. I squirmed beneath his grip and pushed away from him deeper into the crowd.

Suddenly the whole room started to close in as I felt the bodies of others press up against me. I was being closed in by walls made of hot, sweating, dancing people. I frantically turned my head looking for Katie and the group of girls but the lack of space made my head spin. My breathing became irregularly as I started to hyperventilate.

Before I could comprehend what was happening I was pulled out from within the deeply crowded dance floor, across the room to an open space. The hand touched my arm for a few seconds to help me escape before disappearing.

I stopped. They were gone. I scanned the room for the person who helped me but no one was around. Sure the room was full of people there was no one  that screamed 'hey I just saved you from suffocating to death in a crowd of drunk people'

The person was gone.

And I didn't even get to see their face and say thank you.

11:01pm

"Hey beautiful,"

Nope, not tonight please and thank you sir.

I kept walking in the opposite direction for no particular destination of the house but just to get away from this guy.

I found Jamie again but he was drunk out of his mind. So I let him go climb a tree or whatever he wanted to do. Turns out he got caught in a game of beer pong and forgot I was waiting for him.

How delightful. Thanks Jamie.

With Jamie gone and Katie's group on the dance floor, which I was not going back to, I was alone once again.

But I wasn't drunk, sure I had a few drinks but I wasn't in the mood to get drunk, especially while I was still alone.

I can look after myself at a party. I just have to avoid guys like this.

"Where you going?" The husky voice slurred for a fourth time. And, like every time, I ignored him. I was walking. I didn't know where to, maybe to find Sara, I don't know. Anywhere but near this guy.

"Can you please just stop," He mumbled angrily, catching up with my to grab my shoulder and push me against the wall. The shock of the hit pushed the air from lungs making me cough. The stench of booze reeked of this guy, he was definitely not sober.

"What the hell dude! Leave me alone," I said in a stern voice but he took no notice of the fact I had spoken. I threw his hand off of me and stood up tall, with my added heels for height I met at eye level with this guy. It was then that I noticed who it was.

Damien Allerhurst.

And of course, following closely behind him was the next 2 out of the 5 biggest idiots, also known as the Players; Jackson Fall and Oliver Green.

"Hey sexy you're looking finee."

"Nice dress but I'd prefer it on the floor."

I rolled my eyes at their comments, and fought back arguing as I knew it would be no help.

I was just thankful that it was only three out of five. Carter went off with Sara at the start of the night and strangely I hadn't seen Evans all night.

But they were no doubtably drunk.

The mix of the intoxication and my appearance change meant they hadn't realised the girl they cornered was me.

They might be players but we were friends not too long ago. I do still occasionally sit with them at lunch or help to tutor them in my spare time when their grades drop.

And I guess to their defence, I did look very different. For one, I was in a tight dress and not my usual pastel flowing dresses or trousers. I had dark lipstick on rather than my classic neutral gloss and most importantly, I had swapped my silver glasses for contact lenses.

I looked completely different to usual.

However this still didn't and doesn't give them the right to catcall or corner me or any girl. They have no right to do ignore basic rules of respect just because they are drunk.

Damien knows me. They all do. They would never do this if they weren't drunk off their faces.

I tried to leave but Damien was so close in front of me that I had to side step. As I did the other two blocked the corners. I was well and truly trapped.

All three of them were over 6 foot which would have been daunting if I wasn't matching their height in my heels, on top of my tall build.

Damien placed his hands either side my of shoulders trapping me in a closer space before leaning in closer to whisper.

"How about you join me or one of my friends in a room upstairs to you'know" he slurred with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Oh hell no! You're disgusting drunk,"

And I did what anyone else would have done, I kicked him where I could and where I knew it would hurt.

I ran. I ran and I kept running. Back through the kitchen, past the dance floor, clutching my purse as I ran.

I slowed the run into a walk as I left through the front door into the front garden.

I perched on the small stone wall to catch my breath. I looked at my phone to see the time.

Half an hour, I only had to wait half and hour for the taxi and for Sara.

Sara was right, I do hate parties.

-----------------

Mixing it up a bit i know, crazy right?

Honestly parties like these stuck cause I end up on babysitting duty, watching over my drunk friends.

It can be funny though, you collect a lot of interesting stories.

I relate to Annie here, I hate parties, I haven't been to a good one in a long time.

Q// Anyone got any interesting/funny party stories?

-AMG