19. Vodka Wishes

The lights off in the farmhouse and annexe, we strolled up to the entrance of the main house. I glanced around the driveway and noticed his parents' car was missing from its usual spot. But they'd just got home from holiday.

"Where are your-" I started to ask while Alec unlocked the front door and switched the lights on.

"SURPRISE"

The music kicked in, everyone whistled and shouted 'Happy Birthday' wishes.

I jumped at the noise; my pulse quickened and my eyes blurred, needing to adjust to the sudden brightness. My cheeks ached from the wide grin I had plastered on my face in shock.

Alec stood beside me and I slipped my arms around him. "Did you do this for me?"

"Who else would I do it for?" he whispered into my hair. "Go, they're all here for you." He tenderly nudged me towards the waiting crowd.

All my friends were here, even some I had lost touch with over the years. Sian shoved through to the front and placed a cold beer in my hand.

"Happy birthday, Wilson." She squeezed me tight. As she rocked me from side to side, James, Daniel and Rosie circled us to join our embrace.

"You lot are so sneaky. So, no emergencies? Did you know he was doing this?" I scanned around the Hart's main living room. All the bulky furniture was cleared away, along with any breakables. The glass doors of the conservatory, to the back of the room, were opened up. People were spilling into the garden and walking over to the pool house.

"Maybe he called us last week and asked us if we were planning anything for your birthday. And Maybe we have been helping him set everything up. Sorry, we ditched you, today. You have to admit, it was worth it. Come, you haven't seen the best part yet." Sian looped her arm through mine and pulled me outside.

Within the shrubs and trees, fairy lights and lanterns illuminated the walkway through the garden. It was magical. As we wandered towards the pool house, I stopped a few times to speak to my friends.

A girl from school kissed my cheek and handed over a shot of some luminous green liquid. We threw them back and giggled as we watched each other wince at the sour apple taste.

The pool house was actually a summer cabin with a small swimming pool inside. There was about enough space for a tiny bar, sun loungers and the pool. One-third of the cover was glass. Neon lights reflected out into the garden.

Alec waited for us as we neared the entrance. I stepped in to discover he had transformed the whole room. Multicoloured light-up neon balls were scattered in the pool. The sun loungers were removed to make space for a small dance-floor and the makeshift bar was cleared so Andy could play DJ for the night. Like the garden, fairy lights hung from the walls.

"Didn't he do well?" Sian placed her hands on my shoulders and her head near mine as we took the room in.

"It's just-, wow, Alec! This is too much. How did you even find the time? I thought you were away?" I marvelled.

"It's nothing. I didn't do it on my own. Everyone helped. None of us got to celebrate your eighteenth birthday, so we had some making up to do," he explained, his cheeks, slightly pink.

I swung my arms around his waist and squeezed him tight against me. "No, you don't have any making up to do. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love it so much."

He mirrored my action and held me close as I rested my head on his chest. "Also, I didn't go with my parents. They're still away. I was worried you'd guess we were up to something if I saw you. Chloe stayed with me to help."

"Your mum won't be happy if she knows they're all drinking near the pool," I laughed.

"See those two near Andy? That's Liam and Tom from football. They're both qualified lifeguards. That was one of Mum's conditions if we had the party here," he chuckled while pointing at two familiar faces.

"Always so practical."

James, Rosie and Daniel joined us in the pool house with more birthday shots. I was already on my second beer and had downed the same amount of shots. Only happy and not tipsy from the alcohol, my head buzzed.

I hovered around Andy while he DJed, catching up on the couple of weeks we hadn't seen each other.

A glass of vodka soda was placed in my hand as I danced with Rosie and Sian. Some other friends, I hadn't seen since primary school but kept in touch with through Facebook, turned up. More shots were passed around. Alec disappeared into the farmhouse to fill the fridge up with beers. He also needed to check no one was using his annexe.

My throat was dry from shouting over the music and from the alcohol. I needed water. I excused myself and weaved my way up to the house where more people were dancing. Around the room, Alec had placed Bluetooth speakers linked to Andy's playlist. When I pushed my way into the room, Finn was talking to Chloe, his hand resting on her knee. Abigail and Hope were nowhere to be seen.

I slipped into the kitchen, filled a glass with cold tap water and downed the whole pint. Hope sauntered in at that moment.

"Wilson! Happy birthday!" She gave me a brief one-armed hug. "We good? Where's that hunky boy of yours? I need him to introduce me to those hot lifeguards."

I sank back against the counter and put my glass down. "He's around."

"Don't worry. I meant it when I said Alec was all yours. Right, I'll see you out there."

Hope spun on her heels and strutted off in search of her latest victim. At that point, I still wasn't sure if I trusted her. Hopefully, she wouldn't find Alec.

There were a few people I didn't recognise, but they appeared to know I was the birthday girl. Someone else handed over another beer as I swayed into the lounge. Abigail was now all over Finn, on the sofa.

Everything was brighter, louder and slightly out of focus. Shots at the time seemed like such a good idea. The best idea. The air was hot. I needed to pee.

I tried the downstairs toilet, but the door wouldn't budge. I really needed to pee. Keeping my legs as close together as possible, I walked upstairs and nearly fall backwards as I bumped into a dark figure.

"Chloe, why are you sat here on your own? Come dance with me?" I squatted on the step, crossing my legs tighter together.

"Boys are idiots. I'm done," she sniffled, wiping her nose on her palm.

"Aww Chloe, please don't cry. Wait here. Need a pee. Then you can tell me all about it."

I rushed to the main family bathroom. Again, the door was locked. Losing all patience, I started banging, and on the third knock, it flew open, causing me to stumble forward.

Firm hands held me in place, and they quickly closed the door with us still on the landing.

"Oh Nat, it's you. Happy birthday." Max, while still holding me up, kissed both my cheeks.

I pulled away and crossed my arms. "What are you doing here? I doubt Alec invited you?" I snapped, feeling brave with liquid courage running through my veins.

"Little bit hostile, but okay. If anyone should be upset it's me. Why are you stringing me along? We have sex and then you don't even answer my messages. You were just using me," he practically growled.

Perhaps I was being a bit harsh. "Shh someone will overhear you. I'm sorry, Max. We-"

As I was about to apologise for ghosting him, the door opened and Jade staggered out of the same bathroom Max had left moments ago, her red lipstick smeared and her eyes glassy.

"Aww, the birthday girl," she squealed and clutched me tight. "Great party, Natalie. I'll save you a dance, Maxie." She ran her nails across his chest and wobbled away while readjusting her skirt.

Anger bubbled below my skin as I watched her leave. My hands shook and I didn't care who would hear me as I screamed, "Using you? Using you? Are you out of your mind? How can you make comments like that when you do things like this? This is why I didn't call you back. I just can't trust you, and then you try to make me feel bad about it. Double standards. Now move before I pee myself."

I barged past him, slamming the door shut. Max punched it once. "Whatever, a shag shouldn't be this complicated," he barked.

Chloe no longer on the stairs, I made my way back to the party. Most of the crowd were outside. As I entered the kitchen, Daniel, James, and Andy who was taking a break from DJing, lined more shots up. I necked mine and proceeded to grab another one as a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist.

Alec whispered into my neck, "I think you should slow down. I watched you walk down those stairs. You can't even walk straight."

Against his advice, I downed the extra shot and twisted round to face him. My cheeks were on fire and I could feel a sheen of sweat on my forehead.

"What's up, Nattie? You don't look happy. Chloe said she heard you shouting," he murmured as he brushed my hair out of my face.

"Where have you been? I needed you."

Alec clasped my hand and guided me through the courtyard until we were in his annexe.

"What happened?"

"Max happened. Did you invite him? Ahh, he's so frustrating. He says one thing then does another and he-" I stopped myself before I said too much. "Nevermind. He was just being an arse as usual." I threw myself onto the corner sofa.

Alec slumped down next to me and ran a hand over his face. "It's always about Max. When will you let him go?"

He hunched over and placed his face into his palms. I felt hot all over. What an idiot. I wasn't talking to Sian. I couldn't do this to Alec.

"I have let him go." Shuffling closer, I leisurely rubbed his back. "I promise, Alec. I don't feel anything but anger for him. Look at me, please," I begged. Guilt flooded my intoxicated body.

Alec peered at me with dejection. I stroked his face and shuffled up even closer. "Max and I are done. I don't want him." I held his gaze, hoping he could read the truth in my eyes. "I haven't had my birthday wish yet."

Shutting my eyelids, I went to close the distance between us, but Alec gently pushed me away.

"You're so drunk, Nattie. I can smell apple sours on your breath." He placed his cheek on mine to whisper in my ear, "When I kiss you, and I will, it won't be while we're talking about your ex, and you'll be fully aware of what is happening. I want you to remember every detail."

My head tilted back as he ran a finger down my neck and across my collarbone. The path he traced on my skin burnt. My chest heaved and my mouth filled with saliva. "Alec? Gonna be sick."

Alec leapt up, grabbed a small plastic bin from the kitchen and shoved it under my nose.

"Come on you, upstairs," he laughed. He held my hair back as we made our way to his bedroom and ensuite bathroom.

We rushed the last few steps up as I dry heaved into the bin. I was sick as soon as we reached the toilet. Alec stood by me the whole time, making sure my hair didn't dangle into the porcelain bowl.

"I'm so hot. Need this off." I tugged at the fabric of my dress. It was suffocating me. Alec helped pull it off, leaving me in my underwear. I welcomed the cold tiles against my skin.

He left me on the floor for a few minutes. When he returned, he had a spare T-shirt in his hands, some headache tablets and a glass of water.

He helped me rinse my face, handed over an unused toothbrush and slipped his T-shirt over my head.

After taking the tiny white pills, Alec tucked me into his bed and left, promising to be back soon.

I must have dozed off. When I opened my eyes, the room was pitch black. Alec lay beside me in his bed, his arm resting across my waist.

"Are you asleep?"

"Almost. You feeling okay?" Alec whispered as he rolled onto his side, pulling me into him.

"A bit queasy. Why are you not at the party? I've ruined your night."

He laughed, "It's gone three a.m. You've been asleep for a few hours now. Everyone who wasn't staying over has gone home. Go back to sleep."

"Thank you for my party, Alec. Love you."

As I drift back off to sleep, I felt the words "I love you" whispered against the skin of my shoulder along with a kiss.

***

The next morning, the sound of the shower woke me. Sharp yellow daylight seeped through the gaps at the edge of the curtains, yet the room was still quite dark.

Grabbing a pillow, I covered my face and groaned. My skull felt like it was trying to escape through my skin.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty. It's nearly lunchtime, and we're meeting everyone at the pub in an hour." Alec was only half-dressed as he stepped out of the bathroom. His jeans hung low on his waist, and the visible muscles on his stomach and biceps flexed as he towel-dried his hair.

Having no shame, I propped myself up onto my elbows and admired the view. Once I did that, I realised I was missing my bra.

"Alec, what happened to my bra?" I questioned, my face scrunching up.

"Don't you remember? You woke up screaming that you were trapped and needed it off. I have never seen you move so far. You pinged it across the room and started snoring again," he laughed recalling the event.

"I don't snore," I scoffed. I lowered my head and took a quick sniff into my top. "Wow, I stink! I really need a shower, but I only have last night's clothes to change into."

Alec strolled over to his chest of drawers and pulled out a navy blue T-shirt to put on. "Rosie dropped some jeans, clean underwear and a top off, earlier. She said to clean your room, Miss Piggy," he teased and sat on the end of the bed to pull some socks on. "Everything is in the bathroom, go wash while I make you some food."

Thank goodness for over organised Rosie. I didn't fancy leaving in last night's outfit.

"Thanks. By the way, why do we need to meet everyone? Haven't we just seen them all?"

Alec peeked round the corner of his bedroom door as he was leaving. "You must have been wasted. Don't you remember trying to organise a group camping trip, last night? It was all your idea. Once you went to bed, it got out of hand and now loads of them want to go."

As I staggered into the bathroom, Alec shouted up the stairs that Rosie also packed a small make-up bag for me.

Once washed, dried and clothed, I covered up the bags under my eyes with some concealer Rosie had packed for me. I looked like death warmed up. I tried to brighten my face with some blusher, a reddy pink lipstick and lashings of mascara.

Alec and I devoured some cheese and ham toasties and a couple of bags of crisps. Before leaving for the pub, Alec made me eat a banana. Apparently, the potassium in them was some miracle hangover cure. Personally, I hated their taste, but I was desperate.

Nearly everyone from last night was in our local pub when we arrived an hour later. Well, at least the main gang. Rosie, Daniel, Sian and James waited for us at a large table when we entered, alongside Andy and the other boys. Alec bought us a drink as his sister Chloe and her friend Joana turned up with Finn and Abigail. Some couldn't meet us but were coming on the camping trip regardless of the dates we picked, as long as was a weekend. Sian was going to relay any information on to them and set up a WhatsApp group, so we would all be aware of any changes. Hope was running late, probably still with a lifeguard from last night.

All the local primary schools were breaking up for the summer, so we needed to move fast before spaces ran out. Few places were happy to accommodate twenty teenagers, but after a few phone calls, luck was on our side.

A camping site in the New Forest had received a cancellation from a large group. If we were all okay with one cabin with a few plots for pitching up tents nearby, we could head over next Saturday. Not having any time to save up for our trip, Alec rang his mother who was willing to foot part of the bill, as long as we all chipped in some money towards it.

We spent the rest of the afternoon excitedly planning our mini-break and making notes of what we all needed to bring. Looking back at it now, I wished we had never gone on that camping trip.

***