edited A/N: this book made it to #1 on newadult and #5 on romance!!!
I've been putting off editing this book since I've been focusing on others for a long time now, but the sudden surge in reads has me thinking I ought to make changes to the cringey stuff before more of you see it ð
Thank you for reviving this book & I hope you'll enjoy your stay. X
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I feel like I'm being dragged by a ghost since all I can make out is a hand gripped so tightly onto mineâa watch on its owner's wristâwhile I get shoved and pushed by the swarm of human bodies standing in my way.
For a split second, I glance over my shoulders only to see that I've lost Justin in the crowd.
My abductor so kindly hauls me to the backyard where I can finally breathe, since there aren't many people out there with only a few couples too busy swapping spits that they probably wouldn't notice if a tornado's coming right at them.
"Carson!" I yell when he finally eases his firm hold of my hand. The red imprint on my wrist proves how he nearly cut off my blood supply. "What the hell was that?"
Whether or not he's listening to me, I wouldn't know. Carson leans against the sliding glass door with one palm, his forehead resting on the back of his hand. I hear my own loud exhale of breaths through my mouth as if we just ran a marathon of sorts.
"Why did you do that?" I question him again, stupefied.
All I did was dance and briefly make out with a hot guy in a college party where everybody else's more or less doing the same thing. It wasn't even as if I was ready to get naked right there!
Carson turns around to regard me, stunning me with the narrowed eyes he's throwing my way. "I just saved your life, Kelsey."
I stare back at him in disbelief. "From what? Being stampede to death or a serial killer on the loose?"
"From the person whose tongue was shoved down your throat." He says that in a raised voice, a vast difference to his usual chirpy tone. Then as if he's revolted by that, he proceeds to lift up the hem of his black t-shirt and uses the fabric to wipe at my lips roughly.
I manage to swerve before he can mess up my make-up more than he already did. They weren't fucking kidding when they said they were going to train their eyes on me.
"How creepy is that that you think it's okay to do this?" I ask, my hands beating the air. Does he think I'm an innocent young thing who doesn't know what she's getting into?
"What's going on?" A third voice appears out of nowhere. Zac glances between his brother and I.
"Hell if I know!"
"It truly would be hell if I hadn't got you out!" Carson responds. "Trust me, this is not the way you want to begin your college life."
"What I don't want is a bunch of busybodies trying to assume control of my life!" I practically shout. "I don't need you to 'rescue' me from anything. I'm not a freaking child and I can make my own damn decisions!"
Carson looks away for a brief moment before returning his gaze on me. "I wasn't trying to do that." He claims in a softer voice. "It's not so much what you were doing, but who you were doing it to."
Zac heaves a sigh. "Can the two of you quit speaking in riddles?"
"Can all of you quit spying on me?"
"Kelsey, you're new here. Trust me when I say Justin is not the guy you want to have any relations with." Carson finally gets to the point.
Zac instantly frowns. "Salvatore?"
His brother nods and the two of them exchange a knowing look. "He is a predator. I don't know what type of spell he puts on people, but by the way I saw you giving in to his touch, I had no doubts you're going to be his next prey."
"And why were you watching me in the first place?" I fold my arms against my chest.
I should've seen this coming. What good can possibly come from attending a party with the devil and his cock-blocking friends?
Carson winces as if he's busted. "Look," he tries to defend himself. "I only took you away because that dude is a real-life disaster. Case in point," he jerks his chin inside the house where a tall head of platinum hair can be seen canoodling with a new girl the same way he just did to me.
Trash. Albeit I sure as hell wasn't expecting myself to be special, but for him to move on to his next target in mere minutes is a whole other level of disgusting. He couldn't even pretend to look for me?
Here I thought I was gonna give him the blow of his life.
Perhaps Justin really is a fuckboy, I still refuse to allow them to think they can interfere in my business as and when they deem fit.
"So you're saying if it was anyone else you wouldn't have butt in?" I clarify.
"I mean..." Carson trails off.
I groan. There goes any thought of me scoring anything tonight.
"Crap," Carson exclaims, looking at a direction behind me. "Wayne and Drew are heading this way."
That idiot's probably going to be overjoyed if he knows what happened.
"Nobody says a word," I order, sucking in a deep breath to prepare myself for the bullshit I have to handle.
Wayne suddenly throws his arm over my shoulders as if we're buddy-buddy, eyeing among us. "What's up? Why are the three of you standing here?" He raises his brow suspiciously. "Did something happen to you, Kel?"
"No," I reply a little too fast. "We were just taking a breather."
That was enough of a disappointment. I honestly don't need my brother to ruin it even more.
"Where's the Cassandra chick?" Drew joins us and we find ourselves forming a mini circle.
I shrug. "Don't know, I lost her for a bit."
Hopefully having the time of her life unlike me.
Drew sighs dramatically. "Pity. This party is boring me. Made my rounds three times and not one pretty face."
"Fuck off. I clearly saw you getting out of the bathroom with Bella," Wayne chuckles, nudging Drew in the shoulder.
Drew rolls his eyes. "Then you come steal my spotlight and she goes clinging on you like a koala. Fuck you."
"Not my fault if you couldn't satisfy her." I almost gag.
I sure as heck am not standing around for this conversation where they debate over who has the biggest penis.
"If I may excuse myself," I announce, shrugging myself out of Wayne's arm and heading indoors.
Needless to say, if I was excited for my first college party before, I certainly am not now.
"Kel!" Wayne calls after me, "where are you going?"
I can't be bothered to reply knowing they'll probably put themselves back into shifts and secretly watch me like a hawk anyway.
"I'll follow her," is all I hear before I squeeze myself through the crowded dance floor.
As I risk my life making my way through long hair whipping in my face and lots of shoulder bumps from people who tower over me, a coltish guy scopes around the room with a bottle of Jack Daniels in hand hunting for willing victims. And of course, since I already know I ain't sleeping with anyone tonight anymore, what else is there left to do?
"Hey pretty, wanna drink up?" The lean guy smirks, shaking the bottle in his hands lightly to entice me.
I don't even have to speak to respond. Leaning my head backwards, I open my mouth wide while the guy holds my lower back with one hand to keep me steady. His free hand tilts the bottle towards my mouth, allowing free flow whiskey to gush down my throat.
I have always been a tolerant drinker, but never once have I tried drinking hard liquor this way. With no mixer, no ice, just neat; I can feel the burns in my throat whenever I take a millisecond to swallow.
I may have lasted for awhile before I realize some people are counting the seconds for me. Has it been twenty?
"Enough!" Zac's deep voice bellows, yanking the guy away from meâcausing drops of whiskey to miss my mouth and flow down my chin to my neck and chest.
Zac moves to steady me with both hands on my shoulders after I try to bring my head back to normal position, but I realize too late that my world is already spinning.
The dizziness comes light at first, but the intensity of it increases with each passing second as if the liquid went up straight to my brain instead of my kidneys.
Zac places one hand under my armpit, the other grabbing my forearm in what I assume an attempt to help me to walk. But I stumble and feel my knees buckle, and Zac probably finds me a hassle before he decides to lift me off the ground instead.
"Oh god, put me down." I grumble, "you're squeezing my stomach and I'm telling you it's a bad idea."
He lets out a frustrated, low groan as he carries me to an unoccupied long bench and puts me down. I instinctively try to lie back on it and he swiftly sits behind me so my head rests on his lap instead of the stiff wooden plank.
The battle in my head gradually gets worse, and I press my hand against my forehead to clutch it. "I'm not drunk, I swear." I confess. "I know what's happening but my head's just going in circles."
Zac sighs, swatting off my hands to gently press on my temple. I flick open my eyes to see his soften brown eyes meeting mine.
Damn, he doesn't have a double chin even at this angle.
"What were you thinking chugging down alcohol like that?" He furrows his brows disapprovingly.
I grin at my courage. "Go big or go home right?"
"Looking at you now, you're most definitely going home."
I immediately gather whatever energy I have to sit up. "I'm only taking a break. I'm all good." I lie through my teeth. "C'mon, it's only like what? 10 o'clock? The night is still young!" Then I start to feel a little something brewing in my chest and I question the stupid choice I made. No kidding, what else did I expect?
He shakes his head at me. "You're not driving in this state."
Just like that, he stands up and walks away, leaving me to suffer through my own retribution. Can't blame him though. He has wasted enough time watching out for me and I am not used to being a bother either.
However, as soon as Zac leaves, Justin slides in to occupy the seat next to me. He has the audacity to grab my waist and cups his hand on my cheek, forcing me to turn around and face him.
"Here you are," Justin leers, his eyes following the wet trail of liquid stain down my throat that disappears between the peak of my cleavage. "Had me walking around with a hard-on looking for you, honey."
Gross. Who knows how many crotches that thing has touched by now?
"No, you-" I didn't stammer, but it must be apparent to him that I'm no longer sober. He doesn't bother to listen to what I try to say. As if in a rush, he lifts me bridal style and hastens towards the stairs where I assume he plans to use one of the bedrooms above.
Though I'm conscious, I can hardly find the energy to free myself. The little wriggles and light shoves proved harmless to him as he carries me without a sweat. My head still feels incredibly heavyâif not moreâand my limps are too weak to punch nor kick him.
As much as I do have one night stands, I still make my choices wisely and will absolutely not pick someone who has no respect for my consent.
"Stop," I say uselessly. If anything, my pleading seems to excite him even more as his grin turns even more devious. "Put me down."
"You'll enjoy it, I promise." He smirks down at me, his eyes darkening.
Before I can open my mouth to scream for help, Wayne descends from the top of the stairs and notices me in this compromised position.
Well, fuck.
"What do you think you're doing?" Wayne shouts at the top of his lungs, sounding extremely furious. He storms down the steps two at a time, squaring off Justin at the bottom whom stands at an equal height.
"Why so mad?" Justin snickers, "this your girl? Seems like we keep falling into this pattern."
Unsurprisingly, he has no clue we share the same last name. Although what did he mean a pattern? Now he's got me curious.
"Put. Her. Down. Now!" Wayne's usually gleaming eyes turn a shade darker, livid with rage as he glares sternly into Justin's.
The commotion begins to attract a bit of attention from the people around. Before I know it, the other three guys of Wayne's group surround us while I'm still held against Justin's chest like the utter embarrassment I am.
I've never wanted the ground to open up and swallow me until now.
"Mate, I suggest you put her down now unless you wanna go against the entire soccer team." The normally high-spirited Drew narrows his eyes at Justin.
Justin scoffs. "Look at my face, do I look like I give a fuck?" Oh hell, he's really not about to back off.
Everything happens so fast in the next second, all I hear are two wordsâ"Very well"âbefore Wayne throws a punch at Justin's face and the latter drops me. Literally.
Luckily, Zac manages to duck down and barely catches me, minimizing the fall; otherwise I bet I would've broken one of my bones. He swiftly throws me over his shoulder, my butt in the air, as he holds onto my thighs while he brings me all the way out the house towards my car.
Now probably isn't a good time to fart.
He reaches into my back pocket for my car keys and plops me down in the passenger seat. "Wait here," he warns in a commanding voice. "Do not go anywhere." Then he locks the door and takes my keys with him before darting back into the house, essentially trapping me inside without even turning the engine on.
So this took a turn.
Had Carson not drag me off the first time, I might've just sleep with him and get it over with and none of this drama would have happen.
Since I'm stuck in the car, I whip out my phone from the pocket of my high waist shorts to find a couple of unread texts from Cassandra.
>>8:45PM â Girl! I may not need a ride after. I found somebody but please call me before you leave, just in case. Love ya!
Huh, whatever happened to not ditching?
>>9:22PM â Ok it's final. I'm at his place alrdy. Sorry for leaving! I'll make up to you, I swear! Stay safe! Xx
>>9:25PM â Oh before I forget, do NOT sleep with Justin! I repeat, DO NOT ENGAGE! He's rumoured to make homemade porn. I hope I'm not too late. Text me back soon!
What in the holy mother of fuck.
She dumps me alone with Justin to go home with some other guy only to inform me this one hour later, through text! Couldn't she at least have tried to call?
Now I should probably be relieved that the guys were there to stop me before my naked body can go viral.
Abruptly, the sound of my car unlocking beeps and snaps me out of my thoughts. I observe as the four of them stride towards my direction, neither of them looking very pleased.
Shit. Why couldn't have the whiskey made me black out drunk instead?
Someone flings open the passenger door where I'm seated and I see Carson pops his head next to me. "Are you okay? I told you Justin can't be trusted!"
Wayne quickly shoves Carson aside, squeezing into my vision. "Why was I not informed?! I told you to stay away and you didn't listen. Look at you now!"
I sigh, scooting down the seat to rest my knees against the dashboard while I massage my temples. Maybe if I pretend like I'm in pain he'll leave me alone.
The door to the driver's seat then opens as Zac climbs into the car. Even he shot me an almost disappointed look when our eyes met.
"What? You think I threw myself at him after you left?"