Chapter Twenty-One

“Celeste, are you alright?” Annabelle asked me when she sat down beside me on the couch.

Truthfully, I’m no longer  going to lie to the world, “Nope,” I drowned my beer and sat back as I felt the alcohol burn my throat, it’s exactly what I need right now.

“Okay,” she drawled out, snatching the red solo cup from my hand, “Let’s not get drunk until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“Drew is what’s wrong!” I yelled, catching the attention of some party guests that was nearby.

After waving of the little eavesdroppers that I was sure who was still listening intently to our conversation, she urged me to explain my sudden outburst.

“He’s just so complicated,” I groaned.

After he kissed me, I sat there in my car with my eyes wide in surprise. It took me a few seconds to actually kiss him back and to hold his face in my hands to savor something that I have desperately wanted to do since that day when we got locked into the school.

All things must end and that kiss was ended by a person’s need of oxygen. We just stared for a moment before he cleared his throat, said his goodbye and walked to the inside of his house.

I drove back to the party and snatched the first drink that I saw which is the reason why I’m already feeling a slight buzz.

“Boys are complicated,” she stated simply and I nodded in agreement.

“But I like him,” I confessed, pouting my lips slightly like a child.

She laughed at me, “You know, I think the alcohol is getting to you already.”

“No it’s not,” I denied though I could feel it too. It felt like the room was starting to spin and I held my head in my hands in an attempt to make it stop.

“Whatever you say,” she giggled before holding up her hands, “How many fingers am I holding up?”

I tried to count it but I started seeing doubles, “Eleven,” I guessed.

“I’m taking you home.”

“B-but,” I stuttered, “It’s Christmas.”

She shook her head and stood up, “Come on, we need to go.”

“No!” I stomped my foot childishly on the ground.

She rolled her eyes as I watch as her frustration grew stronger when she tried to pull me up but failing miserably, “Celeste Graham, you are drunk and we need to get you home.”

“You said my name,” I stated, “Hearing my name makes me want crackers.”

“What?”

“You know, graham crackers,” I giggled at my pun.

She slapped her forehead at this. Did I do something wrong? I thought it was actually funny.

“What’s going on here?” Lucas suddenly appeared. Is he a wizard or something?

“She’s drunk,” Annabelle said as she gestured to me.

I pushed myself up and took hold of Lucas’ shoulders to keep myself from falling to the ground, “You have pretty hair,” I admired as I ran my fingers through his black hair.

“How much did you drink?” he questioned as he tried to pry my hand away from his hair. He successfully did so making me so disappointed.

“About one cup of beer,” I told him, holding up three fingers.

“I’ve seen her drinking her fourth cup when I came to talk to her,” my friend cut in.

Lucas sent me a hard look and I tilted to my side. Is it my fault that I can’t remember how much alcohol I consumed? He was the one who got drunk and kissed me.

“Could you convince her to go home?” Annabelle asked Lucas and he nodded. He grabbed my hand and started to maneuver me through the crowds. The things that happen in a high school party, I could even see a guy running with only his boxers and toilet paper wrapped around his head.

“Smith!” another voice yelled, instantly making Lucas let go of my hand.

Drew was marching up to us with his hands in fist at his sides and he looked ticked off.

Oh great, more drama. I think the toilet paper guy was already enough for me this night.

“Everett,” Lucas matched Drew’s steel glare with one of his own.

These two never address each other by their first names, they always have to do it with their last ones.

“What are you doing here?” Lucas questioned.

“That’s none of your business,” Drew gritted out. Dare I say it, he looks hot when he’s angry.

“This is my house, my party so yeah, it’s my business,” Lucas retorted. Point one for having a sassy comeback.

“Hey it’s toilet paper guy again,” I announced, pointing at the same person I saw earlier, running up the stairs.

“Is she drunk?!” Drew exclaimed as he turned his undivided attention to me.

“Your eyes are so green,” I slurred, “It’s like grass.”

“I’m taking her home,” Drew then said, lifting a hand for me to take. Before I could hold it, Lucas slapped it away.

“I’m already going to do it.”

“No I will!” Drew significantly raised his voice and this resulted to a comeback from Lucas that was twice as loud.

“Shut up!” I screeched, covering my ears. From the loud music to the yelling of these two, I could hardly think of anything, “Just take me home already.”

“Alright,” Lucas and Drew said at the same time and I groaned.

I fished my pockets for my car keys and threw it at those two, whoever catches it will be the one driving me home. It clattered on the ground and both boys dived in to get it.

“Give it to me, Everett, unlike you, I actually care for Celeste,” Lucas growled as he started tugging on one end of the key ring.

“Who said I didn’t care about her?” Drew said, pulling at the other end, “I’m not the one who almost killed her when you were kids.”

“At least I’m not the one ignoring the god damn looks she’s been giving you.”

I watched as the boys exchanged words and I could feel my anger boiling. I snatched he keys from both of their hands and clutched it safely in mine, “I’m getting one of my girls to drive me,” I turned on my heel and tried my best to walk my way out of this crowded room.

I prayed that at least one of them was on the first floor, I couldn’t handle climbing up the stairs with my headache.

The kitchen was cleared, they weren’t in the living room and all the other rooms so my last chance was the garden. I went out and took a deep breath of fresh air, at last I was out of that stuffy place.

I kept walking until I finally got annoyed with my heels and took them off, carelessly throwing them on the grassy ground.

Grass, just like Drew’s eyes.

I kept walking until I finally reached the place where Lucas gave me his gift. I just love those pretty lights.

“Celeste!”

I whipped my head which was a huge mistake cause it only made me start toppling to the ground. Luckily, a pair of safe and secure arms caught me and held me to a hard chest.

“God, don’t scare me like that,” Drew sighed, looking down at me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, placing my throbbing head against his chest.

“After you walked away, Smith and I have been scouting this whole house for you,” he replied.

I didn’t need any more explanation. My eyes were already getting droopy and I could still feel my headache.

I’m never drinking again.

“Drew,” I mumbled tiredly.

He didn’t answer so I presume that he waiting for me to continue.

“Drive me home.”

He didn’t need to be asked twice. He pulled away from me causing me to frown. He held out a hand and handed him my car keys.

“Looks like you finally ditched those shoes of death.”

I nodded and I started walking rather wobbly. Drew wrapped an arm around my waist to help me stay stable as we tried to get out this crowded home.

We walked to Jessica’s driveway where I parked my car and he disposed me on the passenger seat and he took the claim to the driver’s side.

“Hey Drew,” I said and he snapped his gaze to me before returning it back to the road.

“Yeah?”

“Why did you kiss me?”

His grip on the steering wheel hardened as I saw his knuckles turning almost white.

“I want you to be sober when I tell you,” he told me.

“Why did you go to the party?” I questioned.

“Because…” he trailed off, “I wanted to tell you something. Seeing you drunk wasn’t part of the plan.”

“But you still stayed and now you’re driving me home,” I pointed out.

He nodded and that was the end of this conversation, the rest of the drive was filled with nothing but silence except for the occasional groans coming from me.

We reached my apartment building and he parked my car.

“Carry me,” I requested.

He stared at me for a good minute as if he was asking me if I was serious. Well buddy, I could barely walk straight here, I don’t want to be embarrassed when I walk through the lobby, bumping to every single thing.

“Fine,” he sighed, getting out and walking to my side. He opened the door and kneeled in front of me. He linked his hands behind his back, forming a seat for me. I slipped my legs through the space by his waist and I wrapped my arms around his neck for support as he used his arms to support my waist.

He bumped my door closed and locked it. He started to walk inside which grabbed attention from people but I could hardly care.

No matter what, I feel safe with Drew. I’m not scared that he’ll drop me because I know he’s not going to. He doesn’t care about other people’s stares, he just kept on walking until he reached the elevator.

He asked a woman who was also in the elevator to press my floor and aside from the elevator music, we were in complete silence. This time, it wasn’t awkward, it was actually comforting.

When the door opened and I could see my penthouse, Drew got out of the elevator.

“Where’s your room?”

I pointed to the stairs and he sighed, adjusting me a little in his arms before climbing up. I pointed at the second door to the right and he kicked it open to reveal my room.

It was the classy kind of girl’s room. Cream walls that was decorated with tons of pictures of my friends and me, a purple carpet on the floor and at the middle was my bed.

I no longer cared if I was sleeping with my makeup on or the fact I didn’t change my clothes, as soon as Drew placed me down, I ran to my bed and cashed down to it.

I pulled the covers on me just as when Drew was heading to the door.

“Don’t leave me.”

He stopped and turned around, “Where will I go?”

“Here,” I patted the spot next to me.

I waited but he wasn’t moving; he was frozen on his spot.

“Please,” I pleaded.

“That’s just them alcohol talking,” he mumbled under his breath before taking a beanbag chair that was laying on my floor and sat on it, “But I’ll stay here until you fall asleep.”

I slowly smiled and started to snuggle into my sheets, just before I finally fall asleep, I mumbled a few words to the guy sitting to my hot pink beanbag chair.

“Thank you.”

 “Always,” I heard him say.

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I'll try my best to update this weekend and I'm sorry if this had a lot of mistakes, I typed this on my laptop which I'm not used to working with.

Question: If you could write the next chapter of this story, what would you want happen?

By the way, dance practice is a pain! What do you think of the new cover, I made it myself?

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