"Light em up!" Alby roared, commanding the boys to toss cackling plumes of flame onto our bonfire. Cheers exploded from the crowd, fists broke through the sky. A snap of energy creating the perfect atmosphere. The makeshift drums kept their same steady rhythm, pounding into succinct beats.

Liquor was in the air being passed around and swapped. Frypan's food stuffed in our stomachs. It got so crazy one guy started to do backflips. He was pretty good at them, talented even. When Victor got drunk enough he tried to do the same.

He fell on his face. I laughed...then helped him up. He was tipsy beyond imagination, barely able to keep himself up. His sweaty shirt pressed itself onto me. I couldn't leave him there. I had to much of a conscious.

"He's gone y/n." He slurred as I dragged him towards the hammocks. "Will you makeout with me instead?" My neck hairs prickled up. Paul.

"You don't know where he is?" I asked, supporting him, still tromping through the twiddled grass. We were almost there.

"Nope." He laughed gutturaly. "He left. He fucking left without me." One foot crossing over the other he was starting to teeter of course. I pulled him back into my grasp, upwards.

"We're almost there Vicky, don't worry." In the back of my head his choice of words didn't exactly make sense. What did he mean by instead? Or without me? "Hey what did you mean by-"

He stumbled down on to his knees, to drunk to stand. Heaving, I watched him as he threw up. Cringing at every sickening noise as he retched up everything he drank. Remnants of puke still coated on his lips. He fell down, rolling onto his back.

"Victor, you have to get up man. We're almost to the hammocks. Just a little further."

"Come down next to me y/n." He begged like a child, patting the moss next to him. It's not like he could do anything. He was harmless. Slowly, I took a seat next to him.

His red hair dull in the full eclipse of night. Face sickly, gaunt. Victor looked skinnier than usual. Using my sleeve I reached for his mouth, wiping off any residue.

"You look like shit." I muttered, his pastiness a chalk white. "The hell happened?"

"Can't eat." He panted a short response. "Not since..." Victor trailed off, his eyes lost in something. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because believe it or not I kind of care about you, in a weird twisted way." Flexing my fingers I continued. "I just don't want you to die. Or choke on vomit or something."

"Sorry for being such an ass." He mumbled, putting his hands over his face. Covering his gaunt face he spoke again. "Thanks for taking care of me y/n."

I had an attachment to him, I couldn't deny it. Victor was like a parasite that had latched on to me. A strange sort of symbiosis existed between us. No matter what annoying shit show he presented next.

"Forgiveness is pending Victor, just try not to die before you get it." I patted his shoulder to provide him with some comfort.

"I'll try Princess." He garbled, causing me to emit an audible groan. Achingly I rose back onto my feet, over his pale body.

"Don't make me kick you Ginger Whore."

"I'd like it." He smiled weakly. "It'd only feed my love for you." Victor outstretched a hand, loosely wrapping it around my ankle.

"See you later, Freak." Saying my goodbye I shook him off, starting back towards the party. Leaving his intoxicated body behind.

"Bye y/n."
_________________________

"There she is!" Frypan exclaimed, the other boys greeted me with mixed cheers. Laughter burst around the glade, like little firecrackers. Fry shook me by the shoulders, jolting me back and forth. "You want food? Water? There's also some of Gally's secret recipe..." He chuckled.

"As tempting as that is, water sounds great." I replied, my throat feeling extra parched than usual. Must be nerves or something.

"Alright let me go get some for you. I'll be right back." He flashed me a smile and when I looked back at him, he was gone. Doing a three sixty of the kitchens I saw who I'd been left aside. Hello Zart.

"Oh." I gasped. It caught me off guard, really. Seeing him looming next to me enjoying some corn. A glance in my direction was all it took for his entire demeanor to change. His lips pressed together thinly, avoiding eye contact. The light from the fire glowed across his face. He wasn't saying anything. Just darting quick looks at me. "Hi."

"Hey."

Silence. Zart gnawing on his corn. He stopped. More silence. Exchanging of looks. Fuck. Why can't he say something?! My throat started to close, that's when I said it.

"So how are you-" I blurted out, only to be quickly cut off by Zart.

"Don't you have like a boyfriend or something? Where is he?" Ouch. He must still be really hurt by me. I wish I could take the pain away. I never meant for things to end like this.

"They sure do." Gally. I knew it was him from the deep scratchy voice. His body pressed against the back of mine. He took a handful of my hair, using the new found control to turn my head. Allowing him access for neck kisses. I squirmed at the sensation, it tickled my skin.

"Hey!" I cried out, laughter bubbling up inside me. When Gally stopped, Zart was nowhere to be seen. Great. I think I just made him feel shittier. Lover boy didn't seem bothered by it. His hands roaming all around my body. Chin nestled on my head, he pulled me close saying.

"You gonna watch me fight tonight?"

"Yeah." I wriggled out of his grasp. "I'll cheer you on and everything. Major Captain Gally supporter right here." He seemed pleased by this. Well he seemed pleased by a lot of things, his eyes actively checking me out.

Then new kid passed by. Not passed, it was more like he was trying to broach me with conversation and Gally wasn't having any of it.

He first started with hooking an arm around my waist, tightly holding me in place. Then came the knuckles from his other hand. Dragging them down my cheek. Open palmed he held my chin, tilting it upwards.

I don't think my face could've gotten hotter. Suddenly it was as if I'd been dunked in a boiling hot bath of sweat. My shirt sticking to my back. What if everyone was staring? Awkwardness overtook my other senses, shy beyond measure.

"You're mine. Got it?" Gally rasped, his grip even tighter now.

"Yeah-" Quickly he mashed his lips on mine. Really going for it. I could practically feel his teeth. Whoops and cries exploded in the air, making me physically cringe. I had the strong desire to leave the party early, climb in bed and not come out for a century or two. He finished, leaning down to my ear.

"Winners get a reward later, don't they?"