Raina and Asher made their way to the front door of the house. Looking at it, Raina was a bit glad that it was a nice sized house so perhaps it wouldn't be so crowded. As soon as the door opened up for them she realized how wrong she was. There were tons of people moving through out the house. They started to make their way through it too. Raina just watched as Asher would keep getting stopped and talked to. She had no idea how anyone could hear anyone in this place. The music was so loud that she couldn't even hear herself think. Reflexively she grabbed for Asher's arm. When suddenly she felt like she was being stared at. She turned to see that in fact she had not grabbed Asher but some other guy from a lower grade. Quickly she dropped her hand and locked eyes for a second with his girlfriend who was attached to his other arm.
"I'm so sorry! I thought my friend was still beside me!" Raina tried to explain. The guy just waved her off like he understood as the girlfriend just glared at her. Quickly she moved in a different direction. Now she scanned and scanned the house. Asher? Where in the world had he ran off to. Suddenly she began to realize how suffocating the house was becoming. It began to feel as if the walls were closing in on her. The music was at a more intense level then it had been at before. She realized as she was scanning the room again that she had some how ended up in the middle of the room where everyone was dancing. She tried to push her way out but couldn't get back through. Her body felt like it was radiating heat so she stripped her hoodie not even paying attention to where it went. The music, though it didn't seem possible had intensified even more. She covered her ears in a attempt to block it out a bit. The room started to become hazy and the people looked more like shadows then humans. Closing her eyes then opening them every now and again trying to clear her sight she noticed that for some reason now it seemed dead silent. Suddenly something grabbed her wrist and pulled her in. She kept rubbing at her eyes which now felt wet as if she had been crying the whole time.
Finally when Raina opened her eyes again and breathed in the cool air it was obvious that she was no longer inside. Glancing around she saw that she was sitting in a lawn chair by one of the fire pits that wasn't in use. There were people surrounding the other two who didn't even seem to notice her. Who in the world needed three fire pits? Most were couples that were locking lips and practically on top of each other. Raina turned away feeling a bit uncomfortable. Then it hit her, who saved her?
"Raina! Raina! Are you ok?!?!" she turned to see Asher scrambling out the door. Holding some beers in his hand he made his way toward her. Raina stood up as he came closer dying to run to him. He threw the beer in a chair beside her and pulled her in for a hug. Placing his hand on the back of her head he began apologizing, "I'm so sorry Raina! I swore you were right beside me when I headed into the kitchen but when I turned to hand you a beer you weren't there. Next thing I know, Clarissa comes running up to me saying something about you having an episode and that you were moved outside...I'm so so sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you here...let's just go we can take the beers and go back to your house." Raina stared at him in confusion. If it wasn't Asher who pulled her out of there...then who? Raina pushed herself away from him a bit.
"Who saved me then?" she asked staring up into his eyes. The panic that was once there had now dissolved. She felt him tug her arm but to her surprise his hand didn't touch her skin.
"My guess is whoever's hoodie you're wearing." Asher tugged again on the sleeve. Raina looked down. How didn't she notice that she had a hoodie on again? Let alone the fact that it smelled of men's aftershave and was way to big for her small frame. What in the world even happened tonight? She sat back down in confusion. Grabbing one of the beers that Asher had brought out and cracking it open. After downing about half the can she looked towards him to see him just staring at her. He picked up the other beer and sat down beside her. "Gee thanks Asher for the beer that you orginally grabbed for yourself but I just decided to help myself to..." Raina glanced over to him to see that sly smile. She slammed her shoulder into his.
"Thank you...and quit bluffing we both know you grabbed it for me." she said as she took another drink. He stared at her with an all too familiar look. Worry, he was worried about her. "Hey, I'm fine. Still kicking and breathing."
"Leon!! Leon!!" Raina looked towards the door to see Ashley yelling for Leon as she moved out to one of the fires. Trying to peer through the darkness, Raina finally saw him sitting there on a log surrounded by others. She could no longer make out the conversation that followed between the two. Leon's face was lit up from the fire. The golden tones of the flames seemed to make his face even more handsome. Heat rose in her cheeks as she stared at him. Suddenly his eyes meet hers, quickly she darted hers away then looked back towards him. He was back to his conversation with Ashley and for some reason it seemed like they were talking about her. But that couldn't be right why would they...then she noticed something that was overlooked before, he was the only one without a hoodie on. Instinctively she pulled the hoodie in tighter to her. It was also now that she realized Asher had been trying to get her attention.
"Hey earth to Raina! Were you even listening???" Asher asked waving his hand in front of her face. "Why don't we just head out and go hang out at your house? You seem pretty out of it still." Raina still stared towards Ashley and Leon. They seemed to have moved a lot closer to each other. Ashley pulled Leon in as if going for a kiss. Quickly Raina turned her head and stood up.
"You sure? I feel horrible that I'd be making you leave. I know you love these things and are a social butterfly." She tried to bury deep in her heart that it hurt to see anyone being with Leon. And she genuinely felt bad about making Asher leave with her but she couldn't take being there a second longer. He shook his head at her.
"Nah, I'd rather you be comfortable and smiling. It bugs me when that smile fades" He added as he stroke her cheek. She quickly gave one of her forced creepy smiles and he pushed her face away. "Not that one though." They laughed as they linked arms. "I won't be losing you this time." He said as he clasped her hand. They began to head around the house rather then trying to push through it. Raina glanced back only once towards Leon just long enough to see that he was now standing looking in their direction.