After gifts and dinner most of the older guests left. All that was left was those ready for Cara's long awaited "after party". It was the party of the year in this small town. Underage drinking went unbothered since Cara's father was mayor of the town and would quite literally break laws for his daughter. Every year I say I won't drink then end up staying here because I'm slurring over my own words by 9:00. Cara's very convincing when it comes to alcohol.
"Do you want something to drink?", Cara asked Hailey and I. "We have shots, mixers, anything you could dream of!"
"I'll have a vodka cranberry!", Hailey said excitedly. This was the only time of the year Hailey was able to get her hands on some alcohol. Her parents were extremely strict.
"And for you Ev?", Cara asked.
"I'm okay thank you", I said softly, trying to avoid getting blacked out for the third year in a row.
"Come on! It's my birthday, please?", Cara said, holding out the "e" on please.
"Okay okay, I'll have the nicest martini your mixers can make!", I said sarcastically.
"Coming right up! And I'm bringing plenty of shots of course!", Cara yelled as she walked away to order the drinks.
After about four shots I was beginning to get deja vu to last year. I would blackout and fall asleep on the couch while everyone the next days talk about my "alternate personality " who comes out when I party once a year.
"Hey Ev!", Cara stumbled over her words, "Could you grab some water for us all? Don't want to be hungover tomorrow."
"Well of course my birthday queen.", I giggled and bowed to Cara.
Hailey and Cara were laughing hysterically while I stumbled away to get water. I turned the corner to the kitchen holding onto tables and walls for balance. The party was starting to die down and only the try hard partiers were left. I turned the corner to the kitchen where I was met by a sophomore named Andrew.
"Wow Evelyn, looking a little tipsy there aren't you? Let me help you out. What you trying to get?"'he asked.
"Yeah I might of had a bit too many", I laughed not sensing the red flags in my inebriated state. "I was grabbing water for Hailey and Cara."
"Oh let me help you out with that", he grabbed me and start walking me somewhere. I didn't remember the kitchen being this way but I was drunk so my sense of direction wasn't the greatest. Then I realized we weren't going to the kitchen, we were headed to the back door. I tried to pull away but my strength failed me.
"Hey! What are you do-", I started to yell before he covered me mouth.
"This will be quick, you won't even remember in the morning!", he laughed.
He pulled me out the door and against the siding of the house, there was no one out here and the music was too loud for anyone to hear me. I braced myself for the worst.
"Hey what do you think you're doing there!", a man yelled from the darkness. I recognized the voice from somewhere.
Andrew was ripped off of me with extreme force. His grip he had on my pulled me to the ground with him. I laid in the grass with the sky spinning, I felt like I was going to vomit. I heard a scuffle between Andrew and the man, then I heard footsteps running away.
Someone approached me and grabbed me. They pulled me up gently.
"Are you okay?", the voice said.
It was dark and I was barely able to make out their features, it was that Ian guy.
"Ummm… Everything's spinning really bad." I had never felt this way after just four shots before. Something wasn't right.
Ian shined his phone flashlight in my eyes, it blinded me.
"What are you…", I felt extremely nauseous.
"That fucker drugged you. I'm gonna kill him.", Ian said clenching his jaw. "We need to get you inside or to the hospital"
"No, no hospital. I can't go inside- I'll ruin Cara's party."
"You just got drugged I think your friend will understand", Ian said.
"No I can't ruin her party. Can you just text her for me saying something happened with my uncle. Then can you take me home."
He grabbed my phone and I told him the passcode.
"Is it okay if I bring you to my car?", he asked.
I nodded.
I expected him to help me get up and steady me as I walked to the car. Instead he lifted me up entirely, as if I weighed nothing. "What the hell does this guy lift?" I thought to myself. He carried me to the car and opened the door.
"Thank you." I said as he drove me back to my house.
"You're welcome but I'm not taking you home. I'm taking you to my place where I can be sure you're okay. I don't trust you alone tonight, I don't even know what he slipped into your drink.", Ian said. "I know this may sound freaky, some guy you met at a party and talked to once taking you his his place, but I promise I'm not going to do anything to harm you."
That bad feeling I had when I first met him was gone, it was filled with a feeling of trust now instead. Before I could answer I felt myself nodding off.