I felt an array of people buzz past me, some stumbled shoving my body into the wall. Giggling, we made our way through the house and to the basement. The music had for once, not blistered my eardrums, it felt faint, and distant, and that was magic to me. To have the noise of something so close to me, be so muted and tolerable, it was pure bliss, and I wondered why I didn't drink nectar that often. There were hardly any distant conversations that I could hear, and the ones that were nearer to me, were more like whispers, instead of drunken shouts.
We made it to the basement, and I gracefully skipped down the stairs and into a whirlwind of a scene. Trey was sitting on one of the couches, a different blonde resting on it, but Ainsley was probably too drunk to tell the difference. I was internally hoping that she wouldn't remember much from the night. This one however, was clinging to his side desperately trying to get his attention, while he stared deeply into Ainsley's eyes.
To his left in the recliner, Coop sat stoic, scowling at the floor, unaware of my presence, and on his lap was the same brunette I had seen at the party prior. I felt something heat up inside me, making my insides burn with intensity. I managed to calm myself down just enough to plaster a wide smile onto my face. There was a couch directly across from Trey's and I pulled Ainsley's arm and tugging her over to it.
I felt a huge burst of confidence erupt in me, and I was going to prove to myself that I could tolerate being in the same room as him with another woman. Or more accurately, the alcohol wanted me to prove that to myself at that moment.
"Hey boys, what's goin' on? Ainsley said we were playing some drinking games. Let's play shall we? Oh, My name is Oakley, I don't think -hic- we've met before." I addressed the woman on Coop's lap, holding my hand out for her to shake.
I saw Cooper's head snap up in confusion, and the brunette on his lap glared at me briefly before she straightened up, and placed one hand onto the center of his chest, before addressing me, and taking my hand briefly.
"Kinzie, delighted to meet you, Oakley. Oh, yeah we were about to play, never have I ever. Who wants to go first?" Kinzie's sour glare had turned into a sickly sweet smirk, and she nuzzled herself into his chest.
I saw Ainsley had sat herself on the opposite couch, and was fighting to keep her smile from falling. I hated every part of this, for the sole reason being that negativity right now was not something I wanted.
I simply sat next to Ainsley and offered Trey up as a sacrifice to get as close to the end of the line as possible.
"Okay, Trey. Why don't you go first?" Trey was snapped out of staring by Kinzie's irritatingly soft voice.
I was surprised that I managed not to grimace when she talked, I wasn't super in control of my facial features right now.
"Never have I ever hooked up behind the courtyards' hedges." The smirk he had plastered on his face as he drank from his cup made me want to vomit, but I bit it back and looked back over at Kinzie, who also drank from her own.
"Who's next? Coop?" Trey's voice flooded the entire basement, making me cringe a little bit.
"Who? Me?" I looked over and saw that Cooper had a shocked expression on his face, and instantly began to glare at Trey.
"Yeah man, go on." Trey's voice was laced with cockiness.
"I don't know, never have I ever gotten scared out of a tree?" His snicker made me pale.
Trey smirked wider than I thought possible, and he grabbed another can of whatever from the table in front of the two couches.
"Here you go, little one. Have a sip" Trey spoke throwing a can at me.
I caught it and noticed what it was, Coors Light, my face paled. If I drank this, I would throw up. Cooper pushed Kinzie off him, and stood to his feet.
"Are you serious? That shit is nasty, Trey" Coop argued, fishing out a cherry seltzer from the cooler on the floor, and tossing in my direction over his shoulder.
"That's better" We said it at the same time, but I mumbled my words as I popped the can open.
Taking a large gulp, I lowered the can to my lap. Kinzie had taken a sip from her drink, staring at Coop. I held back the laugh that bubbled in my chest. Coop returned to his position on the recliner, and Kinzie hopped back onto his lap. The moment was anything but sweet. It felt awkward, and desperate. From who, my inebriated state couldn't tell.
"Oakley, your turn." Ainsley spoke, and I turned my attention to her. My thoughts jumbled a bit before forming a cohesive enough thought.
"Never have I ever scared someone out of a tree. Drink up, arrow boy." I slurred out, turning my attention to Kinzie.
"I wouldn't climb any around him."I warned, and her eyes widened in shock.
The bite to my words wasn't necessary but I couldn't shake the irrational anger inside me. Kinzie on his lap burned a fire in my soul, and the alcohol was kerosene to it.
"You are definitely drunk, Oakley. Maybe we should get you home?" I only shook my head and turned to Trey.
"And you aren't drunk, Trey?"
My body flew off the couch, and my drink flew across the table, landing on Kinzie. She shrieked and jumped out of Coop's lap. I gave Trey my best intimidation face, despite the embarrassment. Who was he to comment on someone's buzz, when he chugged bottles at these parties? His hypocritical words were enraging, and condescending.
My mood was soured, but I didn't want to go home just yet, I still hadn't danced yet, and I wanted to dance while I could be near the music. Kinzie spluttered a few expletives at me before rushing up the stairs. Coop followed after, refusing to look at me as he passed.
I waited before they were fully gone before I went up myself. The stairs led to the kitchen and I grabbed a smaller bottle of nectar, on my way to the dancefloor. As I popped it open, I felt the cool liquid drip down my throat. Honey coated the insides, soothing my rage. A blissful feeling emerging from my soul.
There was about half left when I pried the bottle from my lips, and I used the back of my hand to wipe the surrounding area clean of any residue. The song had switched by the time I made my way into the living room, and the beat was infecting my veins.
I looked into the sea of bodies and spotted a good looking guy staring at me. My brain immediately switched into auto pilot, and I found myself formulating a plan of action. The emotions I had been feeling the past week had been infecting my mind, and I needed a distraction from them.
I wouldn't hook up with anyone, I hadn't seen the need to in a pretty long time, I could take care of things just fine myself, but dancing sounded exciting to my buzzing brain, and I wanted to let loose again, just for the night. I gave him my softest smile, and made my way through the crowd, into his arms. I wouldn't ask his name, and I wouldn't tell him mine, but dancing, we'd be doing a lot of that. Or at least I thought we'd be doing that.