"Do you... do you need a ride?" Why am I offering to drive her?

"No, that's okay. I'm meeting Hayley and some friends at the hangout."

My body tenses, not only because she doesn't want a ride, but because I know what the hangout is and I don't like it at all. "Meeting anybody in particular?" I try to sound casual, but my voice holds an undertone of... I'm not sure what of. Annoyance?

"Our usual gang: Riley, Wesley, Becky, Shannon." She shrugs a little. "Oh and Garrett too."

Something hits me in the chest. It's not physical but internal. I scratch at the spot between my ribs to rid myself of the tingling, but it's under the skin. I don't like it. This feeling is foreign to me. "Garrett?"

Her smile is easy and for some reason I don't like it. "Yeah, he switched to a mechanics apprenticeship so I haven't seen him since Halloween."

"Right." I pull open the door and follow her into the hall. "Didn't you used to date him?"

I see her look at me out of the corner of her eye as I walk slowly beside her. "No. Well... not really."

"Not really?" Translate please.

"We hung out a few times."

"And kissed." I point out and have no idea why I pointed that out.

"Yeah, sometimes."

I feel my jaw harden. "And what do you plan to do at the hangout?"

"Hang out."

"Smart a.r.s.e."

She sticks her tongue out at me. "I should go. I need to get changed. I smell like school."

"No you don't." Why can't I shut up?

"Still, we'll probably go out for a few drinks afterwards. Or head back to Wesley's."

"And your parents don't mind?"

Her shoulders shift and her head turns towards me. "Why would they? I'm eighteen, I'm keeping out of trouble and my grades are good."

"There's room for improvement." Yep, I just insulted her. What the h.e.l.l is wrong with me?

"Is there a reason behind this questionnaire, or am I free to leave?"

It's now that I realise I'm holding the side exit door closed and probably have been for a short while now. I remove my hand and scratch the small tickle on my neck. "Feel free to leave."

"I'll see you on Wednesday."

"Aren't you going to my parent's tomorrow?"

"Nah."

"Nah?" I'm not even sure what that means.

"No, I'm doing homework tomorrow. My history teacher a.s.signs us pretty tough essays every week." She winks and tugs on the door, letting the cold air into the hall. "See you later."

I watch her walk away with that annoying feeling still burning in my chest, except now it's worse. I want to punch something.

"Somebody looks stressed." I feel her presence close to my shoulder and glance her way.

"I'm fine."

"Somebody sounds stressed too."

"What do you want, Katherine?"

She sighs deeply and runs her fingers through her jaw length hair. "I think we need to start again. I don't like how strangely distant we've become."

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you agree." She smiles and places her hand on my shoulder. "Lunch tomorrow?"

Should I? "Fine, sounds good." It will get me out of here for a while. "I need to get home. I have more work to mark than I know what to do with."

"I hear you." She pulls open the door and we exit together.

Eloise A number lights up my phone, beneath a name that has my heart racing.

Isaac: Stay safe!

I don't respond. I don't get the chance to, as Hayley s.n.a.t.c.hes my phone away, shoves it in my pocket and drags me to the shop. Seeing as I have identification, I'm the one buying the alcohol tonight.

Vodka it is, along with a ton of cranberry juice.

I stagger to the right, my head spinning. My hand catches the wall, stopping me from actually falling. I feel so sick.

"Oh my G.o.d." Garrett snorts, falling into me. "I feel so drunk."

He sits on the porch swing and shuts his eyes. I do the same, letting the cold wind settle over my skin. It's the only thing keeping me alert.

I can't stop laughing.

"Where's Hayley?" I slur, looking at the door to Wesley's house.

"Inside somewhere." Garrett's smile is wonky and his eyes are red from intoxication, but I don't care. He's still cute.

"I am so drunk." I blink a few times, trying to stop the spinning.

"Me too. How much did we drink?"

I lost count after drink number five. "I shouldn't have bought that second bottle."

We both laugh when Riley staggers out of the house with a girl whose name I've forgotten. They kiss almost violently, their hands groping at one another, before finally tumbling down the porch steps. They land on the gra.s.s and continue kissing. I have no idea how they pulled that off and I can't stop laughing at it.

"You're so f.u.c.king pretty," Garrett whispers, leaning his shoulder into mine. "Like for real, you're so pretty."

I stop laughing and smile at him, my body swaying slightly. I really did drink too much. It's probably because I haven't eaten since lunch time. "You're sweet."

"I... am an idiot." He blurts loudly, throwing his hands in the air.

"Oh my G.o.d... I LOVE THIS SONG!" The girl beneath Riley screeches and, twenty seconds of staggering later, they're up and dancing on the gra.s.s. Others join them as the music volume is turned up and the windows are thrown open.

"Want to dance?" Garrett asks and I really do, but I don't think I can. "Want to kiss me?"

My breath catches and his hand grabs at the back of my hair. A split second before his lips touch mine, I lunge away, causing myself to fall backwards off the swing and land on my side with a thud.

Garrett laughs loudly as he drops to his knees and crawls towards me.

This time he does kiss me, pinning my head between his and the wooden deck.

I feel sick.

Oh c.r.a.p.

"No." I snap, shoving him away with my arm.

"Elle." His voice is whiney and irritating. I descend the porch stairs on my b.u.m and, using the railing, I pull myself up and stagger onto the gra.s.s, pushing through the mess of dancers. "Where're you going?"

"I have a curfew." It's a lie. I just don't feel like being here anymore.

"I'll walk you." He takes my elbow in his hand and between us we manage to stay balanced. "What about Hayley?"

"s.h.i.t, Hayley!"

"I'll go and get her." He grins wonkily again and I feel his lips press against mine and his tongue push between my teeth before I fully register what he's doing. When he pulls back, he's breathless but I just feel numb. So numb and happy and... wait... I'm pretty sure Hayley is staying with Wesley tonight. Wasn't I supposed to be staying with her at Wesley's? "I'll be right back, wait here."

"Okay." He's gone seconds later. I stare, fascinated, at a large lorry parked at the end of the road. "I know your secret, Optimus Prime." I whisper and giggle at my own hilarity.

A car door slams and footsteps rush around a car. I'm yanked off my feet and roughly placed in a comfy seat. There are lights. It looks like a s.p.a.ceship.

I've been in this car before.

A bottle of water is thrust into my weak hands and the car starts to move. I really don't like the way cars move. Not anymore.

I open my mouth to speak.

"Don't," Isaac barks angrily. "Don't. I'm too f.u.c.king mad and I just did something really f.u.c.king stupid."

He's glowing; I swear it. He looks so handsome, all rugged and unshaven and tired looking.

"I'm taking you home."

"Yay!" I cheer, liking the thought of staying at his tonight. "We could pillow fi..."

"To your home, not my home."

Oh. My bottom lip sticks out as the reality of what he said sinks in, in which case I start to panic. "Nuh-uh. No way. Nope. Take me back..."

"I'll drop you off. You can go inside and your dad can handle you." He snarls, his knuckles turning white as his hands grip the steering wheel.

"Are you kidding me? Try explaining that one to him." I'm surprised my words sound a lot more sober than I actually am. Giggle.

"This isn't a f.u.c.king joke!" He yells, turning the next corner sharply, sending me flying into the door. Ouch. "Look at you, you're a state."

"I take back what I thought about you looking good."

"You're going to go home and sleep this off."

"You picked me up just so you could take me to a place where I'm not even meant to be sleeping tonight?" My giddiness turns to anger in a split second. "Are you f.u.c.king kidding me? Stop the car and I'll walk back."

"So that a.r.s.ehole can take advantage of you?"

"What a.r.s.ehole?"

"The one kissing you."

I blink in shock. "You were watching me?"

"Don't be stupid. I happened to drive by as you were sucking face on the street."

"You were watching me. You have no right to watch me."

"You'll wake up tomorrow on a couch, next to him, surrounded by other idiots, and wonder what the f.u.c.k you did tonight. Do you want that? Do you honestly want that regret?"

I bang my head backwards against the head rest a few times. "It'll be better than going home and facing my dad."

"Grow up, Eloise."

"I'm trying, but you won't f.u.c.king let me! Now take me back!"

"I won't let that ugly, little son of a b.i.t.c.h use you!"

I roll my eyes and before I can stop it, up comes the word vomit. "You mean like you did?"

The car stops with a screech. It's sharp and sudden and I am so lucky I'm wearing a seatbelt. Now I definitely feel sick.

"You're right. Why the f.u.c.k am I doing this? You don't mean s.h.i.t to me."

Ouch. I'm going to pretend that one didn't hurt.