Syndrome // H.S.

13. Some Aces Up Your Sleeve

When the three of us walked in, I was in awe. There was way more alcohol than there had been the other night. Along with coke on the table, there were also two large baggies of weed, some pills, and other random paraphernalia. I heard the booming bass of the music before we even knocked on the door. The second we walked in, my eyes had to adjust. The room lights were turned off, but the lamps were on. Apparently the bulbs had been replaced with ones that were color changing, because the entire room was lit up like a club. It was like they were throwing a mini birthday party.

I was taking the sight in when Harry spoke from my side, his arm still around me. "Where's Niall?" he asked.

"Getting the strippers," Louis responded excitedly. My eyes widened but I tried to stay quiet. Strippers plural? Like real life strippers? Wait would they be dancing on Harry?

As the thought entered my head, I felt him squeeze his arm, pulling my shoulders so I was now pressed into his side. For some reason, something that felt a little like jealousy was bubbling up in my stomach. I pushed the feeling down and looked up at him, smiling. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Liam glaring at us, but I ignored him. "Happy birthday, huh?" I teased.

He rolled his eyes at me. "C'mon." Harry finally took his arm off of me and walked over towards the table, cutting a few lines of the white powder. I shouldered his coat off of my body and laid it across the back of a random chair in the corner.

Liam had already started drinking, and Louis was sucking on a straw that was stuck down inside a massive cup of blue liquid. Every now and then he would pull away from the straw and crunch absentmindedly. I assumed it was more of his virgin daquiri with Nerds candy in it. 

This was my first time seeing him after learning that he had all but snitched on me to Harry. I didn't know if I was upset with him or not. I feel like I should be, but at the same time I can't imagine what I would have done if I were in his position. He was watching me carefully, as if unsure of what to do. 

"What you got there?" I asked him, attempting to break any tension.

He gave me a big smile when I spoke to him. "Same as last time, but this one's blue raspberry. Even better. Wanna try?" I shrugged and walked towards him. He tipped the cup towards me, and I leaned down to take the straw in my mouth. As I sipped, the sweet flavor flooded my mouth.

"Lilith," I heard a harsh voice to my side. I looked over to see Harry was staring at me intently. He was holding a rolled bill out. I looked back up at Louis and he winked at me. I rolled my eyes before stepping back over towards the desk. I wordlessly took the bill from him as Louis and Liam started talking to each other about something random. Harry didn't move from the seat, so I had to lean down, putting my upper body right in front of his. My shoulder was pressed against his chest.

I snorted four lines. As the rush filled my brain, I dropped the bill and then placed my hands on the desk. I stayed leaning down but tipped my head back, closing my eyes.