Lovestruck (EDITING)

19: Salt, Shot, Lime

I swing the front door open clumsily and flinch when it collides with something or someone on the other side of it. Shit.

"What the fuck?" A pimply teenage boy slurs, stumbling backwards.

"Sorry," I say quietly, my eyes searching the front yard for Jayden.

The boy ignores my response and stumbles past me into the house as I step out onto the front porch. The cool air and lack of thumping house music is a relief and I would be able to think clearly if I hadn't just been practically forced into a round of tequila shots. I take a deep breath and sigh loudly when my eyes find a dark haired figure sitting alone on a large white garden swing, holding a beer.

I carefully make my way down the porch steps - this isn't the time to be falling over - and move towards the swing with caution.

"Mind if I sit?" I ask weakly, expecting to be ignored.

"Go ahead," Jayden nods towards the seat next to him and takes a sip of his beer.

I sink into the seat beside him, not sure of what to say.

Do I try to explain myself?

Apologise?

Did I even do anything wrong?

I've had one too many tequila shots for this.

"Jayden, why are you here?" I lean my head back into the uncomfortable wooden chair, regretting my stupid question. He has every right to be here.

"I mean, I'm just confused as to how we ended up at the same party, I guess." Good save, Skye. I lift my hands to my face and rub my temples. This is not going well.

"Believe me, I'm just as confused as you are, Skye."

So we're on the same page - kind of.

"You didn't know I was here?" I stare at the perfectly mowed grass which will no doubt be covered in vomit and passed out teenagers tomorrow morning.

"No, Skye. I didn't come here to see you," Oh god, I'm being arrogant, aren't I?

"But what a wonderful surprise this has been." He leans his head back and I watch his jaw clench.

"Are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad. I don't know how I'm supposed to react, Skye."

He's right. We're not a couple. We barely know each other. How are either of us supposed to react? This is too much. I've had several drinks and this situation is too dramatic for me to think about right now.

"I understand." I lean my head back once again, exhausted, and decide to apologise anyway. I hurt him and I can see it. "I'm sorry, Jayden."

I feel his eyes on me but continue to stare forward, wishing I'd stayed at home tonight.

"Don't apologise to me. I should have knocked."

I look up to meet his eyes. Is he kidding?

"What?" I stare at him in disbelief. He can't seriously think this is his fault.

"You did nothing wrong, Skye. I'm overreacting. I shouldn't have walked in." He drops his eyes to the ground.

"You're under-reacting, Jayden. I was stupid and intoxicated and I didn't think, okay? You can't let yourself feel guilty over my mistakes. I would rather you be mad at me than not react at all."

The way he's acting makes me feel worse than if he'd just yelled and left me here.

"What is there to get mad over? We're both single. There's nothing stopping either of us from getting drunk and hooking up with people at parties."