A Coalition Story

"Mick Jagger Isn't Even That Hot"

"And now the dudes are lining up because they hear we got swagger, but we kick 'em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger!" Ravyn screamed as she rocked out in Torin's car. The plan was to drive to the club, pay for overnight parking, and get the car when the hangover subsided the next day. They'd just Uber home. That or Ravyn would call Ace and have him pick the two best friends up.

"Mick Jagger isn't even that hot, Ray," Torin laughed, earning a scowl. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"It's the song, Tori. Anyways, you're so in love with my cousin that nobody else will ever be as hot to you ever." This shut him up, but not in a fun way. Sighing, she turned her pout to him.

"Don't worry, we'll find you some hot person to hook up with and if that doesn't work then you can just drink the pain away."

"Remind me why I agreed to go clubbing with you?" he countered, his maturity and wisdom trying to get him to turn the car around and confine himself to his room. But Lev had reserved the dorm for the night, even if not for the full night. Having a roommate really sucked.

"Because Cal and Ksenia are screwing in my room right now so I've been kicked out tonight. And since Lev is with Alice and Ace and I aren't talking right now, that means it's your job to get drunk with me," she told him, chipper as ever. Torin groaned and pulled into the parking space.

"We're both gonna regret this tomorrow, aren't we?"

"I think you're regretting it already, dude, so yes."

////

"So do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips!" Ravyn shrieked in Torin's ear, jumping up and down as the speakers blasted even louder. While she was a fun, bubbly drunk, Torin was a sad and angry one. Not the violent kind of angry, though. More stormy and moody. Either way, he was not a fun drunk.

"Soon enough the only thing you'll be able to talk with is your hips," Torin bit out, glaring at his best friend. He felt like crap, and it wasn't because of the vodka and tequila shots Ravyn had forced down his throat. No, the alcohol only amplified the pain he had suppressed for the last few weeks. His heart pounded in his chest, wanting to tear itself out again just like Cal had time and time again. Okay, only two or three times, but still. Too many times. And now the alcohol was making him relive all of that pain. Ravyn and her off-key singing certainly weren't helping any.

"I'm already talking with those, Tori! But only with Lev, who is currently interested in my best friend's innocent little sister." This thought sobered the happy woman up, and she disappeared from his side. Minutes later she returned, shots in hand.

"Here. We're still standing so we're clearly not drunk enough yet."

////

Three shots later for each of them, Ravyn and Torin were now stumbling through the hallways of the girls' dorms towards Ravyn and Ksenia's room. It hadn't occurred to them that Cal and her roommate would likely be there, nor would it have mattered if it had. They were too drunk to care at this point.

Swaggering in through the door, the pair were laughing their heads off at the fact that Torin's shirt sleeve had ripped on something. Ignoring the half naked couple cuddling on Ksenia's bed, Ravyn fell on her own, and Torin sat at her desk.

"Ravyn, you said you were staying out tonight," Ksenia spoke up with a sigh. "And you definitely didn't mention bringing him here." She directed a glare to her competition for Cal: Torin.

"Because I don't care. It's my room too and I pay for it." Looking over at Torin, she immediately caught on to why Ksenia was extra pissed. Torin was staring at Cal longingly. Maybe this had been a good idea after all.

Cal sighed, looking between the three people that all stared at him. "Ksenia, why don't you go to my room and I'll meet you there soon, baby?" he suggested, kissing the top of her head. She stiffened under his touch.

"Fine, but you're talking to me in the hall first."

////

"Why are you taking care of them, Cal? I get Ravyn. She's family and one of your best friends, but Sloane? Seriously? He's your ex and he's still in love with you! Not to mention he's completely wasted! He can't be trusted," Ksenia hissed, glaring at her boyfriend expectantly. He tensed under her gaze and accurate words.

"I feel bad for him, and it's not like I can take care of just Ravyn or else I'd never hear the end of it. I have to make sure they both end up okay. I promise, I have no interest in him, and I know that's what you're thinking. I broke up with him for you. You know this, babe," Cal assured, placing his hands on Ksenia's upper arms and rubbing them gently. Finally, she seemed to relax.

"You have thirty minutes, Excalibur. If you're not back in your room by then to meet me you're in big trouble." She placed a finger on his chest, still glaring. He, however, was not taking this situation nearly as seriously.

"Oh? Big trouble you say?" he challenged, a smirk on his face. Ksenia growled, pushing him away.

"I'm serious, Cal. Thirty minutes, starting now." With that, she stormed down the hall.

////

"Ravyn," Cal began with a sigh, "why did you go out clubbing? And why did you bring him? You know that's never a good idea." He leaned in the doorway, watching as Ravyn fumbled with some pillows and blankets she kept on hand for cold nights so that Torin could crash on the floor.

"Because you suck, Calibur," she retorted, using an old name from when they were little kids, from before everything fell apart with her immediate family.

"That's not a good reason," he growled, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yes, it is. You broke Torin's heart and pissed me off. That's always a good reason to drink." Of course, Ravyn wasn't pronouncing her words correctly, but Cal could still understand her. He was just glad Torin was staying quiet.

"Fine, whatever," he grumbled, heading into Ravyn's closet. He grabbed some water bottles and her bottle of Advil that she kept in her drunken emergency kit, placing it all on her nightstand.

"Get some sleep, guys. And don't do this again, at least not around Ksenia," he requested frustratedly. Ravyn rolled her eyes at him, but by the time she looked in his direction, Cal was already gone.