Safety Net {l.r.h}

9) It's a beer bong, silly

ELLIE ABNER

I sipped from a red cup full of a mixed alcoholic drink while scanning the crowd of people. There was something off about tonight, and it irked me. I really wanted to leave. I had searched for Michael everywhere, same with Calum. Anxiety sat heavily in my chest as my fingers tightened their grip around the plastic in my hand. Deciding on some fresh air, I headed towards the back door where I assumed no one would be, I stepped outside. Sitting with their back faced away from me was a blonde with his head hung low. Hearing the door shut behind him, he turned. Tristan.

"Thank god, someone I know." I breathed out, but when he didn't respond, I reached back for the doorknob. "Sorry if I'm disturbing you."

Shaking his head, he scooted over although no one else was out here but us. "No, come sit."

I did as told, crisscrossing my legs in front of me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, there's just a lot of people in there."

I nodded. "Exactly why I came out here. I don't do parties."

"So why are you at one?" He chuckled. My cheeks heated up from slight embarrassment and unknowing.

"I don't know... All of my friends are here, and you were also pretty much asking me to come."

Tristan cocked up an eyebrow. "Was I?" Laughing, I nudged him with my elbow.

"Don't act like you weren't."

"Alright, you caught me." He looks my way, his eyes flickering to my lips for a split second. My heart stuttered, and I nearly choked on my breath. "I did want you to come because, well, I like you." He says, placing his hand on top of mine.

"You barely know me." I say, staring at him with wide eyes.

"I can't stop thinking about you, Ellie. You're stunning- fuck, I mean seriously, you're perfect." Heat rushed to my cheeks as I listened to his words. Was he just saying this to get in my pants? I mean, it is college. Everyone's trying to get into everyone's pants.

"You're just saying that."

"And how would you know?" Suddenly, I felt a pang in my heart. I really wouldn't know because my experience with boys was low. I had one serious boyfriend who I also lost my virginity to. That was it. We didn't have spontaneous sex like I've seen in movies or read in books. I never kissed anyone in the rain after they begged me to be with them. Love wasn't what I thought it was, and I didn't even think it existed after what happened the last time, I thought I found it.

"I wouldn't."

Before anything further was said, the sound of the back door opening caught our attention. I turned to see who it was just to see Calum. He smiled down at me before holding out a large hand. "Come on, we're gonna play a drinking game." Deciding that it would be better than to explore my deep thoughts with somewhat of a stranger, I stood up to grab his hand and allowed him to lead me to the living room. It seemed like most people moved out to the front yard or are in different rooms of the house because there was only about 12 people in the room.

"So, what's the game?" I question while eyeing a funnel with a tube connected to it laying on the table. There was another contraption that looked the same, but it was pink and in a girl's hand. She wore a wide, drunk smile on her face.

"Who can get drunk the fastest!" She cheered. Everyone around us joined in, before I was ushered to grab the item on the table.

I leaned close to my friend with worry. "What is this?"

"It's a beer bong, silly." Calum stated like it was obvious. I just stared at him with big doe eyes that held nothing but inexperience. "Oh god, you don't know what a beer bong is?" He whispered. I shook my head.