Homebound

Chapter TwentyFour

Harley had kept me close since she had dragged me from the bathroom. I think she could sense something was wrong and that I felt uncomfortable. Either that or Hex texted her.

I had seen Jacob wandering around but he hadn't come near me, he hadn't even approached Harley and Stevie. The avoidance had been an obvious sign of guilt.

I had contemplated asking Hex to pick me up or get an uber home but I know that if I go home early it would raise suspicion with Hex, especially after he felt my emotions earlier.

Harley, Stevie and I had been sitting at the booth for the last half an hour. I sat off to the side as they talk about unknown subjects, the music still too loud for me to hear anything. Every now and then Harley would turn my way and start up a conversation but Stevie always stole her attention back.

I shuffle in my seat as my mouth feels like a desert, my anxieties making it dry. I scan the area near the bar, looking for Jacob but fail to see him.

Harley bumps my shoulder against hers, gaining my attention as she puts her mouth to my ear. "You okay?" she asks, her eyebrows frowning in worry.

She turns her head, allowing my mouth to find her ear "yeah, I'm going to get a drink" I point to the bar and stand up. She nods and takes a sip from her own drink before turning back to Stevie.

I have to push through the crowd of people again. There are less people dancing now, a lot of them too drunk or tired. I still have to push people out of the way but now I have a clear line of sight of the bar from the booth.

The bartender serves me, giving me a strange look when I order a glass of water instead of alcohol. I have no interest in drinking any further.

I take a deep breath as I turn to head back to the booth, preparing to push my way through the dancing crowd again.

"Poppy!" I hear mutely. My body locks up when I realise it's Jacob as Harley and Stevie are still at the table. I push harsher through the people, hoping I can at least make it back to the booth before Jacob can catch up to me.

A hand grabs my shoulder, stopping me from going any further. It makes my drink spill onto my hand from the abrupt stop. I think about pulling away and continuing on but I don't. I'm going to have to go back to work on Monday and interact with him and I don't want it to be awkward; I'm just going to let him apologize.

I turn to face him, stepping back a step to put some space between us. I ignore the numerous people that dance around and bump into us when they step back too far.

Jacob holds an alcoholic drink in his hand; it's half empty and wobbles as he stands unsteady on his feet. His hair is a mess and the obvious glazed look in his eyes shows how truly drunk he is.

"Look, I'm sorry" he slurs out, taking a step closer to me. I stare at him for a second before rolling my eyes and turning around to walk back to the booth. His pathetic apology means nothing.

I make eye contact with Harley as she watches the interaction from her seat.

I'm swung back around by a forceful hand on my shoulder; I don't even have time to process anything before Jacob is only centimetres from my face. My drink falls from my hands, smashing on the ground by my feet gaining peoples attention around us.

"Jac-" I'm cut off as Jacob presses his lips to mine. My hands instantly go to his chest trying to push him off, even though he's drunk he's still stronger then me and pins my arms to my side so that I can't push him off.

I gag against his mouth as my body is repulsed by anybody other then Hex. Jacob only uses it as an opportunity to shove his tongue in my mouth. I can feel the vomit rising in my throat as he moans into my mouth. My eyes are open and wide as I glance over his shoulder, looking for anyone to help me. I pray to god that Harley hadn't looked away and was on her way in my direction.