The Curse of A Lifetime

Chapter 22

SARAH

It's a rager. The cabin is flooded with bodies of underaged and overaged people. Disco lights are flashing every inch of this place and not one person I see, I know. Red solo cups are being filled to the brim and chugged in less time it was filled.

The smell of weed and vodka invades my nose to the point I don't think I will be able to smell anything else for the next decade. The girls next to me in the kitchen are nursing their drinks as they watch the hot football team take shots.

The footballers cheer for one another as they intoxicate themselves, Carter amongst them. Soran is off on the porch sipping on a beer. He hasn't said anything else to me about smoking weed. I don't blame him, we are both still pretty heated about our argument earlier. Toby, I have no idea where he is. I think after the reading he wanted to be alone. That is not uncommon after meeting spirits or even talking about the people we lost. Everyone copes in different ways.

"Hey, you want one?" Carter walks over to me and hands me a shot. It smells awful and I wince at the thought. "No," I shake my head and he laughs, "Oh come on, just one." He pushes the shot toward me and I cower away. His eyes glisten in the light and his voice sounds angelic with laughter.

"Party pooper," he takes the shot in front of me and winks.

"I'm okay with my white claw." Carter sets the shot glass down and stands next to me, leaning against the counter. He did drink quite a bit of alcohol and he smoked earlier. I am not sure how the whole weed affects the body or how it works with alcohol, but Carter seems chill and in the right mind. I mean he is a bit more relaxed and talkative, but he isn't acting crazy like the rest of the team. He watches them from across the kitchen and smiles at them. One of the guys just ripped his shirt down the front and took three shots in a row. The room cheers him on as he hoots and hollers.

"Are you having fun?" Carter nudges my shoulder, "I guess, I am not really a party person."

"I can tell," he pours a glass of water from the faucet and chugs it.

Some of the water missed his mouth and dribbles down his chin, hitting his white t-shirt. I can't help but admire his toned torso and shredded hips. His shirt perfectly fits along his arms, back, and sides making it hard for me to focus. His loose-cut jeans sinching his waist make my insides warm. My thoughts bring my gaze back to his brown eyes. I take a peak through my lashes but am busted.

"Aww, you're blushing." I am so embarrassed, I look away in the hope he will drop it. I take a sip of my drink, but he has other plans. He takes the can out of my hands and replaces it with his own.

"It's okay, Sarah, I look at you too." my heart skips a beat at his words, without looking, I feel his body move closer to mine. I can smell the alcohol from his breath and for some reason, I don't want to pull away. The lights flashing around us seem to stop and are replaced with dimmer lights. All around me I feel warm and invited. Carter takes my hand and places it on his waist as he does the same to me.

Before either one of us can say anything a loud shriek comes across the room, "Carter, come here, now!!"

Instantly he steps back from me and his eyes are filled with worry. He mouths the word, 'sorry' and scurries off to his girlfriend. I am left with an empty feeling, my mind clouded a moment ago and now it is clear as day. What the hell is wrong with me? He has a girlfriend, I can't be doing shit like that. I don't know if he was being friendly or if he was going to kiss me, but I can't do that to him or to her.

I am not that kind of girl, I won't be. I excuse myself from the kitchen and move outside. I pass by Carter and Courtney on the way, Carter avoids eye contact with me and Courtney glares. I feel like I am being shunned for not doing my homework or something. I open the sliding door and step outside. I am greeted by a few people, I see Soran sitting on one of the benches and sit next to him.