Across the Hall (girlxgirl)

seventeen

• N a y a •

My eyes couldn't leave Ember as I declined all shots and drinks, unable to pay attention to anything else besides praying I wouldn't hear Ember's name coupled with Jacob's, hell I didn't want to hear Ember's name with anyone. She had been paired with Naomi and Adam on two different occasions but otherwise remained unchosen, the relief that consumed me during the last round was indescribable, that is until I watched the bottle land on Olivia and a mischievous look took over her features.

"I pick Jacob and... Ember." She smirked, excitement in her eyes and I immediately wanted to step in and stop Jacob in his footsteps but instead I had to watch in horror as Ember nodded in agreement and stood up to join him.

Jacob led a tense Ember to the closet with his hand on her lower back and all I wanted to do was go over, rip it off her back and break it across my knee. I swallowed hard as the door was closed and locked behind them, my jaw already clenched. The rest of the circle didn't seem to notice as they continued with the trivial drinking games while I counted down the seconds until that door would open.

However, I didn't have to wait that long as it was only a minute in before I heard the door rattling.

"O-Open the door!" Ember pleaded from the other side and before I could even register her words I was already up and about to unlock it. Unfortunately, Olivia was just a little faster than me and stopped me in my tracks with a hand on my chest. "Please, someone! Open the door!" Ember begged, her voice breaking slightly and I became angrier as the room grew quiet.

"The timer hasn't-" Olivia stressed but once her eyes met my death glare she retreated immediately, stepping out of the way before I had to push past her.

The moment I managed to open the door Ember fell out with tears in her eyes and my arms snaked around her waist as I caught her. My first instinct was to pull her close and whisk her away from everyone, but especially from Jacob before I succumbed to my need to smash his face in. However, my plans were quickly shot to hell.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled, pushing me away as though I had burned her.

Ember was normally so in control of her emotions, choosing to keep them close, so to see her so out of control in front of so many people surprised me, it scared me. I could feel my anger burning under my skin, my whole body hot as Jacob stepped out but before I could say anything Ember pushed past me.

"I can't breathe!" She murmured in a daze, her shoulder slamming into mine as she made her escape, disappearing out the door before I could stop her, my anger boiling over as the kitchen door slammed- my eyes transfixed on Jacob.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!" I seethed, getting dangerously close to a dumbstruck Jacob as he took a step back.

"Nothing!" He huffed dismissively. "She was just being a bit-"

"If I were you, I'd think very carefully about finishing that sentence," I warned, my teeth clenched as I heard shuffling behind me and soon I felt Gabe's hand on my shoulder, pulling me back.

"Naya-" He started but I shrugged him off, my eyes still strained on Jacob.

"You need to leave," I demanded as he started to protest, but I wouldn't allow it. "Right. Now." I glared and it was only a few seconds before he crumpled under my gaze with a nod and I turned to Gabe. "Make sure he leaves."

Leaving everyone behind me I followed Ember's path through the kitchen before heading out to the backyard. For a second I couldn't find her, until I saw her in a corner, sitting on a pool chair as the blue light from the pool consumed her. I took a deep breath and shook off my remaining anger before I approached her, making sure Ember was okay was my priority, everything else could wait.