White Noise

13

I took down the rest of my beer at the mention of his friends, realizing after that maybe wasn't the best idea. I had now drunk four beers, which was the most I had ever drank at one time. Especially in such a short amount of time. Yet here I was, the night not even close to being over, and I was about to start on my fifth.

JD laughed quietly as I grabbed a new can. I stopped moving, my hand about to open it. "What?"

He shook his head at me teasingly with a smile. "Nothing. I just wouldn't have pegged for such a drinker."

"I'm not," I confessed.

As he finished off the last of his beer as well and grabbed another, he asked, "So what's different about tonight?"

I didn't say anything. I simply shrugged and took another sip of my beer even though I already felt like I was floating away.

"Is it cause I'm here?" His smile never faltered.

"Definitely not," I lied and attempted to push his chest with my free hand. However, like he always seemed to do, he caught my hand before it made contact and interlaced our fingers.

"Katie," he taunted. "One day you'll learn that lying and trying to hit me just aren't your strong suits."

I narrowed my eyes but he wasn't able to see because he was already leading me out of the kitchen and through the crowd. I had no clue where we were going, and even if I did, it was the last thing I could've focused on because all of my attention was on the tingling sensation in my hand. Every once in a while he would squeeze it reassuringly, which would send an electric shock throughout my entire arm that caused my breath to hitch.

We traveled hand in hand through a few other rooms until we finally reached a large, arched, glass door that led outside. I sucked in a deep breath as we crossed the threshold and stepped out onto the extensive deck. There was a Ping-Pong table where a bunch of guys were playing beer pong. Scattered all around the deck were five or so separate clumps of teenagers. JD stopped walking and scanned the different friend groups. I watched him until his eyes landed on a smaller group of people on the farthest side of the deck. He began walking again, but instead of me trailing behind, he pulled me closer and into his side so he could rest his hand on my back, which I was starting to find comfortable rather than terrifying—though my heart and breath still struggled to function every time it happened.

As we passed by the Ping-Pong table, we were stopped by one of the guys playing. He had hair so blonde it almost looked white in the darkness and he was clearly pretty drunk by the way he loudly slurred JD's name.

Still clutching the small of my back, JD led me over to the table. Him and this guy did a casual bro handshake. They began talking but I couldn't hear it. My mind was racing about Lauren and I felt a pang of frustration. Why couldn't she at least pretend to be happy for me? She was usually always so supportive of me. Was it because it was a guy? And if so, doesn't that make it worse?

JD introduced me to his friend but I didn't even listen for his name. I couldn't shake the annoyance from my interaction with Lauren. No matter how hard I tried to brush it off, the feeling kept lingering, causing me fidget.

I pulled my phone out of my purse, planning on texting her. But a different name flashed on my screen, causing my fingers to freeze.

From: Jack

Hey are you here?

Lauren and the anger I had towards her became irrelevant, and a feeling somewhat resembling guilt took its place. I had nothing to be guilty for though?