The Good Intentions

Chapter 16 - Bethany

Bethany

"I want to go home," I say for the third time, scurrying up behind Kaden, whisper-screaming in his ear.

He continues walking forward through the dark townhouse we are in. Filled with people. Filled with smoke. I hate this. I hate all of this. I want to go home. But Kaden simply smirks at me from over his shoulder.

I suck in my lips, biting my tongue before I say those same words for the fourth time. I can't let him win. I am fun. I am. I refuse to let Kaden Kell get the satisfaction of thinking he's right about me because he's not. Plus, I'm not doing this for him, I'm doing this for Teddy. To prove that I am the right girl for him. Me. Bethany Harris. Fun, party girl Bethany. Party Animal Bethany. P-A-B. Fun is practically my middle name.

I continue following Kaden through the party, on a hunt for something to drink, and I don't miss the multiple girls that keep coming up to him. Smiling, touching his arm, obviously flirting with him, and then sneering at me as they pass. 

"You sure are popular," I say to Kaden as another one of said girls passes by me with an ugly snarl.

Kaden laughs and looks at me over his shoulder. "You should be smiling, Doll."

"Why would I smile?" I ask, cringing as a shirtless sweaty guy moves past me and grazes my arm with his wet skin. I gag and try to rub the remnants of him off me.

"Because every girl in here is jealous of you."

I freeze. "Jealous of me?" A part of me wants to smile, but I shake off that feeling. "I don't know why they would be. You're nothing special."

"Ouch," he says mockingly, turning around and placing his hand on his chest. "Your words hurt me, Doll. But I'm just telling you the truth. Any one of these girls would be dying to be in your position."

"You sure are cocky." I cross my arms over my chest.

He shrugs. "It's the truth. They just," he shrugs and grins again, "want me."

I roll my eyes, but a smile pulls on my lips. There is something about his confidence that is very attractive. I'd like to say he's being cocky, but the way these girls are looking at him, like feral cats in heat, I know he's speaking the truth. And maybe it also gives me a little added boost of confidence knowing that these girls would like to be in my position, holding onto his arm at a party. If only they knew how badly I wanted to be anywhere else but here.

We walk a little bit further through the crowd until Kaden stops and grabs a couple of red solo cups.

"Here," he says, holding the cup out to me.

Some of the liquid splashes over the brim of the cup and I crinkle my nose. "No thanks."

His brows furrow together. "Really?"

"Yeah, really. Not everyone has to drink to have fun."

"Well, maybe it will make you have fun. Come on, you haven't smiled since we stepped foot in this place."

I shrug and he puts the other cup down on the counter. "A party really isn't my idea of fun."

"And what is? Spending the night in your room watching rom-coms?"

Jerk.

I cross my arms over my chest again. "I don't see how this is any more fun. I mean it stinks in here. People are sweaty. Where's the so-called fun?"

"Over there." I follow his finger that's pointing across the room to a long white table with red solo cups on either end. A couple of guys stand on either end of the table, tossing a small orange ball to the other side, cheering when it lands in one of the cups.

"Table tennis?" I question.

Kaden laughs and his beer which he just sipped nearly shoots out of his nose. "It's beer pong." He raises his brows when I don't respond. "You've never heard of beer pong before."

I shrug and without a word, he grabs my hand and leads me to the table. We stand next to it and I watch as each team throws the ball. When it lands in the cup, the person on the opposing team takes a drink from it and removes the cup from the table. It doesn't seem hard at all.

"Come on," Kaden says in my ear, and before I know it, we are standing at one end of the table opposite the team that just won.

Fresh cups filled with beer sit in a triangle shape in front of us. The other team throws their balls and they miss. Kaden hands me one of the balls and I take it reluctantly. I watch as he gently tosses the ball and it lands in the first cup. Cheers explode around us at his victory. I'm suddenly so nervous with how many people are watching.

"Throw it," one of the guys on the other team says.

Screw it. I draw in a breath and throw the ball. Too hard. It files over the other end of the table and bounces on the floor. Now, I'm not hearing cheers, but laughter. I feel Kaden's hand grip my shoulder, but before I can look up at him, I'm shoved out of the way.

"I want to play with you next!" I girl says as she steps in front of me.

"No, I want to play with Kaden," a different girl yells above the commotion. She knocks the first girl out of the way.

This act continues until about ten girls are surrounding him and I am on the outskirts. Maybe this is some kind of blessing. Playing dumb party games isn't my idea of fun either. I honestly don't see how a party like this could be enjoyable to anyone.

Maybe it's the alcohol. Dulling the senses. But I don't want to drink. I have no desire. The taste is gross and after what happened to Loni, someone drugging her at a party just like this on New Year's, really doesn't make drinking all too appealing.

As I walk away from the crowd at the beer pong table, my phone vibrates in the back pocket of my jeans. Speak of the devil. It's Loni. I told her I was going to study with some friends tonight. I shouldn't have lied. I hate lying to her. She's my best friend. But telling her that I'm out with Kaden tonight, I don't know how well that would go.

She knows Kaden. He's her boyfriend Jace's best friend and roommate. How ironic. She likes him, don't get me wrong. But I have heard her talk about Kaden a few times. His carefree behavior, his indiscretions with multiple women.

I don't answer the phone and shove it back into my pocket. I should have answered it though. I should have told her the truth so she can come pick me up and get me the hell out of here. I drove here with Kaden. Well, he drove, which was a bad idea considering he's been drinking. And I really don't think I'll be getting him out of here anytime soon, especially not with all those girls hanging onto him. Taking an Uber alone is also not my thing. I've heard bad stories about that too.

So, I guess I'm stuck here. Might as well try and make the best of it—

I turn away from the beer pong table and a girl crashes into me. Her entire cup of red liquid splashes all over my white tank tops. It seeps through the fabric and chills my skin. The fluorescent drink drips from the tips of my hair, staining it bright red.

"Sorry," she says with a laugh before pushing past me.

I want to go home. I'm wet and want to go home.

I shake off my hands which are sticky and dripping wet and attempt to push the hair away from my face. Everything is sticky and gross and stinks of alcohol. I hate this. I'm standing in the middle of the room and a few eyes stare at me with humor. Humiliation creeps up the back of my throat and even the chilled liquor coating my skin can't control the heat pulsing through my veins.

I suck in a breath and run up the stairs, find the nearest bathroom, and lock myself inside.