CARDIGAN- J. HUGHES

Thirteen

A friend to all is a friend to none

*this may be a triggering chapter.

The majority of the staircase was hidden behind a wall so once we got past the first few steps the nerves that someone would see us went away. I wasn't going up here to hook up. I was going up here to escape for a second and also I was getting drunk so I was definitely susceptible to doing stupid stuff. But not as stupid as hooking up with Rory in the groom's suite while the wedding went on downstairs.

I continued sipping the drink, chasing the feeling it was giving. I've never had a drink hit so fast. By the time we got up the steps my head felt fuzzy and I was lowkey stumbling. However I didn't want him to think I was a lightweight so I focused everything I had to acting sober.

He was right about the suite. It was something out of a movie, it was sultry and beautiful at the same time. Kind of reminded me of a speak easy or a burlesque show venue. I looked around in awe, plopping down on the red velvet couch, sinking into the soft cushions. "So cool" I nodded at him.

He grinned and sat beside me, leaning back as he too took it in now that it was just us in here. The room was shifting slightly in my vision as I took a another, big sip of the drink. I sighed and leaned back against the couch, finally feeling free now that I was drunk. "You ok Lily?" He asked from beside me, dropping a hand on my leg.

"Hmm?" I hummed looking over at him. "Yeah I'm fine" I giggled, laughing at how quickly I managed to get drunk. This literally never happens.

"Oh good..." he trailed off, scooting closer to me. "This dress looks amazing on you" he ran his eyes down my body, leaning in closer.

Wait. What? I didn't say anything as I watched him curiously, trying to understand what he was doing while simultaneously trying to gather my thoughts. It was getting harder the drunker i got.

For a split second my senses came back when he leaned forward and kissed me. I was stunned and didn't register what was happening until he started sliding his hand up under my dress. I used whatever senses I had left to grab his hand and gently push him back. "Rory...w-what" I could barely get out a sentence due to my shock and also my condition.

He only smirked and leaned back in but I held a hand up. "Come on Lily, let me help you relax. I know you want this" he muttered, leaning forward and kissing my neck. The hand that was once on my thigh had broke free of my hand that held it in place and was now forcing me against him.

"Rory stop" I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision as the room was still spinning and my head felt woozy. I shouldn't have drank anything I'm a fucking idiot. "Seriously, I'm not in the mood" I jumped up from the couch, stumbling as I held onto the wall for support. I got up too fast, my vision had a few spots in it now.

"Lily you don't look good. Let me take care of you. I've been so nice to you all this time so far and I see you the way you look at me. Don't try to say you don't want it, you do. Look at this dress your wearing for me" he stalked towards me like a predator going after his prey and that's when panic set in.

I had to leave. Now.

I forced my body to fight the alcohol as I practically ran out of the suite and down the steps. The relief I felt when I saw people was something I never realized I could feel. Footsteps coming down the steps caused fear to come back as I searched for someone I knew. My eyes saw Trevor with Alex and Quinn and I tried to walk as normal as possible over to them. "My friends!" I yelled as I threw my arms around Trevor, gaining all their attention.

"When the hell did you even get drunk?" Trevor laughed, helping me stand up a bit as I was leaning on him for support as the room spun.

"Lily you are hammered" Quinn raised his eyebrows. "Do you-"

"Lily you can't run like that I thought you were gonna fall" I froze as Rory came over laughing, acting as though he was looking out for me. He was a liar. He was a monster. "She was doing shot for shot with me and clearly she thought she could handle it but she can't" liar. "Anyway, I think she needs to go to bed. I'll handle her so you guys can enjoy the wedding"

Quinn, Trevor and Alex all looked at me then back at him before I felt Trevor's hand tighten around my waist. "I think you should go" Quinn cleared his throat as he stood up from the stool. "We got her"

Rory put his hands up in mock defense. "Just trying to help. My bad" he scoffed before finally walking away. Quinn came over and  both him and Trevor helped me into the stool where he sat.

"What the fuck is going on? Do we need to kill him?" Quinn asked angrily.

"I may do it anyway" Trevor said both him and Alex were cracking their knuckles, staring menacingly at Rory.

"I need to go to bed" I shook my head. "I'm too drunk" I hiccuped. My tongue and my lips were fuzzy now. Everything was going numb and I felt nauseous. Something just wasn't right.

"I'm grabbing Jackson." Alex said before he went off to get my brother. Probably so he could carry me back to my room though he was gonna be annoyed at me for getting this drunk.

"Ugh no he's gonna yell at me and my head hurts" I whined, leaning my head into my hands to try and relieve the pounding and spinning.

"What the hell is going on?" Jackson demanded as he ran over followed by Jack, Sienna, and Luke. Great everyone was here to see me embarrassingly drunk. "Lily, what happened? What did you drink?"

"Oh my gosh I had one drink and a glass of wine. I probably didn't eat enough" I groaned. This was now the worst night of my life.

"One drink? There's no way, stop lying" Jackson scoffed.

"Yes I did. Rory made me a drink that was strong as hell" for some reason I watched as they all tensed up before all of their eyes turned dark, like they were gonna go murder someone. It didn't hit me until I saw Sienna. She had this look, a look of pain and pity. And at first I'm like why is she pitying me for being a light weight? But than I realized that I wasn't a light weight.

"Where is he?" Jackson asked as calmly as possible. He was far from calm though.

"I-I don't know" I'm gonna be sick.

"Trevor and Luke get her back to her room. Quinn, Jack, and Alex we need to go have a chat with Rory" Jackson ordered and everyone agreed.

"I'll go with her to her room, I'll stay with her and help her get to bed" Sienna offered. Great. Exactly what I wanted.

Trevor and Luke helped me back to my room where I sat on my bed with my knees in my chest replaying the night. I was a fucking idiot. How could I let this happen? "I'm sorry for leaving you alone Lily" Luke apologized, sounding genuinely hurt that he left me.

"It's fine" I brushed it off. "Did he drug me?" I asked, my voice coming out a lot sadder and weaker than intended.

They didn't need to say anything. The pained looks in their eyes gave me the answer I needed.