My Turning Page

Chapter 4

If someone were to question where this party was taking place, the loud music and people on the lawn would answer it. After Nadine's car parks on the road, she hauls Luis and I onto each arm and walks us past an array of people doing questionable things as we arrive up to the hockey team's front door. Opening it bestows you with the belly of the beast. Instantly the smell of sweat, and alcohol hits your senses. It's very clear everyone is excited for the win tonight. Uncertainty washes over me. All the logical reasons to drop this plan are bulletpointed in my head in big, bold letters. The probability of this working out is laughable, but a part of me may be a bit unhinged as I follow that misguided whisper to just fucking try. My thought is cut short when I hear Elias talking to some girls. The silent shake of Elias head and the disheartened faces of the girls have me empathizing with them. They are very beautiful I won't lie and I don't blame them for trying.

"Time to get some bravery juice"

I take the long way to the kitchen. Occasionally, my eyes observe the carefree crowd. A spark of envy flows through and just as quick as it came, it leaves as I shut out the emotion. Not the time. My steps eventually bring me to what I'm looking for. Bottles of alcohol, cartons of juice, and cans of beer are all strewn haphazardly across the counter. Some missing caps already and what looks like spilled puddles of various drinks cover some of the counter. The smell is pungent, there's no doubt. I pour tequila and lemonade in a clean cup I dug around in the cabinets for. The perks of being a light-weight is that it'll do at least something and I'm not burning my throat alive. I swallow down half the cup already before refilling as I look through the kitchen doorway. The view from here gives an inkling of what the energy is like in the living room. Tables are shoved precariously against walls, couches are crammed together in corners to make way for the ridiculous amount of people dancing and yelling to song after song. The energy is electric, and you can't help but smile.

I decide to look around for Nadine and Luis to make sure they're good before going off on a quest to find Elias again. Nadine's shimmery dress sparkles like a disco ball around the party making it so simple to find her. "Thank goodness".

"Mirrraaa!" Can be heard even over the music. She must have got her drinks into her quickly. I am welcomed by an open tackle that sloshes whatever mixture Nadine made out of the cup in her hand. Her bubbly drunk personality making its way out like it always does. That girl will yell to the rooftops her love for you when she's drunk. I cant say I dislike it, honestly. It's always endearing how affectionate she is.

"I wanted to check in on you guys, are you both good?"

"Yeeeeah! This is so much fun. You need to go have some fun too." Nadine's drunk words make me laugh.

"You have no idea my dear Nadine"

I give her a hug and telling her and Luis I'll be walking around, then I start my search.

Jabbing elbows, swishing hair, and unwelcome booty bumps come from every angle as I make my way through the crowd to the set of stairs. My success at getting through is short lived as someone grabs my waist and pulls me back into the sea of people, pinning my back to their chest.

"What in the actual fuck???"

All I can smell is cigarettes and B.O as I turn around ready to tell this person about the definition of fucking consent.

"Got you now" Josh slurs out as he gropes my stomach pulling me even closer to his body. My face is smushed into his shirt that smells like he's worn it four days too long.

"God, not this shit again".

"Get your fucking hands off of me" I shove him away.

"Don't be like that Mira, I don't mind if you've got a guy. No one can blame Elias for needing a lay after splitting with Rebecca.".