Not Another Jock

Chapter Eighteen

The dance ended at nine o'clock, exactly, a group of teachers herding us out of the gym.

Sliding back into the car, Tessa sliding in beside me, I pulled open the drawstring bag she brought out of my house with her.

I wasn't sure where Tyler had gone, but Caz slid himself into the car not long after Tess and I.

Pulling out my Converse high-tops, I hitched my dress up to my knees and slid my heels off, putting them carefully back into my bag.

Fishing the pair of ankle socks I stuffed into one of the shoes, I pulled them out, rolling them onto my feet before sliding my shoes on.

The driver door opened, revealing Tyler as he fell into the car, turning the key almost immediately.

"Everyone ready?" He asked, but he was already pulling out of the school parking lot.

"We'd better be." I muttered, earning a small grin from Caz and a playful eye roll from Tess.

"We've to be home before twelve." Caz reminded his brother, who just nodded. "And Mom and Dad aren't home, so don't get too drunk."

"I won't, I won't." Tyler scoffed, which made me believe he wouldn't not get drunk. "Caleb can pick us up, worst case scenario. Right Harper?"

"Wrong Tyler." I said with a laugh. "Dad's away at a conference, he won't be back until tomorrow night at the earliest."

"Worst case scenario..." He began, trying to come up with the worst scenario.

"Worst case scenario," I took over from him, watching him in the mirror as his gaze flicked between me and the road. "Mom or Lauren having to leave work, which is already a night shift, and they have to come to drag your drunk ass home while shouting at me and Caz for letting it happen."

"That's worst case." Caz agreed, looking at his brother. "Don't get hammered."

"I won't, God," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I'm not that bad."

The rest of the drive was relatively quiet, only few comments about anything that seemed relevant.

As we got closer to the party, it was clear that we were not as early as others.

Two girls, both wearing golden dresses that stopped above their knees, were stumbling along the road, plastic cups in hand.

I leaned forward, across the car towards Caz, my hand gripping the seat behind his shoulder.

"If I get anywhere remotely close to that drunk," I hissed, my voice low. "You have my full permission to hit me when I'm hungover tomorrow."

He laughed, swivelling in his seat to look at me.

"I will not hit you." He said, taking part in my joke, but his voice serious. "But I won't let you get that drunk."

"Deal." I smiled, pushing myself back and slumping back down into my seat. "Will we go now?"

All four of us looked out the windows quickly before nodding, the click of the seatbelts undoing and the rustling of our clothes the only thing we hear until the doors open.

As soon as the first door is open, a pounding beat of music floods the car, already giving me a headache.

Stepping out onto the gravel path, I could feel the vibrations from the music travel through my shoes and up into my legs, shaking my insides.

"It's so loud." I shout to Caz, who looks as interested in this party as I do. "Is it always this loud?"

"It'll only get louder." Caz shouts back, stumbling into me as two taller guys push past him. "Especially when everyone gets drunk."