PLASTIC

21

"Regina!" Shane Oman says with a bright smile as he greets only Regina at the door.

When he goes in for a hug, I wrap an arm around Regina and put a firm hand against his chest to stop him. "Nice seeing you too, Shane. Move aside." I smile and shove him to the side, pulling Regina along behind me.

The party seems like it's going pretty well.. except for the amount of people. I hate being in crowded areas.

As a man passes us, I grab the red cup out of his hand and drink the rest of whatever he had in his cup. From the taste of it, it's beer.

Regina slaps the cup out of my hand and shakes her head, I shrug in defense. "Don't be rude to him."

"I'll do whatever it takes to make him stop flirting with you." I say back sternly.

Regina huffs and walks off with Karen and Gretchen. I watch her for a moment before going in the opposite direction with Janis and Damien. Cady and Aaron roam off on their own.

"What's up your ass?" Janis asks as she cracks open a can of sprite.

"Shane fucking Oman keeps flirting with Regina." I roll my eyes. "He won't take a hint."

"Ooo, she's jealous." Damien says as he crosses his arms.

Janis hands me a red solo cup filled with "punch" (a bunch of different alcohols mixed together with fruit juice, not the best drink.) "Am not."

"I would be too." Janis shrugs. "You're dating the hottest girl in the school, a bunch of people are going to try and steal her from you."

"Janis, you're not helping her!" Damien shouts.

I take a large sip of the punch and twist my face when I taste how strong and bitter it is.

"I'm just saying!" Janis turns my body around and points in the direction of Regina. "She's hot, of course everyone wants her. It's your job to trust her."

I huff and watch as my girlfriend talks to her other friends. I'm about to relax but when I see Shane Oman begin walking over to her, my jealousy boils right back up.

"Hold my drink." I say as I hand my cup to Damien.

"Elle-" He tries to object but I'm already walking towards them.

"Regina-" He tries to speak but I beat him over to her.

"Hey baby.." I grin and wrap my arms around her waist, she smiles and pulls me in for a soft kiss.

"Hi.. how are you enjoying the party?" She asks as she smiles up at me as she slurs her words, obviously feeling a bit tipsy.

"I'm having a lot of fun." I keep an arm around her waist as I turn to look at Karen and Gretchen, "How much has she had to drink?"

Gretchen widens her eyes but Karen huffs, "Three cups of punch."

"Regina, hey." Fucking hell Shane.

"Shane! Hi!" Regina says happily.

He reaches for her but my arm around her waist tightens, making him back off. "How are you liking the party?"

"It's fun!" She nods, I continue my conversation with the other girls. Janis and Damien also keep an eye on us. "I might get another drink."

"That's a great idea, want me to take you?" Shane asks, holding out his hand.

I scowl at him but Regina looks at me with puppy eyes so I sigh and remove my arm, taking Janis's advice. She doesn't take Shane's hand but she goes toward the kitchen, he follows.

"I can't stand him." I groan.

"He's just being nice, I wouldn't worry about it." Karen says to make me relax but it just makes me annoyed.

I look toward the kitchen, expecting to see Regina getting her drink but when I see her being pulled up the steps by Shane, my blood begins to boil.

I push my way through the crowd. Others mumble, asking why there's a sophomore at a Juniors party but I completely ignore them and shove them to the side. I follow Shane up the steps and into his bedroom.

"I said get off of me!" Regina shouts as she tries pushing Shane Oman off of her body.

"Come on, Regina. Just lay there like old times!" He yells back.

I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him off of her myself. "Take a fucking hint, bastard." I shove him away before trying to go over to Regina but Shane grabs a handful of my hair.

"Think you're so fucking tough because you're dating her now?" He pushes me to the ground. "She's not your girlfriend, Elle. She's not some fag like you." He kicks me in my stomach, making me hunch over.

"Hey dipshit!" I hear Janis yell before her fist flies into Shane's face. "Get up you dumbass." She helps me off of the floor. I ignore the pain I feel in my stomach as I walk over to Regina who is crying and curled into a ball in the corner.

"Hi my sweet girl.." I say softly. "You ready to go home and go to bed?" I tuck her hair behind her ears as a form of comfort. She nods.

"It's only a matter of time." Shane mutters as he holds his bleeding nose.

"Fuck you." I say through gritted teeth.

All three of us walk out of the house together. Regina leans on me for stability so I just end up carrying her to the car.

Once she's in the passenger seat, she's fast asleep.

"I'm sorry.." Janis mumbles. "I told you not to worry about the guy and he just tried to take advantage of your girlfriend."

"It's not your fault." I reassure her. "Even if I didn't take your advice, it still would have happened."

Janis just nods. I give her a quick hug before she goes back into the party and I begin driving.

Once we get to Regina's house and she's laying in bed, I set out medicine on her nightstand with a small cup of water for her hangover in the morning. I also write a little note, telling her to take the medicine.

I sigh and kiss her forehead before I leave. June George thanks me for bringing her daughter home in one piece, I just smile and nod before leaving.