Vampires Aren't Real

Chapter Nine

The first few rounds of beer pong were fine. I was terrible at it, of course, but no one seemed to mind. They laughed it off and handed me drink after drink. I tried to pace myself, but after a while, I could feel the alcohol buzzing in my veins, making the room spin just a little too fast. When Luther handed me another cup, I politely waved him off.

"Actually, I think I'm good," I said, my voice slurring slightly.

Luther leaned in closer, a smirk on his lips. "Come on, Simone. It's just one more. You're not backing out now, are you?"

I shook my head, trying to stay steady on my feet. "No, I just need to use the bathroom."

I excused myself, weaving my way through the crowd. The hallway was packed, and when I finally found the bathroom, there was a massive line. I groaned inwardly.

Just my luck.

Suddenly, Luther was at my side again. "You know," he said, "I can help you out. I know this house like the back of my hand. Dex is one of my closest buddies."

I hesitated, but the line wasn't moving, and I really needed to get away for a second. "Okay," I muttered, letting him guide me down a different hallway.

He led me to a smaller bathroom, away from the chaos of the party. I thanked him and quickly shut the door behind me, taking a moment to breathe and clear my head. The alcohol was making everything feel fuzzy, and I splashed cold water on my face to snap myself out of it.

When I stepped back out, Luther was waiting outside the door, too close for comfort.

"So," he said, his voice low and slow, "how about we get out of here? I can show you more of the house. Somewhere quiet."

Before I could respond, his hand was on my arm, pulling me closer. Panic shot through me, but before I could even think of how to get away, something happened so fast I could barely register it.

"I didn't know this was your girl dude, if I did I wouldn't have even looked at her! I sw-" Luther exclaimed as he was suddenly ripped away from me, and before he could continue — a fist collided with his face.

A very familiar face who I did not want to run into stood there, glaring at him, his eyes filled with rage.

"Stay the hell away from her," Ryder growled, grabbing my wrist and dragging me out of the hallway without another word.

How the hell does he keep finding me especially when I actually need help??

"Ryder, wait!" I protested, stumbling to keep up as he practically yanked me through the house. The music seemed to fade into the background as my heart pounded in my chest. "Ryder, stop. I—Lily and Nate—"

"Forget them," he cut me off, his voice sharp and laced with frustration. "You're going home."

"But I don't want to go home!" I snapped back, digging my heels into the ground to stop him from pulling me any further. "At least not yet!"

He stopped abruptly, turning to face me, his dark eyes locking onto mine. For a second, I saw something flash behind them—anger, frustration, something I couldn't quite place. His jaw was clenched so tightly it looked like he was holding back from saying something he shouldn't.

"You could have gotten hurt back there," he said, his voice quieter now but no less intense. "Do you even know what kind of people are here? Where are your so called friends?"

Is he serious right now.

I swallowed hard, glancing back toward the house where the party was still in full swing. I hadn't meant for things to get so out of hand, but I wasn't going to admit that to him.

"I can handle myself," I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest. "And my friends were with me I had to go to the bathroom and-"

Ryder cut me off with a harsh laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Right, like you were handling Luther just now?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words got stuck in my throat. He had a point. Luther had caught me off guard, and if Ryder hadn't shown up when he did... I shuddered at the thought.

"I didn't ask for your help," I finally said, though it sounded weaker than I intended. "How do you even know when I need help it's like you're practically stalking me."

Ryder's expression hardened again, and he shook his head. "I just happened to be near, you're lucky it was even a mere coincidence."

Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand again, this time more gently, and led me outside. The cool night air hit me like a slap in the face, sobering me up just enough to realize how reckless I'd been.

Ryder's car was parked a little way down the street, and he opened the passenger door, motioning for me to get in. I hesitated, glancing back at the house where I knew Nate and Lily would be worried if I just left abruptly.

"I have to let Lily and Nate know," I said softly, looking up at Ryder. "And besides I don't want to go home yet," I blurted, my voice wavering. It wasn't even that late and I would be forced to spend time with my mother. The thought alone was making my head spin.

He didn't ask why. His eyes met mine, and for a second, the coldness in them flickered into something else, something that made me feel like he could see right through me. It was terrifying and comforting all at once.

I glanced back at the house, "They're probably freaking out, thinking I just vanished," I mumbled. The last thing I wanted was to abandon them, but Ryder was determined to get me out of here.

"They'll be fine," Ryder said sharply. "You can talk to them tomorrow."

His gaze darkened. "Now, get in before I make you."

There was no room for argument in his voice. The last thing I needed was to create a scene in front of everyone, and part of me knew he wasn't bluffing. I let out a frustrated sigh and muttered, "Fine." I moved toward the open door, feeling his eyes on me every step of the way. "I owe you anyway... for saving me. Again."

I slid into the passenger seat, sinking into the leather, and Ryder shut the door behind me with more force than necessary. As he walked around to the driver's side, my heart pounded harder in my chest. I sat there, gripping the edge of the seat, feeling completely trapped, not by him—but by my own emotions.

When Ryder climbed in beside me, the air in the car felt heavy, thick with tension. I could feel his presence next to me, all too aware of how close he was. My heart beat faster, the memory of his hands pulling me out of that mess fresh in my mind.

As the car pulled away from the house, the reality of it all sank in. I was stuck in a car with Ryder, the one person who always seemed to appear when I least expected it, saving me in more ways than I could count. Yet, here I was, sitting next to him, wondering why he had to be so cold.

I didn't understand him, and it frustrated me to no end.