Love Across Boarders

Chapter eighteen

I don't even know why I said yes.
Maybe it was the way Sarah texted me relentlessly until I caved, or maybe it was the restless energy buzzing under my skin, making it impossible to stay cooped up in my room all night. Either way, I found myself standing in front of the mirror, adjusting the strap of my top, wondering if this was a mistake.
The party was in one of the off-campus houses, and the thought of navigating a space full of strangers and half-acquaintances felt overwhelming. But the alternative another night of tossing and turning, my thoughts spinning in circles-was worse.
Sarah's message came through just as I grabbed my jacket. "Heading over now! You better be coming."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling at her persistence. As annoying as it could be, Sarah always had a way of getting me out of my own head.
Fifteen minutes later, I was at the front door of the party house, music thumping from inside. The door was already cracked open, and the noise hit me like a wall as I stepped inside laughter, music, the sound of people talking over each other, and the faint smell of alcohol in the air.
I scanned the crowd, trying to spot Sarah. People were sprawled across the living room and kitchen, some dancing, others deep in conversation. The atmosphere was charged, and I could feel the energy buzzing in the air, making me feel both excited and uneasy at the same time.
"Busayo!" I turned just in time to see Sarah waving me over from a cluster of people near the kitchen. She was grinning, looking entirely too pleased that I'd actually shown up.
"I thought you weren't coming," she teased as I reached her, handing me a cup filled with something I didn't recognize.
"I wasn't," I admitted, taking the cup but not drinking. "But I guess I changed my mind."
"Good! You need this," she said, nudging me. "You've been way too serious lately."
I shrugged, not really knowing what to say. It was true I had been serious. But with everything happening at school, with Darren...well, there was a lot on my mind.
"You should have fun tonight," Sarah continued, as if reading my thoughts. "You deserve it."
Before I could reply, someone bumped into me from behind, spilling their drink and causing me to stumble. I turned to apologize, but my words caught in my throat when I saw who it was.
Darren.
Of course.
He was standing there, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw me. I could see the recognition flash in his gaze before his expression shifted back into the carefully guarded look he always wore around me.
"Busayo," he said, his voice neutral but something sharp lingered just beneath the surface.
"Darren," I replied, forcing my tone to stay calm, though I could feel my pulse quickening. Why was it always like this with him?
Sarah, oblivious to the sudden tension between us, grinned and said, "Hey, look who's here! The two of you together at a party. This should be interesting."
Darren didn't say anything, but he kept his gaze locked on me, like he was waiting for something for me to react, to give him some kind of response. But I didn't. I wasn't about to let him get under my skin again. Not tonight.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he finally said, his voice low enough that only I could hear it.
"Yeah, well, I didn't expect to come," I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest defensively. "But here we are."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my answer, and that only irritated me more.
Before I could say anything else, Sarah swooped in, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the dance floor. "Come on, Busayo! You need to loosen up."
I didn't even have time to protest as she dragged me away from Darren, the music swallowing us up. I cast one last glance over my shoulder, and saw him still standing there, watching me with that unreadable expression.
As Sarah pulled me into the crowd of dancing bodies, I tried to shake off the feeling Darren's stare had left behind. I was here to have fun, not to overthink things. Not to let him distract me.
But no matter how much I told myself that, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being pulled into something I wasn't ready for.
It didn't take long for the party to blur into a haze of music, laughter, and flashing lights. Sarah handed me drink after drink, insisting that I needed to "relax" and "let loose." And I didn't argue, not tonight.
The drinks tasted strange at first, too sweet, then too bitter, but after a while, I stopped caring. With every sip, the tension I had been holding onto all week-the stress, the confusion, the Darren of it all seemed to fade away. The music became louder, the room brighter, and I found myself laughing at nothing in particular, caught up in the dizzy energy around me.
Sarah spun me around, pulling me onto the dance floor. I stumbled slightly, my head swimming, but I laughed it off, letting the rhythm of the music carry me. The lights flickered, people moved in a blur, and for once, I didn't care what anyone thought of me. Not about school, not about home, not about Darren. Especially not Darren.
But as the night wore on, I realized that I was far more drunk than I intended to be.
"Sarah, I think I-" I started, but my words slurred, and I had to grab onto her arm to steady myself.
She laughed, not noticing my distress. "Come on, Busayo, one more drink! You're doing great!" she cheered, but her voice sounded distant, like it was coming through a tunnel.
"No, I-" I tried again, but my head spun, and suddenly the room felt too small, too hot.
I pushed my way through the crowd, desperate for air, ignoring Sarah's protests. My legs felt shaky, and the floor swayed beneath me as I stumbled toward the door. I barely made it outside before I leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. The cool night air hit my face, but it did nothing to stop the nausea rising in my throat.
I felt dizzy, completely out of control. My heart was racing, and my thoughts were a jumble of regret and confusion. Why did I let myself get this drunk?
"Busayo?"
That voice. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Darren.
I groaned inwardly, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Of all the people to find me like this...
"Busayo, are you okay?" Darren's voice was closer now, and I could feel him hovering beside me, concern clear in his tone.
"I'm fine," I muttered, though it was obvious I wasn't. My legs wobbled, and I had to lean against the wall to keep from falling over.
"Yeah, sure," Darren said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You look great."
I glared at him, or at least I tried to. The world was spinning too much for me to focus properly. "I don't need your help," I slurred, though the words came out more like a plea than a command.
"Right. Because you're clearly handling everything just fine," he shot back, his tone sharp. But then his expression softened, and I could feel his hand gently on my arm, steadying me. "Come on, let's get you some water."
I wanted to protest, to tell him I didn't need him, but I was too drunk and too tired to argue. So I let him guide me away from the party, his arm firm around my shoulders as we made our way toward a quieter part of the yard.
We sat down on a bench, the world still spinning but slowing down just a little. Darren handed me a bottle of water, and I took it, sipping slowly, the cold liquid helping to clear my head just enough to feel the weight of embarrassment settling in.
I avoided his gaze, staring down at the bottle in my hands. I didn't want to see the look on his face, didn't want to know what he was thinking. I'd made a fool of myself, and Darren, of all people, had been the one to witness it.
"I didn't expect you to be the type to party like this," Darren said after a moment, his voice calm but still holding that edge of curiosity.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I'm not," I admitted, my voice small. "I don't drink. I just... I don't know what I was thinking."
He didn't say anything at first, and for a moment, we just sat there in silence. The music from the party was still thumping in the distance, but out here, it was quieter, almost peaceful.
"Why did you come, then?" Darren asked, his voice softer now. He wasn't teasing me, just... curious.
I took a deep breath, my thoughts still foggy. "I just wanted to forget for a while," I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "Everything's been so overwhelming lately, and I guess... I thought if I let loose, it would help."
Darren was quiet again, and I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I felt vulnerable, exposed, like I'd let him see a side of me that I
usually kept hidden.
But then he spoke, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You don't have to do this, you know. Pretend like everything's fine when it's not."
I blinked, surprised by his words. I finally looked up at him, meeting his gaze. There was no judgment in his eyes, just an understanding that caught me off guard.
"I-" I started to say something, but the words got stuck in my throat. I wasn't sure how to respond to that, to him.
I knew we were having a conversation but I still don't know what we were saying..I will never get drunk in my life again.
"Come on," he said, standing up and offering me his hand. "Let's get you back to your dorm."
For once, I didn't argue. I took his hand, letting him help me up, and together, we walked away from the party, the night air cool and quiet around us.