The Keys to freedom

Drunk on a feeling

Last year

She hadn't stepped foot in Pyke's house for two weeks—not since the night she shattered both their hearts. She had spent every moment since avoiding him, dodging his calls, skipping the places she knew he'd be, keeping her distance like her life depended on it. But now, standing in his doorway, the air filled with the scent of alcohol and sweat, she wondered if she had made a mistake coming back.

The bass from the speakers rattled through her ribs, the music pulsing loud enough to drown out her own thoughts. Bodies pressed together in the dimly lit space, laughter and shouted conversations blending into a chaotic hum. The house was packed, the same way it always was during one of Pyke's few infamous parties, but tonight, it felt different. Maybe because she wasn't here as his girlfriend. Maybe because the last time she was at one of these parties, her world had flipped upside down.

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, pushing the memories away. She wasn't here to dwell on the past. She was here for one thing—her school computer. Grab it. Get out. Simple.

Her eyes scanned the room, searching for the fastest way through the chaos. She kept her head down as she weaved through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances, the murmurs of her name. It didn't matter. None of this mattered.

All she had to do was survive the next five minutes. Then she could leave.

She weaved through people, scanning the rooms, searching for him, hoping she could just slip in and out with ease. But when she rounded a corner into the kitchen, she ran into Mary, who looked her up and down with an unmistakable sneer.

"Ugh, why are you here?" Mary snarled, folding her arms, making Oz question what she did to make her dislike her so much.

"If you're looking for my brother, I think I seen him go upstairs with Lacie," she said with a smile.

Of course she didn't believe a word of it. She knew it was just a ploy to get under her skin. But that didn't make it any easier to ignore. Even though Pyke had every right to move on, the mere thought of him with someone else made her stomach twist uncomfortably.

Oz rolled her eyes. "I'm just here for my laptop, Mary, the faster I get it, the faster I'll leave."

Mary sighed. "It was in the living room, but Pyke took it upstairs to his room, I think."

Her stomach hitched. "It's in his room?"

"That's what I said," she rolled her eyes walking past her.

Oz gazed up the stairwell that led to the forbidden room, she unknowingly vowed to never return to.

Her fingers grazed the stairs her foot leaning forward about to take the first step, but she quickly shook her head and retreated to the kitchen, what was supposed to be a simple, in-and-out mission now felt like too much to accomplish sober.

She grabbed a cup from a nearby counter and took a drink, hoping it would dull the memories. One drink turned to two, then three, and by the time she drowned out the feelings, her head was swimming.

Pyke spotted her from across the room and frowned, taking in her flushed face and unsteady stance, he made his way over to her. "Oz, what are you doing here?"

She smiled at him, a lopsided grin that didn't quite reach her eyes, before swaying slightly on her feet.

"Just... just getting my laptop. But your sister...and that room..." Her voice trailed off, for a brief moment, discomfort flickered across her face. She waved it away clumsily. "Long story short, I need to throw up."